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

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

In this video I explore whether or not plumbers putty is a viable replacement for a clay bar. I bought a Mother's Clay Bar kit that came with 2 100oz clay bars as well as Mother's Instant Detailer and a micro fiber rag. All in all I think the Mother's clay bar kit is a good value but being the cheapskate I am I was curious if something like this plumbers putty could do the same job while costing much less.

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Could Plumbers Putty Replace Clay Bar?
Is Plumbers Putty As Good As Clay Bar?

The truck featured in this video is a 2003 Chevrolet Suburban. The Suburban is the same(ish) vehicle as the Tahoe, Yukon, Sierra and Silverado.

***This channel is for entertainment purposes only! Do not do what I do. Do not take my advice. I am not a professional. The methods I use may be completely wrong and/or dangerous. Please seek professional help with anything and everything and do your own due diligence (research). Working on cars is extremely dangerous. I am not responsible for any loss of life or limb or property. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH. THIS CHANNEL IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY!***

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[stephenmartini]

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.

[ThePapabear]

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.

[Eszentric]

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.

[mrkkg]

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.

[seanpop]

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.

[chrisgraham]

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

[jordanrivers]

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

[ptom]

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

[dihskursiv]

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

[scottcaraway]

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 .

[Hellcat-deyq]

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

[tonytube]

To Eliseo Mireles from 3 days ago I say this:
His video was still helpful in at least getting the conversation started and making us think twice. I, for one, really appreciate the time and effort he put into this! We need more people like him. That being said, I agree, your idea would be excellent. But starting your comment off with “this doesn’t help at all” is rude and disrespectful to not just him, but to anyone who’s ever tried to help their fellow man. If you just would’ve started the sentence off with, “thanks for the tips, could you make a video down the road showing a side by side comparison blah blah blah” You get the point. Eliseo, let’s leave the dry hostility for people who deserve it. Hey, shoot it my way if u want, I don’t care, or better yet MAKE YOUR OWN COMPARISON VIDEO!!

[notchagrandpa]

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.

[tomm]

Watching it I was immediately thinking "Why aren't you doing a TRUE comparison?" If the goal was to compare the plumbers putty to clay bars then you should have done half the hood (and horizontal surface that catches a lot more debris than vertical ones) and also use the same Mother's detailing spray. Now you did use the soap / water on the clay bar after, but really could have done half the hood and half the vertical with the same sprays. THAT would have been a true comparison. Otherwise, good video and good point at the end about what the putty may have in it that could affect the paint later.

[leoperalta]

I followed your video on this particular subject. I also got plumbers putty and attempted to do my entire SUV. My paint job is relatively old on my SUV so I did not expect great thing, but nevertheless I attempted it and it came out great. Plumbers putty did start to disintegrate after a while, to be expected I recommend anybody with a vehicle that has paint that is relatively old and get great results

[marktuyet]

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

[ELEVOPR]

And now Plumbers putty tripples it's price and advertises it's multipurpose use as well as announce it's gluten free, no trans fat and low carb. 😂😂😂

[tileman]

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

[DanPattonFotoZ]

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!!!

[SDF]

I just tried using plumber's putty yesterday and then spraying a ceramic coating, and my car's paint feels like glass. Oh and I have less noticeable swirl marks too! Thanks for the video!