Any thoughts as to when to clay bar the car? It’s now 6 months old (but only 1,000 miles).

How often do you do it or have it done? Any favorite brands? I use Adams.

The car is in S. Cal. BTW. Location and weather does make a difference imo.

Thanks

 

Clay it as soon as you take it home from the dealer. New cars still arrive with impurities picked up during shipping.

After that, once or twice a year should be sufficient. Being SoCal we have a lot of air pollution so gunk builds up quick no matter how often you wash.

Take a plastic baggie, lay it on the surface, then slide your fingers along the surface of the bag. It will be easy to feel the little bumps on the paint.

 

+1 on the plastic bag test. Honestly, unless your paint finish is really heavily oxidized, the only time I'd clay is right before polishing, so that the impurities don't end up on your polishing pads and end up marring the paint (and dirtying your pads).

 

Claying is really rough on the paint, there's really no need to do it on what is essentially a brand new car. Unless you're gonna polish right afterwords, you really shouldnt do it. Remember, when the clay picks up all of those contaminates, you're basically rubbing those all over the rest of your paint until you fold it in.

 

If you are doing that, then you are claying wrong.

Just do a search for claying new vehicles and look at what people are pulling off of "brand new" paint. Shipping can cause a lot contamination, especially those sent via rail or truck.

 

I didn't say you wouldn't pull stuff off, i just said its very rough on the paint. Ask any reputable professional detailer.

 

Never heard of it being rough on the paint by any detailer if it is done properly with plenty of lubrication.