Tip: Clay is Magic

[trueweb]

I've got so many projects running concurrently on this Raptor I purchased, it's exhausting. The graphics were really suffering on this toy hauler. It had spent most of it's life in a parking lot in the sun. They were cracked, faded, peeling or just plain missing. I've been acquiring new ones to replace them, preferably with exact replacements where possible.

I decided to start with the front since the cap is a smooth solid surface and I don't have to deal with things like windows seams or other obstacles to clean and place the stickers.

I had really good luck removing the graphics with a heat gun at 400 degrees, plastic scrapers and denatured alcohol. Didn't take too long, but I did end up with a bunch of little "sticker balls" from rubbing the gummy stuff off with the alcohol and there was a lot of really stuck on dirt, mostly little black spots, probably parts of bugs that met their demise years ago.

After working on it for a while with alcohol and mineral spirits with a lot of rubbing and a headache from the odors I had a memory recall to a time when I removed over-spray paint from a construction project that got on my car with a bar of clay and meguiar's quick detailer spray. Turns out I had some left after some digging in the garage.

To make an already long story short. It's magic!!! Spray a little quick detailer on then rub lightly to moderately with the clay and the hard to clean spots just started coming right off. I just kept working along and in a short while it was clean.

A few things to note. It leaves a clay residue, but it's easy to remove with soap and water. It comes with a built in cleanliness indicator. if the clay bar is "grabbing" at the surface it's not clean yet. The clay bar will glide smoothly once all the dirt is off the surface. I cannot believe I did not think of this sooner.

It's perfectly safe, a very mild cleaner from Mequiar's and no harsh chemicals make this a very safe way to clean up hard to remove dirt from smooth surfaces.

[Festus2]

Thanks for the "clay" tip --- Who makes it and where can you buy it?

[trueweb]

There are a few companies that make it. I use the Meguiar's version. It's what's available here. You can get it at an Advance Auto store. It usually comes in a kit with the clay bar and the spray.

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/m...1016/7110137-P

It will last for a long time. Just keep turning the bar into itself to expose new surfaces. Store the clay in a zip lock bag so it doesn't dry out.

[bsmith0404]

the Megs clay bar kit at parts stores is typical. Clay does come in different grades. If you go to Autogeeks website, as well as other detail supply companies like Griots, you can find different companies and different grades. I use it all of the time on cars before polishing and waxing. One thing I recommend is buying the clay lube by the gallon. You will go through a spray bottle pretty quick.