Of all the information out there and of all the products being sold to the public to preserve and protect your vehicle’s finish, little or nothing is said about a simple product used in the Automotive Detailing and Paint Repair industry.

Some detailers don’t really understand the benefits of using this product in the way I am going to talk about, and how it is beneficial to their customers and why it should be done on a somewhat regular basis!

Well what is this product?

It is called a Clay Bar.

This is not a new product or a secret product. However, it is not a well know product. Its use even by manufacturers is not well explained or understood.

We have some insight that is unique and not well understood by detailers or body shops because of the range of automotive appearance restoration we specialize in. Since many of the vehicles we work on have already been detailed we have to leave the vehicles “front line ready” when we are finished.

Unlike a body shop whose job does not include any kind of ‘detailing” we have to leave the vehicles we work on “front line ready”. Also, unlike a detail shop we have paint restoration experience.

Why does this matter to you, and how can our experience and knowledge benefit you?

First of all let me explain a basic rule to paint preparation when preparing for refinishing. The surface being worked on has to be completely “sterile” and properly scuffed in order for new paint to adhere well to the area being refinished.

Let me illustrate it this way. If I paint something that has a decal on it and I paint over that decal what happens if that decal’s glue looses its adhesive quality? That area will certainly peel off sooner or later. You would not paint over a pin stripe or decal but on a larger scale if you have removed all surface contaminates you will have great adhesion and a long lasting paint job!

One of the biggest things that makes a paint job a quality paint job is how well the surface has been “prepped’! I cannot stress this point enough!

Have you ever priced a paint job? Have you wondered why some body shops can do a paint job for $400 and others will tell you $3000?!

Did you know the factory paint job on your vehicle can be valued somewhere between $3000 to $6000 depending of the make and model? Any paint work that is not done to the factory standard can devalue your vehicle the amount of your factory paint job.

The prep work done for a paint job when done properly can be the difference between a factory quality paint job and disaster!

So you have this $3000-$6000 paint job on your car, how do you protect it?

First of all do not neglect it by not removing damaging surface contaminates such as tar, sap, bugs, industrial fallout etc. Sap can actually boil in the sun and burn off the finish under the sap, ruining the panel where the sap is.

Second, make sure your waxes or sealants used to protect your paint job are of good quality and prepare the finish for proper adhesion of your wax or sealant.

Should you “prep” the finish for wax or sealants? Absolutely! However, most people think they are prepping for wax but they are not. So how do you “prep” the finish for wax?

The best way to “prep” your vehicles finish for wax or paint sealants is the use of a clay bar! Before you wax and after you have washed your vehicle use a clay bar at least once a year or every six months for the best protection of that expensive paint job.

A clay bar will remove any surface contaminates that washing did not. It can even remove hard water stains on the paint if they are not too bad. This is also the only way to remove paint over spray. A Clay Bar can also be used on the glass and on the headlights which should be part of your wax or sealer routine espeacially if you have restored your headlight lenses.

How do you use a clay bar?

A clay bar has to be used with a lubricant. It is a simple process really. In fact you can even use water as a lubricant. However, it is better to use a spray way that will both lubricate the panels you are clay barring and can be used to clean up clay residue as you go.

Simply spray the area you are clay barring…a 12″ X 12″ area is best and rub the surface with the clay bar back and forth in a side to side motion. You will hear the clay bar picking up light contaminates and as the surface is cleaned you will stop hearing the movement of the clay bar.

You can also feel the surface. If it feels rough like tiny pieces of sand after you have washed it, it needs to be clay barred. Use the same method above and listen and feel the area you are working on after you dry it off.

So work your small area wipe it dry when you think it is finished and check the surface with the inside of your hand rubbing lightly feeling and listening for rough areas. Once you have completed a section you can move on the next.

A word of caution, it has been said, although I gave never experienced this, that a clay bar can rub the paint off eventually if not kept lubricated while using. Use common sense and you should be fine.

