[graycarrera]

Does anyone have any experience with clay bars? I have some rough spots in the paint that have not been removed/smoothed with mulitiple waxes. Your suggestions would be appreciated.

[Charlie Stylianos]

Good question.....

I was talking to Car Care Specialties at Hershey re: clay bars and these was their thoughts.

The paint surface itself has peaks and valleys and dirt will be caught in between. What a clay bar does is actually strips off the peaks and removes the dirt in between as it cuts the paint down, giving you that silky smooth finish. The more you use the bar, the more paint (peaks) it will remove. The bad thing is that you are removing paint with this process. In a year or so, when the elements have had a chance to get to your paint again, the peaks and valleys will reappear and using the clay bar again will remove more paint, etc, etc. Very similar to a rubbing/cutting compound. Car Care Specialties recommendation is to use a liquid paint cleaner which will not remove the paint, just help loosen and remove the dirt in between the peaks/valleys.

Check out their 'How To' and product recommendations.

http://carcareonline.com/

[graycarrera]

Charlie:
Thanks for the note. I have been apprehensive about using a bar. My car is a 2003 Carrera so I do not think too much dirt has accumulated yet; not to mention four waxings to date. While the car looks great, if you run your hand over it you can almost feel little convex pimples, for lack of a better discription. My buddy just bought a 2003 Boxster and his hood feels like sand paper! I think I will try cleaner before the clay bar. By the way the company I am with does an awful lot of aviation work for Gannett.
Thanks,
Ken Weiss

[RoninLB]

there is technique to using the clay bars.. a good polish with a machine will fix everything.. maybe get a concours guy recomendation on a detailer..........Ron

[patalive]

But on all Porsche colors, except Guards Red, are you not using the clay bar on the clear coat and not the paint? I believe Porsches with the Guards Red are the only cars without a clear coat - we are polishing the waxing the actual red paint, not a clear coat. When you clay bar a guards red car, the paint actually turn really ugly before you apply the polish and wax. Not so with the clear coated cars.

[graycarrera]

Thanks for the input guys. I do know there is a clear coat on my car (seal gray) but as one of you mentioned regarding Guards Red not having a clear coat I am unsure of. I believe all the new cars, including Guards Red, have a clear coat. I think it has more to do with vintage than color. I have spoken with Larry Reynolds of Car Care Online as well as one of the Zaino brothers. They, being in the same geographical area, know a lot about each other. They seem more interested in selling additional products than giving you the straight scoop. I have an appointment with Tischer June 2nd for a sunroof problem so I will have their detail person take a look at it. I usually do my own detailing so I do not have any knowledge of local detailing shops. Does anyone feel comfortable pointing me towards their favorite shop?
Ken

[patalive]

True, I cannot speak for the newest cars, but on my 83 SC, and now the 93 C2, I get red oxidation on my rags when I am removing the glaze or polish - obviously no clear coat on 1993 and older, guards red cars.

[87turbolook911]

I've used the mothers clay bar system. It includes claybar and spray liquid. Follow the instructions and you'll have amazing results. My paint is glass smooth.

It does a great job removing surface contaminants that wax and cleaners don't. JUST BE SURE TO KEEP THE SURFACE OF THE CAR AND CLAYBAR WET AT ALL TIMES!

Let me know if you have questions.

[graycarrera]

Thanks for the reply. When using the bars do you use back and forth motion or circles? I assume you use next to no pressure? I am very nervous to do this to my car.... Any advice from someone that has done this before is most appreciated.
Ken

[graycarrera]

P.S. My private message button seem to be working. I seem to be getting error messages...probably the user.