Over the weekend I was cleaning my GF's car, and I was using some of the Sonus clay bar. I would get about 1/4 of the car (hood and front quarter panel) and the clay would start to deteriorate. It wasn't holding the form of clay. It would basically break apart. Is this normal, or was I doing something wrong? Too much lube or is the clay just not that good.


Also, I was using the Sonus car wash. I got to say, I was not at all impressed. Almost no suds. And after the bucket was sitting still for a few minutes, it looked just like regular water in the bucket. I used this on the first wash. On the second wash (after the clay) I used some Zymol wash and it was much better.

 

how old is the clay?
could you reform it by pushing it back together? (i am wondering whether you worked it before you used it- you should)

sounds like dried out clay

 

What did you use for clay lube? IME, some clays break down when you use car wash soap as the lube.

Also, suds really don't mean anything. The important part of car wash soap is that is makes the water in the bucket "slippery." As long as your wash tool feels like it's gliding over the paint then you're OK.

 

The clay was brand new. I had just opened the package that day. It's the Sonus SFX clay and the Sonus Glyde lube.

It did have that 'dried out' texture, but it wasn't dried out. I was starting to wonder if the lube was breaking it down. I think I was using too much at the beginning.