Clay Bars

Clay lifts what is still bonded to paint and glass after washing: overspray, tar specks and fallout that leave a clean panel feeling rough. We stock fine, medium and heavy grade bars from Maxshine, ChemicalWorkz and The Detail Kitchen. Clay mitts, sponges, cloths and a DA clay pad are in Clay Mitts, Pads & Sponges.

How to choose

• Grade: fine clay suits most cars; medium and heavy grades cut faster on heavy contamination but are more likely to leave marring that needs polishing out.
• Bar or mitt: a bar is folded to a clean face as it loads up and thrown away if dropped; mitts, sponges and cloths cover big panels faster and rinse clean.
• By machine: the Maxshine DA Clay Pad fits a dual action polisher for claying a whole car faster: see Clay Mitts, Pads & Sponges.

Good to know

• Bag test: put your hand in a thin plastic bag and run it over the washed paint. If it feels gritty, it needs clay.
• Never clay dry: keep the panel wet with lube from Clay Lubricants and re-spray when the clay starts to grab.
• Clay after an iron remover, not instead of one, then protect the paint: claying strips old wax or sealant.

Can a clay bar remove scratches?

No. Clay lifts contamination bonded to the surface, such as overspray, tar specks and fallout. Scratches and swirls are marks in the paint itself and come out with a compound or polish, which is usually the next step after claying.

Will a clay bar scratch clear coat?

It can leave light marring, more so with medium and heavy grades or too little lube, which is why paint is often polished after claying. Keep the panel wet with clay lube, use light pressure and fold the bar to a clean face as it loads up.

Related: Decontamination, Iron & Fallout Removers, Paint Correction. Popular brands here: Maxshine, ChemicalWorkz, Sam's Detailing, Shiny Garage.