Aqua Glaze Usage Tips
Tools needed:
• Polished steel medium stiff putty knife
• Damp cloth or paper towel
The following instructions assume that you have bedded the glass and are ready to glaze. You can bed
with Aqua Glaze or use an elastomeric bedding compound such as DAP 236 Elastomeric or DAP Alex Plus
other similar products. See my video on bedding glass with nontraditional products.
Note: We have had several reports of Zinsser Cover Stain Oil Base Primer causing problems with the
curing of the Aqua Glaze. Do not use to prime sash or the Aqua Glaze. Aqua Glaze does not require
To ensure consistent results, when you open a new tub of Aqua Glaze, scoop it all onto a clean surface
such as glass and knead like dough until stickiness is reduced and putty has a consistent look and feel.
Usually 1-2 minutes will do it. Put the putty back in the can/tub.
I recommend using Nitril or latex gloves when working with Aqua Glaze. It will stick to your hand and be
messy to remove from your hands even though it cleans with water. When done, just pop off the gloves
and pitch them in the trash.
Scoop a small amount out to work with and keep the lid loosely on the can even while you are working.
This will keep it from drying out prematurely.
Note: You must paint the putty before exposure to the elements. It is not necessary to prime the putty
after glazing. Aqua Glaze has a fast cure time. Cautions: Do not attempt to glaze outside on a hot windy
day as the putty surface will try to cure while you are glazing making application dificult.
Application:
• It works similar to traditional putties but you will find it not practical to make a rope and
place in the rebates. You can load the rebates using your putty knife or work it off the heel
of your hand to bed the glass or glaze. I use the putty knife. See my videos on glazing with
Aqua Glaze.
• Do not try to place a lot of putty on the sash before knifing it as it will begin to cure and
make it difficult to get the best result. Whether you work flat on a table or on an easel, I
recommend you only place putty in about 3 rebates or 4 sides of a single pane before knifing
to the desired result. The rebate is the L shaped area that the glass sets into.
• Use a clean smooth putty knife and keep the blade clean when working. I use a paper towel
or cloth that has been dampened with water so I can clean my knife occasionally.
Cleanup after cured
• Although you can paint Aqua Glaze within as little as 4 hours depending on temperature and
humidity, we generally wait 24 hours after glazing. It is easier to clean the glass and excess
putty and not nick the putty. To remove the thin putty line on the glass, the best method I
have found is to use a putty knife with the side of the knife held at about the same angle as
the glazing and remove the excess from the glass. See video for example. This helps prevent
digging your knife into your just completed glazing job. This is usually just a fine line of putty
on the glass.
• You can clean the glass and paint within 4 hours but we typically wait 24 hours. Below is my
recipe for the best glass cleaner I have found. Tip: For removing oily substance on glass, use
Denatured Alcohol.
• Painting tips: While some may be able to paint without tape or getting paint on the glass,
most of us can’t. You can paint rather quickly without paying too much attention to getting
paint on the glass and then cleanup excess paint on the glass using a broad putty knife, 5-6”
wide. Hold the back of the broad knife against the putty at the same angle as the glazing and
use a razor blade scraper to remove the excess paint from the glass. This will prevent
digging your glazing and leave a fine line of paint just over the glazing onto the glass. It is
quick and easy to do.
• When painting, don’t paint the sides of the sash or allow paint to build up over the edge of
the sash as this will impair movement.
Glass cleaning recipe: Makes 1 pint
• 4 ounces of rubbing alcohol (isopropyl 70%)
• one tablespoon of white vinegar
• A couple drops of your favorite dish washing liquid.
• Fill the balance of bottle with water.
