Liquid Glass

[bigwillie]

Hey guys I put on the Liquid Glass tonight, with great results. It was fairly easy to put on and take off once it had hazed over. My only complaint is that it's so thin sometimes i couldn't tell which part of the car had been waxed! (BTW What causes it to be so thin and hard to see?) Unfortunaley by the time I'd finshed washing the car and getting off all of the old wax by washing with Dawn regular old blue non concentrated formula, the sun had almost set and it was getting dark by the time i finished applying liquid glass, so it did not get a chance to bake into the paint like it said it's supposed to on the Liquid Glass can. I had the best results on the chrome and stainless steel wheels on the car. The chrome and wheels almost look new now which i think it pretty good for a 17 year old car like my 88 Bronco II. The Liquid Glass did cause some streaking on the original black paint though. I also liked the shine and reflection that it gave the 17 year old paint, it sparkles now. Can't comment on the durability though as I've only had it on the car for about 2 hours now! Hope everyone enjoys my review.

(BTW in case you didn't know this thread is an update of my original What's the best OTC Wax? thread, you guys said liquid glass so i decided to try it)

 

[sxg6]

quote:

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Originally posted by bigwillie:
My only complaint is that it's so thin sometimes i couldn't tell which part of the car had been waxed! (BTW What causes it to be so thin and hard to see?)

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i noticed the exact same thing when i applied mine today. the only way i could judge is by the way it felt after being removed. i used dawn to wash my car before, so the area was either really really smooth, or not at all.

 

[doitmyself]

I'm not so sure what you guys mean when you say "thin and hard to see". Are you talking about the "still applied" layer of sealant, or about the look after it is buffed off.

I'm no expert, but will take a stab at this. ANY car wax product does not leave even close to a 1 mil layer "wax" on the car. It's more like a molecule or two thick. Most of us are used to the old standbys like Turtle Wax or Raindance where you slather on a lot of product full of cleaners and fillers. You wipe it off and still only get that one or two molecule of protection (but feel good putting on such a thick layer initially).

These better sealants (Zaino, Klasse, LG, and others) are more pure product (less fillers), so you put it on thinner - but you get a better (still thin) layer of protection. You have to spend more time initially cleaning your paint before using these products because they contain less (or no) cleaners and more active sealant.

Bigwillie, most detailers would have suggested a multi-step cleaning, polishing, waxing job on a 17 year old paint job to get the best results. One step products can do only so much to restore a finish.

You have to change your mindset with these "better" products. Zaino users apply less than one ounce of product to the entire car!

In the end, it is really personal preference, just like motor oils, and everyone will have their favorite for one reason or another.

I suggest you guys come over to my place and practice on my car. I will supervise (in my lawn chair with a tall, cool one) while enjoying today's college football games.

 

[sxg6]

i put a second coat on today, using a meguiars foam applicator pad and it was better this time. basically what i mean is that when i'm applying liquid glass to a body panel, at first i can easilly see where it is being applied by the haze. but after i do a small area, and contiune to apply before removing, it gets harder and harder to see it being applied to the finish.

 

[bigwillie]

yes this is exactly what I was refering to, I cannot see the wax when I'm applying, I can only tell where I have applied it after a haze forms. I did not do a multi step cleaning because I thought the paint was in relativley good condition, the person who I bought the car from took it in for rountine detailings, it was always stored in a garage, and only driven once or twice a week, so other than a few minor paint chips, the paints in excellent condition, the car itself only has 47,000 miles on it currently. If you have any other suggestions or comments doitmyself, please tell me.

 

[obbop]

My accolades for Liquid Glass commenced after I negligently parked under a pine tree for the night.

I knew better but my mind was elsewhere.

In the morning I saw the multitude of little spots upon the white paint shielded by Liquid Glass.

Eeeeeeek!!!!!

Luckily, I had time to do a quick wash. I was surprised how easily the little dried and not-so-dried sap drops came off without leaving any marks upon the protectant or the paint underneath.

Other detritus and debris are also easy to remove during a wash. And, the protectant appears to last a long time.

Just hope it works as well for you folks.

 

[Dr. T]

Is Liquid Glass a polish or wax? If it's a polish, then I can understand the 'I can't see it' factor as it probably doesn't leave a coating as wax does...

 

[AndyH]

quote:

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Originally posted by Dr. T:
Is Liquid Glass a polish or wax? If it's a polish, then I can understand the 'I can't see it' factor as it probably doesn't leave a coating as wax does...

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It's a synthetic polish.

 

[obbop]

From what I have read on message boards and the Liquid Glass can the product is a sealant designed to maximize paint protection with the sine factor being a secondary consideration.

 

[doitmyself]

Bretfatz is the resident detailing expert here, but I will give my opinion for what it is not worth.

The marketing people that put labels on detailing products have intermingled the use of "wax", sealant, and polish to confuse everyone.

True polishes are intermediate detailing products designed to prep the paint before coating it with a wax or sealant. Cleaners (chemical/abrasive), swirl removers/fillers, and a host of other products are what "I" consider polishes - no protection.

Waxes (carnuba, synthetic,etc.) and polymer sealants are protective coatings "layered" on the paint for protection, gloss, etc.

Liquid Glass Polish is a polymer sealant top coat.
It is not an intermediate polish/prep.

Hope you are now more confused.

The varnish people have done this same thing with varnish vs. polyurethane, tung "oil" finishes, etc..