Traditional clay bars...or synthetic clay mitts. Which do YOU prefer?

This is one of the few channels that can keep me captivated for a 24 min video. Just sayin'😁

There are a lot of videos about clay bars and pads/mitts, but none of them can hold a candle to the quality and unbiased education offered here. Well done! 👏

The “river of dirt” was pretty cool Brian.

As a KZfaq Creator myself I am stunned by your attention to detail with how you cover material in your videos. You are giving so much knowledge for free and I commend you.

This video is the best detailing video I've ever seen! The use of your microscope and great screen graphics enhances the learning experience. Thanks!

Glad to see your channel growing. I can't click fast enough when you upload a new video. Great videos with science and fact based reviews, not opinions. Love 'em. Please keep them coming.

Have to say, your microscope reviews are brilliant, and UR my ONLY detailer channel subbed, many thanks for all the hard work.

Thanks for following up with my question. See guys he does read the comments 🐸

Excellent. Thanks for dropping that important knowledge. As usual. You are the apex, in detail product review

I learned the hard way not to use the clay pads in conjunction with a tar/bug remover lol, it turned it into a gummy mess and left a residue on the paint that was a bit troublesome to remove

I love the level of detail you get into man. Phenomenal!!!

It is amazing how thorough you can be without being annoying, by far the best on U TUBE. I have been using the Mothers synthetic clay for the simple fact that I can drop them rinse them thoroughly and carry on. Thanks again always enjoy your videos, I watch them all sometimes twice 😉 😊

I was not expecting such a cool video! Thank you so much for the education you provide to everyone when it comes to detailing! :)

Thank you for testing everything and showing us the differences between these products.

This video is freaking awesome!!!!! WOW!!!! I am honestly blown away

I admire and respect your clear coat conservation style toward detailing. I do not like to have to clay at all. Will that said, I use a traditional superfine clay and I try from having to go use it. All my vehicles have rather soft paint. But this was a wonderful study! Thanks Brian!

I have to say your videos have jumped several notches lately, keep up the good work!

I've used synthetic for quite a while, I really like the durability and even ability to use on a DA in cases. I geeked out at the running dirt thru the valleys on the mother's tool too, that was really cool!

Great video. I have been and will continue to use the organic clay. Been using for almost 20 yrs and use only water as my lube. Always does a phenomenal job.

My first choice is synthetic clay, I drop regular clay too often. When I prep windows the mitts work great.

Excellent, in depth video - Fascinating. Many thanks......all the way from London !

Hell of a good upload B! You are killing it!!

Best video I seen and learned from regarding the subject of detail flaying.

Thanks Brian... Your vids are so Informative & Awesome ;-) Much appreciated...

Good information and instructions. I really appreciate your reviews and updates.

after checking many detailer on the net you are the best on the net good explaination on product and how to work with thank to put time to explain it

Have always been thinking about how a claymitt can pick up things and just be rinsed off. Great video about the subject. I learned allot and it was very interesting. Have not seen any other do it.

BEST EVER "clay" cleaning results and products comparisons. Microscope says it all. Excellent video.

Outstanding video! Great explanation of the clay media.

I’ve always been a clay bar user but that mothers one don’t look bad, loving the videos.

I have the Griot’s pad that you used, and it actually works really well with a good shampoo like Adams. I even used it in a bucket with a grit guard to clean it as you go. And if you need more lubrication from it, you can just squeeze the foam. Thanks for the test!

Love those experiments! Thanks for the video!

what you show under the microscope with this and other of your videos where you use it, is priceless! you are the APEX!

Great video. So informational. Thank you again.

With content like this, you are going to get to 100K subscribers! Thank you Brian for all the research and work you put into your videos.

This is a really informative vid Brian, thanks!

Detailing Video of the year!

Great video! Thank you for this one.

Great informative video! Thanks for sharing your talent.

I dont know.which way I lean. I like the clay mits and now by watching your VERY DETAILED comparisons I am leaning back to the clay bars.

Very thorough. Thank you.

Great video. I wish you followed one with the other kind to see how much they can pick up after each other from the same area.

I used the pad for about a year now. Love it just wish any lighter color.

Love this video B! Clay bar for me!

First, the microscope set up you have is great!!! I use a fine clay bar. I tried an artificial clay block once with lots of lube and it left some significant scratches and I haven't used it since. After watching this video I may give it another try, but cautiously. Another great learning video

Thank you.

Great job 👍. Thanks for the video

Awesome video. Thank you very much.