Well there it is, this is the best way to prep for waxing your vehicle and a great way to be sure you are getting the best results from your wax.

Enjoy and I hope this article helps!

www.headlightcare.com

www.headlightcare.com/smf

About Author

I own an automotive paint repair company specializing in spot repairs, custom color matches, color blends, body repairs, touch up and scratch repair. We also run a website where we sell our exclusive headlight restoration kit which we designed and created. We have sold well over 2000 kits from our website and on eBay. We also have over 1900 positive feedback for our headlight restoration kit.

Whether you vehicle is old or new chances are you want it to look good! With that said there are many different ways to keep it looking good and different reasons why you want it to look good. It can sometimes be the simple things that keep your car in good condition. For example, getting your oil changed is a simple way to keep your engine going good for a long time. However, we are talking more about the outside appearance. To start with you should keep your vehicles paints looking great! You will find a few solutions and reasons to do so if you read on.

First of all you should start by washing your car on a regular basis. This keeps the paint clean and helps protect the coating. If you allow bugs, sap, and dirt to collect on your car’s paint it starts breaking down the coating and your paint can dull or worse. So, the easiest way to protect your cars paint is by washing it which does not take a lot of time and you can easily do it yourself.

On top of washing your vehicle you should wax your vehicle quite regularly as well. A good wax every now and then can keep your vehicle looking brand new for years and years. Many people seem to overlook this process since they think it takes a long time. But in reality it doesn’t take long at all if you keep up with it. The wax protects the paint from breaking down and keeps your vehicles paint looking shiny. It is well worth the time and effort of waxing.

The two above mentioned solutions you can do yourself quite simply. However if you don’t have the time or desire to do it yourself you will gain the benefits of these two services which are included in a car detail. You can get a professional to do the work for you; however it will cost you a bit more.
Another way to keep your vehicles paint looking good is by taking care of any chips or cracks in your vehicles paint. These chips and cracks can happen easily from road debris or a little parking lot mishap. However if you don’t get them taken care of they can cause the area around them to begin rusting. Your paint acts as a sealant for the steel that is under it, so if the paint isn’t there, that steel starts rusting which is not good for your vehicle. It also just doesn’t look good to have chips and cracks in your paint job. To avoid having to fix chips and cracks you may consider getting a 3M Clear bra put on your car to protect areas that are prone to having that happen, like your bumper.

Any professional auto body shop should be able to offer all the services mentioned above to keep your vehicles paint looking good. What are you waiting for; after all you want your vehicles paint to look good for a long time!

About Author

If your car is in need of auto reconditioning start looking for a qualified professional to handle your concerns. Look for an auto body professional to take care of your ride from paint touch up to fixing the major auto body repairs.

Auto Source gives you superior value and instant access to Car Loans, Bad Credit Car Loans, Used Car Loans and Car Loan Quotes information, resources, products and services from a huge range of Canada’s best bank and non-bank car finance specialists.

Whatever your car loan needs, Auto Source can help you locate the right car loan rates and comparisons regardless of your situation …

MAKING NEWS:

Helpful Information – Buying a Car: Auto Loan Tips and Car Buying Tips
Learn to buy smart and save thousands by following our buying tips.

Buying a car is one of the most exciting purchases you can make. If you do a little research before your purchase you could save hundreds, if not thousand of dollars. Vehicles are not a good investment. The second you drive them off the lot, they lose value. By following a few of our buying tips, you will be able to make a smart purchase, save some money and enjoy your vehicle for years to come.

1/Do your research

It is worth your time to do a little research on the type of vehicle you are looking for. The internet makes it easy, offering information through websites like Kelly Blue Book and Cars.com. You can search these websites for free information on model prices, current values, features and more. This will give you an advantage when shopping for your vehicle. You will know in advance what the vehicle is worth and be able to negotiate a lower price.

