claying this weekend. Do I need to do the whole car, or just the upper surfaces?

2.7tDallas · 09-17-2002, 06:54 PM

JohnLZ7W · 09-17-2002, 07:55 PM

It took me about 4hrs to clay the entire thing(IIRC) and the TT is a bit smaller than an A6

The most time spent was on the back end, lots of stuff embedded there. Also, in places where stuff could be kicked up by the tires, low on the sides, was another spot that took awhile. If you've been doing the polish/glaze and wax routine the improvement on the other surfaces would be minimal. Maybe do a once over but don't go nuts.

2.7tDallas · 09-17-2002, 08:00 PM

and it really looked great, but I could feel that there is a bunch of crap on the paint

RickM · 09-17-2002, 09:18 PM

Don't be put off by the idea of claying the whole car. This subject has come up before -- how long people spend just claying -- and for the life of me I don't know how anyone can spend an hour, let alone 2, 3 or 4 hours, claying their car. I know I'm not the most obssesive when it comes to this. And both of my cars have black plastic lowers, which saves time right there. But still...I'm doing my whole car in like 15 minutes. The objective is a smooth surface, right? I'm getting that, to my satisfaction, so I can't see doing more than I'm doing.

I'm not using a spray bottle with detailing spray (what a PITA, spraying again and again and again and again as you work); I'm sloshing on diluted car wash using a bucket and a sponge. I'm not working on a 6"x6" area at a time; I'm doing long sweeps on all the big surfaces, and I'm not even worrying about missing a few nooks and crannys here and there. I break up my bar into pieces, and flatten those out, before I even start, so I don't spend a lot time folding and kneading the bar. The pieces I have I fold once as I work, maybe twice, and then I toss 'em. So I guess all these things add up to working fast. Yet I sit here and try to imagine how I'd do it to make it take 2 or 3 hours (and then glaze + wax? Talk about killing a day!)and I swear, I can't even imagine it. Which in my case is just as well, since if it really did take that long I'd never do it.

HDClown · 09-18-2002, 06:03 AM

6 months post clay bar my trunk/rear bumper were already gritty again, just like they were when I first did it (8 months of ownership roughly).

I'd do the entire car for good measure, and any post sessions, just the problem areas.

RKA · 09-18-2002, 07:28 AM

It's only when you start to feel the grime that you have to pass over the spot 2-3 times, and continually refold the clay. The first time I did my car (3 months after I got it), it took a while to get the grime off the paint. After that, I have re-clayed every 6 months, and I can do the entire car in 1/2 hour. The back bumper, and trunk are usually what consume my time...the rest of the paint is cake.

JohnLZ7W · 09-18-2002, 09:17 AM

With my light grey paint I could see lots of stuff stuck in there and I had to get it out

I did spend most of the time on the bumper and lower surfaces. I do think it would save lots of time to do this basically as you are washing the car. That's how I do my windshield now, much faster than the spray bottle.

Seattle Scott · 09-18-2002, 02:13 PM

RickM · 09-18-2002, 02:33 PM

Scott, you must really get your money's worth out of your vehicles! :-p

Seattle Scott · 09-18-2002, 08:07 PM

09-17-2002, 07:55 PM	#2
JohnLZ7W AudiWorld Super User Garage is empty, add now Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 21,115	Personally I think claying the entire car with properly maintained paint is overkill It took me about 4hrs to clay the entire thing(IIRC) and the TT is a bit smaller than an A6 The most time spent was on the back end, lots of stuff embedded there. Also, in places where stuff could be kicked up by the tires, low on the sides, was another spot that took awhile. If you've been doing the polish/glaze and wax routine the improvement on the other surfaces would be minimal. Maybe do a once over but don't go nuts. __________________ John 225QC Aviator Grey/Ebony Cloth Road Trip 2007 blog and gallery. "I just want to drive. I don't want to stop doing this, at all, ever" - Richard Hammond "This is me breathing" - Martin Blank

09-17-2002, 08:00 PM	#3
2.7tDallas AudiWorld Expert Garage is empty, add now Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 25,190	never done it. Did the IHG/PEGC/Blitz about a month ago and it really looked great, but I could feel that there is a bunch of crap on the paint __________________