That was cool seeing the water flow though that pad . I have used both clay bars and pads. I found with the pads they got dirty and I couldn't get them clean and threw them away. With the bars I knew I would use once and dispose. After getting some great advice from you about claying my cars I don't clay them except if needed now. Thanks Brian for your work and sharing your knowledge.

This video was pretty legit I like the science aspect of it I think of it differently.

very thorough content on this channel

I believe that the contaminants you are seeing, under the microscope, on the brand new clay bars (right out of the box/packaging) are what the clay bars picked up from your fingers as you flattened out the piece of clay to fit under the scope. Like you said, they do pick up everything. Cool video!

Weather has a big part on which type of clay I will use. I wouldn’t recommend using a clay mitt outdoors on a hot panel it just wants to stick to the car and I’m using plenty of lube (that’s what she said) 😂😬🤔 As a mobile detailer clay bar works for me cause I’m outdoor a lot, but the mitt works great indoors.

I use the Auto Scrub mitt with the Nano Skin lube. It's easy to use, and it's easy to tell when its time to rinse and blow off the mitt.

Great show!

We hear about clay barring, we see discoloration on them after use, we're told it removes stuff. To actually see it like this makes it more real. Thanks, Brian.

I use the Adams clay and the mothers. I never had a problem yet,👍🏻Excellent video Brian

congrats dear sir, great video Thanks again

I am a fellow NY'er...thank you

I tried the pad, and I have used clay for a long time. I prefer the clay because it’s seems to work faster. I have only dropped one a couple times. It’s worth the risk for it to be cheaper for a quicker result for me.

13:30 under the microphone lol

I know it’s late, but just saw this one and it was very helpful. I still lean clay bar

What an amazing video

I prefer the nanoskin clay sponges. They are a good size and about $10

This is great content. Using the microscope is fantastic tool. However instead of seeing bonded dirt removed on the clay can you do a video with the microscope on the paint? To see the bonded containment removed and any marring introduced. Thanks

I have only used a clay bar but I really want to try a clay towel in the near future.

Is there any test you can come up with that shows just how much these scratch the finish? Great video btw!

Brian, can I use paint prep (wax and tar remover) instead of clay bar? Or do I used paint prep followed by clay bar?

very cool video my friend. ur new name is Brain the science guy...

Really intersesting stuff Brian!! honestly it's my least favorite part of getting the paint ready for polishing, so I bought a $10 and used it on the paint after working it inon the glass, the results gave me a hartatack and looked like i wetsanded the paint. Do you have an idea what is causing this?

I have been afraid to use the synthetic clays because it's not uncommon to read reviews where people have made a mess out of their paint with them and left the pattern of the synthetic all over a car. Until now I have stuck with tried and true high quality clay from the like of Megs, Mothers, Griots, Clay magic, CG, etc. All work well but using clay can be much more time consuming than the synthetics from what I observe which is my only motivation in making a switch. Watching yvan lacroix from optimum clay and wax in one step at the speed of light is pretty motivating.

Hi Brian, does using either type of clay bar/mitt remove ceramic coatings such as cquartz 3.0 uk?

Awesome video bud. I recently used plumbers putty on my car and it did pretty well at removing contaminants before polishing. Would you say that putty is closer to a fine clay bar? Have you tested the plumbers putty under a microscope?

Funny I just watched a video earlier about using plumbers putty as a Clay bar material. What are your professional thoughts on using plumbers putty? Maybe another video suggestion for you?

That little camera is seriously awesome lol

I'm thinking of going with the auto scrub Mitt. To clean it in between panels, does it matter if you dont have a compressed air tool ?

I wonder if you could heat the clay up (melt it?) to bring contaminants out of it and re-fresh it.

I use both pad & clay Scope paint b4 & after clay ?

I use 80 grit sandpaper, is that ok?

There's quite a few people including myself who have seriously marred paint using synthetic clay bars, specifically Mother's clay bar 2.0. Do you have this issue when using synthetic clay bars/mitts? I should have decontaminated more in between panels and applied way less pressure, as well as chemical decontamination before hand and providing sufficient lubricity while using the synthetic clay bar. I'm just concerned that the nature of the synthetic material itself causes issues as the contaminants have no where to go once lifted from the paint, unlike how it can get embedded and lost within the depth of non synthetic clay bars. Hope that made sense. Thanks for this super in-depth video!!!!!

As thorough as the video was, based on the amount of contaminants after using the Adam's clay bay on one small section of rocker panel, it doesn't seem like the car was washed prior to clay bar use. I have never seen that much dirt after claying my entire vehicle. Maybe it was done intentionally.

