Do I need to polish after clay bar?

You don't have to polish afterwards but clay bars will mar the surface. You may not see or notice it but it is there. Depending on how fine a grade the clay is, you may have to do an intensive polish or just a one-step wax.
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Do you have to polish a car after clay bar?

Yes. Detailing clay will not remove swirl marks, scratches or etching from acid rain or hard water spots. Paint polish is still required to remove these paint defects. If your paint is new or like-new, detailing clay will significantly reduce the amount of polishing required to keep your paint in good condition.
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Should you polish after clay?

When Should You Use The Clay Bar? The detailer's rule of thumb is to always decontaminate the surface with a clay bar before putting on a new coat of wax, or polishing any exterior paintwork.
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Can I hand polish after clay bar?

Yes you should polish after clay - but it gets tricky - some clays are more aggressive ( some advertised as non-abrasive) - and if just hitting a few spots with good clay&lube you could probably get away with just waxing. If claying a complete car you'd polish. But I personally wouldn't clay a new car.
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Do I have to polish after Clay Bar Reddit?

It will just make all your future cleanings harder and potentially your car more susceptible to damage. Polishing isn't necessary.
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Should You Polish Paint After Clay Bar Treatment? | How We Detail in Rainy Weather



Can you clay bar a car then wax it?

The Short Answer. A wax or sealant should always be applied to the car after using a clay bar. The clay bar will remove any old protection so a wax or sealant needs to be applied to ensure the paintwork is protected to help keep it clean and free from contaminants and UV rays.
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Does Clay Bar damage clear coat?

A clay bar is an engineered, clay-like product that pulls contaminants like water spots, brake dust, metal dust, industrial pollution and road grit from your clear coat. When used with a clay lubricant, these contaminants come loose from your car and get stuck safely in the clay so they don't damage your clear coat.
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Can Clay bar scratch your car?

Since water tends to drag, it doesn't allow the clay bar to smoothly glide around the surface of the car. This water drag can cause marring, scratching and other damage to the car.
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Does claybar remove wax?

Removing your car's wax, sealant or coating prior to claying will help the clay bar fully remove the contaminants without being impaired by the paint protection layer. However, in most cases the clay will be capable of removing both the wax/ sealant/ coating, as well as the contaminants.
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Is it necessary to clay bar before polishing?

tl dr: It isn't necessary, but it improves the quality of the polish/wax job. "Claying" (otherwise known as using a clay bar or detailing clay), is a means by which to remove contaminates from the finish of your vehicle which washing alone will not remove.
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When should you polish your car?

If you're taking good care of your car, polishing your car once or twice a year should be sufficient to fix up any minor scratches or wear. If you frequently find yourself with scrapes or spots, you can take it to be polished more regularly.
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Will a clay bar remove water spots?

Typically a washing, white vinegar and water solution, or a clay bar will not remove the water marks, they only work when it's a light residue on the surface. Unfortunately many water marks actually lightly etch in to the surface and in these instances you'll need a stronger option.
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Can you use spray wax after clay bar?

If you're going to bother claying the car I would recommend a sealant. Spending all the time to clay the whole car, then putting on a spray wax that will wear off in a day or two seems like a waste, because the moment the wax is off the gunk from the road will start filling in your paint again.
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Can you clay bar glass?

It's perfectly safe to use a clay bar on your windshield. Clay bars are intended to be safely used on paint and glass is a surface that's much harder to scratch. There are times when a regular wash won't remove contaminants like bugs, overspray, and fallout. This is when a clay bar should be used.
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Is Claying a car worth it?

Although using a clay bar on your car is an essential part of detailing, it shouldn't be done unless absolutely necessary. The clay bar has a specific job – to remove bonded contaminants from your paint. Even when used properly, it should be considered a necessary evil since it can be abrasive.
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Does Clay Bar cause swirls?

Swirl marks can happen during a clay bar treatment if the detailer isn't attentive to keeping the bar clean and free of major debris, doesn't use enough lube, or chooses the wrong type of clay for the paint. Clay barring is the ultimate way to remove paint contamination, but must be done thoughtfully and with care.
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Should you clay bar a brand new car?

If your paint feels rough or textured, then you need to clay. If it feels smooth as glass than you shouldn't need to clay, but it definitely wouldn't hurt. In all honestly, claying a new car shouldn't take more than 30-45 minutes, and it requires very little effort.
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Can you clay bar too much?

It's definitely possible to clay your car too much. Clay is an abrasive, which can damage the paint causing swirls and marring. You can minimise this by using a clay lubricant and a softer form of clay, however, you can't forget that clay is still an abrasive.
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How long does clay bar last on car?

clay bar should last you between 18- 24 months if used on the same vehicle.
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Does clay bar damage ceramic coating?

Because using a clay bar or polishing your coating can damage the coating itself, the best way to go about this is using a chemical fallout remover.
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In what order do you detail a car?

Detailing Your Car in 13 Easy Steps
  1. Step 1: Wash. If you have old wax on your car, use dish soap in a bucket of water to wash it off. ...
  2. Step 2: Dry. Using a blower to dry your car is preferred. ...
  3. Step 3: Clay Bar. ...
  4. Step 4: Polish. ...
  5. Step 5: Glaze. ...
  6. Step 6: Sealant. ...
  7. Step 7: Wax. ...
  8. Step 8: Microfiber.
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How do you remove clay bar residue?

Apply a light paint cleaner or polish and that should remove the smudges. You could also use a cleaner/wax. If you use a paint cleaner or polish be sure to apply some wax afterwards because you'll have removed any wax previously there.
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Can you use soapy water with clay bar?

some even straight water, but I wouldn`t recommend it. The truth is it`s Russian roulette. Some clays are immune to car soap; some shampoos will dissolve soap-sensitive clay, some won`t. There are so many combos that you just need to experiment, or get someone here to tell you a clay/shampoo combo that works.
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Does clay bar protect paint?

There's a common misconception that clay bars will also remove scratches and swirls from the paint. This is not true. Clay bars are purely for removing bonded particles to prevent future damage, like paint swirls. They cannot fix existing damage.
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