Hey there everyone, Ive got a 2002 Carbon Blue celica (pretty much black but with a blue flake) and was thinking about picking up some Menzerna Finishing Glaze. My car is a daily driver with 65,000 miles and I already have some Menzerna Final polish and intensive polish (along with WG sealant, s100 carnauba wax). My car was polished/waxed by hand ever since the day it was bought up until 200 miles ago with Meguires products. I was thinking the other day, how much polishing is too much polishing?? I probably fully detail my car once every 2-3 months and have recently just bought a UDM. I was thinking of extending my full detail for the paintwork every 3-4 months now since im paranoid of getting rid of too much clearcoat and using the glaze every month along with the sealant and wax. So when it gets down to it how much polishing is too much polishing to cause harm?and what is your opinion on using glazes??

 

The only glaze I've had a solid experience with is the old Wax Shop Super Glaze, where it looks like something you really need to shake up before using, but we're talking over 15 years ago, lol.

I don't see a point to using glazes, most modern paint sealants do a fantastic job with protecting your finish longer than the classic waxes can. If you need to actually polish, as in using a product with abrasives, that's great for when it's time to work on stuff swirl/scratch fillers fail to hide. Otherwise I'd stick with a good chemical cleaner with little to no abrasives to help control contaminants and minor oxidation.

Menzerna has an excellent sealant that I'd recommend to everyone. Like Zaino it can be layered. My car's a daily driver and it sits outside for 8-14 hours during work and I try to limit my use of any true wax product as our hot sun tends to bring even the best ones to their knees in 30 days. I'm stubborn and like the spit-shined look so I like to top things off with some Zymol, Nanowax or S100, whichever I have on hand at the time.

 

thanks for your thoughtful post, but what I was getting at was that since my car will encounter swirls again from weekly washing I was thinking menzernas glaze (since it has fillers and no abrasives) topped with a sealant and wax would fill in those swirls for temporary until it is time to use a polish again.

 

Oh I see. Products with fillers are actually quite nice but I haven't personally used the Menzerna Glaze, if it's anything like their sealant then I would imagine it's a good investment.

Just make sure to minimize the risk of adding new swirls that you follow the proper washing procedures like the 2 bucket washing method.

 

If you were polishing by hand (unless you were using rubbing compound), I would think you would still have PLENTY of paint left on there. However, I would need to know what polishes specifically you were using and how often before I could say for sure.

 

I completely polish my car every two years. Even then it's not bad. No need to over do it.

 

my first thought is same- should not be getting swirls that often. something is wrong with your rags or process is my guess if you are getting new swirls often

 

car brite - phaze glaze. probably once a year i do it

 

I dont know I just get obesessed with polishing i guess?? What is your usual upkeep process after you have polished months prior? Do you just top it off with a sealant/carnauba??

 

#1 I've learned over the years not to obsess about every tiny swirl

#2 Clear coat is your friend. You want to keep as much as you can. See rule #1

#3 spot swirl and scratch removal (even by hand) will help you from having to polish the whole car all the time. See rule #2

#4 Know that everything that touches your paint can and will scratch given the opportunity. Keep your detailing equipment in good shape and use it properly.

I know we sometimes argue over equipment and product but most times the difference is minimal or non-existant if used CORRECTLY. The rest comes down to personal preference.

My upkeep is simple. I keep my car clean. I go through a lot of detail spray. I go through a lot of carnauba and sealant. I spot remove scratches and swirls when I can and I do a polish every 2 years, most times that's only a light one.