200 gram Grey Fine Grade Clay Bar

GC1

Application Charts

Also known as body clay, the clay bar is one of the most ingenious products to hit the detailing industry.   Clay bars come in two grades, medium and fine.  Our stock comes in two colors, purple and gray respectively.  They weigh approximately 200 grams each and we also offer the same grades in smaller 180 gram size, but the color for medium is lt. blue and dark blue for fine grade.

The clay bar offers an option to fix common paint problems; saving time, money and possible further damage. For example, in paint over spray removal, one common traditional method was the use of the high-speed buffer and cutting compounds.  The downside to this was obvious, especially on newer paint.  With some of the older remedies, the detail technician would actually create more damage than what was already there.  With the advent of body clay, paint over spray can now be removed quickly and safely.  The same with railhead dust contamination.  On lighter colored cars, especially white cars, railhead dust would show up as numerous rust spots.  They would also leave the painted surface rough to the touch.  Railhead dust is basically small heated iron particles throw up by trains, settling on automotive paint during transport.   Previously, a solution of acid based chemicals was used to bathe the car and remove what people in the industry called “industrial fallout”.   Needless to say, this procedure had all kinds of negative aspects to it and the clay bar simply helped put an end to the use of acid based cleaners for removing the rust spots.  Furthermore, dealers started wrapping the top surfaces of their cars prior to shipment with a plastic material; this assisted greatly in protecting the painted surfaces.  

In cases of paint over spray, industrial fallout (railhead dust), brake dust contamination, the method of removal with the clay bar is the same.   The technician will “knead” the clay out to form a flat piece and rub the affected paint area with it.  But first, water or better yet a water based lubricant designed to help the clay slide on the paint surface is applied.   Usually applied by a bottle with a trigger sprayer, the lubricant is sprayed on followed by the clay.  The technician doesn’t have to rub hard, the clay works with minimal pressure and once it gets loaded up with contaminants, you simply re-knead it and use it over and over.

Caution should be used not drop the clay on the ground.  If this happens, the clay is rendered useless.  Secure the clay after use in a clean container.  Do not use with soap because soap degrades the clay.  

Clay is a remarkable product and it doesn’t hurt to give the top surface of every car prior to buffing a quick claying.  Doing this removes surface contaminants that actually project off the surface of the paint.  Removing these contaminants is like removing grit, this material has the potential to swirl paint and create friction while buffing.  This quick surface preparation also makes the surface smooth to the touch and reduces buffer drag.  Believe it or not, the buffing process then goes easier because you removed the particles the buffing pad normally conflicts with.  Try it.

 

  • Material Color: Cool Grey
  • Grams: 200
  • Grade: Fine

Collections: Detailing Clay Bars

Category: Clay

Type: Clay




Related Items

Application Charts

BUFFING FOAMS

Buffing and polishing your car with foam pads has been around for many years.  Foam pads work allot differently than wool pads as far as cut, feel and performance.  There are many new technological advances in the foam pad industry and I am writing this to help give you more information so you are able to choose the correct foam for your next job.

There are many ways to identify foam pads in the industry.  PPI is a generic way of distinguishing foam, but not the 100% correct way.  Since there are so many ways to measure foam, we are going to start here with the basic.

OPEN CELL and CLOSED CELL

The first and basic thing to understand about foam is whether it is open or closed cell.  Many open cell foams start out as closed cell and are “reticulated” to produce open cell.  “Reticulation” is a process used in processing foam where they take the bun of foam, put in in a concrete and controlled room, fill the room with hydrogen so the foam can absorb it, and then they ignite the foam.  This process causes the membrane or window of the foam to wrap around the branches.  The window/membrane on foam is the transparent thin layer in between the branches.  The branch is what you feel by hand in the foam when you touch it.  If you look at foam under a microscope, you will see the branches and windows.  Foam that has been reticulated is open cell and foam no reticulated is closed cell.

Once you reticulate a foam it may become stronger in its tearing characteristics.  Reticulated or “open cell” foam run much cooler on the surface as compared to closed cell foams.  The reason for this is that with the cells being open, they are allowed to let air pass thru them to dissipate heat.  With this happening, there may be a chance the chemical you are working with may dry faster and possibly dust since the lubricant in it is getting dried with the air passing thru the foam.

 There are Pros and Cons to each of the foams, and each type works differently with all chemicals:

Keep in mind that not all foams work the same way with all chemicals.  In many instances, it can be trial and error.

There are many other ways foams are measured, this is just a starting point so you are able to pick the best foam for your project.

 

APPLICATION CHARTS ARE COARSES TO FINE

US FOAMS
WHITE 45 PPI HEAVY CUT
YELLOW 50 PPI MEDIUM CUT
GREEN 60 PPI POLISHING
BLUE 70 PPI  SOFT POLISHING
BLACK 80 PPI FINISHING
SOFT WHITE 90 PPI ULTRA FINISHING
BABY BLUE 100 PPI  FINAL FINISHING

EURO FOAMS
YELLOW HEAVY CUT
ORANGE MEDIUM CUT
WHITE POLISHING
BABY BLUE SOFT POLISHING
RED ULTIMATE FINISHING

EXTREME RETICULATED FOAMS
COARSE GREEN EXTREME CUT
COARSE ORANGE MEDIUM CUT
MAROON POLISHING
RED FINISHING

URO-TEC “OPEN CELL”
COARSE BLUE HEAVY CUT
MAROON MEDIUM CUT
YELLOW POLISHING
WHITE FINISHING

URO-CELL “CLOSED CELL”
LIGHT BLUE CUTTING
ORANGE POLISHING
RED FINISHING

STANDARD WOOL PADS
100% WOOL 4 PLY NATURAL CUTTING
WOOL BLEND SINGLE PLY NATURAL MEDIUM CUT
WOOL BLEND 4 PLY TWIST YELLOW MEDIUM CUT/POLISHING
WOOL BLEND SINGE PLY WHITE POLISHING
WOOL BLEND SINGLE PLY YELLOW POLISHING/FINISHING
KNITTED WOOL BLEND  LIGTH POLISH/FINISHING
KNITTED 100% WOOL NATURAL FINAL FINISHING

INDUSTRIAL WOOL PADS
ALTERNATE STITCH DUAL STRAND WOOL BLEND AGGRESSIVE CUTTING & LONG LASTING