I figured I might throw this out there. When you use a clay bar, no matter the brand name, you are using the same product. Clay magic owns the patent rights in the United States and they supply all the companies with the same clay. No matter where who you buy it from, it is the same compound. When I go to get new clay, I buy the cheapest out there because it is the same as the guy charging you $25 for the best bar out there. The only way to get better clay is ordering it from Japan because they are not under patent rights. It isn't that much better and after you figure in the shipping cost, get the cheapest one here in the US. Also, that clearner they sell you with the kit. Horse crap. It is like 97% water, 3% soap. Just refill the bottle they gave you with the bar with water and you are good to go. I have alot of inside tips with detailing so if you like this one, let me know. I hope this was helpful for someone.

 

You forgot there is a difference in the aggressiveness of them as well

Meguiars Mild and Aggressive are the best I've used. It is different to Clay Magic since it does not fall apart as easily IME.

If you want the best, go Riccardo! You just have to know how to get it thats all

 

Also, some claybars are very sticky and pull apart easily, some tend to come apart in certain liquids like soap, and some dont.
And as was also mentioned, there are different degrees of "cut"; some are more aggresive than others.
I started out using the blue Clay Magic bars you can get at some auto parts stores and they worked fine.
I now use the red Zaino bars which are less aggressive, and might take a little longer, but there is less chance of marring the finish if you slip or something.
I have tried Meguiars and threw them away, tried Mothers, and threw them away, and got some big yellow bars somewhere, and these were very sticky, and came apart easily, so I dont use those either.
DanF

 

i like meguiar's. i get them from amazon usually.

 

as far as them all being the same... no.

The clay magic bars always fall apart. i get the meg ones. you can order just the claybars from large wholesalers online.

 

Not sure if CM makes all the clay bars but they do have 6 US patents on the product and actively enforce it. That said, I suspect buying a clay bar is like buying a Craftsman product at Sears. They don't make it but they spec it and someone else makes it to their spec and re-packages it with their brand.

I can verify the fact that the CM bars do disintegrate faster than Meg's. I also like the fact that the Meg's Smooth Surface kit comes with two bars in a plastic storage box. I appreciate the Supreme Shine Microfiber towel that comes in the box too. FWIW, the clay in the Smooth Surface Kit is a much different product than Meguiar's used to supply in their earlier Clay Bar kits. The latter product is much improved, IMO.

The various clays are definitely different regardless of who is the actual manufacturer.

 

^^ What jim said. I believe AutoMagic (parent company of Clay Magic holds the patents in the US and Japan. Most of the clay you find in the US is private labeled CM products. But because they also hold patents in Japan, where the clay is made, you will probably find the same things there too.

Part of the "falling apart" issue could also be coming from the clay lube you are using. I have used different lubes that reacted differently with the same clay. Some fell apart, some didn't. I have used EverBrite, CG Luber, and a few more that made the CM clay fall apart faster. ONR, CG SpeedWipe, and ECOwash are my go-to products that have never made my CG/CM clay fall apart.

 

Clay Magic has always worked great (has never fallen apart) for me.

 

Wait how much cheaper can you get a clay bar for? Because I pay 15.00 for Meguiars Clay Bar (Fine) at Walmart, and I think 15 is a really good price.

 

That is a good price. I found two Meguiars kits at Big lots for $6 a piece once but they never got any more after that. They were the older kits too, not the "Smooth Surface" kits.

 

I can get a 6-8oz bar of Riccardo for around $30 here in the states. Its more or less competitive with the current prices of the Pro line of Meguiars

However, I used to pay $19.99 for that clay kit. Definitely a better deal than what I got in the past...

 

I've used a variety of clay and have seen differences in them regardless of who holds what patents. I used Clay magic, Mothers, Zaino, Mequiars, but my favorite is still Sonus. I use the gray one most often but also like the fine green bar too. Zaino clay was by far the worse. I use my car wash soap for lube.

 

Crap, now you tell me. I just went and bout some more of that meguiars quick detailer stuff so I could clay my car.. I'm gonna fill up my empty bottles up with water now

 

The QD from Meguiars is actually quite good for claying. It is clearly better than using just water. It provides the needed lubrication and doesn't cause the clay to disintegrate. Water lacks lubrication.

 

Not when you're walking up the tile stairs near my office after a frickin' rainstorm