forgive me if this is a dumb question. - Does using clay remove the wax / sealant on a car? If I wash my car and clay specific area will these clayed areas need to be waxed again?

Thanks as always

Matt

 

I beleive it will. Even the less-aggressive clays will remove some of the wax/sealant.

 

Typically yes.

When waxing, you're applying a (relatively) soft layer of wax over top of the paint, including any contaminants that may be in the paint already. Claying works by getting down to the level of the paint and being sticky, such that any contaminants sticking up out of the paint are stuck to the clay and lifted out. To be able to reach those contaminants, the clay has to be down at the paint's level usually, and will remove the wax/sealant to get down to that level.

So the short answer is yes If you're strapped for time, run a spray wax over the area you clayed and it'll be better than nothing. Though honestly for a small area, actual waxing shouldn't take that much longer than spraying.

 

It depends on the wax/sealant. Claying is more for removing embedded contaminants. If you use a polymer that bonds to the paint, claying may not remove that bond. That's where polishing comes in. For the most part, once you've clayed and polished, you've removed anything that was used as a form of protection. That's what you want...a clean and flawless surface to apply protection to.

 

Clay contains an abrasive that shears the above surface contaminants, it doesn't pull the embedded particulates.

It will remove a large % of both wax and polymer