2/Shop online

Shopping for your auto loan online is not only convenient, but auto lender’s rates online are often much lower than auto loan rates at dealerships. Not only can you compare rates online, but there are auto loans available for all credit-types. And you don’t have to deal with salespeople.

Almost instantly, after you fill out your online application, you will receive your approval through email. You will then be mailed a check for a specified amount to be made out to the business or person selling the vehicle.

Should you decide not to use the check, you can simply disregard it. Getting approved for your auto loan in advance can give you an advantage when negotiating your final sale price.

3/Buy used cars instead of new

As soon as you drive a new car off the lot, you could be “upside down.” Meaning, you owe more on your auto loan than the vehicle is worth. New cars drop in value immediately. You will lose money by paying interest on something that depreciates. Buying a new car is very appealing, but if you buy a car just one year older, you will pay much less for it. When you decide to sell, it could keep you from being upside down. Also, vehicles that are only a few years old will still come with new car warranties.

4/Avoid auto dealer add-ons

Auto Dealer add-ons are costly and do not add any long term value to a vehicle. Additional features such as paint protecting, undercoating and alarm systems are other ways auto dealers make money.

Financing dealer add-ons will only add more to the balance of your auto loan, but no real value to your vehicle. If possible, find an independent auto accessory dealer which may offer the same services for less.

Auto Source Financial

About Author

Auto Source Financial is a Canadian Financial Firm that assits people with No credit or Bad Credit Obtain Vehicle Finanicng. We Specialize in New Immigrants and Foreign Student Vehicle Loans.

Have you ever wondered why YOUR car seems to be a car scratch magnet? Causing you to look for a car scratch remover. There could be multiple reasons…however I am going to focus on just two today. Did you know that by simply keeping your car clean you will avoid the most common of everyday scratches that make your car look horrible in the bright sunshine this summer?

Cause #1: This is because dust and grit that is allowed to set on the paint finish imbeds itself, from overnight condensation and then bakes on in the hot sun the next day. It acts like sand paper when you or your friendly shopping mall neighbor brushes against it…or horror of horrors…you or someone at the mall sets a cardboard box or packages etc on top of YOUR hood or trunk while the car keys are found. It may as well be sandpaper…because that is exactly what it is however the “sand” is on the car and the box just grinds across the paint, and loosens up the grit therefore inflicting some serious clear coat scratches. A high quality car scratch remover system will remove scratches like this. 

Washing your car once a week is a good start, I might suggest that you wash it by hand with premium micro fiber mitts and a high quality pH balanced shampoo. Think of it as spending quality time with your car that unfailingly takes you to work and play everyday without complaints.  Do not use dish washing soap under any circumstances…it will remove any wax protection you have and also it is very harsh on plastic and rubber…leave it in the kitchen where it belongs. There are some very specific techniques to wash a car by hand properly…and it doesn’t mean you need to spend a day doing it…if you know the tricks…you can wash a properly in under 30 min. I think that is a small price to take care of what is most people’s second largest investment. Additionally, having a high quality car scratch remover always close by will give you peace of mind knowing that you can keep your car looking nice no matter what.

Cause #2: Wax or sealant …or the lack of. We all know, or I think we all know that protecting the paint finish of our vehicle is important…very important. However it seem that most of us think that modern paint technology is so good that it really doesn’t need much help to stay looking nice. While modern paint tech is absolutely light years superior to paint of just 10 years ago…it still requires protection to stay looking nice for years to come. So using a wax or sealant or hybrid wax/sealant is important for more reasons than you might expect. Not keeping your car protected with a high quality wax or sealant is just asking for scratches and the need for a quality car scratch remover to make it shine like new.   

