Paint Glaze

What is a glaze?

A glaze is a filler product, meaning it will fill in minor imperfections in paint. Glazes are temporarily products that will wash off after about a month, sometimes less. They generally consist of a filler, a mild polish, and some include a wax component.

AIO (all in one) polishes may also fit some of the criteria of a glaze. 3D Speed for example is a mild polish, that has fillers and applies a wax.

Do I need a glaze?

Generally, no. Glazes are temporarily products that will wash off. For a daily driver, even weekend car, it is not worth it to apply as it will wear off.

When should I use a glaze?

• Production style detailing/Pre Sale/Lease Return/Dealership details where you try to minimize the time for results and it does not matter how the car looks in a few months, only for the sale or return of the car. They will still improve the general look of the car a lot.
• Show cars where the fillers are actually beneficial, in those cases often topped with other waxes for maximum look and sometimes even applied to otherwise paint corrected cars.
• Cars with paint that is so thin you have no other chance of removing scratches, and/or cars with very precious original paint where you do not want to remove any unnecessary clear.

Why are glazes generally looked down upon?

There are two main factors why glazes are not as beloved as they used to be decades ago. One is that due to the sealant and fillers in them, you should not apply a ceramic coating or any sealant over them. The chance it won’t bond correctly is high. They will also remove or weaken a ceramic coating if used on a coated car.

The other side is durability. There are many dedicated products for polishing and sealing that do a much better job than a combo product like a glaze. Use the right product to get the best, long-lasting results instead of cutting corners with a glaze.