i read all i could find on here and there wasnt anything i could find that answered my question..

i just bought a clay bar kit and a waxing kit.. this will be my first time with both so im hopeing i dont f*ck anything up.. my main question has to do with weather, im in phoenix and its 97 degrees out right now, but the box says to do it in the shade and in cool weather.. obviously 97 isnt cool, i dont have a air conditioned garage i can use here in phoenix. the only reason i ask about this is if i take my car to get waxed, its not like it will be any diffrent.. so do it anyways?

and also should i wash, clay bar then wax? any other tips would be great, i picked up some stuff on here but not everything


new questions

... im starting to get nervous.. people are making this sound like its hard to do and easy to screw up.. if im careful will it turn out ok?

also, do i need to wax my car after i clay bar or can i do that in a few days

 

Do it at night. Even though it still might be warmer, it'll be better condition to do it at night, in your garage if possible so that you have light. Otherwise, setup some lamps.

When i wash my car, i typically try to do it right at dusk. That way there is sunlight so i can see, but it's cooling down, and it's not direct sunlight shining down right on the car. Also make sure it's not windy or breezy. Nothing makes it more frustrating then washing your car, and then as you start drying, you have dirt and leaves all over your car. lol

the process to take would be
wash, clay, wash, wax.

 

awsome dude.. thanks a lot for the help

 

+1

 

Like they said above, do this in the shade as well, a garage helps tremendously, GL~

 

^thanks guys^

what about doin it at a diy car wash? i would go later at night, the problem with my condo is.. i wouldnt be able to wash my car here.. any one know if those things are open 24hrs? i would imagine so... its not like they have staff to pay

 

I lived in Tucson and sympathise with your situation. 90 degrees and wax go OK together. Sun and wax do not. I found a multilevel parking garage to take care of the car at night. The basement is cool. Security left me alone as long as I left no trash.

As for products and use, I do not have recommendations for a black Z. Much too easy to screw up.

 

make sure you don't push down too hard with the clay bar. you don't need much pressure...just don't drop it

 

+1 for at night..make sure when you clay the car that you go in 1 direction, using it in a circular motion will scratch the crap out of the finish.make sure it stays extremely moist when claying also. then 2 step the final steps,first with a cleaner wax then a finish wax..

 

rip the bar into 3rds so if you drop the clay you wont waste a full bar of clay because if that clay hits the ground you cant us it again.

and you dont have to use clay lube, you can use soap and water you can clay the car as you as you wash the car. but its not as hot over here and i have all my clients cars under an ez up. have fun

 

thanks a lot for the help guys, after reading all your posts i think i have it pretty much worked put except for... read first post please! adding a new questin or two...

 

it's not hard to do...don't worry
after clay barring, i wash, dry and wax immediately. i want to put the wax on while the car is at it's cleanest.

do you plan on driving the car between claying and waxing?

 

it is my daily driver so i would drive in between if i didnt wax it right after, and that makes sense(waxing right after) so i will be waxing after for sure, thanks a lot man.. any idea on about how long its going to take me? i have to go down to the d.i.y. car wash and im trying to figure what time i should leave

 

LOL. Members screw up when they get “inventive” and try unproven methods. Always always always try out stuff in a inconspicuous area. Say the bottom of a door panel. I wax half the car on Saturday, then the other half the next Saturday. Works fine for me.