I am about to clay my car in the next few weeks. Just got the car back from the body shop where it had minor touchups from hurricane damage. I will be waiting the 30 days he told me I need to give it before I do anything. But the last time I clayed my car I used this process:
1) wash and dry
2) clayed with mothers clay bar and used the spray stuff included
3) finished off with mother california gold wax

I was very happy with the results. I now have just purchased the mequiers NXT generation wax. I want to use this the next time I am done claying. Should I use the same process or should I do all these extra steps you all talk about here. My paint is in great condition with very little swirl marks if any. Any advice is appreciated.

 

You might wanna polish the car, then clay it. The results will be even nicer.

 

Polish before claying? I thought the clay would come first.

 

claying takes bumps and ruff spots out of paint if not too bad. I would clay first before polish dude. I use to detail for a living once for a auction. you can take or leave my advice...

 

what kind of polish would you reccomend and whats involved?

 

alot of people are happy with the meguires polish. if you can do the 3 step package they got the results are real nice.........

if you got clay already just get the polish and wax seprate

some time involved and elbow greese.......

 

I personatly use a wax that I got back from when I use to detail and works good. I don't know what it is tough. the label is ripped off by now........

 

You use a mid abrasive level polish, then clay....that way, the clay picks up the real nasty stuff and lasts longer.

 

Teq: I bet that wax is Ardex

Also, clay bars are meant for "stubborn" contaminants. Its better to do somethn like an einszett PP then clay.

 

I'd only polish before claying if the finish is heavily oxidized.