Originally Posted by dolebludger

Opinions please. To do a GOOD exterior detail job, I'm getting two sets of advice, that are conflicting as to applying glaze as an intermediate step.

Some advise to clay, polish, and wax.

Others advise to clay, polish, GLAZE, and wax.

Originally Posted by uberwgn

This can be the correct procedure in some cases. Too many, as usual, are trying to apply a one-size-fits-all approach. Every car is a bit different, especially as it ages over 5 or ten years. Glaze is a very specific product that would be used post-polish to fill in minute scratches, hide swirl marks and further enhance the luster. Glaze has the consistency of a polish in a bottle. It is successfully applied by hand, direct drive or random orbit machine.

Now, if you're surface is near perfection following your polishing phase, there's no reason you can't got directly to your wax or sealant stage(s) and call it a wrap.

The glaze is not a final step product - - it will wash off in the rain or at the first car washing. It really does nothing more than mask very slight defects. It can also add great lustre and shine to paint in excellent condition. FWIW, some perfectionists will use glaze and nothing but glaze...meaning they don't wax and never have to be concerned with surface build up. This strategy obviously isn't for a daily driver, but for the garage queen/show car. A good quality glaze can have a big impact.