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  1. #1

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    Post Product reviews: GLARE

    I have been posting these reviews at "the other detailing site" (autopia). This is a work in progress and not complete yet. When I posted it on autopia, I forgot to share it with detailcity. However, member crobinso suggested to publish it here also, so you got it. These reviews, in fact, were part of several threads that I will merge here. Enjoy it, and feel free to post feedback.


    The origins
    Before jumping into the product, I have to mention how I ran into GLARE. I don`t know who else here doesn`t use internet explorer, I know I don`t. My web browser, Opera 7.54 works secure, has tabbed browsing, good compatibility, is the fastest and has the best password manager (WAND) of any browser. However, it has a downside. It is free, but you get a banner with advertisement. You don`t like the banner, you pay for a licence. I like Opera a lot, so I bought a license. My home computer is banner free. I installed Opera also at work, but I was lazy and forgot to bring the license. After browsing autopia and some similar sites the banner displayed advertisement for products and sites related to car detailing. As a curious detailcity resident, I kept clicking on many of them. One of those clicks brought up the site for GLARE with glassplexin.

    Having seen so many "miracle products", this one seemed no different than the others. What caught my attention was the fact that it contained more than just the "miracle polish". Furthermore, they just had uploaded information about their new product: "glare spider" which claimed to fill swirl marks permamently. Sounds to good to be true. Several of you know about my search for a good glaze for older paint, and I remember reading about soft99 products that had a semi-permament glaze. I thought this one could be similar. As a good detailer, I performed a search in autopia about glassplexin. The result was not pretty. The community pounded the glare guy badly, who in turn failed to provide concrete evidence. This was a funny situation, as almost no one of the members tried the stuff, and the manufacturer didn`t offer to let people try it.....

    While very skepticals, I think most of us know that the most regarded products started from nothing, some of them even with also high claims. However, after being used the good ones picked fame (zaino is a good example) while others faded. My curiosity told me that maybe this, or a different one can be the next preferred sealant, but how to know if we don`t try it. Well, I gave up to the curiosity and decided to e-mail glare. I basically told them that this community is quite picky, so claims without evidence or samples are tough to hold. Perry Stevens, their sales director gladly accepted to provide some samples for evaluation. He was very confident in the product. So this is how it started.

  2. #2

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    Re: Product reviews: GLARE

    When I first contacted glare, I thought that maybe they would offer samples to a few people here, but I think they got scared from being here the first time so they only gave samples to me. By the way, to make the reviews FAIR and STRAIGHT, I can share what I have PM if you are interested in helping me in order to get a broader perspective.

    I was thinking also after the deal was done "What have I done? What if the products are really just marketing? Are they going to ruin my paint?" Well, no time for regrets then, so stand like a man.

    A few days later a box arrived at my in-laws. It contained a variation of the kit offered as "grand prix" by Glare:
    - GLARE Professional Polish
    - GLARE Knock-Out Compound
    - GLARE Liqui-Clay
    - GLARE Ultra Wash
    - GLARE Rapid Action Polish (missing, glare spider in its place)
    - GLARE Tire-Magic
    - GLARE Turbo-Action Wheel Cleaner
    - GLARE Vinyl & Leather Treatment


    First Impressions
    The first thing to notice was the packaging and the containers. While the sealant (glare polish) came in a very conservative bottle with attractive and professional labels, the compound (knock-out) was in a cheaper looking bottle, like a caulking container with bad imprinted words. Not attractive at all. Not a problem as many products have not exactly fancy packaging but are great performers (poorboys, Z line)

    Reading the directions, I started feeling more confident on the likely results. Discarding the tire and interior items, the miracle product became suddenly a very well planned system. One product suggested the application of an additional product as next step. The car wash recommends liqui-clay (clay), liqui-clay recommends another wash, then use of knock-out (compound). Knock-out recommends to follow with micro-finish (polish, not included by the way). I don`t have micro-finish, but I assume it would recommend glare spider (knock out mentions micro-finish, then spider, then polish). Spider recomends to follow with Glare polish, and glare polish recommends rapid action polish for quick spruce -ups.

