What is automotive detailing clay and how does it work?

Automotive Detailing Clay is a synthetic clay which cleans contaminants from the surface of your car's paint, fiberglass, metal and glass; which generally comes in the shape of a bar of soap.  Detailing clay, unlike the clay you play with, feels like a soft, semi-elastic, plastic.  The clay bar needs those soft, semi-elastic qualities as it is properly flattened, and stretched during its sometimes short life.  Detailing clay is designed to stand up to the kind of contaminants that are commonly found on your car such as rail dust, brake dust, over spray, environmental contaminants.  These contaminants do not just sit on the surface of your car.  They actually pierce your car's finish.  You can't get rid of those contaminants by washing or polishing.  The only way to properly do the job is to use detailing clay.   

How Does Auto Detailing Clay Work?
With the assistance of a proper clay bar lubricant to prevent scratching, the clay bar slips over your paint and snags anything that sticks out from the clear coat finish. Because detailing clay is not abrasive, and does not remove any paint, it is a better option than machine buffing to remove these contaminants because detailing clay doesn't remove any paint.
     
What Does Detailing Clay Remove?
There are basically three grades of clay used by professional detailers.  Fine, medium, and course.  Course grade is generally reserved for difficult contaminants such as paint over spray that was not successfully removed with medium grade.  The medium grade detailing clay designed to be used once or twice a year as it removes the wax as well as contaminants.  Fine grade, which is the most commonly used, can be used as often as needed in order to keep that slick, clean finish.

The contaminants found embedded in you vehicles' clear coat often contain fine pieces of metal from such things as rail and brake dust.   These metal contaminants then oxidize, and the rust they produce spreads under the clear coat, which can eventually cause total failure of the paint system. In addition to removing fine metal particles, detailing clay also removes stubborn tar and tree sap.

 
Do I Need to Clay Bar My Car?
It would be safe to say the answer is "Yes."  Chances are that your car was  contaminated with rail dust, brake dust and environmental fallout when you took delivery.  Most cars are transported from the docks or factories by rail to regional holding areas.  (There just happens to be one in my town.)  I see cars come in on the trains, be off loaded, and parked in a large lot until a transport truck comes to pick them up days or weeks later.  During their train voyage they are contaminated by the rail dust, the dust from the train's brakes, as well as the environmental fall out they travel through.  When the cars get to the holding area, they sit out in the weather braving hail, sleet, snow, as well as all of the dirt and dust sand blasted into the car by high winds.  Additionally, new contaminants will be deposited onto your car every time you drive it.

The way to be sure though is "The Sandwich Bag Test" which consists of the following:    
Wash and dry your vehicle, put a clean plastic sandwich bag over your fingers and lightly rub the paint with your fingers.  If it feels rough, your paint is contaminated and should be gone over with a clay bar to remove the contaminants before they possibly cause irreversible damage to your vehicle's finish.
So there you have it.  Now it's up to you.

Submitted by: http://ultraclassicdetailing.com