Do you compound after clay bar?

A clay bar will remove the contaminants that are on top of your paint, chrome or windows etc. However, a compound will work to remove a micro layer of paint to remove any scratches, swirl marks, etc. We always clay before we compound, polish and wax. Otherwise you are running the contaminants back over the surface.

Do I need to compound after clay bar?

Yes it is necessary to clay a car before compounding/polishing. It is far better to do it and not need it than to need it and not do it. Lets pretend your car does not have any microscopic issues in the clear coat/paint.

What do you do after clay bar?

When you're finished claying your car, you may need to wash it to remove any lubricant film. If you plan to use a pre-wax cleaner polish, it will remove clay residue so there's no need to wash. Last but not least, after using clay, seal your freshly cleaned paint with your choice of wax or sealant.

Should you use a clay bar before compound?

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. Those foreign particles block wax from sticking to the paint, making it last for a shorter time and not shine as bright.

Do I need to wax after clay bar?

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.

Clay Bar vs Compound - Meguiar's Cuts Through the Confusion Between Each Step

When should you compound your car?

Minor paint damage like scratches or swirl marks can be temporarily remedied by applying wax or polishing agents with the use of a buffing or polishing machine. However, compounding a car is what you need for a more permanent solution, especially with scratches that go deep into the paint layers.

What order do you detail your car?

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.

Do I need to polish after clay Mitt?

It's important to note that depending on how contaminated the surface was, polishing may be required after claying to help correct any micro-marring that may have occurred. If no micro-marring is present, then we suggest to add protection (wax and/or sealant) immediately after claying.

How many times can you clay bar a car?

As a general guideline, claying 3-4 times a year will keep your car's paint clean and smooth.

Should I compound or just polish?

Rubbing compounds basically targets the uneven car's surfaces caused by scratches while on the other hand; polishing is preferably used for adding smoothness and shine to the car paint. Both will help in improving your car's quality but in a different way.

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.

What is the fastest way to detail a car?

How often should I compound my 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.

Do you buff before polishing?

Buffing comes before polishing. However, to protect vehicle paint damage from dry buffer heads, a small amount of wax (this is also used for polishing) is necessary. Buffing is done to remove surface imperfections while polishing is for enhancing the surface's appearance.

Does rubbing compound remove clearcoat?

Rubbing Compound

Both compounds can fix scratches by removing a thin layer of the clear coat.

Should you compound an entire car?

It has pictures and is very helpful. You would want to compound the entire car and then polish the entire car, just to make things more simple - you have more a of a uniform idea of what has been done and there's no guesswork or missing panels involved.

Does rubbing compound take out scratches?

A cutting or rubbing compound is an abrasive material suspended in a paste that is used to restore car paintwork. It can polish out paint scratches and remove old and oxidised paint to reveal fresher paint underneath.

How often use Meguiars Ultimate Compound?

How often should I “wax” my car? For maximum protection against harmful environmental elements, we recommend waxing your car 3-4 / year. To help extend your wax protection, always use a wash designed for automotive use like Meguiar's Ultimate Wash & Wax.