Should you clay bar before polishing?

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.
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Should I polish my car after Claying?

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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Can I polish without Claying?

Obvious response: You can polish without claying if it doesn't need claying. But if it needs it, it needs it.
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Do you need to clay bar and polish?

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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When should you clay bar?

After every cleaning and drying, run your hand through your vehicle's paint, and if you feel it's rough and a little bumpy, then yes, it's time to clay bar your car. The contaminants may have stuck to your car break dust and factory fall outs, otherwise damaging your paint finish.
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POLISHING FOR BEGINNERS: Step 1- HOW TO PREP FOR POLISH - Chemical Guys



Do you clay bar before or after wax?

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.
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Do you wash car before clay Bar?

Timing is Key – When to Clay Bar

Claying should always come after a good wash. You want to get as much of the dirt out as possible, by scrubbing and brushing and scrubbing some more. Your choice of cleaning agent will also ensure that your vehicle is ready for the use of a clay bar.
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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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Whats better clay bar or polish?

The Quick Answer. Clay is a substance used to remove contaminants that have bonded to a car's paintwork, whilst polish, on the other hand, is used to remove a layer of paint to make the paint glossier. Polishing should be performed after claying to remove any marring inflicted by the clay.
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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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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.
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Should I remove wax before polishing?

A clean, wax/sealant-free finish is required to get the most out of our polishing session. Clay the surface of the car to remove any embedded contaminants that doesn't come off with normal washing.
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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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What comes after polishing a car?

Once polished you can maintain your swirl-free finish simply by using the correct car washing and drying products and techniques, such as Snow Foam or Prewash and then a shampoo wash. Keeping the paint protected and in good condition will ensure it needs less frequent polishing.
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Should you wash your car before or after buffing?

Wash Your Car

This ensures there is no dust or dirt on the surface, which is important because buffing a dirty car could actually damage the paint. So get out your car wash supplies and thoroughly wash your car with soap, and then rinse and dry it before you bring out the buffing tool.
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Do you wax or polish a car first?

Polish should be used before wax, as it helps to restore auto paint that has lost its shine due to oxidation. Car polish does this by removing a very fine layer of the paintwork so the appearance of scratches is minimized as they settle into the coat. Car polishes vary in terms of their levels of abrasiveness.
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Can you clay bar with soapy water?

I use like 2 oz of soap and the rest water. I still have some of the good "yellow" clay that is no longer available and I almost always clay with my car wash solution at the same strength that I use for washing. I use Poorboy`s S,S,&S and haven`t had any problems with the clay breaking down.
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Does clay bar remove scratches?

A clay bar does NOT remove any scratches from the surface of the paint because it contains no abrasives. A clay bar is useful for when a car's paint feels rough and is no longer smooth to the touch as it can help restore that nice smooth feeling you once knew and loved.
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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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