Tip of the Month- May 2005

Attention to Detail: Purifying Your Paint- Claying

(As printed in the Velostrada- The Online Ferrari Journal August 2005 Newsletter)

This month we discuss the subject of detailing clay bars and removing contaminants from your vehicle's paint and glass. Although clay has been used for years for industrial and commercial applications, it has recently emerged as the go to consumer detailing product for preparing your vehicle's surface prior to compounding, polishing and waxing. It's like giving your paint a full exfoliation prior to moisturizing but selection of the right clay, using the right techniques and knowing when to use clay is critical because like all good things, improper use can mar/scratch your paint and create more work; but once you've learned the "how to" you'll wonder why it took so long to discover it (kinda like trying sushi).

What is detailing clay?

Detailing clay is an elastic and malleable synthetic material that is used in combination with a specifically made surface lubricant and is usually the best way to remove paint overspray, tree sap build up, bugs, brake dust, industrial contamination/fallout and other hard to remove surface contaminants. Clay has been used since the early 1900's in body shops for overspray removal but has recently been refined and marketed to car enthusiasts for removing surface contaminants prior to polishing or applying a protective layer of wax. Clays will smooth the surface of paint by pulling contaminants out of the pores of the paint (yes your paint is porous like your car's glass) or sheering off the minute high spots of your paint depending on the aggressiveness of the clay. That said, the contaminant removal can be done safely and easily once you've learned the proper techniques. The detailing clay bars come in different sizes from 3 to 8 ounces, colors, abrasive grades and elastic stiffness. Our DyNA Purifyng Prep Clay is a premium grade that is 8 ounces and will remain soft and stay intact during use.

When do you use it?

To properly detail the exterior of your vehicle, prior to adding that final protective layer of wax or paint sealant on your paint, the surface should be free of any contaminants. Otherwise, you will be sealing the contaminants under the layer(s) of wax or paint sealant that you apply thus affecting the optical clarity of your paint and also decreasing the "wet look" or distinction of image (DOI). Worst case is that the contaminants continue to deteriorate your paint (as is usually the case with industrial fallout or rail dust).

The first step is to properly wash and dry your car which prepares the surface for claying and also cools it. Read our article on "Washing Your Car" for the proper techniques and tips. Once you've washed and dried your car, then you can gently run your fingertips over the paint surface to feel the imperfections and also contaminants. If the surface feels smooth, you now should take a piece of cellophane (plastic cigarette wrapper or substitute with a plastic vegetable bag) between your fingertips and the surface to feel the same areas. The cellophane is like a magnifying glass for your sense of touch and you will now be able to feel all the imperfections and contaminants on your paint surface. If you drive your car on the road or park it outside, you will have contaminants on your car especially on the hood, trunk lid, rear bumper and undersides behind the wheels. So once you've identified that your paint has contaminants (which almost all cars do), the next step if to remove them.

How do you use it?

There are two techniques to use with similar results but will depend on your preference. You always want to work in the shade and on a cool surface.

For Severe Overspray

There are instances when you have to remove severe overspray or contaminants on your paint surfaces where the prior two techniques were not effective. The solution is to increase the friction between the clay and the paint surface for a more aggressive cleaning. You now will use water in place of the prior mentioned lubricants but this technique will promote and introduce scratches to your paint while you are removing the stubborn overspray and contaminants so you will need to follow with a compound or polish. Although it will create more work to remove the scratches left behind by the clay, it is the lesser of the two evils since the only other alternative is to wet-sand which creates much more work and should only be attempted by those experienced with that technique.

Final Comments

As noted earlier, to prepare the paint surface in your detailing process and paint re-conditioning, you should wash your car and then claying should be the next step prior to the complete detail (compound, polish, wax/sealant). Depending on the grade of clay you use in your claying process, it will remove your wax and paint sealant and the contaminants that are stuck to the clay will create very minute and fine scratches that are more noticeable on darker cars. You have to look very closely to see them but they are there.

Remember, clay will remove paint overspray, tree sap build up, bugs, brake dust, industrial fallout, light oxidation and other hard to remove surface contaminants but it is not a polish and will not remove scratches. So now that you have purified and prepared your paint, you are now ready to follow with the paint re-conditioning.