Elbow grease and Clay Bar

[Dustydog]

Just how difficult is cleaning the car / caravan with the Clay Bar? Is it very aggressive in paint removal going down to the primer😥😥

 

[otherclive]

No it’s very gentle as you use a lubricant. I’d shudder at doing a caravan but a car is okay, but it’s still quite hard work. I did my daughter black Focus prior to sale. and it came up very well.

 

[Dustydog]

No it’s very gentle as you use a lubricant. I’d shudder at doing a caravan but a car is okay, but it’s still quite hard work. I did my daughter black Focus prior to sale. and it came up very well.

A special lubricant? A days work at our space?

 

[otherclive]

A special lubricant? A days work at our space?

I use demin water with some fairy liquid. Others use light oils. But for some it’s on a par with a religion. A bit like noseweight 😂

PS I only use a piece about the size of a 50 pence coin so takes quite some time to do each car panel. I’d really question why do a caravan. Autoglym would bring it up nice with far less effort.

Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Clay Bars for Auto Detailing - The Art of Cleanliness

Quite a misnomer, clay bars aren’t actually made of clay. They are made of an elastic, malleable resin compound which is often formed into a block for

www.theartofcleanliness.com

 

[Dustydog]

I use demin water with some fairy liquid. Others use light oils. But for some it’s on a par with a religion. A bit like noseweight 😂

PS I only use a piece about the size of a 50 pence coin so takes quite some time to do each car panel. I’d really question why do a caravan. Autoglym would bring it up nice with far less effort.

Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Clay Bars for Auto Detailing - The Art of Cleanliness

Quite a misnomer, clay bars aren’t actually made of clay. They are made of an elastic, malleable resin compound which is often formed into a block for

www.theartofcleanliness.com

Thanks Clive
It’s the cars. The Bailey paint is micron thin and won’t stand the rub!.
So distilled water clay and muscle👍

 

[Bluetonic]

I have used a Bilt Hambler clay bar in the past that only requires water.
It is an arm killing exercise on a SUV, but not too bad on my MG. Wouldn't do a caravan though.
Be wary that any tiny piece of dirt or grit it may pick up can be devistating to the paintwork.
The paint on my MG is 10 years older now, and has some issues with micro blistering and cclear coat lifting so don't bother now, simple wash and polish then wax with some excelent autobright direct products keeps it looking acceptable until I can afford a full restoration.
Caravan gets a wash then polish with autoglym SRP, then their shiny top coat (can't remember the name ) but it lasts well over the winter making the first spring clean a lot easier

 

[Buckman]

I use demin water with some fairy liquid.

Many, many years ago when still new to washing caravans we made the mistake of cleaning the caravan with Fairy dishwasher liquid. Never again! It looked clean, but with loads of streaks even after washing with normal caravan shampoo. Eventually used car polish to get rid of the streaks.

 

[otherclive]

I have used a Bilt Hambler clay bar in the past that only requires water.
It is an arm killing exercise on a SUV, but not too bad on my MG. Wouldn't do a caravan though.
Be wary that any tiny piece of dirt or grit it may pick up can be devistating to the paintwork.
The paint on my MG is 10 years older now, and has some issues with micro blistering and cclear coat lifting so don't bother now, simple wash and polish then wax with some excelent autobright direct products keeps it looking acceptable until I can afford a full restoration.
Caravan gets a wash then polish with autoglym SRP, then their shiny top coat (can't remember the name ) but it lasts well over the winter making the first spring clean a lot easier

It’s Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection. I used it on the caravan, and on the cars. It’s easy to apply and polish up, and keeps the cars looking good with only a wash and shampoo.

 

[RogerL]

When my Touareg was built it came direct from the factory via a central PDI centre rather than through the dealership - I'd pre-arranged for it to be professionally prepared and ceramic coated a couple of days after delivery - on initial inspection the guy reckoned it was the best paint job he'd seen in years with no swirl marks from a poor PDI - he's valeted the car regularly ever since and say's it's the best 8-year old car he gets to clean, thanks to the original preparation, the ceramic coating and the regular attention.

If only caravans were so well painted !

 

[Buckman]

When my Touareg was built it came direct from the factory via a central PDI centre rather than through the dealership - I'd pre-arranged for it to be professionally prepared and ceramic coated a couple of days after delivery - on initial inspection the guy reckoned it was the best paint job he'd seen in years with no swirl marks from a poor PDI - he's valeted the car regularly ever since and say's it's the best 8-year old car he gets to clean, thanks to the original preparation, the ceramic coating and the regular attention.

If only caravans were so well painted !

Our caravan was the Paintseal ceramic coating and 6 years later still looks like new.