What happened to my paint?

FIFTY

Member
Messages
3,100
Interesting you report grazing after using the clay mit

I have always used clay bar with great success and I decided to get the clay mit after various recommendations online including this forum.

Used it twice once on my wife's scirocco and once on my 4200 and they are both covered in grazes from the clay mit! It's driving me mad so I'm going to buy a DA polisher during the sales in a couple of weeks to correct the paint... Never had that problem with the old school clay bar so I think for the sake of saving 30 minutes vs. keeping your clear coat graze free its best to ditch the mit and stick with the bar... I have binned mine already

I am sure someone will come along to disagree :)
 

tan55555

Member
Messages
177
Interesting you report grazing after using the clay mit

I have always used clay bar with great success and I decided to get the clay mit after various recommendations online including this forum.

Used it twice once on my wife's scirocco and once on my 4200 and they are both covered in grazes from the clay mit! It's driving me mad so I'm going to buy a DA polisher during the sales in a couple of weeks to correct the paint... Never had that problem with the old school clay bar so I think for the sake of saving 30 minutes vs. keeping your clear coat graze free its best to ditch the mit and stick with the bar... I have binned mine already

I am sure someone will come along to disagree :)
Good to know, I was considering a clay mitt but think I'll get a clay bar instead.
 

FIFTY

Member
Messages
3,100
Good to know, I was considering a clay mitt but think I'll get a clay bar instead.

Keep in mind you still need to apply the correct method when using the clay bar or it can do damage. Regularly folding the clay in on itself, keeping the surface well lubracted and if you drop the clay on the floor it goes straight in the bin.


Youtube is a great resource I'm a fan of Larry at Ammo NYC so here is one of his howto's

 

Ebenezer

Member
Messages
4,445
Don't get me wrong. Clay mitt is fine. It was my heavy handed (mis)-use as I was scrubbing with quite alot of pressure rather than gently wiping. The thing works very well and much faster than clay bar. I did the rest of the car without any issues. Just make sure there's plenty of lubrication, wipe gently, rinse in clean water frequently and wash it afterwards. But don't tumble dry! Mrs Eb was being helpful and it melted against the inside of the dryers drum! Had to peel it off and use some magic solvent stuff to get the "residue" off.

I've also used the clay bar but it wears my fingers out constanly having to remold it. Also its very easy to have it flip out of your hand and then having to discard it - expensive!
Eb
 
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MGT

Member
Messages
262
I have found a clay mitt just as "paint safe" as a clay bar. Usual rules apply, plenty of lube, etc!

No idea how to clean a clay mitt properly so often end up buying a new one every few uses and then re-cycling the old one to some of our other cars. Saying that, even the oldest one I have still looks clean and doesn't mar the paint.
 

FIFTY

Member
Messages
3,100
Hmm entirely possible i applied too much pressure when I used it... I can be slightly heavy handed when working at pace. Much less difficult to do so with the bar but it does take longer.
 

Scaf

Member
Messages
6,513
I have found the clay mitt much easier and safer to use that the clay car itself an dhave always had good results and not scratches. Lots of lube and Kelli gets the mitt wel rinsed it vital though.
 

EnzoMC

Member
Messages
1,998
Got around to having another go at the bonnet yesterday. Thumbs up for the clay-mitt suggestion! Worked like a charm! So it was some sort of tree sap/gunk on the surface after all. Might have been a bit too enthusisatic though as I've now got a few scratches to polish out.

Before and after shots
Eb

great result - glad all sorted out - if your localish and want help getting the marks out more than happy to help
 

Ebenezer

Member
Messages
4,445
Thanks for your very kind offer Enzo. I'll bear that in mind.
Just taken the car to a paint shop to get an estimate for respaying the bonnet, bumper and 2 front wings, side mirrors which have the alloy corrosion and alloys. I've got peeling clear coat so repsray is the only way appparently
Trouble is where do you stop? I've got road rash in front of the rear wheel, scratchs on the doors, and found a ding on the front wheel arch.
Eb
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,594
Thanks for your very kind offer Enzo. I'll bear that in mind.
Just taken the car to a paint shop to get an estimate for respaying the bonnet, bumper and 2 front wings, side mirrors which have the alloy corrosion and alloys. I've got peeling clear coat so repsray is the only way appparently
Trouble is where do you stop? I've got road rash in front of the rear wheel, scratchs on the doors, and found a ding on the front wheel arch.
Eb

Just full respray it. £3k for cash is a descent price, anymore and it’s getting up there.

Krishna’s GTS is being done for that price and that’s the wheels, roof, mirrors....everything.
 

jw38

Member
Messages
130
I have found the clay mitt much easier and safer to use that the clay car itself an dhave always had good results and not scratches. Lots of lube and Kelli gets the mitt wel rinsed it vital though.
Two days ago, my wife purchased a Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited in black, so I had a go with a clay mitt yesterday and the results were spectacular. Even though it's a brand new vehicle, I could feel the crud on the paint. The clay mitt removed all of the roughness and then I used two coats of Topcoat F11...the paint is absolutely brilliant!
 

MarkMas

Chief pedant
Messages
8,796
Just taken the car to a paint shop to get an estimate for respaying the bonnet, bumper and 2 front wings, side mirrors which have the alloy corrosion and alloys. Trouble is where do you stop? I've got road rash in front of the rear wheel, scratchs on the doors, and found a ding on the front wheel arch. Eb

I have just two words for you, Eb: BORDEAUX PONTEVECCHIO
 

Ebenezer

Member
Messages
4,445
lovely colour - but would no doubt fall foul of the SM style police and I would have to buddy up with the
pink ghibber. Black rear and roof with aubergine front end would mean parking at the far end of the Ace for ever more!

ps personally think that most masers are really quite boring in the colour dept. Just look how excited we are about the volcano red GT Dickie is selling.
Eb