I did get that second coat on after the rain, and hope to do number three tonight. The car looks great. I followed Sal's advice and used the "directional" approach to applying the Z2 (front to back on hood and roof, top to bottom on vertical surfaces) - it really does work!!
The new car is black and looks great with the Zaino - you all made a believer out of me.
WOW! Black! The ZAINO must look super on that color. Wait until you put on MORE coats of Z-2 and Z-6. You will NOT believe the shine even when the car is DIRTY! My Candy Apple Red Chrysler 300M looks great all the time! Wish I could say the same for how it runs! ;-))) Only kidding.
Someone just keyed my brand new Solara. I was wondering if anyone could recommend a REALLY good collision shop/painter on Long Island, NY (516 area code).
Note: why I am a lifelong Zaino convert. I have MANY layers of Z2/Z5 on the car. In a daze after the key-ing, I called Sal Z. for any recommendations for places (I thought of calling him for reasons that I can't really go into here). He didn't know of any personally in my area, but he actually called around to find out!!! He kept me on a conference call while he inquired. Anyone know any other companies that do that????
Swede: I use a mix of Z7 and water in a spray bottle (about 1/2 cap Z7 per pint, or something like that) to touch up the car.
Why would you want to wash with Dawn on a Z'd surface? I only used Dawn prior to my first application of Z1 to remove the old wax. From now on, I'll be using Zaino Car Wash (Z7).
i got my zaino and am gonna dawn,clay,dawn, z1,z2,z6,z2 again this weekend coming. I am gonna get towels(100% cotton, made in usa), but with so many brands and subsets of brands in penneys, mont. ward, sears, waccamaw, kohls, i dont know which to get, any suggestions on brands and their subset brand or line within the brand??, thanks..
First of all, make you get your towels from a fairly upscale store (Bed, Bath & Beyond; a better department store, etc.) - don't buy them at Wal-Mart or Target even if they are name brand towels. The towels carried by the discount stores are a lesser grade of cotton and hence not as soft. Look for brands like Fieldcrest, Cannon, or Wansutta. Even then read the label and make sure you are buying 100% cotton and that they are made in the USA. A good towel should run between $15 and $20 if not on sale. Look around for the best deals. I just got 6 new Wamsutta Egyptian cotton towels (its a longer staple of cotton) on sale - the first one you buy was $7.99 (regularly $16.99) and then a second towel for $3.99!! What a bargain. Also, only buy white - no colors. Colors have dyes which dull the finish and bleed when wet. Good polishing! Swede
Waccamaw has some cannon towels, royal family line on sale this week, i will get some and z my car this weekend, looking forward to a great shine and finish on my acura...
Do ANY of you have wives? It would be very hard to convince my wife that I needed almost $80.00 worth of car polish and then I need to spend another $40.00 on special towels that are nicer then the ones we use on our bodies.
me: Honey, I want to spend 80 bucks on car polish. Do you mind? her: Are you nuts? What's wrong with the one you've been using that costs 5 bucks? me: Well, a bunch of guys on the internet say that this one is better and lasts longer. her: You wax that car more then once a month, why should it matter if this polish lasts a long time? me: Well now, that's a good point. However, it is real shiny. her: What else would you need to go with this miracle polish? me: Only about 40 bucks worth of high-end cotton towels. her: Are you nuts? me: Well it is real shiny.
Am I the only one here who isn't Richy Rich or what? Also, don't bother flaming me about being "[non-permissible content removed]-whipped", I'm certainly not, but marriage and money in my house is a democracy, not a monarchy. a $100.00 + purchase is something that we discuss first.
Despite the fact that many of you think that Zaino is the be all and end all of car care and anyone who uses anything else is a chump, there are many very good waxes and cleaners on the market that come at a cheaper price and give a great gloss.
I am sure someone will flame me with a "Zaino lasts longer than anything else!" argument, but since you guys are putting on 12 coats of this stuff on a daily basis, you really aren't saving much time are you? I mean, if you are putting on 6 coats of Z-whatever every weekend, what does it matter that your polish lasts longer then Carnuba Paste Wax? I wax my car once a month or more, and you know what? It beads water just fine the whole time, I only wax it so soon because I enjoy doing it.
Look, I know you guys are going to jump all over me, but I have been reading the Zaino posts here and on Edmund's for a long time and sometimes, you guys just don't make any sense. I think it is sad how you all jump all over people who don't subsribe to your Zaino Cult. I honestly think that the Zaino users are so gung-ho, pro-Zaino because you spent so much damn money on the stuff that you would feel like chumps if you allowed anyone to convince you that you spent TOO MUCH.
Also, don't bother with the "Carnuba yellows your finish." argument because that simply isn't true. Don't bother with the "Zaino fills in all my swirl marks" argument because if I put 12 coats of Carnuba on my car, it would fill in all the swirl marks too.
I am by no means trying to say that Zaino is not a good product or that you personally haven't gotton great results from it, I am sure you have, but you guys sound like a bunch of Jim Jones followers sometimes.
Enjoy your cars, I certainly commend everyone for caring so much for thier finish, it is a great hobby that I enjoy as well.
