chunk o clay per panel = doh

G

gnahc79

New member
I'm too lazy to find the thread, but remember someone mentioning cutting a clay bar into a piece per panel. I tried it out on my car (4dr 01 Accord) a while back and I stopped after two panels. Here are my findings:



- I cut the claymagic bar in half for my car as I usually do

- started to break off a piece for a side panel. I tried to use it, but it was too small. Any bigger and I would probably use up the entire half-bar on only the side panels, no trunk, top or hood. With the small piece the clay started to fall apart and felt like it would fall out of my hand.



In short, unless you want to use the entire bar for one use, stick with the tried and true fold/knead method. Now if only the stupid rain would stop...it's May already!





CJ
 
I've always used the fold and kneed method and don't see a problem with it. Just make sure you when it starts to get really dirty you pitch it!



I've also found that using car wash as lubricant makes the surface a lot slicker than a quick detailer.
 
gnahc79 said:
In short, unless you want to use the entire bar for one use, stick with the tried and true fold/knead method. Now if only the stupid rain would stop...it's May already!CJ
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I agree that the “small piece� method wastes clay, but I disagree about kneading the clay.



Kneading distributes the picked up debris throughout the clay! Here’s what is suggest to get maximum life from the clay with minimum chance of marring: Start with a 2�x3� rectangular patty of clay (half a Clay Magic bar or a full Z-18 bar). Use one side only! When that side has it’s limit of debris, grasp the two 3� sides and stretch it evenly until you have a 2�x4� patty. Now grasp the 2� sides and stretch evenly until you have a 3�x4� patty. Fold in half (without any kneading) and you have another 2�x3� patty with two clean sides. Repeat the above, again using only one side before stretching and folding. Try it, you’ll like it!



Use plenty of lubricant (car shampoo and water is better than a dedicated lube) and a very light pressure.



BTW, it's not raining today in the Sierra between Sacramento and Reno!



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Nick T. said:
Kneading distributes the picked up debris throughout the clay! Here’s what is suggest to get maximum life from the clay with minimum chance of marring: Start with a 2�x3� rectangular patty of clay (half a Clay Magic bar or a full Z-18 bar). Use one side only! When that side has it’s limit of debris, grasp the two 3� sides and stretch it evenly until you have a 2�x4� patty. Now grasp the 2� sides and stretch evenly until you have a 3�x4� patty. Fold in half (without any kneading) and you have another 2�x3� patty with two clean sides. Repeat the above, again using only one side before stretching and folding. Try it, you’ll like it!
Click to expand...
That pretty much sums up my thoughts on kneading and my own folding process. :xyxthumbs
 
I cut my clay bars in half. When the surface of the clay has 'reached the limit", I take the clay and "shave" of the contaminated area, exposing fresh clay. I find that my clay lasts longer doing this.
 
Let me be the disagreeing one here. After reading someone's post (and I think it was BradB's), I decided to try his method -- cutting the bar into tiny slices and using one slice per panel. I used a serrated knife to cut tiny slices -- maybe 1/4" wide -- off the bar, then flattened it out into a piece about the size of a silver dollar and 1/8"-1/4" thick. Worked like a charm. And I believe I ended up using less clay for the entire car. And, best of all for me, I did not need to worry about exposing dirty/scratchy parts, because I just tossed each piece as soon as it got dirty. Sometimes, that was after a section of the body; other times, a piece would last over 2-3 sections.



C'mon, guys. What $$ are we talking here? Clay bars are pretty darn cheap when you come down to it. Me, I'm sticking with this method, since it obviates any concern about scratching or micro-marring.



My $.02
 
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