Applying a glaze to your paint is a step that many professional detailers have used for years that is now becoming popular among weekend detailers. The reason glazes are so popular is for how well they work at hiding imperfections and adding gloss to the finish. True glazes are ultra fine polishes designed to cling to imperfections and fill them in. The oil fillers cling to the sides of the imperfection and optically make the paint look like the imperfections have disappeared or been reduced. Make sure you follow up with a sealant or wax to protect the glaze and extend its life. This is discussed in detail during the next step. The oils in the glaze will reflect the color of the surrounding paint to make the paint’s finish look uniform. The glaze will also make the surface look rich and glossy for a show room finish. This is a perfect step for: after using polishes, newer vehicles that do not want to use polishes yet, vehicle’s entered in shows and anyone looking to really make their paint “pop”.

Recommended Products For Machine Buffing:

* Porter Cable 7424 Buffer
* Velcro Backing Plate
* Polishing Pad or Finishing Pad
* Glaze
* 1 - 3x Microfiber Towels

Recommended Products For Hand Buffing:

* Lake Country Hand Applicator w/ Appropriate Pad
or 1x Microfiber Applicator Pad
* Glaze
* 1 - 3x Microfiber Towels

Prep Stage:
At this point the vehicle should be freshly washed, dried and already treated with clay bar, cutting polish and finishing polish if desired. For ease of use and best results the vehicle should be worked on in a shaded area where the paint is cool to the touch. Attach the appropriate pad to the Porter Cable 7424, centering the pad on the backing plate. Whether doing the application by hand or with a buffer be sure to match the aggressiveness of the product with the aggressiveness of the pad (refer to Glazes Info). Prime the pad, especially new ones, with a couple mists of quick detailer solution. This will help keep the product on the pads surface and enhance your results. A general tip for using the PC is to move relatively slow and keep the pad flat when possible.

Instructions for Machine Glazing:

1. Dispense a ring of product around the outer edge of the pad. (Note: If the pad is brand new add a little extra product, so the pad does not run dry)
2. With the PC off smear the product over a 2’ x 2’ area on the clear coat.
3. Turn on the PC and with the speed setting between 3 – 5. Begin to apply light pressure to the head of the PC unit. If the PC bogs down, you are applying too much pressure.
4. Start in the top left corner of your 2’ x 2’ area and move the PC from left to right at a pace of 3” per second, overlapping each pass by 50%.
5. With the PC still on work the buffer from top to bottom moving at 3″ per second, while overlapping each pass by 50%. Use light pressure only so the pad spins freely for this set of passes until the entire 2′ x 2′ area has been completed. After completing the 2′ x 2′ area turn the buffer off. (Note: At this time the entire 2′ x 2′ panel should have received four passes.)
6. After completing a section or panel use a paint safe microfiber towel to wipe off any remaining excess product. Replace towel if it smears or becomes saturated with product.
7. After a few panels take the time to wipe off excess product from the pad so it does not get saturated. Another option is to spin the buffer on a low speed and agitate it with a clean toothbrush to remove product build up the pores of the foam pad.
8. Continue this entire process until the entire vehicle has been buffed.
9. When finished, clean pads with Snappy Clean pad cleaners to ensure pads are in proper working condition.

Instructions for Hand Buffing:

1. Dispense a nickel to quarter sized drop of product on the applicator pad.
2. Spread the product and outline a 2’ x 2’ area that you plan on working the glaze.
3. Start in the top left corner of your 2’ x 2’ area and work the polish in small circles with medium pressure moving from left to right, overlapping each pass by 50%.
4. Repeat this process moving up and down.
5. After completing a section or panel use a paint safe microfiber towel to wipe off any remaining excess product. Replace towel if it smears or becomes saturated with product.
6. Continue this process until the entire vehicle has been glazed.
7. Clean the applicator pad with the Snappy Clean pad cleaning solution to remove excess product and to ensure the pad is clean for the next use.