I use Zaino stuff and am really happy with it, but I don't consider myself a Zaino fanatic. And I'm a Zaino Gal, not a Zaino Guy. There are LOTS of things I'd rather be doing than wash/wax/polish my car, so I put Z2 & Z6 on my minivan (BIGGGGG minivan; have to use a step ladder to reach the roof) only every 3 months. So not everyone who uses Zaino is out there putting on multiple coats every week. For all I know, there may be products out there that work as well as Zaino; but I personally haven't found any yet. And since I don't want to spend hundreds of bucks buying new stuff and trying it out, I just use what I know works. Zaino isn't that expensive on a per use basis because a little goes a long way. You just put it on in much thinner coats than most products require. If you want to be a fanatic and put it on every week, you can do that, but it isn't necessary to protect the paint and make it look great. My car's paint looks great with reapplication every 3 months.
As far as spending lots of $ on good cotton towels, you should buy good polishing towels no matter WHAT BRAND of wax/polish you use. Even if you put on products you feel work just as well or better than Zaino, cheap towels will scratch the paint and negate your efforts. Just look for sales. I got 4 really good quality towels on sale for $9 each.
I don't think you're "[non-permissible content removed] whipped" for discussing a $100 purchase with your wife. Just tell her that another woman (me) can verify it's really a cost effective purchase.
Zaino for z-1 and z-2 is 8.95 ea for 8 oz. total ?,$17.90. I use Zaino for it truly cuts down the times/intervals I HAVE to wax. You can put 12 coats of carnuba wax on just as you can Zaino, but as posted by even those who sell carnuba wax, multiple coats dont add much. The use of 100% cotton toweling is equally as applicable to whether you use Zaino or any other product.
If there are gender questions, get HER to wax the car!
The other thing to consider is that it only takes me about 1/4 of the time to put a coat of Zaino on my car than it did to use paste wax. So, figure out how much your time is worth and factor that in.
Since my wife drives the "nice car", she wasn't overly upset over my Zaino purchase. She still thinks I'm nuts, but its better than spending the time/money on some other hobby (golf, fishing, etc.).
What is really ironic is that is pretty much how the conversation went when I told (asked) my wife what I was planning on doing with the wax and towels. I still think she believes I am way too anal about all this stuff, but it is real shiny! Besides, as jmelchio says, her car is as nice as mine so she gets a benefit from all this too.
P.S. Ruski, Wamsutta towels are 100% cotton, made in USA. Wamsutta is a brand, not a material.
I think she is also afraid to say too much or she might get some argument when it is time for a new hairstyle ($125!!) or one of her infamous "spa days" (yikes!) LOL
I use Zaino because I LIKE the results. Period. If that makes me a fanatic, fine! Just tell anyone who even gets their car washed in a drive in automatic washing establishment that they too are fanatical. After all, you don't HAVE TO wash a car. My brother-in-law has put 200,000 miles on his Accura Legend without ever even washing his car once. But after I caught him cleaning his outdoor grill, he no longer rides me about "space age polymers". If its not destructive or anti-social and you enjoy it, then go ahead and DO IT!
About towels, I waited until a local store had a sale on Fieldcrest white and factory seconds. I bought two complete sets (only way they were sold) for $12 per set. And even my wife agreed that I did well. The smaller hand towels are perfect for dusting the car and/or quick applications of Z6.
I Z'd my new 99 Jeep Grand Cherokee 3 weeks after I got it but I decided not to "waste time" to clay it (didn't know how and didn't want to know), the results are excellent. It goes on much easier than any wax/polish I've ever tried, comes off much easier and smells much better. I used to have chemical smells on my hands after waxing, now I have no smell on the hands but a nice strawberry fragrance wafting through the garage. It is so easy to wax with Zaino, it cuts down my waxing time by more than 50% and no more arm fatigue taking the wax off either. Just a light arm action and the Jeep is shiny. Actually I've Z'd it twice so far in the one and a half months I've owned the Jeep, and plan to Z6/Z2 after each biweekly carwash, it is that easy to apply/wipe off. I used to avoid waxing because it got my arms tired and my hands smelling of toxic chemicals, now I look forward to waxing to get that shine and the strawberry scent! Yes I am getting too ... anal isn't the right word, since it doesn't go well with the strawberry concept...I don't know, but Z works good for a first time user like me! And the cost is peanuts actually, Z1/Z2/Z6 only cost $35 and should last a year, peanuts compared to a $20k or $30k car and monthly payments of what, $400, $600?
Anybody, a friend of mine used #26 on their car and it appears to have caused a paint chipping problem. The car is 5 yrs. old but kept in excellent condition. Has anyone had this problem? Any help would be appreciated. JLC4
Responses using "p-whipped" were hidden. Let's keep it clean, please. Thanks to all for participating. (I happen to agree with much of what sporin says, however I'd add that dust & oxidation make a fine finish, rather than non-Zaino waxes.)
I discovered that when applying z6, it works best when I spray it onto the polishing cloth I am using (folded into quarters), then immediately apply to the car. Is this how you guys (and gals) do it?
