The Clay Bar - How A Piece of Clay Fits Into Cleaning Your Car

For all my time in the detailing business, I have heard more confusion and questions about this little blob. I hope to clear up some confusion and provide a little education.

When you “clay bar” a car, you are literally taking a lump of clay and “scrubbing” the exterior painted surfaces of the car. A lubricant is used in the process (soapy water or a liquid spray wax - my personal favorite), keeping the clay from sticking to the car and increasing the performance of the product. When the clay is used, the contact surface is so smooth and flat that it creates more surface contact than any buffer or hand towel can. This close contact is what provides the clay with the ability to remove surface contaminants like industrial fallout. The clay absorbs the contamination and does not transfer it back to the car.

At the end of the job your paint is left super clean and ready for the best wax application possible. If you do not clay the car and still wax it, you may notice little white specs on the car. This is where the fallout traps the wax. I have never felt a finish so smooth and seen a wax job as good as I have after a thorough clay job. You will be amazed at the results!

This is a job you can do yourself but I do not recommend it unless you have done it a few times already. The clay traps everything that it contacts so picking something up that will scratch your car is a real possibility. It is time consuming as well.

This is a process that is used in conjunction with buffing, but it doesn't always accompanies just buffing. If you want this process done, it is best to ask specifically for it.

If you do it on your own, I do recommend using a liquid spray wax. The job is cleaner and, I think, better. As for the clay itself, just use a high quality product and you will be happy. I recommend pretty much anything that you find at Griot’s Garage. They do a great job with their products.

Happy clay bar, people! Put some diapers in your car because the finish will be Baby Butt Smooth!

The Birds And The Bees…

It is finally spring time! The sun is shining a little more, the air smells a little more fragrant, the insects have multiplied, and the birds have started to return. For your car, spring can be a mixed blessing. 

While here in the northwest the harsh weather begins to calm, allowing some reprieve to your cars paint, the bird and insect life is just getting into full swing. These two creatures can launch an all-out assault on the exterior of your car. Between the seemingly infinite number of bugs in the air and the metric tons of bird poop that rains from the sky, we recommend a diligent and attentive approach to your car’s paint.

We all know that bird poop is first and foremost gross, then ugly, and finally harmful. It is especially acidic. Bird droppings contain significant amounts of Uric acid with a pH of 3-4.5 (that’s pretty high). Its so high that it not only can eat through the paint on your car but can dissolve building materials! Pardon the language, but you do not want that sh#* on your car! If left long enough, it will ruin the finish.

Surprisingly, bugs can be just as harmful to your car. When a bug is unlucky enough to have its final resting place on your front bumper, fenders, or hood, the resulting juices will leave a lasting impression if not cleaned soon enough. If left too long, the bug actually etches the paint and the body of the bug begins to sink into the clear coat. This leaves a permanent spot in your paint you can not only see, but feel with your finger.

Have no fear, however! Both of these menaces can be easily cleaned right away. All you need is a mild soap and water mix. Even a mild glass cleaner will easily lift the stuff off of your car. Wipe it off with a micro fiber towel and you are good to go! The bugs may take a little more scrubbing but they will come off if they are fresh.

You can also give yourself a little insurance by making sure that your car always has a good coat of wax on it. This will provide a less sticky surface making cleaning easier and adds one more layer of protection.

Drive clean and enjoy the sun!

Let's Talk About Scratches...

Before we get too far into scratches, how we all hate them and how we all somehow manage to get them, it is important to first understand exactly what the anatomy of your car's paint job is.

Most cars are painted in a two-stage process. After the primer is cured the first stage is applied. This is the basecoat - the actual color of the car. Once the proper number of coats is applied, the second stage begins. This is the clear coat. This is the final stage that gives your base coat a shine and a layer of protection. So, once the job is complete you essentially have three layers between you and the metal of your car. Ok, now on to scratches.