I have someone telling me the professional line of the Meguiars mild clay bar is the finest made in the world and that all professional body shops only use it? Any thoughts on that? I’m in search of a good clay bar. Thx

I have been using the traditional clay bars but I moved to the mitt and Im not coming back? Will I still keep some clay around for those hard to get into spots? Yep.

Brian made that Mercedes paint so deep and lustrous that whilst walking past the car he tripped and fell directly into the deep shiny depths of the passenger side door paint and was never seen again.

I find the synthetic pads will break contaminants loose and leave them on the panel most of the time. They aren't very effective at trapping the contaminants. Original clay is the only way to go.

Brian, how many times can I use the griots garage clay pad?

I prefer traditional clay because they give me more tactile feedback. Except when I have a large vehicle to do. Then I grab a clay towel.

I'm a newbie so I'm trying blue clay magic. I didn't catch it on the video, but do the synthetic mitts have an abrasive level too?

Is the nanoskin more abrasive compared to the clay bar?

I prefer real Clay most of the time . One advantage of the synthetic is on cars with clear bras . The edge of the bra can cut and trap the clay around its edges and you have to back with a brush to clean up.

Can I use a clay bar if I have a wax or sealant and ceramic coating or will it remove it?

I know its alittle off topic but I saw angelwax is coming out with new products such as engima corona and would really loves to see some updated angelwax products reviews and testing even if its with some of there old stuff

The Mother's clay kit seems to do a better job than Meguiars. After claying, I do a quick wash and then follow up with NuFinish. I like NuFinish because it lasts a long time and I hate waxing my car.

So my clay mitt wont pick up everything. Will a clay bar be better? My paint is really rough on the roof and hood

I was thinking about trying synthetic but after watching this how do I know when to rinse off a mitt/pad without a microscope ? Especially since they seem to be all black and I cant see the dirt at all ? Seems too risky Could you just keep dipping in your favorite auto shampoo ? I just hate kneading clay bars.

Great video as always Brian! BTW, which microscope is that?

Clay mitt or anything synthetic because cover more area imo

I prefer the nano skin pad... I've bought the clay and dropped in the the first 10 minutes...

If it's an Asian car, no question the traditional fine clay x2 if it's black or other dark color. Maybe the nanofiber or speedy pad/mitt on harder clears like corvettes gmc up to more recent models. Currently now with how cheap manf are cutting paint thickness and the water base crap being used, I think you almost have to use traditional clay asab4asive polishing is no longer a given. Facts the clay picks up more contaminants. It's gentler on the paint least amount of marring. It being payable allows the particles to be encapsulated by the clay. Mitts pads are strictly convinced and multi-use. That is their only positives over clay. They do not pick up as much and marr the paint more. It should be obvious just from the fact they are cleanable multi-use. As we now have new car paints that can be below 3mm sometimes even 2mm I think every possible thing that can be done to preserve CC must be. It's no longer optional. We need as much clear as possible for when we do need to polish/correct. Ideally, new cars should be prepped and coated /ppf (ugh) with top coats as soon as possible. Frankly, on a top-tier car, I think I would garage it for a couple of months to ensure fully cured paint. Then immediately prep and coat. Certainly put a topper that could prevent those contaminants from ever making it into the base coating and never into the clear coat. Stay up on the toppers as much as possible. Seems as tge after care products have gotten tomtge point of serious durability the car manf are making it mandatory just to keep the paint. Seems to me car manf have made an effort to push planned obsolescence duty life from 30 yrs to max 20yr if not 15. That is dated not by use jiles/hours but time period. Paint is the way to do this. If paints start having failed clears at 15 yrs, most will trade or scrap. By far, value will plummet vs. a car with still good clear. I think the move to thinner clears is not mainly in line production cost savings but something much larger. Reducing the effect life of the vehicles on a grand scale. It's well known that the gov has been using numerous tactics to get vehicles over 20 years old off the road. Car manf were more than happy to assist with this as its win win for them. Combine this with the all electric being force crammed down our collective throats. Knowing the batteries on average are only good for max 10 yrs. Make it have a failing clear coat within 5 yrs of tgat all but ensures consumer vehicle life duty term of 15 yrs. With the escalating costs of vehicles way out pacing inflation it will further ensure people are heeding replacement vehicles right as their loans come to term. Banks and deditors are fully on board with this. So Gov, Car manf and financial all in agreement the trifecta of evil in concert. My advice learn how to paint vehicles and build and replace battery packs. Add in full detail prep Resell and have a huge market till the big boys take it over.