# Clay Bar Question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clay-bar-question/627237>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 4, 2012, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clay-bar-question/627237 "2012-07-04T20:23:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2012, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clay-bar-question/627237/1 "2012-07-04T20:23:10Z")

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Referring to the product used to clean contaminants from automotive paint surfaces, does anyone know if it really is it a naturally occurring clay or is it man made or perhaps a combination?

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**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2012, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clay-bar-question/627237/2 "2012-07-04T20:55:05Z")

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see [http://www.acmenovelties.net/cars/clay\_bar.php](http://www.acmenovelties.net/cars/clay_bar.php)

> [@](#):
>
> The clay bar is exactly what it says it is — a bar of putty-like modeling clay composed primarily of calcium salts, petroleum jelly and aliphatic acids. The clay can be easily shaped by hand, yet is stiff enough to maintain its shape

see

> **[Plasticine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasticine)**
>
> Plasticine is a putty-like modelling material made from calcium salts, petroleum jelly and aliphatic acids. Though originally a brand name for the British version of the product, it is now applied generically in English as a product category to other formulations. 
> Plasticine is used for children's play and as a modelling medium for more formal or permanent structures. Because of its non-drying property, it is a material commonly chosen for stop motion animation, including several Academy Aw...

> [@](#):
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> Plasticine was formulated by art teacher William Harbutt of Bathampton, in Bath, England, in 1897. He wanted a non-drying clay for use by his sculpture students. Although the exact composition is a secret, Plasticine is composed of calcium salts (principally calcium carbonate), petroleum jelly, and long-chain aliphatic acids (principally stearic acid). It is non-toxic, sterile, soft, malleable, and does not dry on exposure to air (unlike superficially similar products such as Play-Doh, which is based on flour, salt and water). It cannot be hardened by firing; it melts when exposed to heat, and is flammable at much higher temperatures.[1]