Appearance & Detailing Interior & Exterior Appearance Modifications

Difference's in paint care products

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 19, 2007 | 01:13 PM
  #1  
CAMJAG's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (34)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 0
From: CT
Default Difference's in paint care products

What are the difference's between wax, glaze, and sealant?

Between polish, cleaner, and compound?

Reading the products label on the back all sound the same but just a different name on the front. What is the real difference between them all?
Reply
Old May 19, 2007 | 02:38 PM
  #2  
CAMJAG's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (34)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 0
From: CT
Default

Someone who knows what they are talking about post up an in depth response and maybe get it sticky worthy
Reply
Old May 20, 2007 | 12:17 AM
  #3  
NightWindDriftr's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,224
Likes: 0
From: Key West, FL / Dallas, TX
Default

A compound has a lot of cut, a polish has less cut, and cleaners are either just chemicals with no abrasiveness, or very light abrasive properties.

A wax is usually the good-old solid paste that comes in solid or liquid form, usually has some amount of carnauba, and has deep shine and scratch-filling properties. A sealant is more "synthetic" than a wax and binds with the clearcoat, offering better durability than a wax. And IMO a glaze is another word for "polish", because usually "glazes" are applied after polishes but before waxes, and again, IMO, is a useless term because that's what a polish is for.

The most important thing is to disambiguate between products (like you're doing now). There is a lot of redundancy among SOME companies (cough Meguiar's) but between all the junk, you can find some real gems. Why buy a full spectrum of degrading compounds when you can swap pads instead?
Reply
Old May 20, 2007 | 12:18 AM
  #4  
NightWindDriftr's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,224
Likes: 0
From: Key West, FL / Dallas, TX
Default

There is also an LS1wiki on detailing that I was building, but to the best of my knowledge only two others have contributed to it. It needs a lot of meat, and I'm waiting for others to step up before I put my hand back into it.
Reply
Old May 20, 2007 | 10:09 PM
  #5  
CAMJAG's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (34)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 0
From: CT
Default

Originally Posted by NightWindDriftr
There is also an LS1wiki on detailing that I was building, but to the best of my knowledge only two others have contributed to it. It needs a lot of meat, and I'm waiting for others to step up before I put my hand back into it.
Sounds good, ill keep my eye out for it. There should be a sticky on paint care up there hopefully more people (Sponsors also) will contribute to what you are doing and get one up
Reply
Old May 20, 2007 | 10:12 PM
  #6  
CAMJAG's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (34)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 0
From: CT
Default

Would it be ok to apply a sealant after you wax or just X out the wax and just use a sealant
Reply
Old May 21, 2007 | 01:25 PM
  #7  
NightWindDriftr's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,224
Likes: 0
From: Key West, FL / Dallas, TX
Default

Originally Posted by CAMJAG
Would it be ok to apply a sealant after you wax or just X out the wax and just use a sealant
Sealant first, and if you want, you may top with a wax. The sealant needs to go on clean, bare clear coat, hence why you don't want to top the wax with a sealant.

Sealants are a better choice for daily drivers, but there are occasions when wax is more practical. This includes when you want to temporarily "fill-in" scratches, when you prefer appearance over durability (although appearace differences between the two are subjective, a trained eye can see the difference), or if you want to take a classic approach to the therapy that is detailing. There's no fun like applying and buffing off wax for a shine!

Here is the link to the incomplete Wiki: http://wiki.ls1tech.com/index.php?title=Detailing

Everyone is welcome to add their little tidbits! Feel free to add your own as well.
Reply
Old May 21, 2007 | 02:22 PM
  #8  
bboyferal's Avatar
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,472
Likes: 0
From: Miami, FL
Default

Both sealants and waxes are topcoat "sealers."

Their job is to protect the clearcoat from the elements. They're in the same group to me.

Like NightWindDriftr posted, and he really knows his **** more than MANY here, a "sealant" aka synthetic topcoat/protectant is greatly designed for longevity, unlike a "wax" aka naturally-occuring topcoat/protectant that can literally be washed away in one rain... But NOTHING matches a natural carnauba wax's shine, though.

Cleaners, Compounds, Cutters, etc. are all names given to polishes, according to their degree of "cut," how strongly they abrade. A polish with NO cut is referred to as a pure polish aka glaze.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old May 21, 2007 | 05:42 PM
  #9  
CAMJAG's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (34)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 0
From: CT
Default

Thats for clearing that up I have a better understanding now
Reply
Old May 21, 2007 | 06:25 PM
  #10  
bboyferal's Avatar
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,472
Likes: 0
From: Miami, FL
Default

Don't worry... The car care product market is VERY misleading.

Someone recently introduced me to this product. Check out the name:

"VANILLA MOOSE WAX HAND GLAZE"

Listen to this. It's not a wax (no protectant). It's not a glaze either (removes swirls). It's recommended use is for orange pad PC duty, removing swirls, oxidation, and whatnot.

Then you have the turtle wax liquid claybar, Ice synthetic polish that protects (WTF?)... Lots of nonsense out there, just to confuse uninformed people, taking their money in the process. That's why I stick to Meguiars Pro line and over the counter, Zaino, and other product lines that have very defined functions and labelling.
Reply
Old May 21, 2007 | 06:57 PM
  #11  
CAMJAG's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (34)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 0
From: CT
Default

Originally Posted by bboyferal
Don't worry... The car care product market is VERY misleading.

Someone recently introduced me to this product. Check out the name:

"VANILLA MOOSE WAX HAND GLAZE"

Listen to this. It's not a wax (no protectant). It's not a glaze either (removes swirls). It's recommended use is for orange pad PC duty, removing swirls, oxidation, and whatnot.

Then you have the turtle wax liquid claybar, Ice synthetic polish that protects (WTF?)... Lots of nonsense out there, just to confuse uninformed people, taking their money in the process. That's why I stick to Meguiars Pro line and over the counter, Zaino, and other product lines that have very defined functions and labelling.
Vinilla moose wax Yea I have been using Meguiars products but I have not yet "detailed" my car in the 3 years I have owned it I have been just reading the labels on the back and like I said it all sounds the same. You guys helped me out with allot of answers plus I went on Meguiars web site and watched the 3 video series on polishes and waxes, etc. I read up on the tropi car site, and the wiki page. You guys where a great help. Thanks
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:27 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE