As the year progresses, the days become longer and with the nights becoming shorter, more and more guys and gals are getting off work and rushing home to cruise their platform of choice before sunset. Rather it’s a Resto-mod Ford, a GSXr 1000, or a full size k5 Blazer, all are out to show off what they have been tirelessly working on in the shadows of their shop, garage or tinker shed.

I too am one of those who likes to engage in the effort to draw as many eyes as I can, while in traffic. One of my favorite means to do so is to make sure I clay my paint before waxing or engaging in the application of a finishing product. But can you clay to much?

What is Claying?

Claying or clay baring is the process of literally rubbing a product known as “Poly Clay” onto the surface of the paint in conjunction with a lubricant to remove embedded contaminants. There are newer versions of this that are a type of composite rubber that come in a pad or mit form. When dropped on the ground, you can easily rinse it off as opposed to having to throw the piece dropped in the trash. Often we wash our chariots and find that there are stubborn stains that are difficult to remove or things like road tar or paint that don’t readily come off. This is often the solution to that problem.

How does it work?

Before we dive right into this effort to explain the process, lets be clear from the start. There’s more than one way to go about this. There are different grades of clay, different types of lubricants for these different grades of clay. And in some cases, different techniques to go about using these clays and lubricants. I’m going to shoot a small arrow at a large target here. what I am aiming for is to just touch the surface of said topic. Not looking to score a bulls eye or come out the GURU of claying. I want to stay very basic so we can all get a start on what to do. Now that we are all on the same sheet of music, let’s begin.

Start by washing the chariot of which is going to receive special treatment and after rinsing, while still wet, use the lubricant to spray the clay then the surface paint and start rubbing. Follow the instructions on your product of choice to achieve maximum results. Whew!! That wasn’t to harsh I hope. After your done you’ll want to apply a wax or sealant to help protect the naked surface for a finish that lasts longer. The results longevity strictly depends on weather conditions, exposure to the elements, how well the vehicle is cleaned and how often. Claying is a purpose oriented task, meaning you do it when you need to do it.

End game is to remove contaminants from the surface of the paint and allow the light to reflect at maximum efficiency so you can enjoy a flawless finish. up close and personal the paint has highs and lows that hold contaminants. Claying removes these contaminants when plain washing fails to do so.

So what have we learned? Well I’ll tell ya what the takeaway is, Clay your paint and let the results remind you of when you need to do it again. There are a ton of reading on the topic, even more products available. The goal is to have fun while doing it and be proud of the results you get from your own efforts.