TimelessR1

The clay bar is a good first step at gtting all the contaminent off the truck. If you go right after jsut a wax...you really arent going to get the shine your looking for. The least I'd do is
1. Wash car with dish soap - removes old wax
2. Clay bar - removes contamintes
3. Polish - brings out shine
4. Wax - protects

Its the polishing step that will bring out the shine, and the wax will jsut protect the clear and paint from the elements.

They do sell cleaner/ waxes all in one to make the job easier, and since you said your doing it by hand...you might want to consider that. I found on black cars the blue Zymol cleaner wax really worked nice. only issue was it doesnt last as long as if you did each step sepreately.

shoot summ

I would add:

3.5 Sealant.....

Zymol does produce a nice bright finish, I've sold many cars after hitting them with Zymol, can't say how long it lasts as I never use it on a car I am keeping though, although it is bright, it has no depth.

I'm pretty judicious with the cleaner/polishes, for a finish that is well taken care of it typically isn't necessary.

I hate clay bars, IMO if your paint needs that step you can accomplish the same thing with the proper foam pad and cleaner.

rob28

Excuse me if I've got the wrong end of the stick here..... A clay bar is used to remove bonded contaminants from the paint that a normal wash will not remove. This stage should only really need to be carried out a couple of times a year.

I'm intrigued to know what foam pads and cleaners you use to achieve the same results. If there's something on the market which is easier than claying and gives the same results, I'm up for giving it a try.

shoot summ

Like I said, IMO....

I never use clay bars, the whole process is a major PITA, and I do know the proper technique for using them.

There are many different textures of foam pads, some firmer thus more aggressive, that with a good cleaner polish does it for me. The only real "bonded contaminant" I've seen is tree sap, a bucket of warm soapy water and a good microfiber will take it right off, or at least the variety I have seen in Oklahoma.

This can very much be like a "what oil?" thread, that is why I said IMO, some people love the process of dragging clay across their paint for hours, I don't.

TimelessR1

Instead of an actual clay bar, I use this rubber block with foam, and a "slick detailer" I cant remember the name of it, but it does the exact same thing as the clay bar but in half to 1/4 of the time. I'll try to find the name of the stuff.....

rob28

Cool, thanks for the reply. I'm just learning about cleaning the truck properly so I'm open to other methods.
When I lived in the UK, there was a lot of industrial fallout, iron filings from the railways as well as the usual tar spots and tree sap so clay was a natural step for me. I have to admit, I do find it quite therapeutic - especially when you run your hand over the car/truck afterwards and it's as smooth as silk, whereas before it felt like a bit of sandpaper.

stormsearch

I like claying because it gives me a chance to inspect every inch of paint to see if anything needs correction. Claying should only take 45 minutes, you don't want to dwell on any area unless needed. But, I agree if the paint is in good shape a good polish should remove a good portion that most of us would still appreciate.

TimelessR1

This is the stuff i use instead of claying..its 20 times easier then claying, and if you happen to drop the foam...you can wash it off. If you drop your clay...your kind of screwed

http://www.autopia-carcare.com/ult-3200-3322.html

2010_F150

your right vermillion is the brightest. cand apple is just a little darker..