PDA

View Full Version : Turtle Wax Ice Liquid CLay Bar Review


hammondfra
05-20-2007, 10:59 PM
After a long personal debate with myself on using this stuff, I will give everyone an in depth review on the pros and cons of this new clay bar from Turtle wax.

Small synopsis of the product under review.

Ice Liquid Clay Bar (http://www.turtlewax.com/main.taf?p=2,1,1,4) http://www.turtlewax.com/img/products/pd_ice_liquidclaybar.jpg
Turtle Wax® ICE™ Liquid Clay Bar is a revolutionary new way to deep clean and restore your car's finish in a fraction of the time it takes with traditional clay bars. A unique triple layer formula consists of a scratch & swirl remover, cleaning agents and an exfoliant that work together to provide outstanding cleaning capabilities.
Product Benefits
Easily removes minor scratches, swirls marks, tree sap, paint over spray and embedded dirt and stains that ordinary detailing clays leave behind.
Creates smooth as glass finish on all paintwork, fiberglass and metal surfaces.
Does not contain harsh abrasives that can scratch or scuff your finish.


Now to my personal review of using it on two different cars this weekend.
I clay bar my Tibby two times a year with meguiars clay bar (http://www.meguiars.com/?auto-detailing-clay/Smooth-Surface-Clay-Kit). My wife's car (Santa FE) I only did a clay bar job on it 2 years ago.

When I first started on my car, I washed and dried it as normal. And started to work with the Liquid Clay Bar. First thing I noticed is how easy it was to get simple tar pieces and splash that have stuck on the car since I last did it before Christmas. Some tree sap was on the car as well, and easily removed with the Liquid Clay Bar. Overall it took me a total of 30 minutes to do my entire tib from the first application till the last swirl. One thing I didn't do was read the package. You will have to wash your car after you use the Liquid Clay Bar, because it leaves a white residue. Don't let this scare you off, as it comes off easily and will not leave a trace of residue after the second wash. Something I looked at after the fact of doing my tib was that you don't have to dry the car when you wash it the first time, the water on the car helps make it even easier.

Now to my wifes Santa Fe, this is where I found fault with the product claims. Her car was completely filthy; I mean it was bad. I washed it and left it wet for me to start. It took me about 45 minutes on her car, but it didn't remove everything. Because it had been so long since I have done a detail on her car, all the crap from the road and trees was baked on the car literally. I was not 100% disappointed in this, but still had me wondering why it wouldn't remove everything.

1. there are different forms of clay bars; abrasive ratings.
2. Liquid Clay Bar is the softest out of all the clay bar materials
3. Because of this factor, you will have to get a real clay bar kit if you have not used a clay bar your car in over a year; or ever for that matter.

Pros: works well as a maintainer for detailing your car surface. It is as it claims to a degree, but still leaves a well maintained paint surface smooth as glass. Time is cut drastically when doing it with Turtle Waxes Liquid Clay Bar.

Cons: If you have never used or has been a long time since you used a clay bar on your paint, then use one first before using this product; you won't be happy with the outcome.

Overall product rating 8 / 10

I gave this an 8 being it is only good as a maintainer to keep your paint surface looking new and fresh in just minutes instead of hours of back breaking work.

This is my personal review of this product, I am sure everyone's experience with this product may vary.

Happy Detailing

hammondfra
05-21-2007, 08:29 AM
This one I think is the best personally
meguiars clay bar (http://www.meguiars.com/?auto-detailing-clay/Smooth-Surface-Clay-Kit)

Then there is
Mothers (http://www.autogeek.net/motcalgolcla.html)
clay magic (http://www.autopia-carcare.com/awc-88256.html)


I didn't like mothers for the fact that it was too soft of a clay personally, and wouldn't remove everything the first time through, I had to do my car 2 times to achive what Meguiars did the first.

The second one, I have not used personally, so I can not comment on it.

mac11
05-21-2007, 11:07 AM
dont forget Zaino (http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=Z-18&Category_Code=Zaino&Product_Count=17) clay bar.

hammondfra
05-21-2007, 11:32 AM
Yeah forgot about that one.

nul7
05-21-2007, 12:12 PM
I just gave this a try this weekend. I wasn't expecting much from it... so I got what I expected. lol I think your recommendation on using a real clay bar first if you haven't done so in a while is spot on. The Liquid Clay Bar did a decent job of smoothing out the swirlies, but had a tough time with some of the tiny spots of tar and what not. I don't know if it's worth the $15, but it does make the paint look much better.

I read the instructions and they don't say to wash the car before or after use. Common sense told me to pre-wash, but I didn't expect to have to re-wash after application. It definitely does not rinse away completely. lol Unless you want a white car, you need to do a post-wash!

hammondfra
05-21-2007, 12:25 PM
you paid 15 bucks? Damn I got it on sale for 10 LOL...I still have half a bottle left too...

streetcreeper
05-21-2007, 10:18 PM
This is the next ice product that im going to buy.