Gus, Sorry about the "p-whipped" word, I copied this post from another bb on the net that I have also been chatting on and failed to censor completely for Edmunds. Oversight, won't happen again.
Thanks all for your polite and informative comments about Zaino.
I'm still trying different methods. First, I just open the Z6 spray cap just a wee little bit to get a fine spray. This is actually hard to due. If you open it too much, you'll get too large an amount of Z6 on your finish. I try for a very fine spray. Then I wipe immediately with a cotton towel. I've been using a regular size towel for this purpose and after a very panels, the towel absorbs enough Z6 to feel wet. Given a wet towel, I've been using it to wipe down a variety of the lower panels, wheels, and head lights without additional Z6 sprays. Seems to work.
I like that. You flame us, then put little comments all over your post saying "please don't flame me by saying this and by saying that". That's what I call a good sport.
If you read people's posts intelligently, you would see that no one is putting 6 coats of Zaino on their car in one weekend. Most of us put a few coats at the beginning over a period of a few weekends. Only the first time it was a bit time-consuming, and that's not because of Zaino but because of washing and claying. That has nothing to do with Zaino. The consequent coats did not take much time of effort at all. I have gotten satisfied with my shine after 6 or 7 coats (not all in one weekend, just to clarify). Now my car shines even when it gets dirty. And a quick wash once a month makes it look like I just waxed it. I am not talking out of my butt and I did not sniff too much Zaino.
#889 I was struck with your reference to you washing approximately once a month. The Zaino use keeps the finish more dust and dirt "less" than other products I have tried. I can go 3 wks to one month between washes on 24/7 parked outside daily driver and up to 5 months for garaged ones. AND it is less work when you decide to use Zaino products. I like this stuff. Since it is wasteful to trash the Nu Finish, I will keep using it on my homes air conditioning unit. Even though it is under partial shading it needs washing and waxing more than the vehicle that is outside 24/7.
Well, I have gotton a lot of great answers, and I am wondering if anyone can recommend the MINIMUM things I would need to purchase to prove you guys(& gals) right?
My car is a 2 month old BLACK Passat. I would not need to clay I wouldn't think, I have Dawn on the sink. I figure I would need Z1, but what others would I NEED??
I have nothing against Zaino and would like to give it a try, but my wife absolutelly will not allow me to spend $100. on polish (I agree with her, money's tight). Can I use just a few Z products and get good results that might entice her to agree to spending more $$ on the other steps?
(Sounds good...only kidding) Tar: Since you've already tried WS40, how about trying a little Z6. I know it sounds crazy, but give it a try anyway. It worked for me with tree sap. As a last resort, you can always use clay.
Sporin: The Passat is a wonderful car. Protect it with Zaino. But first, please clay your car. I hear what you're saying, but try it. I clayed my new car and found that the Erazer clay really picked up a lot of junk and left the car very smooooooooth. I guess the trip from the factory exposed it to a bit of environmental junk. I know, I know, all this stuff costs money, and wifes' complain. But it is worth the time and expense. IMHO.
Suggestion: Try the Zaino on HER car first, or sneak a hundred bucks out of her purse while she's in the bathtub and tell her you spent it on table dances at a gentlemen's club. Zaino your car at some remote location while she's out shopping and don't tell her. Hope this helps.
I can relate to your position. I felt kinda the same way, but decided to go ahead and try it.
The clay (Clay Magic) really didn't seem to do much in my opinion. Neither my car ('98 model) nor my wife's ('97) felt significantly smoother after the clay. Both had a very tiny amount of roughness both before and after claying. And I really felt like I did a THOROUGH job. So I don't think I'll buy the clay again. A thorough wash or maybe washing twice could be just as effective.
The Zaino did a nice job and certainly lasts longer than the wax I've used (Meguires Carnuba Paste). Like everyone has said, it's easy to apply and remove. Although I'm not sure it's THAT much easier than regular wax. It certainly shines well. But I didn't find it to be a better shine than the wax. Maybe I'm not as picky as others. But at least my car looks much better than the average you see on the road.
In the end, I like the Zaino mostly because it's lasted about 3 months (and counting) while the other products tend to average 1 month. And Sal has been helpful.
The minimum to get started is Z1, Z2, Z6. That's $31.85 plus $5.95 shipping. You'll get a free applicator for ordering more than $25. You only use Z1 once or twice a year, so it should last a long time. The Z6 will go the fastest.
I didn't buy $10 towels. Just the cheap $3 Cannon/Fieldcrest 100% cotton USA towels. And I didn't cut the edges off and let them fray all over the place. Much of the towel stuff seems like overkill to me unless you're really aggressive with them or you're entering showcar contests.
We only have the 1 car, and we stretched the budget to get the car I wanted, so that is why she is so leary of more car stuff.
With some gentle pleading and reasoning I might be able to convice her that $50.00 or so of polish and towels is a good idea.
You should have seen her face when i started talking about ECU chips, wheels, and grills!!!!
hmmm...maybe if I lead off with those other BIG ticket items then "compromise" with the polish....
***I think it is important to note, that my wife is no tight-wad, but she does handle the budget and is VERY good with money, it is because of her that we are in the good financial position we are in today.