Scratches come in many forms. Some appear to be swirls, some appear white or are discolored, and others go all the way to the paint. All of these can be addressed and repaired to varying degrees.

There is a general rule that you can easily use to see what your scratches will need in the way of repair. If you drag your fingernail across the scratch and it catches, the scratch is usually too deep to buff out. Otherwise, a combination of cutting and buffing can be employed to fix the scratch because this generally means that the damage is limited to the clear coat.

Cutting and buffing are two separate techniques. “Cutting” means a wool pad on a buffing machine is used to “cut” down some of the clear coat to smooth out the edges and spread out the scratch. This process actually eliminates the scratch, where as light buffing and waxing tend to only temporarily fill the damage and hide it. Buffing is then used to polish out the damaged area making the scratch disappear for good.

There are some times when wet sanding or “color sanding” is used to repair deeper scratches. This technique is very sensitive and should only be done by a professional. It is very easy to do more damage if you have never done this before. This will usually make the scratch disappear or minimize it to the point where you are happy with it. Again this is usually only used on scratches that are very aggressive.

Finally, when the scratch is all the way down to the metal, you are left with two options. Touch-up or re-paint. Touch-up is a great alternative to expensive re-painting although is not perfect. You will still be able to see the damage but the color will be the same and the metal will be protected. It is also important to understand that no amount of sanding and buffing will make this repair appear any better than a touch up job.

Each scratch is unique, and we are happy to answer any questions you may have. We will offer honest and thorough answers that are beneficial to you. Please feel free to call us at 253.474.7274 or comment below - we're here to help!

A Few Thoughts On Windshields

At some point in the life of your car you are very likely to have to replace your windshield. Somewhere between the rock chips and the aging of your car, you come to the point of needing a replacement.

The biggest reasons for replacements are rock chips that are left un-repaired. Rock chips allow air and moisture in to the glass and when they expand and contract, breakage is always the result. Repairing the chip glues the cracking in place and seals off air and moisture.

A less well known, but still common, reason for replacement is simply due to age. As the car ages so does the urethane that anchors the glass in place. The glue begins to fail and allows water to start corroding the seal and the metal frame. This usually is isolated to much older vehicles but has been seen in newer ones where the initial installation was not done properly.

When replacing, it is of the utmost importance to use high quality materials and techniques.  If someone decides to cut corners, the job will eventually have to be redone. You cannot install a windshield with a half effort and not expect to see the customer come back with complaints. Technicians who carelessly remove and install can damage the headliner, the plastic moldings in the interior, or even damage the paint causing serious rust issues in the future. Never settle for less than high quality installations.

At The Car Bar, we start with highly trained and skilled technicians. They are knowledgeable and careful to treat your car as if it were their own. We use only high quality glass, urethane and moldings to insure the proper installation. Our belief is that it should be done right the first time; this saves both the customer and us time and money allowing us to give the best price we possibly can. We want you to leave happy and confident in your glass.

On the rare occasion there is an issue (we are only human) we address it without question. Our customers drive our business. They are the only reason we open our doors. Your happiness and satisfaction are our top priorities. We want your glass business, and when you use us, you will never want to go anywhere else. You are far more important to us than our bottom line.

How Much Damage Can Paintless Dent Repair Fix?

I get several customers per day asking exactly how much damage can be fixed without having to paint their car. The answer is actually quite amazing. I have repaired dents as small as a popcorn seed to as large as completely caved in doors. The scope of repair possibilities is growing quite rapidly as well.

As technologies and techniques advance, we are finding that we can make the vast majority of our customers with very large dents very happy with paintless dent repair. We can save hundreds if not thousands of dollars for our customers. The process for this type of repair varies greatly, as each large dent requires a completely unique approach. It takes a skilled and creative technician to make the repair correctly. The Car Bar has just such technicians.

I always tell my customers to come see me first. You never know how much damage we could repair and even better, how much money we can save you! I am confident that you will be surprised and happy with our results.