    If you followed with me the general directions, this is just a well laid paint care system. Wash (ultra wash) -> clay (liquiclay) -> wash again -> compound or heavy polish (knock out) -> micro-finish (final polish) -> spider (glaze) -> glare polish (sealant as LSP) and rapid action as quick detailer. Not a bad procedure. As I mentioned, this made me feel better as process makes the difference, and process is taken into consideration by the products.

    By the way, the claims on the product labels are nowhere as "enthusiastic" as the website. So, this raises my first question. If this seems to be a very well planned process, why does the manufacturer have to resort to the "miracle product marketing"? We know that process is key for a good finish. More to come

  3. #3

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    Re: Product reviews: GLARE

    FIRST PRODUCT REVIEWED - LiquiClay

    Overview and directions


    The product comes in a 355 ml bottle (12 oz). Shape of the bottle is like a caulking container. While personally I don`t find the design as attractive as the LSP bottle, the manufacturer pointed a very accurate fact: This caulking-like bottle is very practical. I have to agree, and because cosmetics of the containers are secondary let`s focus on usage. I forgot to take a pic, so I`ll use one from the manufacturer`s site:



    Front of bottle says
    "LiquiClay, the clay bar in a bottle.
    Smoothes and removes stubborn blemishes before polishing! Won`t rescratch your paint like a regular Clay Bar. Fast and very easy to use. The MOST advanced claying system for your vehicle`s finish ever developed!

    Restores Color
    Picks up Debris. Fallout, Insects, and Dirt Particles like a Magnet!
    Smoothes paint like glass
    Preps paint before polishing
    Takes out deep embedded scratches and blemishes
    Ideal for all paints and clear coats


    Textual directions taken from the back of the bottle:
    Wash vehicle with glare ultra wash. Dry vehicle thoroughly. Wet vehicle again where liquiclay is to be applied. DO NOT DRY AREA, LEAVE WET. Apply liqui-clay by rubbing small amounts into paint by hand with a clean terry cloth in VERTICAL motion. Leave on until dry. Some finishes may discolor, this is perfectlt normal (color will be restored after using glare microfinish) Simply wipe off liqui-clay. Paint will be smooth and ready for application of Glare Microfinish followed by a final coat of Glare Professional Polish to give your vehicle a brand new wet painted look"

  4. #4

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    Re: Product reviews: GLARE

    I wanted to point the textual directions as to avoid any potential misuse that could affect the result. Some additional things to mention about the liqui-clay:

    Color: Light tan color
    Consistency: Like a thick liquid polish.
    Smell: No smell at all.

    Initially as preview, I applied to only panel in the car (horizontal section of trunk). I used a foam applicator to spread it in front to back motion after after a quick wash with eagle one WET wash (what I had closest to me at the time). Dryed with WW, then sprayed water. The coat was uniform and thin, very much like the coating you leave when you polish a vehicle with #83. Let it dry (took a few minutes) then removed with a microfiber towel. I call it a preview because the paint is in top shape, already smooth and had collinte 476S on it. Removing the liquiclay didn`t change the color at all, but
    made it feel smoother. No visible contamination was present, and the liquiclay kept it clean. Not really a good test as the surface was in excellent condition. Granted, it felt smoother and slicker after removal, but pig`s lard on top of paint will also feel slick. Left a good impression but nothing special as paint was clean. The true test came a few days later......


    A tough test
    When paint is clean and nice, any product can appear to work fine, correct? How about when the product really has a tough assignment? That is the ideal test condition! None of my relatives cars had really any need for clay (blame it to autopia and detailcity) so I didn`t know what would be a good test, then this happened: After driving one day I had engine oil on the paint!! As a wise detailer, I asked for help (autopia) , and clay was the proposed solution.

    I washed the car completely with zymol autowash blue, then dried. Spot clayed using a mothers claybar with showtime quickdetailer as lubricant. The oil was in the sides and also in the front bumper. Not really big drops, but many of them that looked that my car was becoming dalmatian. I was so concerned about the oil that I forgot the GLARE products I received before. When only the right back fender and right back door were left to go, I remembered the liqui clay. My mothers claybar was taking a beating from the oil, and the bright yellow was already brown. I took the liquiclay, poured a small amount into a foam pad, then rubbed very lighlty into each stain. Let it sit. For the fender, I decided to clay the whole fender as this one was the worst. Applied liquiclay in circular motion (not according to directions) and left a thin even coat. Presure and repetition just enough to leave the even coat. Coat as thick as you would with #83. Let it sit.