I have been using Meguiars products on my new car (Lexus GS300), I just can't seem to get all the swirl marks out (there only visible when you look at finish with the sun shining on the spot I'm looking at) I've been getting curious about Zaino products. Will this product do a better job at removing the swirl marks? My car is dark blue. Thanks for any input.
Hi: Tar: I use 3M General Purpose Adhesive Cleaner which also removes tar, wax, etc. Apply it with a rag. Let sit for a minute. Wipe off. Reapply if needed. If you wax your wheels where the tar is you will have to reapply wax as it will be removed by the 3M. Wal-Mart, auto stores, and auto paint stores will carry it.
Swirls: Swirls are due to abrasives eating into the surface of your finish. Abrasives will cause a hill and valley effect where they gouge the surface. You can either fill them or remove them. Many waxes will contain "fillers" to literally fill in the valleys thus reducing the optical distortion. Fillers include oils, etc. found in polishes and glazes. True polishes do not contain abrasives but chemically fill the depressions. True glazes contain fine abrasives to shave the hills down. They also contain fillers. If wax is applied after the polish or glaze it will help seal in the fillers. Examples include 3M Swirl Mark Remover, 3M Imperial Hand Glaze, One Grand Omega Glaze, etc. Synthetic polymers like Zaino Z-5, etc. fill in the depressions slowly while bonding to the surface. Unless physically removed by abrasives the swirls will reappear when whatever fills them gets washed out or worn off. Thus it pays to keep the finish up and to avoid rotary buffers unless you know what you're doing. Good luck.
I have a couple of trick up my sleeve so to speak that work like magic with my wife.
Plus I told her that with Zaino, I would wax my car once (or twice) and never have to do it again. It ended up to be 6 or 7 times for each car, but now I am all set for a long time (although I got addicted). Also waxing my car keeps me home instead of running off to the beach with my Boogie Board.
about claying - after having my 98 Grand Prix GTP for about a year, I started feeling rough speckles when moving my hand lightly over the surface, no matter how much I waxed it with Gold Class that I was using at the time. I park my car at a train station every day, that must add more contaminants. Anyway, after I clayed my car with BlueMagic (19.99 at PepBoyz), the car felt smoother than ever. And the piece of clay turned very dirty. I know some guy who sells pieces of BlueMagic almost twice as large as those sold at PepBoyz, for the same price.
I also clayed my wheels by the way. I had some tar-like overspray from some winter traction spray product. I could not get it off with anything else. I sprayed the tar spots with WD40 and clayed. It took some rubbing but the spots came out.
I have to admit that my brother-in-law's Legend still looks good. It looks dirty, VERY DIRTY, but under all that stuff, you can still see a shine. He says the dirt is protecting his shine. When we debate, he claims that he does wash his car, every time it rains: "A natural wash - no chemical addatives". Its no show car and I am still very much a Zaino fan. When my car is parked next to his, the brilliant shine draws your eyes like a magnet. (And thats without a wash!).
i just applied my 2nd coat of z2 and am exited to the max about the shine and finish from just 1 coat, the shine was unbelievable my wife and a neighbor said how great it looked and my wife was amazed to see how great it was and wanted her car done right on the spot so her car could look this good, i am a believer, the money and time is well worth it, both the z1 and z2 went on easily and i almost didnt think it was on, but as it dried, i could see the shine coming on, i cant wait to take my 2nd coat off and see the shine deepen.
i went to the zaino web site...is there a protective "wax" that goes on after Z-2 is applied? (i thought Z-2 was strickly a polish, and would need a wax to go on top of it ??)
riccir, Z2 does it all! Again, Zaino is not really a "polish" as it has no abbrasives. And its not a wax either. It is a polymer finish which (with a first coat of Z1) seals over your clearcoat. No additional "wax" is necessary with a polymer. The shine is due to a really clear seal and optically good reflections from your paint. And the polymer coating really protects your clearcoat. For the full explanation, please see the Zaino websit (www.zainobros.com).
You do put a coat of Z6 on after the Z2. It's not a wax. Can't remember exactly what term Zaino uses to describe it. It's a spray on product you rub off immediately. Is easy to apply and remove, but it is one more step in the process.
Z6 is designed to clean a Z2 coating. It cleans and enhances the finish. I use it after a quick dusting to help remove surface dirt and add a bit to the shine. And it REALLY works. I can't always wash my car on a weekly basis. So, Z6 restores my shine between washings. And very quickly too. I've also found that Z6 is the best windshield cleaner around. It took that damn tree sap bumps right of my finish and windshield too.
