{"product_id":"bilt-hamber-auto-clay-water-lubricated-clay-bar","title":"Bilt Hamber Auto-Clay | Water-Lubricated Clay Bar","description":"\u003ch2\u003eThe only clay bar that runs on tap water\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is the genuine point of difference and it gets buried under the usual clay-bar copy, so let's lead with it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBilt Hamber, verbatim: \"Competing clays require the use of special lubricants. Bilt Hamber Laboratories auto-clay differs as \u003cstrong\u003eits formulation enables normal tap water to provide the necessary lubrication\u003c\/strong\u003e. Some clay bars contain surfactants such as powdered detergents or soaps. Long-term use of surfactants can have adverse effects on paint systems — \u003cstrong\u003eauto-clay contains no surfactants, detergents, soaps or other soluble materials.\u003c\/strong\u003e\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTwo things follow. First, you're not buying clay lube forever — a spray bottle of water does it. Second, and more to the point, you are not repeatedly dragging soluble surfactant across your clear coat every time you decontaminate.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eChoosing a grade — it's not just aggression\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is where most guides get it wrong. Bilt Hamber's grading is a \u003cstrong\u003econtamination × temperature\u003c\/strong\u003e decision, because all clay firms up when cold and softens when warm.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegular.\u003c\/strong\u003e Heavily contaminated paint, or a car that has never been clayed. \u003cstrong\u003eAlso the right choice in hot weather\u003c\/strong\u003e, when a softer bar would go gummy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMedium.\u003c\/strong\u003e Paint in reasonable condition. Folds easily to expose a fresh working face — the most forgiving all-rounder.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoft.\u003c\/strong\u003e Paint in good condition, or if you clay frequently. \u003cstrong\u003eAlso the right choice in cold weather\u003c\/strong\u003e, when a firmer bar would be unworkable.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn an Australian summer, most people should be reaching for \u003cstrong\u003eRegular\u003c\/strong\u003e — not because their paint is filthy, but because of the ambient temperature. That's counterintuitive and it's why we're spelling it out.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eUse Korrosol first\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eBilt Hamber recommend chemically decontaminating with \u003cstrong\u003eKorrosol\u003c\/strong\u003e before you clay. It dissolves the embedded iron, which means the bar isn't dragging sharp ferrous particles across your paint — and your bar lasts considerably longer. Skipping this step is how people put marring into their own clear coat and blame the clay.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eHow to use it\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eWash the car first. Work on cool, shaded paint. Mist \u003cstrong\u003etap water\u003c\/strong\u003e over 2–3 square feet, glide the bar back and forth under \u003cstrong\u003elight pressure\u003c\/strong\u003e, keeping the surface wet at all times. When the noise stops, that section is done. Fold and knead to a fresh face as it loads up — reddish-brown residue on the bar means it's working.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNever use it dry. Never reuse it if you drop it.\u003c\/strong\u003e Expect around 4–5 cars from a bar. \u003cstrong\u003eWax or seal immediately afterwards\u003c\/strong\u003e — you've just stripped the paint bare.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNot classified as hazardous.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003chr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSafety Data Sheet (Australia)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0669\/0707\/8878\/files\/Auto-Clay_SDS_au.pdf?v=1784380297\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eDownload the Bilt Hamber Auto-Clay SDS (PDF)\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bilt Hamber","offers":[{"title":"Soft","offer_id":48433208885470,"sku":"BH-AutoClay-Soft","price":37.5,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Medium","offer_id":48433208918238,"sku":"BH-AutoClay-Med","price":37.5,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Regular","offer_id":48433208951006,"sku":"BH-AutoClay-Reg","price":37.5,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0669\/0707\/8878\/files\/auto-clay_regular-scaled-e1589282362685.jpg?v=1784179155","url":"https:\/\/www.alphadetails.com.au\/products\/bilt-hamber-auto-clay-water-lubricated-clay-bar","provider":"Alpha Details","version":"1.0","type":"link"}