    After almost 10 minutes I was nervous. Product was dry, so it was time. Took a blue microfiber and started to remove it from the door like a wax. Very easy to remove, maybe too easy. Where the oil droplets were located I had to rub a little harder or give more repetition, but still very easy. ALL the droplets came out I was quite amazed and satisfied. Checked the paint, still some tint was present but nothing different to what the mothers claybar achieved. Then I proceeded with the fender, and it was also very easy. I had again to rub a little harder to take the stains out where they were, but they came out also quite easily. Overall, removal is as easy as NXT were no oil stains were located, and as easy as mother cleaner carnauba where a severe stain was located. In both cases, the effort is far short of what a typical clay bar takes and the results were at least as good. Both panel were left very slick by the clay.

    Upon further inspection, I found that the fender where I applied the liquiclay to all the surface no stains were present, while the other panels where I clayed locally still had a few tiny ones that I missed with the conventional clay bar. I re-applied liqui-clay to the whole vehicle. Then, spot apply nufinish to remove oil tint where present. topped again with collinite 476S. Happy owner! I also checked my microfiber, and discovered many black dots (oil) that were dry. The majority came out after a wash, but even if I cannot take all of them out, for deep surface cleaning I prefer to ruin a microfiber instead of ruining a complete claybar. :2thumbs:


    Alex

  5. #5

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    Re: Product reviews: GLARE

    If you haven`t noticed, I really liked this product. As skeptical as everyone else, I have to admit that it not only did a very good job, it is also very very easy to use. The contaminants are removed by the final wipedown, and all of them are very dry in the microfiber. It seems the clay adheres and dries the contaminant, and maybe drying it is the key to remove it from the paint. The manufacturer needs to explain us how it works. Here is a summary of pros and cons I found so far with the product:

    PROS:
    - Versatile.
    I didn`t follow the directions completely and the product still performed (used foam instead of terry, used circular motion instead of vertical, used a different wash)
    - Application, Very very easy to apply. Very easy to remove
    - Container, the bottle, while not sexy in my eyes allows to pour the exact amount. Given the thickness and viscosity the product has, this is in fact the best container for it.
    - Clean, as new clay is poured into each spot, the contaminants in the paint don`t touch other areas. A conventional claybar pick contaminants.
    - Safe, risk of rescratch because of improrer lubrication is minimal. I think is is safe without lubrication, but better safe than sorry. I will try to use it by itself without water, but it won`t happen in my car. I`ll report about it later.
    - Economical for tough jobs, while oil or overspray means you`ll have to use and discard a claybar per job, or even more, the liqui-clay can be used at the same rate than normal jobs. The only difference I have found is the effort to remove. Granted, your MF will become a rag, but better to toss a MF rather than a complete claybar.
    - Fast Application of a complete car takes 5-10 minutes. By the time you complete application of the whole car the initial panels should be ready. Removal takes 5-10 minutes max. In case it is not dry yet after you applied to the complete car, you can always wash the tires or the mats.

    CONS
    - Yield
    , at the rate I used it to do a compact car (Astra or civic) takes aprox 2-3 ounces. That is 4-6 cars per container. A regular claybar will give you a similar number of applications for a fraction of the cost. But cost is no issue for many autopians if the product is right.
    - Speed, while doing a full car it is faster than conventional clay, for spot clay don`t even bother. Drying time will have you waiting. A conventional clay bar is your best bet in this case. Being dry is key to remove comtaminants, otherwise you will only smear them. However, this is not really a downside, the product performs as intended, and the design can`t accomodate every single possible case.


    Veredict
    This one is a winner! First product tested and works very nice. I have some question that I`ll post later as FAQs. Again, I can share my sample so another detailcitier can test it.


