Wax after claying?

canes7 · 06-01-2012, 12:17 PM

I did a 1k mi. road trip last weekend. In the process I built up a boatload of bug guts on the front of my car. My question is if I use the clay bar to remove them am I going to have to wax the car again or will the finish survive?

TIA

nepali · 06-01-2012, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canes7

I did a 1k mi. road trip last weekend. In the process I built up a boatload of bug guts on the front of my car. My question is if I use the clay bar to remove them am I going to have to wax the car again or will the finish survive?

TIA

Just give it a full treatment...your car deserves it!

scottIN · 06-01-2012, 12:33 PM

Yes, you would need to wax.

And FWIW...

claying to remove bugs is too time consuming for me. Hit it with some B&T remover and a MF and be done with it. Either way, you'll have to wax.

Amj2020 · 06-01-2012, 01:05 PM

I would suggest doing a wash with dawn dish soap first to remove any protection on the paint so that the clay can better do its job of removing contaminants below the wax/sealant on the paint surface. Then you will need to clay, then polish, then wax/seal the paint. You wont get the full benefit from a detail without polishing the car before you wax or seal it.

Cmike2780 · 06-01-2012, 01:26 PM

Before going with clay bar. See if you can remove the bugs with some car shampoo and warm water. 75% of the time, it's enough.

Amj2020 · 06-01-2012, 02:14 PM

^^^ agreed, just go with the least invasive way first, the path of least resistance! Then determine if you need to be more aggressive.

Pintsize725 · 06-01-2012, 03:25 PM

If you're just looking to remove the bugs, use damp, unscented dryer sheets. Works like magic.

canes7 · 06-03-2012, 08:58 AM

Thanks for the ideas! I'll head out to the garage and try out those dryer sheets!

didymus · 06-03-2012, 11:20 AM

Really depends on how stuck the bugs are. Start with less aggressive methods and work up.

Pelican170 · 07-20-2012, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amj2020

I would suggest doing a wash with dawn dish soap first to remove any protection on the paint so that the clay can better do its job of removing contaminants below the wax/sealant on the paint surface. Then you will need to clay, then polish, then wax/seal the paint. You wont get the full benefit from a detail without polishing the car before you wax or seal it.

You sure about that? I was under the impression you didnt have to polish if your paint is in good shape...

scottIN · 07-21-2012, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pelican170

You sure about that? I was under the impression you didnt have to polish if your paint is in good shape...

'Good shape' is a relative term. High quality waxes / sealants tend to magnify any imperfections so you have to start out with a near perfect surface. Like a lot of things, the best result comes from the prep, not the final step.

Here's a shot of my truck after polishing. No wax, no fillers, no QD - just bare paint.

It's all in the prep.

06-01-2012, 12:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
canes7 Base Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: NC Posts: 129 Drives: '11 BC/Tour/Spt/7at Rep Power: 13	Wax after claying? I did a 1k mi. road trip last weekend. In the process I built up a boatload of bug guts on the front of my car. My question is if I use the clay bar to remove them am I going to have to wax the car again or will the finish survive? TIA

06-01-2012, 01:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
Cmike2780 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 5,059 Drives: slowwww Rep Power: 28	Before going with clay bar. See if you can remove the bugs with some car shampoo and warm water. 75% of the time, it's enough. __________________ [09][MB][6-Spd MT][Touring][Stillen Gen III][K&N][Borla CBE][Evo-R] [ArchitTEK Photography]

06-01-2012, 03:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
Pintsize725 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Austin Posts: 14,196 Drives: 2016 Mazda 6 Rep Power: 211844	If you're just looking to remove the bugs, use damp, unscented dryer sheets. Works like magic. __________________ Tracie

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06-01-2012, 12:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
scottIN Track Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: New Castle, Indiana Posts: 764 Drives: '12 370Z Rep Power: 54	Yes, you would need to wax. And FWIW... claying to remove bugs is too time consuming for me. Hit it with some B&T remover and a MF and be done with it. Either way, you'll have to wax.

06-01-2012, 01:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
Amj2020 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: NY/LI Posts: 393 Drives: MB Z,Jeep,BMW Rep Power: 13	I would suggest doing a wash with dawn dish soap first to remove any protection on the paint so that the clay can better do its job of removing contaminants below the wax/sealant on the paint surface. Then you will need to clay, then polish, then wax/seal the paint. You wont get the full benefit from a detail without polishing the car before you wax or seal it.

06-01-2012, 02:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
Amj2020 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: NY/LI Posts: 393 Drives: MB Z,Jeep,BMW Rep Power: 13	^^^ agreed, just go with the least invasive way first, the path of least resistance! Then determine if you need to be more aggressive.

06-03-2012, 08:58 AM	#8 (permalink)
canes7 Base Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: NC Posts: 129 Drives: '11 BC/Tour/Spt/7at Rep Power: 13	Thanks for the ideas! I'll head out to the garage and try out those dryer sheets!

06-03-2012, 11:20 AM	#9 (permalink)
didymus Track Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Providence / Boston Posts: 564 Drives: 280 / 370Z Rep Power: 305	Really depends on how stuck the bugs are. Start with less aggressive methods and work up.