product report: perfect putty

["Linus D. Toy" <linust@interramp.com>]

Recently, someone asked about Griot's Garage's Paint Cleaning Clay.  I don't
have their product, but last year at the seattle auto show, i picked up a
similar product called P&S Perfect Putty, by a company called P&S.  This
clay is used in conjunction with a water-based lubricant called Paint Gloss,
which they also sell as a showroom detailer, for waterless car washing (no I
wouldn't use it that way!).  They had an impressive demo at the car show
using the putty to remove overspray and road tar from the hood of a car.  i
was skeptical, but i bit.  $25 for putty & gloss.  (same as griot's)  last
weekend, i finally got around to trying it on my 200q (last weekend was our
first decent weather in the PNWet).

In the past, I've always used some combination of Meguiar's products for
paint care, including hi tech swirl remover, reseal glaze, and paste wax
(yellow #26).  This meant putting down a layer of product and buffing it off
2 or even 3 times.  I've spent as much as 12 hours on a badly oxidized car
before (my old 1980 4000) including the polish, clean & wax steps.

This time:  Wash the car, dry it off.  Spray the Paint Gloss on a panel, use
the Putty in a sanding motion across the panel until it moves easily.  Dry
off with a clean towel.  Once I completed the car, I waxed it with #26
yellow paste wax.  

The result:  even before the wax, the paint now had a shiny, glass smooth
surface, all the grit and dirt embedded in the top layer of paint having
been removed (you can see it in the clay).  In fact, the wax didn't seem to
add to the shine any!  Total time start to finish was probably less than 4
hours (did it over a couple days in the early mornings)

If anyone knows anything else about these clay cleaning methods (especially
if there's a reason why not to use it) please tell, otherwise I'm sold on
it.  Nice product.

--linus
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* linus toy           email:  linust@interramp.com                   *
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