5 Star Shine & Clay Bar

[Peacefulone]

Yeah, I'd say the kit would cover two mid size cars in my experience. The instructions do say to make sure and use a thin coat and I've been able to do that and be happy with the results. When I did my VW back in 03, I think I could have squeezed two cars that size out of it, but there's a bit more real estate on the Ridge.

Good luck to anyone that tries this product. Make sure you follow the procedure of only doing a small section at a time then immediately rubbing it off. I didn't do that the first couple of sections and it dried and was a bear to rub off. If you do it in the shade as they say when it's cool and wipe immediately, it doesn't take much elbow grease at all.

I'd love to hear your results if you give it a try. I'd really be interested to hear your reaction if you take the time to clay it and then do the 5 Star Shine. The slickness will blow you away. It feels incredible! Kind of like a cold cold bottle of beer in your hand on a Friday night after an incredbily stressful week! Anybody gettin' the hint!

I agree. Thanks for the helpful hints folks on the coupon codes. Appreciate the tips. I do a ton of Web buyin'. I actually got the 5 Star Shine products on eBay as their store there offered a few options of pulling only a few products together rather than piecemeal or the whole shot.

[BruceRTL]

Originally Posted by Peacefulone

I'd love to hear your results if you give it a try. I'd really be interested to hear your reaction if you take the time to clay it and then do the 5 Star Shine.

I purchased my RL this past December and had never heard of claying a vehicle prior to reading about it on the ROC. I've lived a very sheltered life I know. Regardless, do you think claying is necessary for my Ridge?

[Peacefulone]

Bruce,

Is it necessary to clay the vehicle? My normal response to a question like that is, necessary is an opinion. If I'm just commenting on what I've experienced (which I try to do), then I would say that it may not be necessary, but after doing it on a paint job less than than a year old, I was surprised at how much particles were trapped in the paint. I just thought, if I'm going to try and get the most out of the 5 Star product, then I'd clay it to get as much trapped debris off the surface as I could. I figured, it could only improve the benefits.

So.......I did it and was really quite surprised how much debris there was even on a new vehicle! I just chuckle every time I touch the Ridge now after the claying and 5 Star, becuase my fingers just slip around on it. It's almost like there's a thin layer of silicone there.

I guess you have to make the decision of money and time vs. the potential benefit. Heck, I can't prove if it is a benefit without Mr. Science coming over to my garage, but my gut tells me that smooth finish that makes me smile, must have done something! Maybe we could get myth busters to do a test! Take care!

[Tcape]

Originally Posted by BruceRTL

I purchased my RL this past December and had never heard of claying a vehicle prior to reading about it on the ROC. I've lived a very sheltered life I know. Regardless, do you think claying is necessary for my Ridge?

Bruce, I've used paint clay for over 5 years on a variety of vehicles, and I've never found anything that produces a smooth paint finish like claying does. But my logic was exactly like yours....why should a brand new vehicle need claying?? But after reading posts by TMac and other members about rail dust on new autos, I decided to clay my '08 RTL. I was truly amazed at the results. The paint is far smoother, and after polishing, it has a better shine, too. My humble opinion is to clay your new Ridgeline. Feel how smooth the paint is BEFORE claying, then check it after claying. I think you'll see a significant different. If you're still doubtful, just clay a small section and see what you think. If there's no big difference, don't worry about claying the rest of the truck. My guess is you'll see the biggest difference in the hood and top. That's where most of the crud settles.

BTW, I always enjoy your posts. Don't know if you're from the South, but you do have a "Southern Gentleman" ways of expressing your thoughts and opinions. Always appreciated.

[BruceRTL]

Originally Posted by Tcape

BTW, I always enjoy your posts. Don't know if you're from the South, but you do have a "Southern Gentleman" ways of expressing your thoughts and opinions. Always appreciated.

Thanks Tcape - I appreciate your kind words. I'm from Central Illinois (Pekin).
Thanks Peacefulone for you comments as well. After reading both of your posts, I have decided to clay my vehicle. I have no idea how to do that but I will learn. I'm not afraid of a little elbow grease to make my RL look awesome. Since I have to spend the next week in California working with a client. I should have plenty of time to research how to clay. By the way, I received my 5 star shine today in the mail. Dang those bottles are small. I paid how much for them????? I'm sure you guys won't let me down and I'll be happy with the results but holy cow!

[Peacefulone]

Hey Bruce,

Just thought I'd give a quick reply. There are a couple of posts here on claying that will help you see how absolutely easy it is. It's one of those things..... It's sounds so foreign, but when you actually do it, you'll think crap this was easy! Why was I so scared of screwing it up? Rubbing clay on the surface sounds contrary to everything you believe right? My God! It will scrath the bugeebers out of it.

Well...........just make sure you wash it first and after it's dry, park it in a place out of the sun where the paint can be cool. That's a must. Spray some of the solution on a small area making sure the mist covers the surface with the solution, then let the clay do the work. No need to push hard; in fact if you do, it's harder to work with the clay. Just rub it back and forth gently in a spot until you feel & hear (yes hear) the grit stop, then continue working this way through the area you just sprayed. Then wipe it off before it dries and move to the next spot. Don't be afraid to overlap sections. You can also turn & fold the clay again and again always working the dirty part into the clay.

In my opinion, don't do so much that it dries before you can wipe it off. It's that simple really. You'll feel like this process ain't right, but it will be and I think you be happy that you did it when you are finished. SMOOOOOOOTH baby, SMOOOOOOOOOOTH

[Tcape]

I'll sure second what Peacefulone has said, claying if much easier than you might think. Once you spray on the detailer and rub the surface with the clay, you'll feel it "let go." You'll feel some resistance as you start to move the clay across the surface of the paint, then you'll feel it slide easily across the surface. That's when you know the clay has removed the gunk on the surface of the paint. As Peacefulone has said, wipe the detailer off at that point and continue covering other surfaces. Believe me, I was terrified rubbing that clay across the surface of my brand new Ridgeline. I had horrible thougts of scratching the surface permanently. But when all was done, I was VERY pleased with the results. I thought the paint was pretty smooth before the claying, but I was amazed at how smooth it was after claying. Good luck, and ask away with any questions you have.

[breiman]

Maybe a stupid question. Outside of a wash job before you clay, I assume the bugs, tar etc has to also be removed or will the clay process remove this at the same time?

[scottIN]

Originally Posted by breiman

Maybe a stupid question. Outside of a wash job before you clay, I assume the bugs, tar etc has to also be removed or will the clay process remove this at the same time?

Yes, clay will remove bugs / tar. Easiest way to think of it is that clay takes off anything stuck to the surface of the paint. That being said, IMHO, using clay to take off bugs & tar is a PITA. I can do the whole truck (where needed) with Stoner's Tarminator in the time it would take me to do one heavily tarred rocker panel. I get the worst of it off with Tarminator and then use the clay as a final cleaning and to get what the Tarminator missed. I use to be a purist and use clay to remove everything - then I got practical and started removing the worst stuff with chemicals.

[breiman]

My bug and tar is minor routine stuff. I was trying to determine if I needed to get the remover out and get it off prior to the claying process. I'll go ahead and get it removed prior to the clay. thanks for the info.