Langka/Clay bar questions

[lip]

Hello guys/gals,

Just wondering if anyone has any experience with removing stone chips with the Langka solution. It looks pretty sweet. However, with all things that people try and sell you, a lot of them are more marketing hype than actual product.

Has anyone also used the clay bar to remove dirt and other bad stuff from your paint job? I'm not sure how the stuff that the clay picks up will not go back into the car. I bought a mothers kit with the clay bar in it. The instructions are pretty weak for me...Do I need to break off a small piece? How big is small? Will this same piece do the whole car?
Does the bad stuff go into the clay?
I'm worried about the "bad stuff" scratching other parts of the paint job when it is on the clay bar.
Also, is the clay bar good for getting rid of bugs and stuff? Any recommondations?

Cheers,

[ElectricBlueGT]

lip,

Langka works very well, once you get used to it. A little bit goes a long way. Langka even removes graffiti. See my thread "Here's Something to Make You Cringe..." in this forum for the details.

First things first, make sure you wash your car BEFORE using the clay bar. This will remove 98% of the things that can scratch your paint in the first place.

Regarding the clay bar, yes, the bad stuff is pushed into the clay. I use a piece the size of a quarter to a half-dollar. Use lots of lubrication (ie-the quick detailer spray or whatever was packaged in the kit). The lubrication is what stops most of the scratching from occurring.

The clay bar is excellent for removing bugs and tar.

If the clay bar piece falls on the ground, throw that piece away. The grit from the ground will kill your paint.

Be sure to wax your car after using the clay bar.

There is a detailing section on the main page of PTCruiserLinks. One of the topics is the use of the clay bar. It is good reading material!

Scott

[lip]

Thanks for the reply!!!

My car was made in May or June of 2003...is it too early to wax the car? I heard that it should not be waxed for 6 months to a year after manufacture so the paint can cure...Thus, if this is the case, should I wait to use the clay bar until this time has passed?

Cheers,

LIP

[turbomangt]

Hi Lip, I'm the guy the writes the detailing forum on the homepage. (turbomangt) visit my web site and see "detailing tips" read through them, if their is still a question you have e mail me direct. I spend a good hour responding to car care questions for people all over every night. I have a passion for this stuff. Clay, once you figure out how to use it, you will never be without it. Bluegt is correct in that it removes contaminants that the wash stage does not. Their are a few tricks however, which would take too long to post here. Bugs can be removed before the clay process, and tar can mess up your clay bar, which is why you should use a cleaner to remove the heavy stuff first. Clay is an amazing product though. As far as waxing (I prefer to paint seal, it will last 5 times longer than the best wax on the market) you should do that right away, after you detail/clean your car. Todays paint technology does not need to cure like single stage stuff of long ago. Visit my web site for more info> www.perfectautofinish.com Gary Kouba/Owner