clay before polish?

singular · 11-02-2009, 10:42 AM

I've noticed that claying before polishing seems to be the common practice. But isn't claying similar to polishing? Fundamentally aren't they both just abrasives?

I know from wood-working that the usual finishing approach is to start with a very coarse sand-paper (50), move to something finer (100) and eventually finish with an abrasive that's really fine, like quad-ought (0000) steel wool. Similar to polishes on a car.

So does the commonly followed procedure of clay before polish mean that clay is MORE abrasive than polish? If it's less abrasive, would it make more sense to clay AFTER polish. Or even to not clay at all when polishing, keeping claying as something you can use to reduce the need for frequent polishing.

TP 135i · 11-02-2009, 10:46 AM

Claying is actually done to remove surface contaminants, not to "polish. It removes what normal washing misses and prepares a nice clean surface on which to polish or wax. Similar to using a tack cloth before you paint or apply a finish.

MadMan77 · 11-02-2009, 10:46 AM

You should clay before polishing. It is the final step in the cleaning process. So basically claying is just to clean the top layer of paint so you can polish without worrying about picking up contaminants while polishing which will ruin all your hard work.

singular · 11-02-2009, 03:08 PM

Similar to tack cloth - makes sense.

Thanks.

MadMan77 · 11-02-2009, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by singular

Similar to tack cloth - makes sense.

Thanks.

Sort of. Tack cloths just pick up dust and anything else that has settled on the surface prior to paint while clay actually removes a tiny bit of paint with the contaminants that are embedded in it.

anthony @ eas · 11-02-2009, 04:15 PM

This gives a good visual of what a clay bar does:

jibaholic101 · 11-02-2009, 04:28 PM

wow! thanks for the visual!

dunston · 11-08-2009, 04:57 AM

clay before you polish. I just clayed my car the other day and it made a noticeable difference in the color and clarity of the paint. Finishing up the detail this weekend.

11-02-2009, 10:42 AM	#1
singular Captain 21 Rep 935 Posts Drives: BSM 135i ppk cab Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0)	clay before polish? I've noticed that claying before polishing seems to be the common practice. But isn't claying similar to polishing? Fundamentally aren't they both just abrasives? I know from wood-working that the usual finishing approach is to start with a very coarse sand-paper (50), move to something finer (100) and eventually finish with an abrasive that's really fine, like quad-ought (0000) steel wool. Similar to polishes on a car. So does the commonly followed procedure of clay before polish mean that clay is MORE abrasive than polish? If it's less abrasive, would it make more sense to clay AFTER polish. Or even to not clay at all when polishing, keeping claying as something you can use to reduce the need for frequent polishing.
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11-02-2009, 10:46 AM	#2
TP 135i Major 29 Rep 1,340 Posts Drives: 2008 135i SGM MT Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Finksburg, Maryland iTrader: (0) Garage List 1995 Acura Integra SE [0.00] 2008 BMW 135i [0.00] 2006 Porsche Cayman S [0.00] 1999 Toyota 4-Runner [0.00]	Claying is actually done to remove surface contaminants, not to "polish. It removes what normal washing misses and prepares a nice clean surface on which to polish or wax. Similar to using a tack cloth before you paint or apply a finish. __________________ 2008 135i SGM
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11-02-2009, 10:46 AM	#3
MadMan77 ↓↓↓ Ex-Con ↓↓↓ 34 Rep 1,874 Posts Drives: Jet Black '08 135i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Yigo iTrader: (1)	You should clay before polishing. It is the final step in the cleaning process. So basically claying is just to clean the top layer of paint so you can polish without worrying about picking up contaminants while polishing which will ruin all your hard work. __________________
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11-02-2009, 03:08 PM	#4
singular Captain 21 Rep 935 Posts Drives: BSM 135i ppk cab Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0)	Similar to tack cloth - makes sense. Thanks.
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11-02-2009, 04:15 PM	#6
anthony @ eas 309 Rep 3,635 Posts Drives: R56 Cooper S Join Date: May 2009 Location: 4015 E Leaverton Court, Anahiem, CA 92807 iTrader: (0)	This gives a good visual of what a clay bar does:
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11-02-2009, 04:28 PM	#7
jibaholic101 Brigadier General 160 Rep 3,496 Posts Drives: women wild Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Charleston, SC iTrader: (0)	wow! thanks for the visual! __________________ some italian, german, and japanese ones; and on order more of the same
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11-08-2009, 04:57 AM	#8
dunston New Member 0 Rep 16 Posts Drives: 350Z for now Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Palm Springs, CA iTrader: (0)	clay before you polish. I just clayed my car the other day and it made a noticeable difference in the color and clarity of the paint. Finishing up the detail this weekend.
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