Claying

Claying is a term used in different disciplines to describe working with clay materials, most commonly in pottery or sculpture and in automotive detailing. The exact meaning depends on the context, but in each case it involves a deliberate handling or treatment of clay or clay-like materials.

In ceramic arts, claying refers to the processes that create clay forms. This includes wedging to homogenize the material and remove air pockets, hand-building and wheel throwing to shape vessels or figures, and forming techniques such as coiling or slab construction. After shaping, pieces are dried slowly to leather-hard or bone-dry stages and then fired in a kiln. Glazing or surface decoration may follow, and final firing yields a durable ceramic piece. Different clay bodies (earthenware, stoneware, porcelain) require specific moisture, firing temperatures, and glazes.

In automotive detailing, claying is a surface decontamination procedure. A clay bar or polymer clay is rubbed lightly over a lubricated paint surface to remove bonded contaminants that washing alone cannot lift, such as industrial fallout, tree sap, or overspray. The process requires a generous amount of lubricant and careful, low-pressure strokes to avoid marring. After claying, the surface should feel smooth, and subsequent steps typically include polishing and sealing or waxing to protect the finish. Good practice involves keeping the clay clean, folding and re-lubing as it picks up contaminants, and replacing the clay when it becomes visibly dirty or torn.

Claying thus serves distinct purposes: shaping and finishing ceramic clay in the arts, and preparing a paint surface for finishing in automotive care.