This Is Better Than A Clay Bar And Only Costs $2

OK, now I'm old school and have done things to my vehicles that new kids might cringe at, but I know one thing...if you have an older car with original paint baked under the sun or softer paint that big deal clay bar will take off a layer after layer, right down to the original primer. But, not so with Plumber's putty which I have been using for over forty years. Will never use a clay bar on my rods when I've gotten the same results.

I was a auto painter for 42 year.s and if I was going to do a comparison on two different ways to test a product, I would have used the clay bar on one half of the hood and plumbers putty on the other half of the hood.That way you would have equal light distribution on the paint surface.

When you hear "soapy water" and think of Chrisfix's "soapy wooder"

i used it, with the plumbers putty - i no longer have any leaks in my car!

If the hood was divided into two sections and there was a straight side by side comparison on a similar surface, this might have some credibility. Those surfaces are not only different and how they contact debris coming from driving, but also the level of temperatures that those surfaces are exposed to. This is why I love the Project Farm Channel so much, the guy thinks about that type of stuff and always tries to give a uniform testing protocol on whatever he does.

All noted complaints aside... I just appreciate being informed of an alternative solution (that many of us may already have in our own garage) to a costlier name brand item. I can always do a comparison test on my own vehicle to determine which one works best for me.

Most paint contaminants will settle onto the horizontal surfaces of your car, less so on the vertical. Clay bars are made to be sticky in order to grab the contaminants off the paint without using excessive pressure to remove it reducing the amount of abrasion on the paint. You can use car shampoo mixed with water as shown in this video with a spray bottle. It keeps the clay lubricated and moving easily reducing paint abrasion. You will see the clay bar surface becoming dirty, that's what was stuck to the paint surface, when you see that take the clay and knead it so you have a clean clay surface for the next panel. I have never used plumbers putty on a car so I can only offer my professional opinion on it, but not by experience in using it. I wouldn't do it. Plumbers putty is not as sticky as clay and it's much softer, which translates to using more pressure and more back and forth motions to get the same results as the clay. Using more pressure is likely to scratch your paint. Make no mistake, any time you touch your paint with any product, or wipe it with even the softest micro fiber towel you are indeed scratching it. Your goal is to minimize the amount and severity of scratching. Once you clay your car it is vulnerable to the elements. You have removed paint contaminants, but you also removed any protection previously applied to the paint. It will remove any glazes, waxes, or other surface applied product. So it would be wise to plan enough time when claying your car to apply a coat of polish and wax, or wax alone. This should be done in a shaded area not in direct sun light. And yes, I do this professionally.

I had a severe reaction to the putty..... I am now suffering from plumbers crack...

Thank you so much for the video review of the plumbers putty vs. the kit clay bar package I did not even know you could use putty to restore and shine my car paint . ( 60 years old , and still learning ) . Thank you for the time you took to teach me this .

You should try playdough as a substitute clay bar since it was originally designed to be a clay bar intended to remove coal soot from walls after a winter of burning coal and wood.

Biff takes care of mine, but often he tries to skimp on the third coat of wax.

Thanks for the tip. In Canada the Mother's Clay Bar Kit sells for $38.99 and the Plumber's Putty is $7.19 which is a saving of $31.80

I've been a detailer for 25 years and never heard I've always used a clay bar and a wash mitt with a clay substitute in it for all my work. And it really works but I have to say that seems like a good idea. I like to save some money

Would have been interesting to see the results of running the plumbers putty first, then a new clay bar over the same area to see if it picks up anything else.

You have a gift for narrating videos. Pleasing voice, and no stammering and time wasting comments. I've subscribed!

I'm 70 years old and have been using Nu Finish since I was 20 . Great product .

In my experience when you here the clay bar picking up dirt you should stop and fold over the clay to give it a new surface. If you want extremely clean windows use a separate piece of clay bar with window cleaner. I keep it marked in a ziplock bar so I don't mix it up.

if your going to do something like this don't use something that is already good find an everyday driver that has not been touched spilt the hood then do it

I've used claybars for years and have often wondered about plumbers putty or if there was something else out there. Now we know and I will try it. Also, keep in mind there's different grades of claybars from fine to heavy, I usually use the fine so I feel the putty will be good. Thanks!!!

Just gonna say at 7:05 ish you have to keep checking the clay for it picking up contamination and folding so you get a fresh bit of clay.