With a brand new car (Volvo S-80 T6, Black) I skipped the clay washing – I’m nuts, but not that nuts. I started by washing the car with Dawn dishwater soap and wiped the car down with a synthetic chamois (I like those better than the real thing – absorbs more water and leaves less dust & spots). Next, I applied the Z-1 (“Polish Lok”) with a cotton polish applicator. That was easy – just a little bit goes a long way and you just wipe everything down. You do not have to remove the Z-1 polish or let it dry before applying the Z-2 (“Car Polish”). Just wipe down the entire car with Z-2 (over the Z-1) using a second cotton polish applicator. This is where you have to wait and let the Z-2 dry (depending on the temperature and humidity) it takes about an hour. I did follow his recommendation and purchased 100% USA made cotton towels (Fieldcrest) – I’m nuts, I know – about $12.95 on sale – I bought three. After the Z-2 is dry, I followed his tip and removed the polish on the top surfaces horizontally – hood to trunk - from window to grill. On the sides, I removed the polish vertically, from road surface to top of door. It really did bring out the vehicles lines. Finally, I applied Z-6, the “Gloss Enhancer” using a one of the full cotton towels – very easy to apply – I applied the Z-6 in the same direction as I removed the Z-2 polish . The vehicle looked stunning. About 3+ hours from start to finish.
This is his Web site http://www.zainobros.com . He does not take credit cards, yet (I know, how can you have an Internet site and not accept credit cards). You basically go to his Website, download the order form, pencil in your order and mail him the order and check. The site also contains additional information (in more detail then I described above) that is helpful. I recommend that you buy the Z-1, Z-2, Z-6, Z-7 (car wash – it works extremely well) and at least two “Custom polish applicators”. I have talked to him several times - I felt comfortable enough (as comfortable as you can be) with mailing him the check. It took about 10 days get the order.
I applied another coat of the Z-2 and finished up with the Z-6 on Wednesday night (he recommends at least 24 hours before multiple applications) and the vehicle is even shinier (very nuts). During my vacation, I will apply one more coat just for fun. Washing the car first, applying the Z-2 & Z-6 at night, took about 2 hours. I think this would take less time during the daylight hours.
I was impressed enough and convinced of the efficacy of his products to place another order for the Z-9 (“Leather Soft”) and Z-16, (Perfect Tire Gloss”). I’ll let you know how they work.
#908 I also use z-6 on the windshield and also on the wiper blades. The little trick is to hit the blades with a "scotch brite" nylon pad to remove old rubber. As long as the wiper doesn't tear, it seems to work streak free on a daily driver parked 24/7 outside.(going on 2.5 yrs.)
That same daily driver was taken on a camping trip and parked in a dusty field/parking area ( 3 days 2 nights). I was amazed to see that while a tad dusty it was WAY less dustier than it would have been with conventional treatments. Again parked in full summer sun and morning dew. WOW.
I just did my 99 Lexus GS 300 last week. My car is black with black interior. I clayed it (it didn't do a thing and wasn't needed) and used Z-1 and Z-3 (Lexus does not put a clear coat on their black cars. I didn't wait long enough to let the Z3 dry and had some smearing. However it did look great. I immediately noticed the reduction in dust on the car. Even sitting in my garage overnight it collects dust, however this has been reduced greatly. I used Z6 yesterday and this car now has the smoothest (like glass) finish I have ever seen and felt. I also used the leather conditioner and the smell is fantastic and it works really well. Used it on my leather shift knob and all the interior seats.
Didn't drive it today though because it rained here in Seattle.
Comments
I did get that second coat on after the rain, and hope to do number three tonight. The car looks great. I followed Sal's advice and used the "directional" approach to applying the Z2 (front to back on hood and roof, top to bottom on vertical surfaces) - it really does work!!
The new car is black and looks great with the Zaino - you all made a believer out of me.
Thanks again.
WOW! Black! The ZAINO must look super on that color. Wait until you put on MORE coats of Z-2 and Z-6. You will NOT believe the shine even when the car is DIRTY! My Candy Apple Red Chrysler 300M looks great all the time! Wish I could say the same for how it runs! ;-))) Only kidding.
Post some pics if you can. You can see my car at: http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Flats/7501/
Happy shining!
fastdriver
I was wondering if anyone could recommend a REALLY good collision shop/painter on Long Island, NY (516 area code).
Note: why I am a lifelong Zaino convert. I have MANY layers of Z2/Z5 on the car. In a daze after the key-ing, I called Sal Z. for any recommendations for places (I thought of calling him for reasons that I can't really go into here). He didn't know of any personally in my area, but he actually called around to find out!!! He kept me on a conference call while he inquired. Anyone know any other companies that do that????
Swede:
I use a mix of Z7 and water in a spray bottle (about 1/2 cap Z7 per pint, or something like that) to touch up the car.
How long should I wait before claying, waxing, or applying Zaino products on paint this new?
Don't wait at all!
Dawn doesn't remove Zaino.
I seem to remember that also.
Some had asked this question, for example, if they needed to remove Zaino from spots to touch up the paint
First of all, make you get your towels from a fairly upscale store (Bed, Bath & Beyond; a better department store, etc.) - don't buy them at Wal-Mart or Target even if they are name brand towels. The towels carried by the discount stores are a lesser grade of cotton and hence not as soft.
Look for brands like Fieldcrest, Cannon, or Wansutta. Even then read the label and make sure you are buying 100% cotton and that they are made in the USA. A good towel should run between $15 and $20 if not on sale. Look around for the best deals. I just got 6 new Wamsutta Egyptian cotton towels (its a longer staple of cotton) on sale - the first one you buy was $7.99 (regularly $16.99) and then a second towel for $3.99!! What a bargain.
