What is claying?
Claying, as mentioned in contaminant removal, is a method of removing paint contaminants and imperfections on the paint surface. To demonstrate the imperfections, rub your hand over a section of paint that appears to be clean-you should feel relatively smooth paint. But take a piece of cellophane and rub the paint in the same manner and you will probably notice the paint feels rough because of contaminants stuck to the paint surface. Rubbing clay snags up those contaminants, leaving a super-clean and smooth surface to apply wax. The clay needs lubricant to slide across the paint surface-use either the lube that came with it, or use car wash soap mixed with water. Try the cellophane again after claying and the paint should feel slick. The paint will also have a deeper, wet look when the surface is smooth again. Claying the paint isn’t always necessary with a detail job, and can actually remove a small amount of paint and/or cause scratches from the contaminants being rubbed back into th
A special automotive clay product is used to remove bonded contaminants from the paintwork. These are such things as industrial fallout, tree sap, brake dust, fine tar spots, etc, which washing may not always remove. If you would like to see what claying can remove, have a look at the Detailing section of the website.
