StephenK

Assuming I can follow instructions, is it dangerous for a novice to clay a black car? Just want to make sure I don't damage anything in the process.

2quik

if your car is a 2005, and u keep it in a garage , you probably dont need to clay it. Claying will induce some surface scratches. Just try to turn the clay , inside out, with every 2 feet that you do.

TOGWT

The 'safety' device when using clay is surface lubrication

Even new cars that have been setting on a car dealerships lot for a few weeks can accumulate surface contamination; don't assume a vehicle that looks good is contamination free

Acid rain, road salt, tree sap and airborne contaminants are very detrimental to a vehicles paint film surface. Brake dust or rail dust are very small, almost microscopic particles of steel, iron or their alloys. These particles carry a negative charge while the vehicles they land on are carrying a positive charge. The vehicle surface becomes a magnet, attracting and bonding the ferrous metal particles to the vehicle surface.


[b] Detailer's Clay -remove any imbedded contaminants with detailing clay (Clay Magic™ ‘Blue’) and a 5:1 solution of (Distilled water/Woolite®) surface lubrication

Application
•Since a clay bar is so effective at removing deposits it will also remove wax
•Divide the Detailer's Clay into equal pieces and knead into a ball to ensure pliability
•Take one of the pieces and flatten it out into a small circle, approximately enough that it will fit into the palm of your hand.
•Spray an area of 2-foot x 2-foot with a lubricating solution (WooliteTM or Dreft™ / Water 5:1) use an even applied pressure to the paint surface, ensure that the surface being clayed is always wet
•Glide the Clay across the area in a front to back in a straight-line aquaplaning type motion
•Use a light to medium even pressure until the surface becomes smooth and silent.
•If the Clay is streaking on the paint, you need more to apply more lubricating solution, it is better to over lubricate the paint film surface than let it dry-out
•When the Clay is moved across the paint film surface you should hear a friction sound and some resistance. This is the grit being lifted from the paint. When the resistance and noise stops, dry the solution off with 100% cotton Alpine DF Microfiber cloth.
•To avoid wasting detailer's clay because you probably will drop it, place a towel on the ground under the area you're claying so the clay will fall onto the towel without picking up gravel etc.
•If you drop the clay on the ground do not try to clean it, discard it or it may cause micro scratches in your paint film surface.
•Rinse of any clay residue and ensure there is no more contamination to remove
•Move onto the next two-foot by two foot square area and repeat the process.
•Once half the section is completed turn the clay over to a fresh, clean side and completes the remaining section.
•Check the surface of the clay often, once it becomes contaminated fold to a clean surface.
•Wash, rinse and dry each section and ensure all imbedded surface contaminants have been removed before moving on to the next panel / section
•I would go over the paint surfaces again with the clay to ensure nothing was missed
JonM