Turismo Maxwell
05-22-2007, 03:48 PM
I love my Ice, but I dunno if I'll use this. Clay is supposed to be a resisting surface to both chemically de-bond, and rub off contaminants from your paint's surface. Somehow, this just doesn't seem like it would do what I would expect a clay treatment to do. I'll probably stick with a standard Clay.

-Max

hammondfra
05-22-2007, 11:52 PM
It does do that Jason, it is mean more for doing touch ups to a rough paint surface after say a month...because regular clay bars are course to use on a monthly basis with out loosing much of your clear coat in the process.

Turismo Maxwell
06-15-2007, 07:58 PM
It does do that Jason, it is mean more for doing touch ups to a rough paint surface after say a month...because regular clay bars are course to use on a monthly basis with out loosing much of your clear coat in the process.

I stand corrected. =)

Final statement on ICE Clay Bar from me:

Bones has been even more reluctant to run Clay over his car than I was, both due to fear and laziness combined. I finally took the plunge, and came out swearing an undying allegiance to the traditional clay bar. For him, however, I figured I'd take one last, very in-depth look, at Ice Clay Bar. I surfed Corvette, WRX, SRT-4, GTO, Evo, Mustang, RX-8, Maxima, and about three other generic forums. Each and every one says the same thing: Calling this a Clay Bar is like standing in a garage and calling yourself a car.

There is little dispute that it's chemical composition may help as a scrubbing agent, which could stand as an intermediary between true clay barring, but in every other sense, it's not like the other traditional ICE products.

Me, personally, I love my ICE wax, but that's because in the summer I get bored easily and I wash my car about once a week. This keeps me well within the timespan of ICE's synthetic luster. I don't think the ICE clay bar would have the same practical application for such frequent use.

If all you're looking for is something to dissolve the sap or chemical gunk on your car... Seriously, try standard-issue Dawn dish soap. Dad's used it for ages on the Ranger, and it strips everything off, but hasn't to this day done a single bit of damage to the clear coat.

Bottom Line: I like ICE's line of stuff in general. I just don't like this ICE product. They were out to make a quick buck on this one.

-Max

mrphotoman
06-17-2007, 11:34 AM
Nah I disagree. All the Ice products work fantastic in my opinion, I bought $70 worth from that special they had going on and I am loving it. Look at the reflections on this thing, you can't get much shinier than that:

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a179/mrphotoman/7Medium.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a179/mrphotoman/21Medium.jpg

The liquid clay bar cleaned up the paint really nicely then the ice polish finished it off.

Turismo Maxwell
06-17-2007, 05:13 PM
At $70, I'd think your opinion would be a little more biased, seeing as you're stuck with twenty pounds of the stuff. =)

-Max

mrphotoman
06-17-2007, 05:59 PM
Lol, that $70 is ice spray wax, liquid wax and clay and microfiber cloths, applicators and stuff. I think I only have 3 bottles of the liquid clay.

Turismo Maxwell
06-17-2007, 06:30 PM
Ah. That's better then. Because in my mind I saw you in your garage, sitting next to a huge-*** cardboard box full of Liquid Clay going: "THAT was a smart move..." and your g/f *****ing at you about you never again being able to criticize her impulse shopping habits. =)

-Max

mrphotoman
06-18-2007, 10:07 AM
Ah. That's better then. Because in my mind I saw you in your garage, sitting next to a huge-*** cardboard box full of Liquid Clay going: "THAT was a smart move..." and your g/f *****ing at you about you never again being able to criticize her impulse shopping habits. =)

-Max

She likes to rub the liquid clay all over my naked body on Wednesday and Sundays. Would you like me to post photos?

hammondfra
06-18-2007, 12:34 PM
TMI...and that is just plain gross Tim.

Turismo Maxwell
06-18-2007, 03:13 PM
Clay is supposed to be abrasive...

Wouldn't it chaff? *shudder*

-Max

jdogg
07-04-2007, 05:20 PM
Just wanted to chime in.
I have not clay bar'd my car since 03 when i purchased it... yes i know... im a little emberassed to say it..... for me the liquid clay bar was 100% worthless.... it basically did nothing...... nothing at all......i couldnt even tell which area's i had done.... still felt all bumpy and dirty.
im sure it's a great product.... but it sure didnt work for me in the slightest.
after trying the liquid i got a mothers clay bar and did the whole car.... that made a HUGE differance... took basicly all night and an extra half bottle of the spay lube to get er done right.....that's how bad it was, also my first time clay baring. hopefully the liquid stuff will work well for touch ups and stuff. deffinatly no replacement for a real clay bar.

Redshark_TiBuRoN
07-11-2007, 08:01 AM
I personally like Mother's Clay Bar with Mother's Showtime spray and Mother's Cleaner Wax . My Profession is a professional Auto Detailer, and it works good on every car I've done so far. It makes that paint POP.