The clay itself is not abrasive. It adheres to surface contaminants and pulls them from the surface of the paint. In doing so, the surface of the clay becomes contaminated so, as you use it, you check the surface and as it becomes dirty you fold the dirty section in on itself. Please note that you don't use the whole bar at one time, as you would a bar of soap. Rather, you pull off a piece of the clay bar that you work into a small pad perhaps 3-4 inches in diameter that you 'work' with the fingertips of your hand. Using very light perssure you can easily feel when the surface is getting smooth by the decreased drag you feel as the clay moves across the surface. Simply go over an area until it feels smooth and the clay is no longer picking up contamination and you're on to the next area. Once you try this process you will not be satisfied with anything less. It takes only a little bit of practice to develop the feel and the results are outstanding.

__________________
Richard Detoy
'84 300SD
'76 Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans