Hey all, I was recently just testing out some products on one of my panels since I picked up a few new items, and I was having problems with the machine glaze I got. It's super runny, which I'm just going to assume is normal since I've never worked with it before, but that's not the problem.

The problem is that it seems to dry too early, even when simply doing small sections, and it causes these miniature 'micro-swirls' with the finishing pad I'm using. I'll use swirl remover 2.0, and the panel will look great, but then I'll move to the glaze and super tiny scratches will appear...? Maybe it's because the panel is too cold? I'm not sure, but I'm pretty unhappy with it. I figured I'd hold back until the spring when I can do a proper full detail, but I want to know how to work the glaze properly before I go using it for real.

Any thoughts?

 

Which pad are you using for the glaze? Try droping to a softer pad. Glazes should be done with a very soft pad, black (CCW) as the most agressive. Try a blue CCW. (Assuming you are using a rotary). Most glazes are way more "liquid" than compounds, and I have found they take more product on the pad until the pad is primed, then they take much less.

I have found some products to separate, so make sure you shake the bottle for a few minutes, really.

And how cold is it? I did my truck at around 30 F, but inside the (non heated) garage I found the M105 to be more agressive than at higher temps, but not significantly. I bought a $40 ceramic heater and let it blow on me and the panel as I did it. Worked out pretty good.

 

Yah... I shook it a bit, but maybe just not enough? I definitely noticed it separates easily though. I'm not using a rotary, I'm using a PC with a black finishing pad. I'll have to experiment some more I suppose... Maybe the scratches came from the pad smudging the dust across the paint? I suppose I should have stopped when I noticed it dusting so much...

 

(Raises hand)

I know what's wrong! You've got a seriously old bottle of that stuff.

It does go bad - I just recently tossed a bottle that was thin like you're describing. I checked my bottle of #3 Machine Glaze this morning. It's about the same consistency as dijon mustard. Return it, and get a newer bottle. Your bottle has probably been sitting on the shelf for a long time. When it's good, it's also not very dusty, and has a nice long working time.

I bet Meguiar's would happily give you a new bottle. Try calling their customer service people:

1-800-347-5700
Hours: M-F 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Pacific)
Saturday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Pacific)

 

Right! Exchange it for a fresh bottle or just get your money back and try something else. Meguiar's does have a 100% satisfaction guarantee. You may also want to consider exchanging it for M81. M81 is probably more popular among D/A users than M03. Of course, M07 remains the most popular of Meguiar's "pure polishes," but it is typically applied by hand, not by machine.

#3 should not be instilling any micro-scatches at all, nor will it remove them. It's a non-abrasive polish that is gently worked into the paint at a low speed and then immediately wiped off. Also be sure that your finishing pad is absolutely clean. And are you sure that the micro-scratches that you are seeing were not there before you applied the glaze? Wipe down the panel with an IPA solution. #9 may or may not be actually removing the scratches, especially if you are using a D/A polisher. Its polishing oils may simply be hiding them.

You probably know all of this already, but I'd thought I'd mention it just in case ...

 

Yah, I should probably just call Meguiar's... Truth be told, I picked the bottle up at a local small auto shop, and it's definitely nowhere near mustard consistency, haha.

As for the 'hiding' of scratches, I know for sure it was in fact instilling them, and I know my pads were clean, so it must have been the polish. Also, it dusted and dried way too soon, it didn't even let me get more than four or five passes in a small area before completely drying out...

I think calling Meguiar's is probably a better idea than picking up another bottle of what could just be equally as old stuff from the same shop...

 

Yeah, this is all wrong. Machine Glaze has a nice long working time when it's right.

My suggestion - if you happen to go back into that store, let them know that your bottle is bad. Might provoke them into sending the rest of their stock back to Meguiar's, so another customer doesn't end up in the same spot as you.