    Alex

  6. #6

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    Re: Product reviews: GLARE

    The questions are directed mainly to the manufacturer.

    Questions and observations

    1.- What is the ideal dosage to get best results? I mean, exactly how thick should it be applied for optimum results (good cleaning and least effort) How many oz should be needed for a med-size car?

    2.- Does foam really affect the outcome if used for application?

    3.- How crucial is to have the paint wet? Is it for lubrication only, or does the liqui-clay also need water as catalyst?

    4.- If I don`t moisten the paint, can I mar the paint? How bad?

    5.- What techqnique would give me the best results: Rubbing with more repetition during application, or just spread it to apply it? Does rubbing while liquid help to pick up contaminants, or is useless? I am just thinking the profile of a polish or a wax.

    and finally, the most important question.
    6.- Can it be applied by machine?
    A dual action orbital polisher (Porter cable 7424/7336) is the subject? If possible, what kind of foam pad would be the ideal? Finish, glazing or polish? I am leaning towards finish.


    Alex

  7. #7

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    Re: Product reviews: GLARE

    I forgot to mention the car used to test:

    2002 Chevrolet Astra (rebadged Opel) olive green metallic in *cough cough* excellent condition. Our friends from the other side of the big pond know this car quite well, but for those who don`t it is almost like a civic. The Astra borderlines between a big compact and a small midsize (Mazda 626, Renault Megane). Let me get pics of the spoiled baby


    Alex

  8. #8
    COME AT ME BRO JaredPointer's Avatar
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    Re: Product reviews: GLARE

    I have been following this over at "the other site," so it`s nice to have it here to read. Thanks for posting and thanks for the suggestion crobinso!!
    I still don`t believe in grit guards.

  9. #9
    New Normal cwcad's Avatar
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    Re: Product reviews: GLARE

    you already stated that you like the product(liquidclay). there are a lot of products that i think i would like that i have not used. what i was wondering was... since this was a review and first
    time use of the product. couple that with the fact that it is a new product. why did you feel the need to use the product contrary to the direction? i understand completely the need to make modifications.i.e. wowo with klasse sg. rather than let it set up and cure. yet, to test the claims of the manufacturer would it not best to use the product as directed before making modifications?

    does that make the review a little skewed? please do not take offense. i am really wanting your opinion on this matter. it does sound like a real plus to have in my detailing arsenal. i have and extreme detail coming up in the next few months. heavily oxididized with years of little or no care. would consider this a go to product if given the go ahead to use with a pc.
    cwcad

    DO WHAT YOU SAY.....SAY WHAT YOU DO!!!!
    www.ldkbox.com a blog about life`s details

  10. #10

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    Re: Product reviews: GLARE

    Quote Originally Posted by cwcad
    you already stated that you like the product(liquidclay). there are a lot of products that i think i would like that i have not used. what i was wondering was... since this was a review and first
    time use of the product. couple that with the fact that it is a new product. why did you feel the need to use the product contrary to the direction? i understand completely the need to make modifications.i.e. wowo with klasse sg. rather than let it set up and cure. yet, to test the claims of the manufacturer would it not best to use the product as directed before making modifications?

    does that make the review a little skewed? please do not take offense. i am really wanting your opinion on this matter. it does sound like a real plus to have in my detailing arsenal. i have and extreme detail coming up in the next few months. heavily oxididized with years of little or no care. would consider this a go to product if given the go ahead to use with a pc.
    The reason of why I used the product contrary to the directions was mainly LACK OF CARE. I was so anxious about the oil in the paint that I just "overread" the directions very quickly. While I got the idea to let it sit, I totally skipped the row where it said "vertical motion". I read the directions the way it should be after the product was already sitting on the paint. :bigscream
    For terry versus foam, I didn`t have any terry applicator, so I decided to do it anyway. So, next time I will read every word.....


    Alex

  11. #11
    New Normal cwcad's Avatar
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    Re: Product reviews: GLARE

    thank you!! look forward to more information from you in the future. please keep us informed when it will be available. or is it now....?
    cwcad

    DO WHAT YOU SAY.....SAY WHAT YOU DO!!!!
    www.ldkbox.com a blog about life`s details

 

 

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