Also, only buy white - no colors. Colors have dyes which dull the finish and bleed when wet.
Good polishing!
Swede
Do ANY of you have wives? It would be very hard to convince my wife that I needed almost $80.00 worth of car polish and then I need to spend another $40.00 on special towels that are nicer then the ones we use on our bodies.
me: Honey, I want to spend 80 bucks on car polish. Do you mind?
her: Are you nuts? What's wrong with the one you've been using that costs 5 bucks?
me: Well, a bunch of guys on the internet say that this one is better and lasts longer.
her: You wax that car more then once a month, why should it matter if this polish lasts a long time?
me: Well now, that's a good point. However, it is real shiny.
her: What else would you need to go with this miracle polish?
me: Only about 40 bucks worth of high-end cotton towels.
her: Are you nuts?
me: Well it is real shiny.
Am I the only one here who isn't Richy Rich or what? Also, don't bother flaming me about being "[non-permissible content removed]-whipped", I'm certainly not, but marriage and money in my house is a democracy, not a monarchy. a $100.00 + purchase is something that we discuss first.
Despite the fact that many of you think that Zaino is the be all and end all of car care and anyone who uses anything else is a chump, there are many very good waxes and cleaners on the market that come at a cheaper price and give a great gloss.
I am sure someone will flame me with a "Zaino lasts longer than anything else!" argument, but since you guys are putting on 12 coats of this stuff on a daily basis, you really aren't saving much time are you? I mean, if you are putting on 6 coats of Z-whatever every weekend, what does it matter that your polish lasts longer then Carnuba Paste Wax? I wax my car once a month or more, and you know what? It beads water just fine the whole time, I only wax it so soon because I enjoy doing it.
Look, I know you guys are going to jump all over me, but I have been reading the Zaino posts here and on Edmund's for a long time and sometimes, you guys just don't make any sense. I think it is sad how you all jump all over people who don't subsribe to your Zaino Cult. I honestly think that the Zaino users are so gung-ho, pro-Zaino because you spent so much damn money on the stuff that you would feel like chumps if you allowed anyone to convince you that you spent TOO MUCH.
Also, don't bother with the "Carnuba yellows your finish." argument because that simply isn't true. Don't bother with the "Zaino fills in all my swirl marks" argument because if I put 12 coats of Carnuba on my car, it would fill in all the swirl marks too.
I am by no means trying to say that Zaino is not a good product or that you personally haven't gotton great results from it, I am sure you have, but you guys sound like a bunch of Jim Jones followers sometimes.
Enjoy your cars, I certainly commend everyone for caring so much for thier finish, it is a great hobby that I enjoy as well.
As far as spending lots of $ on good cotton towels, you should buy good polishing towels no matter WHAT BRAND of wax/polish you use. Even if you put on products you feel work just as well or better than Zaino, cheap towels will scratch the paint and negate your efforts. Just look for sales. I got 4 really good quality towels on sale for $9 each.
I don't think you're "[non-permissible content removed] whipped" for discussing a $100 purchase with your wife. Just tell her that another woman (me) can verify it's really a cost effective purchase.
Zaino for z-1 and z-2 is 8.95 ea for 8 oz. total ?,$17.90. I use Zaino for it truly cuts down the times/intervals I HAVE to wax. You can put 12 coats of carnuba wax on just as you can Zaino, but as posted by even those who sell carnuba wax, multiple coats dont add much. The use of 100% cotton toweling is equally as applicable to whether you use Zaino or any other product.
If there are gender questions, get HER to wax the car!
Incidently, on a 24/7 parked outside, daily driver, I finally broke down at the 6 month mark and z-2'd the vast expanse of sheet metal.
On the other daily driver, parked outside 24/7 next to the Zaino'd one, Meguair's goes maybe 1 month.
Why do I do this? At first it started as a test. But after 12 months it is clearly a 6 to 1 ratio.
Gee,? thanks..., it occurred to me I should switch to Zaino for this one also. (I hate to confess this, I really have other things I would rather do)
The other thing to consider is that it only takes me about 1/4 of the time to put a coat of Zaino on my car than it did to use paste wax. So, figure out how much your time is worth and factor that in.
Since my wife drives the "nice car", she wasn't overly upset over my Zaino purchase. She still thinks I'm nuts, but its better than spending the time/money on some other hobby (golf, fishing, etc.).
Besides, as jmelchio says, her car is as nice as mine so she gets a benefit from all this too.
P.S. Ruski, Wamsutta towels are 100% cotton, made in USA. Wamsutta is a brand, not a material.
About towels, I waited until a local store had a sale on Fieldcrest white and factory seconds. I bought two complete sets (only way they were sold) for $12 per set. And even my wife agreed that I did well. The smaller hand towels are perfect for dusting the car and/or quick applications of Z6.
Any help would be appreciated.
JLC4
Responses using "p-whipped" were hidden. Let's keep it clean, please. Thanks to all for participating. (I happen to agree with much of what sporin says, however I'd add that dust & oxidation make a fine finish, rather than non-Zaino waxes.)
