Can I skip a step safely?

[LaserBlueSilverado]

Can I skip washing my truck, AFTER it has been clayed, but BEFORE I use Revive polish?

 

My plan is to:

 

- Wash/Clay

- Revive

- Liquid Paint Sealant applied by hand

- Brilliant Glaze.

- Buttery Wax.

 

I was originally going to wash again after claying, but my time is extremely tight, I just do not have enough spare time in my life right now to spend more then a few hours every few weeks on my truck. If I can skip washing again after claying, that will save me considerable time.

 

 

[Beemer]

Yes - you can skip the wash.  Unless the paint is VERY trashed and you pick up A LOT of junk in the clay you can usually move right to polishing.

[LaserBlueSilverado]

Yes - you can skip the wash.  Unless the paint is VERY trashed and you pick up A LOT of junk in the clay you can usually move right to polishing.

I already clayed the truck once about 3 weeks ago. It had never been clayed in the 2.5 years of me owning it, so It picked up a TON of contamination.

 

The truck is only 3 years old, so the paint isn't trashed. I am going to clay again however just to be on the safe side. Considering what I picked up last time, I wouldn't be surprised if there is still some bad stuff left.

 

One other thing. Is it ok for the clay/detail spray to dry onto the paint? The sun may dry it before I get a chance to start with the Revive.

[Ace22]

I don't think you would want the clay/detail spray to dry in the sun...I would think doing all this in the shade would be best.  After claying, I have a microfiber that I wipe down a panel at a time so it doesn't dry, otherwise you might want to do a quick waterless wash spray to remove the clay residue.

[Chris@Adams]

I usually skip that step unless the paint was super dirty when claying.

[GerryC]

I already clayed the truck once about 3 weeks ago. It had never been clayed in the 2.5 years of me owning it, so It picked up a TON of contamination.

 

The truck is only 3 years old, so the paint isn't trashed. I am going to clay again however just to be on the safe side. Considering what I picked up last time, I wouldn't be surprised if there is still some bad stuff left.

 

One other thing. Is it ok for the clay/detail spray to dry onto the paint? The sun may dry it before I get a chance to start with the Revive.

 

I don't think you would want the clay/detail spray to dry in the sun...I would think doing all this in the shade would be best.  After claying, I have a microfiber that I wipe down a panel at a time so it doesn't dry, otherwise you might want to do a quick waterless wash spray to remove the clay residue.

 

^

 

When you are forced to work outdoors, one panel at a time is the best way to go for claying and polishing. Clay a panel and wipe off the residue with a waffle weave towel, then polish the panel with Revive and wipe off the residue completely with a plush towel, then apply your sealant. This way, the only unprotected paint at any given time will be the paint you are currently working on. You won't get ahead of yourself and nothing will dry on the surface. Another bonus to this method is you can take breaks between completing panels, since the sections of the car will either be completely done, or not even started on yet.

[Tim]

Do you need to clay again? Do the Baggie test before claying again, if you don't need to clay you save a bunch of time.