[GunMetal3]

So my friend an I were washing our rides for a sunday night cruise. When he told me I should try taking of the stuck road bugs from my hood with some clay bar he was using. I tried it and rubbed some on my hood with water, at first it looked fine but then when I dried it down I saw 2 swirl marks on my hood. He was using it on his army green truck too and nothing happed to his. I guess its noticable on the sparkling graphite color. Does anyone know what I can use on my paint to fix this???

BTW: I would recommed anyone using a clay bar!

[MCMLXXXIX]

ummmmmmmmmmm im no detailing expert but i dont think clay is for removing bugs off the car

[X1 Trojan]

try soap and water next time.

did you use a liquid spray with the clay bar? if you didnt then it wasn't used right and became an abrasive.

[PaulBailey@ltbmw]

OMG
I can't believe i'm reading this!

[Boost Gomez]

Doody balls.

[LOLrance]

+1. Claybar sucks. i've been using 100grit sandpaper and its doing wonders for my paint.

[SpecC]

yes you can use clay to remove bugs

no you cannot use water as lubricant

make sure it's auto detailing clay or it's highly abrasive. well it's abrasive anyway

[Houman21]

Practice Safe Claying - Don't share dirty clay bars!

[lizak187]

Originally Posted by Houman21

Practice Safe Claying - Don't share dirty clay bars!

hahahah

[purplewidow]

seriously just because you had a bad experience with clay you say beware..clay can mar the clear coat and give like a smeared line effect.. if it added swirls you were swirling the clay which is a no no.. a lot of people say soap and water works.. but i find it destroys the clay and can have poor lubricity as it dries off faster than a true libricating qd or lubricant like chemical guys.. i stick with whatever the brand uses.. cg i use cg..riccardo i use riccardo for all detailing clay is designed to work with the companies lubricant method.. all you need to do is pick a 2 foot square section spray the lubricant like crazy and start gliding the clay over in side to side motions or up and down..NOT swirling the clay!!! you should be able to do the whole car in less than an hour!! obviosly your buddy must love to take bugs off with clay and a clay bar full of gritty bug guts will scratch your fine paint.. remember clear coats on trucks are always tougher than a car unless a super nanotech clear coat like what merc has offered since 03'

[normtrum]

Spec said you can use clay to remove bugs, but I'll bet he doesn't do it himself. I will remove bugs with a quality bug remover (mines Poorboy) first thing before I wash my car.

Swrils are usually caused by poor washing and drying techinique, however because you didn't use a proper lube you very well might have caused the problem during your bug removal.

The only true effective way to remove your swrills is to use a quality polish with a machine...whether it be a pc or a flex. If you don't have any experience with this (and I'm guesiing you don't) you have three options...imo. You can take it to a pro and pay for it, take it to a friend who knows what their doing, or learn to to it yourself.

[zaxjax]

So because of "you and your friends" user error, you suggest no one should use a clay bar! Great advice!

If properly used with either clay lube, quick detailer or soap and water, you can can effectively remove major contaminants.

[PaulBailey@ltbmw]

Originally Posted by l4wr3nc3

+1. Claybar sucks. i've been using 100grit sandpaper and its doing wonders for my paint.

I found a pretty good flat rock that works wonders.
Also, try ice scrappers or even razor blades for next bug removal.

[normtrum]

Originally Posted by xPaulBaiLeyx

I found a pretty good flat rock that works wonders.
Also, try ice scrappers or even razor blades for next bug removal.

Funny, I walked out into the garage one time to find my wife with a razor blade trying to scrape off some tree sap on my e46 330 that she drove to her mom's house for the weekend. It's one of those times where I was trying to yell so loud that no words actually came out of my mouth. Just air. Hell, I'm not even sure where she found the razor blade!

[PaulBailey@ltbmw]

Originally Posted by normtrum

Funny, I walked out into the garage one time to find my wife with a razor blade trying to scrape off some tree sap on my e46 330 that she drove to her mom's house for the weekend. It's one of those times where I was trying to yell so loud that no words actually came out of my mouth. Just air. Hell, I'm not even sure where she found the razor blade!

NOT FUNNY!!!! OMG i may have chopped her fingers off with that very same razor blade!!!

Hhahahahahha fucking hilarious!!!

[BK]

Originally Posted by SpecC

yes you can use clay to remove bugs

no you cannot use water as lubricant

make sure it's auto detailing clay or it's highly abrasive. well it's abrasive anyway

+1 Don't clay with plain water!

For bugs stuck to the car, try this -- take half a paper towel and fold it up into a small square. Soak it with water. Set the wet paper towel square on the bug. Leave it there a few minutes. It should soften it enough to lift it off then clean it up with QD. This works for dried on bird poop, too.

[shocka1212]

i think the meguirs kit works perfectly

[Houman21]

If you ask Picus, one of the resident detailing gurus here, he would tell you that if we (USA) got the 'good' clay here - we could use water as lube.

[exceldetail]

I have no problem using clay with water........I normally wash, rinse and clay while theres still water beads available. Its really not an issue. Dont buy into the fact YOU HAVE TO USE A "CLAY LUBRICANT".......

[allstar8]

gees.....clay is safe if use properly..

[picus]

Originally Posted by Houman21

If you ask Picus, one of the resident detailing gurus here, he would tell you that if we (USA) got the 'good' clay here - we could use water as lube.

It's a shame you guys can't get the good stuff.

[Houman21]

Originally Posted by picus

It's a shame you guys can't get the good stuff.

I'm going to canada in 4 months hopefully