For some time now we have been sourcing the best materials to give you the very best in detailing products, accessories and equipment. Clay is no different, in fact its one of the only things we don't male in house. However after 2 years of sampling, trials and tests we have found the perfect clay!
Infinity Wax Clay comes in 2 compound types, Fine & Medium. Both clays are fully synthetic polymer resin compounds designed to remain plyable even on a cold day making them really easy and quick to use. The clay is presented in a sealed brushed aluminium tin with high quality metallic finish label.
Top Tip! Use 25ml Pure Shampoo into 475ml warm water to create a superb clay lubricant 
Clay also makes a great gift idea as its one of those products you will always find a use for, so how do you use a clay bar? And use it correctly? Mark Jones of explains here:
Want to read more? Take a look at a more in depth look at clay bars in general
Removing Contaminants
Clay allows a user to remove particles that are either stuck to the surface or are trapped in microscopic gaps of the surface. Clay itself will actually become dirty over time and needs to be used with care. After claying, the surface should feel smooth, leaving a deeply cleaned surface. Further cleaning can be needed to achieve a perfectly clean surface.
How It Is Used
In general its recommended to use clay in combination with clay-lube. This is a specially formulated liquid that helps the clay to glide over the paintwork, minimising the risk of creating marring or any paint damage. The clay-lube is sprayed on the surface and the user rubs the clay over the wet surface. In many cases it is enough to wipe a certain area once, but it can be needed to wipe an area more times to clean properly. After an area is done, the clay-lube can be rinsed off or wiped off.
The Invention Of The Clay Bar
The original inventor of the polymer detailing clay is Mister Tadao Kodate, a Japanese scientist who was looking for a safe way to remove contaminants from bodywork without using harsh chemicals or polishing compounds. The original clay bar was introduced in America in the early 1990’s by Auto Wax Company. When Dennis Dehn – an Auto Wax Consultant – was hired by Auto Wax Company to demonstrate the AWC products in Japan. When showing the products in a detailing competition he used a compound to get the paintwork smooth and clean. When he look beside him, he saw the other competitor using some type of putty with a spray liquid, rubbing the paint. The first company to patent the detailing clay was Auto Wax Company (later called: Auto Magic), who held the patent for detailing clay until 2014. 9 out of 10 clay bars sold were manufactured by Auto Magic under the brandname Clay Magic in 2014.
Grades
Clay comes in a few different grades. A hard/rough grade removes more contaminants, but has more chance of marring. A soft/gentle clay removes less contaminants but decreases the risk of marring. Using a clay that is to rough will results in a surface that is affected more then needed, a clay that is to gentle will not give the desired effect. It takes experience to judge what clay is needed.
Marring
Clay removes dirt by grabbing the contaminants and dragging it from the surface. This means that you have to turn over the clay often. Even with care and good quality clay-lube, it is very difficult to have no negative effect on the surface at all. The marks usually created by claying is called marring. Marring are very shallow marks in the surface of the paintwork that are very easy to remove. Most pre-wax cleaners, finishing polishes and some all-in-one (AIO) products can removing marring with great ease.
Clay Mitts
Claying doesn’t only come in putty-like form, some manufacturers have found ways to manufacture wash mitts with a surface that acts the same as clay. This reduces the chance of dropping the clay, making it unusable.
Clay Sponges
Besides putty-like clay and clay mitts, there are also clay sponges. These are small sponges coated with a surface that is very similar to the coating on the clay mitts. These can be coated on both sides or just one side. Some clay sponges are even coated with 2 different grades of clay.
Read the original article at: https://www.detailingwiki.org/decontaminating/what-is-clay/
