Clay Bar vs Compound - Meguiar's Cuts Through the Confusion Between Each Step
Channel: Meguiar's
Date: 2020-06-26

Have you ever been confused about when to use a clay bar and when to use a compound? Have you wondered what each step does and what the difference is between the two?

First, wash and dry with a premium car wash, like Meguiar’s Ultimate Wash & Wax, to remove any loose dust, grime and debris from the paint. Be sure to use premium microfiber accessories to get the best swirl-free results. Next, evaluate the paint. 

CLAY BAR

Run your clean, dry fingertips over the paint. If it feels rough, this indicates that you have bonded contaminants on top of the paint that need to be removed. These are things like rail dust, tree sap mist, industrial fallout, and paint overspray. If your paint feels completely smooth, you can skip this step and move on to compounding.

Meguiar’s has two clay bar kits, Meguiar’s Hybrid Ceramic Quik Clay Kit and Meguiar’s Smooth Surface Clay Kit. Both quickly remove above surface bonded contaminants without swirling or scratching, make the paint feel as smooth as glass, and allow for the next steps to work quicker and better. 

The Hybrid Ceramic Clay Kit has a Synthetic Clay Pad and Meguiar’s Hybrid Ceramic Detailer as lubricant. Glide the lubricated pad back and forth until the paint is smooth and wipe off the excess with the Supreme Shine Microfiber. Work in sections.

With the Smooth Surface Clay Kit, you spray a section of the paint liberally with Meguiar’s Quik Detailer. Flatten the clay like a patty, spray once with the detailer and work it back and forth until the paint is smooth. Wipe off the excess with the Supreme Shine Microfiber.

Also new is Meguiar’s Iron Removing Spray “Clay”. After washing, spray the product on the paint and gently agitate the surface with a wash mitt.  Rinse & dry.  Note, however, that tree sap mist & paint overspray must be removed with a clay bar or pad, instead of the wash mitt.

COMPOUND

Visually inspect the paint for below surface defects like swirls, scratches, oxidation, and stains. Different types of lighting can reveal different defects. So, consider looking at the paint from several different angles and in different types of lighting so we can see all potential defects that may be present.

If you have light to moderate below surface defects, Meguiar’s Ultimate Compound is a paint cleaner that’s the perfect way to remove defects in the paint without hazing or marring the surface like a traditional compound. 

Apply a small amount of Ultimate Compound with a soft foam applicator by hand, or with a foam cutting disc by Dual Action Variable Speed Polisher. Work in a 1-2 square foot area with overlapping passes using light to moderate pressure. Wipe off the residue with a premium microfiber towel before it dries. Inspect your work and re-apply as needed to remove any remaining stubborn paint defects. Work in sections.

Once done, apply Meguiar’s Ultimate Polish for maximum shine, followed by your favorite Meguiar’s wax to ensure you have plenty of protection.

So, the next time you notice your paint doesn’t feel completely smooth… or if you notice swirls, scratches, or stains, you’ll now know the difference between a clay bar and a compound… And, you’ll know exactly which product to go to get the best results.

Products Featured:
Meguiar’s Ultimate Wash & Wax – G17748
Meguiar’s Yellow Wash Bucket – VBUCKET3.5GAL
Meguiar’s Microfiber Wash Mitt – X3002
Meguiar’s Microfiber Water Magnet Drying Towel – X2000
Meguiar’s Hybrid Ceramic Quik Clay Kit – G200200
Meguiar’s Smooth Surface Clay Kit – G191700
Meguiar’s Supreme Shine Microfiber Towel – X2020
Meguiar’s Iron Removing Spray Clay – DRTU200232
Meguiar’s Ultimate Compound – G17216
Meguiar’s Paint Inspection Light Sunlight 3+ - MT103
Meguiar’s Foam Applicator Pad – W0004
Meguiar’s MT300 Dual Action Polisher – MT300
Meguiar’s 5” DA Foam Cutting Disc – DFC5
Meguiar’s Ultimate Polish – G19216
Meguiar’s Ultimate Liquid Wax – G18216
Meguiar’s Ultimate Paste Wax – G18211

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