billh1963

Yes...I have used the search button and read virtually every post discussing how to clay your car!

I've researched autopia.com as well. I don't feel that I ever heard a consensus. Some feel that it is safe and others say don't do it under any circumstances unless you're a professional.

I have Zaino's Z-18 clay bar and really want to detail the C4S this weekend but I'm scared to clay it! Has any other rank amateur used this product lately with success? Any horror stories?

TIA!

Marshall M

Do it. Great results. You won't believe how smooth it will make the paint. Just use plenty of lubricant.

96P993

If you are nervous about doing it then just do one panel...front quarter panel seems to be a good spot. If you are happy with the results then have fun..There really is no way to hurt the car.....

tom97c4s

I always pratice on my wifes car first! Clay is easy, I had no problems.

Vinny '98 3.8 C2S

Do it. It's dead easy with great results.

I had the same exact reservations, so I practiced on one panel of the family van. It was so easy and the results were so great that I called the kids out and we did the van and their cars, and finally my Porsche. Now I have no reservations at all.

Just make sure that the car is washed before claying, keep the surface fairly moist with detailing solution, and most important..don't drop the bar or get any sand particles on it because it will scratch your car surface. You'll need to wax the car when it's finished.

Not surprisingly the results were far more dramatic with my kids' cars, because they are left outside and, although they looked clean, they had tons of pollen and other junk embedded in the finish. The results on cars in that condition were surprisingly good, especially considering how little effort it takes.

Chuck A.

I also have the Zaino bar and am planning on doing it this weekend. How much pressure do you apply on the bar? Is it lightly dragged across the surface or do you push down on the bar?

Thanks

Jeff 993TT

It's really easy and the results are great... Go for it.

I used the clay magic blue bar on my honda and was amazed at the results. Of course, you want want to do it right, it takes a while for the whole process. Claying your car is just one step.

ie:
a) Dawn wash
b) Clay with lots of lubricant
c) Dawn wash
d) Some sort of polishing
e) Some sort of waxing/zanio/etc

Jim Morton

Bill:

FWIW, I have tried many clays (Maquires, Mothers, Griots) and the Zaino with their procedure is not only easy, but the results are great. Have no fear, just follow the directions.

I used an old "Windex" bottle to make my lube sprayer out of for the Zaino wash based lube. 1/2 cap per 20oz. is what I think the directions call for.

The full out procedure is on the Zaino website if you need to print another one.

Have fun !

MikeInfo

Do you guys clay by hand or use it with an orbitor? (is that spelled right?)

JPS

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica"> I also have the Zaino bar and am planning on doing it this weekend. How much pressure do you apply on the bar? Is it lightly dragged across the surface or do you push down on the bar?

</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Ok, so pressure is the ONE thing you can do to screw it up. We are talking FINGERTIP pressure. The reason everyone always talks about dropping the damn thing is that you should be using SO LITTLE pressure you can't believe it will work. Remember the Ouija Board game...fingertips gliding to get letters to talk to spirits or whatever? That was lots of pressure compared to this.

Always by hand...no orbital, and here's a trick:

Take the Zaino bar, cut it into about 5-6 strips. Take one of them, flatten it a bit, use it on one side until a bit dirty, then turn over and repeat. Throw away and start with next piece. DON'T do the turn & rotate crap...that just embeds the contaminants in the bar and increases the chances something bad will happen. Also, with this method if you drop it, you didn't trash your whole bar. You might also lay down a newspaper or towel under the panel you are working on...it is a slippery devil. Finally, it's sort of like sex...no such thing as too wet <img src="http://www.stupid-boy.com/smilies/contrib/tweetz/ky.gif" alt=" - " /> ...keep the soapy lubrication going, and keep rinsing behind you.

I always wash with Dawn after claying, and you can repeat, even after putting Zaino on...claying takes off about 1/2 coat.

Good luck.

<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />

hn

It seems too much work for me but I want to try it for the windshield. Some guys over Autopia used them on the windshield with incredible results. It turned some old windshields into like brand new. So far I've been using wax for the windshield and like it a lot. Anyone waxing the winshield? Do you think it's bad in the long term?

Thx

Ben in Plano, TX

Go for it!

Claying is the best thing I've ever done to restore maximum shine. I'm the 3rd owner on my 993 and it was NOT in pristine shape when I got it. Dawn, Zaino Clay, Zaino polish (about 5 coats) and now it looks pretty darn close to showroom quality (ok - from 5 feet anyway).

Ben

Luis A.

I clayed my black car (since sold) with no adverse sequelae. The paint on the black C2 was (is) so soft that if I brushed my rough-skinned nuckles against it it would lightly scratch!!

It almost fels as if at a microscopic level you are 'shaving' or shearing off the paint any contaminants/particles sticking out of the surface, therefore the need for so little pressure. I'd love to see electron scanning microscope photograps of the surface before and after.

Suwipin

Mooty (John Hua) helped me to clay my car a few weeks ago. He's very good at it, I'll try to ask him to comment on this issue

MikeInfo

I ask about the orbital because Griots garage sells an attachment that holds the clay for an orbital and hear from many including my friend with a new 996TT that it is excellent. Maybe they provide different clay that will not burn the paint?