What is Clay
Written by: Vinnie van Rooij
Clay is putty-like substance that is used to remove contaminants from a surface. Clay removes particles that can’t be removed by washing or are difficult to remove with chemical cleaning.
Contents
Removing contaminants
Clay allows a user to remove particles that are either stuck to the surface or are trapped in microscopic gaps of the surface. Clay itself will actually become dirty over time and needs to be used with care. After claying, the surface should feel smooth, leaving a deeply cleaned surface. Further cleaning can be needed to achieve a perfectly clean surface.
How its used
In general its recommended to use clay in combination with clay-lube. This is a specially formulated liquid that helps the clay to glide over the paintwork, minimizing the risk of creating marring or any paint damage. The clay-lube is sprayed on the surface and the user rubs the clay over the wet surface. In many cases it is enough to wipe a certain area once, but it can be needed to wipe an area more times to clean properly.
After an area is done, the clay-lube can be rinsed off or wiped off.
The invention of clay
The original inventor of the polymer detailing clay is Mister Tadao Kodate, a japanese scientist who was looking for a safe way to remove contaminants from bodywork without using harsh chemicals or polishing compounds. The original clay bar was introduced in America in the early 1990’s by Auto Wax Company. When Dennis Dehn – a Auto Wax Consultant – was hired by Auto Wax Company to demonstrate the AWC products in Japan. When showing the products in a detailing competition he used a compound to get the paintwork smooth and clean. When he look beside him, he saw the other competitor using some type of putty with a spray liquid, rubbing the paint.
The first company to patent the detailing clay was Auto Wax Company (later called: Auto Magic), who holds the patent for detailing clay until 2014. 9 out of 10 clay bars sold where manufactured by Auto Magic under the brandname Clay Magic.
Grades
Clay comes in a few different grades. A hard/rough grade removes more contaminants, but has more chance of marring. A soft/gentle clay removes less contaminants but decreases the risk of marring. Using a clay that is to rough will results in a surface that is affected more then needed, a clay that is to gentle will not give the desired effect. It takes experience to judge what clay is needed.
Marring
Clay removes dirt by grabbing the contaminants and dragging it from the surface. This means that you have to turn over the clay often. Even with care and good quality clay-lube, it is very difficult to have no negative effect on the surface at all. The marks usually created by claying is called marring. Marring are very shallow marks in the surface of the paintwork that are very easy to remove. Most pre-wax cleaners, finishing polishes and some all-in-one (AIO) products can removing marring with great ease.
Claymitts
Claying doesn’t only come in putty-like form, some manufacturers have found ways to manufacture washmitts with a surface that acts the same as clay. This reduces the chance of dropping the clay, making it unusable.
Claysponges
Besides putty-like clay and claymitts, there are also claysponges. These are small sponges coated with a surface that is very similar to the coating on the claymitts. These can be coated on both sides or just one side. Some claysponges are even coated with 2 different grades of clay.
- Underbody cleaning is the act of cleaning the underside of the car to remove any dirt and restore the looks as when the car was new. This is a tedious and labor intensive job, but good cleaning products and tools can help to make it easier....
- OCD Finish is an English manufacturer and seller of detailing products. The brand was setup by the annoynce of having to buy many different products from different sources. It started out with 2 owners and is run by Neil Trew at the moment....
- A pre-wax cleaner is a product that helps to prepare the surface for a layer of wax, the effects the product can have can differ from just preparation by cleaning, to filling swirls (like a glaze) and leaving an oily residue for added gloss....
- Smart Polish Pro is an English manufacturer of detailing products with a strong aim on environmental-friendly products that do not require the use of water. The company is fairly young, but has been growing in popularity in only a few years....
- It is often asked on detailing fora and social media: "what is the best sealant". Off course there is a difference between certain products and brands, but it is important to know what you are asking. In this guide I will try to explain what the problem is with this question unless it is asked more in-depth....
- Microfiber Towels, mitts, sponges, and applicators are a crucial tool in a detailers arsenal for washing and drying a vehicle, removing smears from glass, dusting dashboards, cleaning trim, buffing sealants, waxes, or coatings, removing polishing residue, applying quick-detailing sprays, soaking excess detergent from cleaner-saturated textiles, and many more applications besides....
[…] je meer lezen en leren over autoklei? Dan kun je altijd nog dit handige artikel doorlezen op DetailingWiki voor meer […]
[…] What is Clay? – Detailing Wiki […]
[…] a clay bar, even the most stubborn muck can be removed from your car by […]
[…] Clay Bar Treatment: Your car will be spick and span after it comes out of the hand wash, but there may still be some tiny pieces of debris. In order to remove these, they will go over the exterior surface with a clay bar. […]