Gus,
Host
I discovered that when applying z6, it works best when I spray it onto the polishing cloth I am using (folded into quarters), then immediately apply to the car. Is this how you guys (and gals) do it?
Sorry about the "p-whipped" word, I copied this post from another bb on the net that I have also been chatting on and failed to censor completely for Edmunds. Oversight, won't happen again.
Thanks all for your polite and informative comments about Zaino.
If you read people's posts intelligently, you would see that no one is putting 6 coats of Zaino on their car in one weekend. Most of us put a few coats at the beginning over a period of a few weekends. Only the first time it was a bit time-consuming, and that's not because of Zaino but because of washing and claying. That has nothing to do with Zaino. The consequent coats did not take much time of effort at all. I have gotten satisfied with my shine after 6 or 7 coats (not all in one weekend, just to clarify). Now my car shines even when it gets dirty. And a quick wash once a month makes it look like I just waxed it. I am not talking out of my butt and I did not sniff too much Zaino.
I've tried a little bit of WD40 but the tar is still very hard to remove.
Any idea or advise is appreciated. Thx.
I was struck with your reference to you washing approximately once a month. The Zaino use keeps the finish more dust and dirt "less" than other products I have tried. I can go 3 wks to one month between washes on 24/7 parked outside daily driver and up to 5 months for garaged ones. AND it is less work when you decide to use Zaino products. I like this stuff.
Since it is wasteful to trash the Nu Finish,
I will keep using it on my homes air conditioning unit. Even though it is under partial shading it needs washing and waxing more than the vehicle that is outside 24/7.
My car is a 2 month old BLACK Passat. I would not need to clay I wouldn't think, I have Dawn on the sink. I figure I would need Z1, but what others would I NEED??
I have nothing against Zaino and would like to give it a try, but my wife absolutelly will not allow me to spend $100. on polish (I agree with her, money's tight). Can I use just a few Z products and get good results that might entice her to agree to spending more $$ on the other steps?
Any help would be appreciated.
Tar: Since you've already tried WS40, how about trying a little Z6. I know it sounds crazy, but give it a try anyway. It worked for me with tree sap. As a last resort, you can always use clay.
Sporin: The Passat is a wonderful car. Protect it with Zaino. But first, please clay your car. I hear what you're saying, but try it. I clayed my new car and found that the Erazer clay really picked up a lot of junk and left the car very smooooooooth. I guess the trip from the factory exposed it to a bit of environmental junk. I know, I know, all this stuff costs money, and wifes' complain. But it is worth the time and expense. IMHO.
Hope this helps.
I can relate to your position. I felt kinda the same way, but decided to go ahead and try it.
The clay (Clay Magic) really didn't seem to do much in my opinion. Neither my car ('98 model) nor my wife's ('97) felt significantly smoother after the clay. Both had a very tiny amount of roughness both before and after claying. And I really felt like I did a THOROUGH job. So I don't think I'll buy the clay again. A thorough wash or maybe washing twice could be just as effective.
The Zaino did a nice job and certainly lasts longer than the wax I've used (Meguires Carnuba Paste). Like everyone has said, it's easy to apply and remove. Although I'm not sure it's THAT much easier than regular wax. It certainly shines well. But I didn't find it to be a better shine than the wax. Maybe I'm not as picky as others. But at least my car looks much better than the average you see on the road.
In the end, I like the Zaino mostly because it's lasted about 3 months (and counting) while the other products tend to average 1 month. And Sal has been helpful.
The minimum to get started is Z1, Z2, Z6. That's $31.85 plus $5.95 shipping. You'll get a free applicator for ordering more than $25. You only use Z1 once or twice a year, so it should last a long time. The Z6 will go the fastest.
I didn't buy $10 towels. Just the cheap $3 Cannon/Fieldcrest 100% cotton USA towels. And I didn't cut the edges off and let them fray all over the place. Much of the towel stuff seems like overkill to me unless you're really aggressive with them or you're entering showcar contests.
We only have the 1 car, and we stretched the budget to get the car I wanted, so that is why she is so leary of more car stuff.
With some gentle pleading and reasoning I might be able to convice her that $50.00 or so of polish and towels is a good idea.
You should have seen her face when i started talking about ECU chips, wheels, and grills!!!!
hmmm...maybe if I lead off with those other BIG ticket items then "compromise" with the polish....
***I think it is important to note, that my wife is no tight-wad, but she does handle the budget and is VERY good with money, it is because of her that we are in the good financial position we are in today.
(Lexus GS300), I just can't seem to get all the
swirl marks out (there only visible when you look at finish with the sun shining on the spot I'm looking at) I've been getting curious about Zaino
products. Will this product do a better job at removing the swirl marks? My car is dark blue.
Thanks for any input.
Tar:
I use 3M General Purpose Adhesive Cleaner which also removes tar, wax, etc. Apply it with a rag. Let sit for a minute. Wipe off. Reapply if needed. If you wax your wheels where the tar is you will have to reapply wax as it will be removed by the 3M. Wal-Mart, auto stores, and auto paint stores will carry it.
