Clay bar

How long does using a clay bar finish last, I used a Meguiar’s clay bar on my Tundra about 2 years ago. But every time I wash my car with Meguiar’s wash and wax I only wash by hand. And follow up with spray wax about every few months, keeps it looking and feeling great. Today I went ahead and clay bar my Tundra again, not sure if it really needed it but better safe than sorry.
I always use bug and tar remover as needed, then hand wash, rinse, clay bar, then rinse, spray wax and polish with a soft cloth.

 

The clay bar pulls contaminates off of your paint (doesn't really add anything to the paint), so it will last as long as your paint feels smooth to the touch. Personally i use Griots synthetic clay twice a year (spring and fall) and follow it up with some Groits 3-in-1.
Have you done an iron remover? Is usually best to do that before using the clay bar.

 

Depends on how contaminated your truck gets. It will always differ from various elements, miles driven, weather etc.

I usually do it once a year *if needed*

 

The only time you should use a clay bar is right before paint correction. This will become painfully obvious on a darker paint color because of all the swirls and hazing you'll put on the paint once finished with the clay bar. It is an abrasive compound designed to remove contaminants prior to polish/paint correction. While less abrasive than starting a polisher on contaminated paint, it is abrasive nonetheless.

https://www.detailedimage.com/Auto-Detailing-Guide/Clay-Bar/

 

I do it once a year on average.

As long as you stick to fine grade clay (which will cover the vast majority of what’s needed), and you use good technique, you shouldn’t have any marring. I’ve clayed dozens of vehicles over the years and never once damaged the paint in any way.

 

I clay vehicles all the time without screwing up the paint or having to do correction.

 

If you want to determine that a vehicle needs claying, put your hand in a quart ziplock bag and feel the paint. You'll feel the specks of stuff stuck to the paint that a bare hand doesn't feel. Try it.
Use a good detail spray as a lube along with a quality clay and fold/pancake the clay often. Clay will only cause swirls if not lubed and/or not folded/worked. Paint can need claying without needing swirl correction but most folks usually polish after claying since claying is typically done infrequently.

 

The advice you gave is contradicted by the article you linked to. As others have said, it really depends on how contaminated your paint gets. I clay my vehicles twice a year, right before a full detail. I've clay barred my truck several times and never caused any noticeable hazing, marring and/or swirls, although I suppose it is possible if you do not use a proper clay lube, or not enough of it. Griots Garage clay is, to me, very mild and a good one to start with. Combine it with using Griots Speed Shine and you will be fine.

As suggested by Danimal86, a thorough decontamination should involve a step to remove any iron deposits on the paint.

 

Hmm, sounds like I really need to work on my clay bar technique! And maybe it's time to move away from the clay bar I can get at walmart...

 

That depends....which one do they sell at WalMart?

 

They usually have the Maguiar’s kit, and I’ve seen Mothers synthetic there. Other than early on, I’ve stuck with Nanoskin mitts or Polyshave blocks.

I’m sure pros say that true clay does a better job, but I can’t tell the difference. I’ve followed up with clay on some panels after doing it with synthetic, and I didn’t pick anything else up that I could see.

 

I'm in the same boat, using a Nanoskin mitt now. The fact that you can clean it (especially if you drop it, unlike a clay bar) and better surface coverage make it night and day. It's amazing how smooth our Sienna's 17 year old paint can get with just the mitt (and proper lubrication of course).

 

I typically use either the clay from Zaino or Griots and have had great luck with both, but I'm looking at trying the synthetic pad from Griots that fits their G9 polisher. Has anyone tried that yet?

 

Go to about 4:50 in the video. Brian from Apex Detail is generally recognized as one of the best detailers on YouTube.
https://youtu.be/1GKX5ipg3OQ

 

Brian is a well-respected detailer, and I follow him and his work. You certainly can't dispute what he's showing there, but I have not seen marring like that on any of the cars I've clayed. Maybe that clear is super soft? Maybe I'm not using enough pressure or too much clay lube?

I typically have a light polish step after a clay bar anyway.

 

I do the same

decon
Clay
Polish
Erase
Seal

normally no correction unless it starts out that way.