How many 'uses' from a Clay Bar?

[Welly]

Was claying the C4 yesturday which went well but it made me realise I'd probably clayed 6 or 8 cars with the same blob of clay (which is actually two 'packs' of Meg's clay squished together).

I kept two pieces in warm water and kept stretching and reworking the stuff to a clean side but it must be pretty full of whatever it picks up off the paint.

Any recommendings?

[KozmoNaut]

I'd just chuck it when it starts to look grotty. If you buy the large packs of clay instead of the small consumer packets, it's a lot less expensive, so you're less likely to overuse the same piece of clay forever.

[omega]

why use clay when blue taks cheaper and does the same job

[6speedmanual]

I have found the non branded clay bars available on ebay for under £1 a bar work just as well as the very highly priced, highly marketed brands.
These are even from uk suppliers so no need to endure shipping delays from China. The UK guys have done it for you.
Using lower priced clay means the temptation to make it last too long is gone.

Peter

[GingerMagic]

I managed to blag my neighbours clay bar as he didn't want to use it his Merc, but it is now been rolling around in the boot for a while so I guess I shouldn't use it.

I'll get some cheapies from eBay, but is the lubricant necessary of do I just keep dipping the clay in water every few seconds.?

[KozmoNaut]

You don't need anything special, just dipping it in water with a bit of car shampoo is fine, or use a spray bottle if you have one.

[Welly]

You can use a waterless wash spray like 'Quick Detailer' from meguires or I've has good results from mixing QD with water and car shampoo. Basically it needs to be slippy and keep spraying the panel as you pass the clay over it.

[trufflehunt]

I have found the non branded clay bars available on ebay for under £1 a bar work just as well as the very highly priced, highly marketed brands.
These are even from uk suppliers so no need to endure shipping delays from China. The UK guys have done it for you.
Using lower priced clay means the temptation to make it last too long is gone.

Peter

Um, where are they. I can't see any that are much less than 2 or 3 times that price..?

[6speedmanual]

I just searched having not bought any for a while. Seems 5 for £9 about par now. About s fifth the price of Meguires.

[Bailes1992]

I use the cheapest clay I can find. They're all the same. You can get varying degrees of aggressiveness but as long as you decontaminate the best you can first there is no need for some of the harsher clays.
Just use water for lube. I put my hose on a light mist and just keep wetting the clay as a pass it over the paint.

[Welly]

I've just been using a new clay (chemical guys I think? came in a black metal tin) it's supposed to be 'soft' anyway.

Using it with a proper clay lube (was a bit expensive buy hey ho) I was getting some proper scratchy sounds to the point I had to keep stopping to check. All was fine but the sound it made was weird, the clay appeared to be harder than the old Meg's one I used before.