Swirls:
Swirls are due to abrasives eating into the surface of your finish. Abrasives will cause a hill and valley effect where they gouge the surface. You can either fill them or remove them. Many waxes will contain "fillers" to literally fill in the valleys thus reducing the optical distortion. Fillers include oils, etc. found in polishes and glazes. True polishes do not contain abrasives but chemically fill the depressions. True glazes contain fine abrasives to shave the hills down. They also contain fillers. If wax is applied after the polish or glaze it will help seal in the fillers. Examples include 3M Swirl Mark Remover, 3M Imperial Hand Glaze, One Grand Omega Glaze, etc.
Synthetic polymers like Zaino Z-5, etc. fill in the depressions slowly while bonding to the surface. Unless physically removed by abrasives the swirls will reappear when whatever fills them gets washed out or worn off. Thus it pays to keep the finish up and to avoid rotary buffers unless you know what you're doing.
Good luck.
Plus I told her that with Zaino, I would wax my car once (or twice) and never have to do it again. It ended up to be 6 or 7 times for each car, but now I am all set for a long time (although I got addicted). Also waxing my car keeps me home instead of running off to the beach with my Boogie Board.
about claying - after having my 98 Grand Prix GTP for about a year, I started feeling rough speckles when moving my hand lightly over the surface, no matter how much I waxed it with Gold Class that I was using at the time. I park my car at a train station every day, that must add more contaminants. Anyway, after I clayed my car with BlueMagic (19.99 at PepBoyz), the car felt smoother than ever. And the piece of clay turned very dirty. I know some guy who sells pieces of BlueMagic almost twice as large as those sold at PepBoyz, for the same price.
I also clayed my wheels by the way. I had some tar-like overspray from some winter traction spray product. I could not get it off with anything else. I sprayed the tar spots with WD40 and clayed. It took some rubbing but the spots came out.
thanks for the help.
rick
Z2 does it all! Again, Zaino is not really a "polish" as it has no abbrasives. And its not a wax either. It is a polymer finish which (with a first coat of Z1) seals over your clearcoat. No additional "wax" is necessary with a polymer. The shine is due to a really clear seal and optically good reflections from your paint. And the polymer coating really protects your clearcoat. For the full explanation, please see the Zaino websit (www.zainobros.com).
With a brand new car (Volvo S-80 T6, Black) I skipped the clay washing – I’m nuts, but not that nuts. I started by washing the car with Dawn dishwater soap and wiped the car down with a synthetic chamois (I like those better than the real thing – absorbs more water and leaves less dust & spots). Next, I applied the Z-1 (“Polish Lok”) with a cotton polish applicator. That was easy – just a little bit goes a long way and you just wipe everything down. You do not have to remove the Z-1 polish or let it dry before applying the Z-2 (“Car Polish”). Just wipe down the entire car with Z-2 (over the Z-1) using a second cotton polish applicator. This is where you have to wait and let the Z-2 dry (depending on the temperature and humidity) it takes about an hour. I did follow his recommendation and purchased 100% USA made cotton towels (Fieldcrest) – I’m nuts, I know – about $12.95 on sale – I bought three. After the Z-2 is dry, I followed his tip and removed the polish on the top surfaces horizontally – hood to trunk - from window to grill. On the sides, I removed the polish vertically, from road surface to top of door. It really did bring out the vehicles lines. Finally, I applied Z-6, the “Gloss Enhancer” using a one of the full cotton towels – very easy to apply – I applied the Z-6 in the same direction as I removed the Z-2 polish . The vehicle looked stunning. About 3+ hours from start to finish.
This is his Web site http://www.zainobros.com . He does not take credit cards, yet (I know, how can you have an Internet site and not accept credit cards). You basically go to his Website, download the order form, pencil in your order and mail him the order and check. The site also contains additional information (in more detail then I described above) that is helpful. I recommend that you buy the Z-1, Z-2, Z-6, Z-7 (car wash – it works extremely well) and at least two “Custom polish applicators”. I have talked to him several times - I felt comfortable enough (as comfortable as you can be) with mailing him the check. It took about 10 days get the order.
I applied another coat of the Z-2 and finished up with the Z-6 on Wednesday night (he recommends at least 24 hours before multiple applications) and the vehicle is even shinier (very nuts). During my vacation, I will apply one more coat just for fun. Washing the car first, applying the Z-2 & Z-6 at night, took about 2 hours. I think this would take less time during the daylight hours.
I was impressed enough and convinced of the efficacy of his products to place another order for the Z-9 (“Leather Soft”) and Z-16, (Perfect Tire Gloss”). I’ll let you know how they work.
Good luck.
I also use z-6 on the windshield and also on the wiper blades. The little trick is to hit the blades with a "scotch brite" nylon pad to remove old rubber. As long as the wiper doesn't tear, it seems to work streak free on a daily driver parked 24/7 outside.(going on 2.5 yrs.)
That same daily driver was taken on a camping trip and parked in a dusty field/parking area ( 3 days 2 nights).
I was amazed to see that while a tad dusty it was WAY less dustier than it would have been with conventional treatments. Again parked in full summer sun and morning dew. WOW.
Didn't drive it today though because it rained here in Seattle.