Have you ever tried those “quick-dry” glazing compounds? I used one last winter and it cured in under a week, but it was a bit trickier to work with—seemed stiffer out of the tub.
I’ve messed around with the quick-dry stuff too, and honestly, I keep coming back to the old-school putty. The fast-curing kind does speed things up, but I found it doesn’t always stick as well, especially if you’re working in colder temps or with older wood frames. It can crack down the line if you’re not careful with the prep.
Here’s my workaround: instead of waiting ages for traditional putty to cure, I’ll set the window somewhere warm (even just a sunny spot indoors) and use a small fan to help move air across it. Not a miracle fix, but it shaves off some drying time without messing with the finish.
I get the itch to paint right away too, but after one bad peel job a few years back, I’d rather wait than redo everything. Sometimes patience is just less hassle in the end—even if it’s not as satisfying in the moment.
I tried quick-dry once thinking I’d be all efficient, but my putty lines looked like I’d been glazing with a butter knife. It set up before I could smooth it out, and I ended up picking bits off my sweatshirt for days. Since then, I just stick with the old stuff and wait it out—less stress, even if it takes forever. Anyone ever tried heat lamps for speeding up the curing? I keep seeing people mention them but worried I’ll just melt something.
I tried quick-dry once thinking I’d be all efficient, but my putty lines looked like I’d been glazing with a butter knife.
That’s exactly what happened to me the first time I tried to speed things up. I got impatient with the regular putty and thought I’d outsmart the process with a heat gun. Instead, I just ended up softening the old paint around the window and making a mess. The regular stuff is slow, but at least you get time to work it smooth. I’ve heard of folks using heat lamps, but honestly, I’d be nervous about warping the sash or cracking the glass if it gets too hot. Patience seems to win out in the end, as boring as that sounds.
Haha, I can relate—tried the heat gun trick once and ended up with a gooey, wavy mess. The window looked like a Salvador Dalí painting for a week. Slow and steady with regular putty might not be flashy, but at least it doesn’t leave you scraping off regrets. Patience is definitely underrated in these projects.
I hear you on the heat gun—tried that once and managed to scorch a bit of trim, which led to a whole different repair job... Never again. I’m curious, though: has anyone had luck with those newer glazing compounds instead of the old-school putty? I’ve always stuck with DAP 33 because it’s predictable, but the drying time is a pain. Is there really a faster option that doesn’t crack or shrink? I keep seeing “quick-dry” claims but haven’t trusted them yet.
I’ve wrestled with the same dilemma. DAP 33’s slow drying drives me nuts, but I keep coming back to it because I know what to expect. Tried one of those “quick-dry” glazing tubes (can’t remember the brand, blue label?) on a basement window last fall. It set up faster, but honestly, it got a few hairline cracks after the first freeze. Maybe it was user error or just bad luck, but I’m not sold yet. If you’re doing a spot that doesn’t get much weather, maybe it’s worth a shot... otherwise, I still lean old-school, even if it means waiting around.
That lines up with my experience almost exactly. DAP 33 takes its sweet time, but I’ve never had it crack or pull away, even in the rough winters here. Tried a quick-dry tube on a shed window once—faster for sure, but it shrank more than I expected and left gaps. For anything exposed to the elements, I still trust the old stuff, even if it means a week of waiting around for it to skin over. Sometimes reliability just wins out over convenience...
I get the appeal of DAP 33, but I’ve had mixed results, especially when it comes to painting. In my case, it took nearly two weeks before it was dry enough for a decent finish—maybe I just got unlucky with humidity. I actually switched to a latex glazing compound for a couple of windows last fall. It wasn’t as traditional, and I worried about durability, but so far it’s held up through a nasty winter without shrinking or cracking. Might not be as classic as the oil-based stuff, but sometimes the convenience is worth the trade-off, especially if you’re juggling a bunch of projects at once.
Interesting, I had a similar issue with DAP 33—seemed to take forever to skin over, and I got impatient waiting to paint. Maybe it’s just my old house (built in the 40s) and the drafty windows, but humidity definitely plays a role. I tried a water-based glazing compound last summer on a bathroom window, mostly because I was short on time. It wasn’t as smooth to tool, but it painted up fast and hasn’t cracked yet. Not sure how it’ll do long-term, but for quick repairs, it’s hard to beat the convenience.
Humidity really does mess with DAP 33—been there myself, especially in older homes. You’re right about water-based glazing being a lifesaver for quick jobs. It’s not quite as forgiving when you’re smoothing it out, but if you’re in a rush or dealing with unpredictable weather, it gets the job done. Just keep an eye on those spots over time; sometimes they shrink more than the oil-based stuff. Still, for a bathroom window? Not a bad tradeoff.