Wax and or sealant protects the paint finish from the environment natural and manmade. Pollution fallout in rain…is like throwing a mild acid on your vehicle! Tree fallout, bird doo, insect splats are all chemicals that attack a vehicles paint. I am sure you have seen the result of a bird drop that was left to bake in the hot sun on a dark color car; yep it etches right in to the paint. Depending on how quickly you address a bird dropping a high quality car scratch remover may save the day. Another natural environmental attach on your paint is the sun. The sun attacks unprotected paint and in the most extreme cases results in what I am sure everyone has seen, cars that look like they have some kind of white scale all over. This is…or should I say…was the clear coat. The clear coat is the top coat of paint on modern cars that protects the base color from everyday bumps and scratches and the sun too.  However it must be maintained to make it last a long time.

A high quality hybrid wax/sealant applied twice a year (summer and winter) is your best bet to keep natural environment attacks at bay and also close encounters with absent minded people at the shopping mall. It makes the paint slippery so that dust and grit do not stick very well and it makes the paint resistant to minor scuffs and scratches. It also keeps the paint properly nourished so it does not dry out and begins to fail. It also gives UV protection as well. Think of it as sun screen for your car.

In the end it is easy to keep your car from being a scratch magnet by keeping your car clean and properly protected. Dust and grit cannot attach to the paint therefore it tends to stay cleaner all by itself…and when you do wash it …the dust and grit come off without a fight.  However no matter how you protect your car finish, common scratches and scuffs are a normal part of life.  A high quality car scratch remover that is clear coat safe, gentle and effective is your best line of defense to maintain the value of your car, which in most cases for us is the second largest investment we make.

About Author

For more information and a FREE report on “How To Solve All Of Your Scratch Removal Problems – Once And For All”
visit www.Car-Scratch-Remover.com

The author –
Karl Eberhardt has 30 years of combined expertise in auto body restoration and high performance fiberglass finishing.
Karl is a master craftsman in all aspects of automotive paint and fiberglass finishes. Karl also has a Industrial Engineering degree and specializes in producing easy to follow DVD video training for all types of applications.

The paint of the vehicle is one of the best means that helps in creating the overall impression on a vehicle. A vehicle is best judged by its appearance and if its body bears ample scratches and bruises, then it will imply the neglectful attitude of the owner. Thus, the vehicle instead of becoming the owner’s pride turns out to be a pain. This is although not a big problem, as innovations has ruled out the worry to a great extent. Numerous paint protection films have emerged and they have prevented the occurrence of damages caused by the debris, stone chips and scratches and several other factors causing wear and tears. The Auto shield and Ventureshield films are the creations of Clearmask, that act as first class paint protection shields guarding the shine of your vehicle and helping it to retain the newness for a long time.

The Paint guards are often invisible films protecting the different vehicles such as, trucks, motorcycle, cars, vans and many others from the action of stones and debris over the paint. Actually the films never have a yellowing effect and act as an auto bra, which can be waxed and maintained in the same manner as the paint is taken care of. The high glossy shine of the vehicle remains all the same even after several years of continuous usage. There are different varieties of paint protection used for application on specific parts of the car, such as, fenders, hoods, side mirrors, grills, rocker and other significant parts.

The Auto shield is one of the most innovative creations of Clearmask offering far reaching consequences. It can very well be considered as the best quality auto clear bra, which is a film with great level of sensitivity, the pressure and abrasion resistant abilities, flexibility and the self adhesive system that make way to remove the film without causing any damage to the surface of the vehicle. Therefore, the proof lies in the high demand following the product always. The Auto shield auto clear bras are made utilizing the technology of the 3M aero gard films. The films come in rolls ranging from the width of 6” to 58”. The Ventureshield film on the other hand is the 3rd generation film offered by Clearmask. It is not just used to protect the paint of automotives but also for guarding watercraft, aircraft, consumer electronics and other smooth surfaces prone to wear and tear.

About Author

Jim Seely is the president of ClearMask Paint Protective Films LP. Clearmask offers flexible clear protective film or clear bra that is applied to your car paint to preserve it from rock, Headlight Covers, Auto Shield, Ventureshield film ,Stone Chip, Acid, Scratches etc.