09-17-2002, 09:18 PM	#4
RickM AudiWorld Uber User Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 36,430	I'd recommend the whole car...you may find the lowers need it most. Don't be put off by the idea of claying the whole car. This subject has come up before -- how long people spend just claying -- and for the life of me I don't know how anyone can spend an hour, let alone 2, 3 or 4 hours, claying their car. I know I'm not the most obssesive when it comes to this. And both of my cars have black plastic lowers, which saves time right there. But still...I'm doing my whole car in like 15 minutes. The objective is a smooth surface, right? I'm getting that, to my satisfaction, so I can't see doing more than I'm doing. I'm not using a spray bottle with detailing spray (what a PITA, spraying again and again and again and again as you work); I'm sloshing on diluted car wash using a bucket and a sponge. I'm not working on a 6"x6" area at a time; I'm doing long sweeps on all the big surfaces, and I'm not even worrying about missing a few nooks and crannys here and there. I break up my bar into pieces, and flatten those out, before I even start, so I don't spend a lot time folding and kneading the bar. The pieces I have I fold once as I work, maybe twice, and then I toss 'em. So I guess all these things add up to working fast. Yet I sit here and try to imagine how I'd do it to make it take 2 or 3 hours (and then glaze + wax? Talk about killing a day!)and I swear, I can't even imagine it. Which in my case is just as well, since if it really did take that long I'd never do it. __________________ ---------------------------------------- "Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and the government when it deserves it." - Mark Twain

09-18-2002, 06:03 AM	#5
HDClown AudiWorld Super User Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 14,492	The hood and the trunk/rear bumper are by far the worst areas of buildup 6 months post clay bar my trunk/rear bumper were already gritty again, just like they were when I first did it (8 months of ownership roughly). I'd do the entire car for good measure, and any post sessions, just the problem areas. __________________ Current: 2011 Audi S4 Past: 2006 VW GTI, 2002 BMW M5, 2003 BMW M3, 2001 Audi A4

09-18-2002, 07:28 AM	#6
RKA AudiWorld Uber User Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 67,001	Maybe, but if the paint is in good shape, he can do the entire car in 15 minutes. It's only when you start to feel the grime that you have to pass over the spot 2-3 times, and continually refold the clay. The first time I did my car (3 months after I got it), it took a while to get the grime off the paint. After that, I have re-clayed every 6 months, and I can do the entire car in 1/2 hour. The back bumper, and trunk are usually what consume my time...the rest of the paint is cake. __________________ 2005.5 A4 Avant 2.0T Quattro 6MT APR 91/93/100 \| APR Exhaust \| 19" BBS RS-GT's \| Carbonio \| Hotchkis \| Partridge-in-a-pear-tree Others: 2006 TL on the block 2001 S4 sold 2000 A4 sold * September 11th, 2001 - Never Forget *

Welcome to AudiWorld!
		Welcome to AudiWorld.com. You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, at no cost, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, join AudiWorld.com today!

09-18-2002, 09:17 AM	#7
JohnLZ7W AudiWorld Super User Garage is empty, add now Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 21,115	Killing a day?? Took me TWO days when I did the full on routine With my light grey paint I could see lots of stuff stuck in there and I had to get it out I did spend most of the time on the bumper and lower surfaces. I do think it would save lots of time to do this basically as you are washing the car. That's how I do my windshield now, much faster than the spray bottle. __________________ John 225QC Aviator Grey/Ebony Cloth Road Trip 2007 blog and gallery. "I just want to drive. I don't want to stop doing this, at all, ever" - Richard Hammond "This is me breathing" - Martin Blank

09-18-2002, 02:13 PM	#8
Seattle Scott AudiWorld Super User Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Nov 2000 Posts: 9,430	I do the entire car, just the uppers on the pickup truck once every 15 years. __________________

09-18-2002, 02:33 PM	#9
RickM AudiWorld Uber User Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 36,430	Once every 15 years...now there's a man who knows his schedule and sticks to it. Scott, you must really get your money's worth out of your vehicles! :-p __________________ ---------------------------------------- "Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and the government when it deserves it." - Mark Twain

09-18-2002, 08:07 PM	#10
Seattle Scott AudiWorld Super User Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Nov 2000 Posts: 9,430	;-) Plain Jane pickup trucks are easy to keep going. Got 12 years out of my first pickup. __________________

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode