Clay bar - do you have to keep going over the area or am I doing it wrong?

[AKcharger]

The 72 needed attention and after hitting it with the mothers clay kit it's much better but it isn't butter smooth. So do you have to hit it like 5 or 6 times or do it once and it just gets most of the contaminanets out??

[c00nhunterjoe]

It all depends on how much is embedded in the paint. 5-6 times on heavy embedded dirt is not uncommon.

[AKcharger]

thanks...yeah it was like sand paper

[funknut]

Oxidized paint will feel chalky to the touch too, or at least not as slick smooth as people think paint should feel.  Not as rough as contamination, but if you clay bar it a few times and it's not where you want it, you will need some cutting compound to get rid of the dead paint.

[AKcharger]

copy...Keeping at it!

[AKcharger]

OK that seems to work, have to think of the clay as a "Step" not the only process I guess

[funknut]

Looks sharp!

[AKcharger]

Looks sharp!

Thanks Sir!

[TTSaleen]

The 72 needed attention and after hitting it with the mothers clay kit it's much better but it isn't butter smooth. So do you have to hit it like 5 or 6 times or do it once and it just gets most of the contaminanets out??

I know it's been a while, but next time you are going to do this, there is a better way.
I've been detailing cars for many years now and doing the clay bar by hand takes a while and the material used in most clays can introduce some contaminants if you aren't very careful which will introduce scratches into the paint or also mar the cars finish.
A safer alternative is a rubberized pad called Nanoskin.  This can be used by hand or machine and is completely reusable.
So if you drop it on the ground, you simply wash it off and reuse it, unlike actual clay that you throw away.

Here's a link to it - https://www.nanoskinusa.com/products/smooth-surface-autoscrub-kit?_pos=1&_sid=cd1c17f77&_ss=r

I use a Flex 3401 dual-action polisher with the nanoskin pad attached to it and a spray lubricant (water-less carwash works very well).
I follow that up with a corrective polish pad depending on the defects but mostly a 2500 compound cut and polish.
I typically complete the process with a ceramic coating for long life and protection.

Good luck.
Ryan

[AKcharger]

Thanks Ryan!

I'll give that a try next time!

welcome to the site BTW!