Just what is Glaze?

O

Old Rattle Flat

New member
Just what is glaze and what does it do as compared to other products? In reading different threads, it seems to be generally used after a protectant/sealant and before carnuba. Klasse SG is mentioned a lot, and some people seem expcetionally please with 3M Perfect-It III Finishing Glaze, but I just don't seem to be able to get a handle on what glaze is or what it does with either the sealants or the carnubas.:nixweiss



Can anyone explain?
 
I don't have near the experience -- nor the variety of experiences -- of some of the veterans here. But since only a few of us are online this afternoon, I'll tell you what I do know (or think).



Based on the reading I did before going with Zaino, I would never apply a glaze before or after a polymer/sealant. If you use a glaze after a sealant, I think you're only filling the scratches that are in the sealant. I don't use a glaze at all on my Zaino car, because Sal & Co. have totally brainwashed me that Zaino is a complete and self-enclosed line.



I don't use a PC, never yet tried an SMR/DACP. But on the Benz, I'll wash, clay, then glaze (Megs #7). As I understand it, glazes are just barely abrasive -- might get rid of a few tiny micro-scratches. But it has fillers to "cover" scratches. After glazing, then I'll add S100 wax. The process saves me a lot of trouble; since I don't have the skill or tools to actually get rid of the tiny swirls and scratches, the glaze lets me hide them.
 
A true glaze is basically a non abrasive formula that fills in the imperfections/swirls. They do not last long at all- maybe a day or two. There are many formulations of glazes however, Klasse SG isn't a real glaze, it is a acrylic sealant for the paint that is typically topped with a carnauba for the best shine. I've never used P-III Finishing Glaze so I cannot comment on its place.
 
Greg identifies the main characteristic common to glazes, they both fill in defects, to the extent they can, and boost shine. Generally, they do not last and are sometimes equalvalent to "oiling" your paint -- looks good, but, long term, not a solution.



Part of the trouble is that these terms are not used consistently. For example, Sal calls several of his forumlations "polishes" but none contain the fine abrasives common in other polishes.
 
I thought that after using glaze, you can seal the results with wax and it will stay looking like that until the wax wears off? I used meguairs showcar glaze and s100 wax afterwards. Is this the right thing to do? The glaze is the first thing I've done to my car that I can actually see a difference between an area that was done and not done.
 
Lynn said:
I would never apply a glaze before or after a polymer/sealant. If you use a glaze after a sealant, I think you're only filling the scratches that are in the sealant.



I don't use a PC, never yet tried an SMR/DACP. But on the Benz, I'll wash, clay, then glaze (Megs #7). As I understand it, glazes are just barely abrasive -- might get rid of a few tiny micro-scratches. But it has fillers to "cover" scratches. After glazing, then I'll add S100 wax. The process saves me a lot of trouble; since I don't have the skill or tools to actually get rid of the tiny swirls and scratches, the glaze lets me hide them.
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To pick up anther thread of Lynns (and because I don't have a PC) I wouldn't always be removing layers of paint in order to remove swirls etc. As a result I do have imperfections in my sealant layer and I am considering using a glaze to fill these and then wax on top. So I'm not sure why Lynn is not consistent (OK I accept the Z argument) but I don't understand why you would not use a glaze over a sealant - unless of course someone with experience can tell me why? :D
 
butchdave said:
To pick up anther thread of Lynns (and because I don't have a PC) I wouldn't always be removing layers of paint in order to remove swirls etc. As a result I do have imperfections in my sealant layer and I am considering using a glaze to fill these and then wax on top. So I'm not sure why Lynn is not consistent (OK I accept the Z argument) but I don't understand why you would not use a glaze over a sealant - unless of course someone with experience can tell me why? :D
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Glaze will remove the sealant because it contains some mild abraisives. You can glaze over the sealant but you will need to reapply the sealant or wax when you are finished.
 
Nagchampa said:
Glaze will remove the sealant because it contains some mild abraisives. You can glaze over the sealant but you will need to reapply the sealant or wax when you are finished.
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Yesss.... Thats why I'm looking for a glaze that contains no abrasives :confused: Of course thats easier said than done given the state of confusion over whats a polish and whats a glaze :)
 
Actually as I understand it through my own reading and limited testing, it's not the mild abrasives but rather the solvents in glazes that eat sealants. I don't think any glaze or real polish is without these, so I always like to say that glazes and sealants are enemies.... I know this sucks. :(
 
4DSC said:
Actually as I understand it through my own reading and limited testing, it's not the mild abrasives but rather the solvents in glazes that eat sealants. I don't think any glaze or real polish is without these, so I always like to say that glazes and sealants are enemies.... I know this sucks. :(
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:( Ah well, I just knew it couldn't that easy :)



I might just try it anyway. If it works for a weekend it might be worth trying it on the Traction for club meets.
 
4DSC said:
Actually as I understand it through my own reading and limited testing, it's not the mild abrasives but rather the solvents in glazes that eat sealants. I don't think any glaze or real polish is without these, so I always like to say that glazes and sealants are enemies.... I know this sucks. :(
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You are right. I forgot to mention the solvents.:doh
 
4DSC said:
Actually as I understand it through my own reading and limited testing, it's not the mild abrasives but rather the solvents in glazes that eat sealants. I don't think any glaze or real polish is without these, so I always like to say that glazes and sealants are enemies.... I know this sucks. :(
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Hmm, if the solvents in glazes will eat sealants (yum!), then wouldn't the solvents in a wax topper also deteriorate the underlying sealant for those of us who enjoy doing the KSG + Carnauba or BFII + Carnauba combo? Waxes, after all, are loaded with solvents as well. Or am I making an incorrect comparison?
 
Intermezzo said:
Hmm, if the solvents in glazes will eat sealants (yum!), then wouldn't the solvents in a wax topper also deteriorate the underlying sealant for those of us who enjoy doing the KSG + Carnauba or BFII + Carnauba combo? Waxes, after all, are loaded with solvents as well. Or am I making an incorrect comparison?
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That's a good question, and no one's really commented or tested this directly IIRC. :nixweiss I seem to recall someone had gotten around to their 6 month detail once and said the Klasse was still there beneath, but I could be wrong.... I'm hoping to find out for myself when I'm ready to do my overhaul - my Klasse layers have been topped off numerous times with carnauba.



There was a discussion about this or something related to this months ago which convinced me that paste waxes, with their heavier carriers, are "safer" to use as toppers than their liquid equivalents (like #26 liquid). I'll see if I can dig it up.



EDIT: Okay, here's a couple threads I dug up.... one or both of these might be what I read to decide pastes were more "sealant friendly".



http://www.autopia.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15247&highlight=paste+liquid+wax+solvents

http://www.autopia.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14725&highlight=paste+liquid+wax+solvents

(see 1Z's response first post)
 
Nagchampa said:
Glaze is a body shop safe polish.
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Yep, like Nagchampa said a glaze should be a body shop safe product that doesn't contain any silicone and has abrasives in it for removing swirls. You can't really judge by what a product is called though.



Klasse Sealant Glaze has the word "Glaze" in it but it is a synthetic wax.
 
Intel486 said:
Yep, like Nagchampa said a glaze should be a body shop safe product that doesn't contain any silicone and has abrasives in it for removing swirls. You can't really judge by what a product is called though.
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I agree. The industry definition of a glaze is a swirl-remover or polish that can be used on freshly painted surfaces. A lot of us who love to use these compounds and swirl-removers to fix paint defects on fully cured OEM paints are actually using products that were originally intended for the body-shop.
 
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