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I guess with the snow on the way and low temperatures now common in MA, you would do well to wait for spring. A safe bet. But remember to wash once with Dawn in the spring prior to using Zaino.
I've used Scotch Guard on all me carpets and I would think that applying it to cloth seats would also be a good idea. But please read the Scotch Guard disclaimers and directions first. You may wish to try a very small patch first to determine if the spray might have any dis-coloring affect.
If my post seems to skip a few days here and there, its because I'm now running between one of our (systems engineering) clients and our primary office. I never know were I'll be.
I dont know if I have clear coat or not because I ge mixed infor mation from dealers and manufacture. I don't want to buy both z2 and z3 if I don't have to. One of our cars has clear coat. what should I purchase.
What kind of cars are we talking about? I might have missed that part. Maybe I can help. You can also e-mail Sal Zaino- he's great at getting right back to you! http://www.zainobros.com
One is a Chevy prism the other is a Mazda MPV 2000 Chevy is has clear coat
I have spoken to sal as well as E-mailed him he is going to think I'm crazy and he told me to test a spot on the car with abrasive maybe I didn't rub hard enough but either way just in case one is clear coat and the other isn't do I still need both z2 andz3?
I emailed Sal a similar question. Here is part of his reply to me:
"Z-3 is also non-abrasive and could be used on clear coated paint. It just has some extra additives that are needed for non clear coated and regular paint. When in doubt, you can use Z-2 or Z-5 and you will be fine.....
Even if your car is not clear coated. You will be fine using Z-2 especially if you also use Z-5. The combo of these products will work great on clear coat and regular paint. Kinda the best of both worlds."
My situation was similar to yours, I knew my car is clear coated, but did not know about a friend's car that I also wanted to Zaino, wanted Z5 for the friend's (dark and swirled) car, but didn't know whether I had to get the Z3 as well.
My own car is light colored, brand new at the time and I did not think I needed Z5, but I put a couple coats of Z5 on top of a couple Z2s, and then added another Z2 (over the course of several months). The Z5 really increased the depth of shine, IMO, although it was a terrific shine without it.
So this may be something you'd like to try on both cars, rather than the Z3.
Hmmm, I'm beginning to think Z3 is really Z2 plus some Z5 additives to hide swirl marks more likely to be visible on non-clear coated cars. So... if in doubt, about the type finish you have, Z3 might be the cheaper way to go since it costs the same as Z2 and you don't have to pay extra for the Z5.
I still think that the Z-5 is a good thing to have because no matter how soft the towels- 100% cotton/USA and all that- you still get some little scratches/swirls somehow. Although I must say that I have very few. Then again, I do use the Z-5 and Z-2.
Hi: -new car prep The risk to you from new car prep is the detailer improperly using a rotary buffer which would introduce swirl marks. They will probably use a cheap wax loaded with silicone because that will give a bright shine when you come to pick it up. Unfortunately it will wash off quickly. You can judge your own level of protection by looking at the way water beads on the surface. As the wax/sealer wears away you will see the water beads get larger and larger until it simply sheets when there is no protection left. - clearcoat? Older cars have pigmented paint all the way through whereas clearcoated cars have a clear paint as the final coat. If you rub with an abrasive it removes some of the surface paint. If the car is not clear coat, you will see the rag have the color of the car (because it's pigmented paint all the way). If it's clear coated then you are removing clear paint and you won't see anything. - Z5 Z5 is designed to fill in swirls and surface imperfections like putty fills in dimples on the walls. Z2/Z3 are designed for the final coats and so have higher optical reflectivity properties. Good luck.
Yep, I need some advice. I had a deep scratch repaired on a door. No, I didn't do it, it was done in a parking garage. Anyway, the folks who repaired it (S & T Body Shop, The Bronx, NY) did a really great job. You cannot see the spot at all. After sanding, they applied a primer, two coats of paint, and a clear coat. They then (ah, the catch) applied a "hand glaze" which looks good, but covers the whole car on top of my other Zaino.
I'm not sure of the order of things I should now use. One option would be: Dawn, Z1, Z5, Z2. Or how about: Z5, Z1, Z2, Z5, Z2. Or: Z1, Z5, Z2. Maybe I should even clay the car again and then go through the full cycle. Opinions Please.
Write to Sal Zaino. He'll tell you the best way to proceed. Most likely just wash with DAWN. That WON'T take the ZAINO off, but it will take that glaze off. Then you can proceed with the Z-2/Z-5. Don't forget the Z-6!!
I've used Zaino polish for a year now and it's great.
My car got speckled by spray paint from a nearby building being painted (Grrrr!), so I bought some Zaino Clay when I was re-ordering Z2 and I intend to clay, Z1, Z2 etc.
The instructions say to use Z7 car wash as a lubricant, but I don't have any of that and would just as soon not order any.
Can I use regular car wash liquid as a lubricant(e.g. Turtle car wash)? Has anyone tried this? What do other clay products recommend for lubricant?
Also, is it safe to clay windshields to get rid of spray speckles? I used Acetone on the front windshield, but you have to be very careful with that stuff.
Other clays recommend a Detailer Spray as the lubricant. One poster stated that he tried to use the bucket of soapy water he used to wash the car but the clay broke down (he was using a dishwashing liquid I think).
Another poster indicated that he used clay on his windshield with great results.
Call or email Sal Zaino for the recommended lubricating options for his clay other than Z7.
lee18 - you should get z7 anyway. I forget how much it costs, but it is not that much for a large bottle, it is one of the lesser expensive items in the list. Using it, rather than another car wash, enhances your zaino shine, it is designed to work as part of the whole system. If you'll just try it, you'll see what I mean.
waynewolf - it is my understanding that other detailer sprays contain silicone and will work against your zaino. I guess if I ran out of z6, I'd probably use a mixture of 1/2 to 1 capful of z7 with 16 ounces of water in a spray bottle.
Both of you could email Sal to be sure of what I am suggesting (sal@zainobros.com).
I just did an entire Zaino treatment in about 8 hours. Inc wash, clay, wash, Z-1, Z-5, Z-2. Black 2000 SS Camaro looks fantastic! If you don't have 8 spare hours your working too hard. Ha.
Just finished claying down my car to eliminate overspray. Used the Zaino clay with regular car wash liquid as a lubricant (in higher than normal concentration). That worked fantastic. It didn't harm the clay and didn't drag on the surface.
Clay is one of those products that sound too good to be true but is everything it claims to be and more. It removed every spec of overspray in just one or two swipes, plus all those hard to remove bug splats, tar and sap specs and other unidentifiable junk. It was so easy to use. After doing the horizontal car surfaces the bar was almost solid green from the removed overspray (green paint from a nearby construction site). It worked marvelously on the windows and plastic parts too.
I originally thought clay was some kind of very fine abrasive, but I'm sure it doesn't work like an abrasive. The lubricant seems to create a micron-thin floating layer between the car and the clay bar, and anything that sticks up above that micron layer bonds to the gummy/rubbery material of the clay and gets 'ripped' off the surface. You can actually feel that happening. After a couple of swipes, removing the impurities, the clay bar just seems to float over the surface without making direct contact, and the surface becomes extremely smooth.
I wish I had found this when I owned my Trans-Am, it always had specles of something on the paint and bug residue that I could never get off completely.
I knew I couldn't do the whole car without dropping the bar so I hosed-off the driveway thoroughly before claying and kept it wet while I was working. I did drop it a couple of times but it didn't pick up any grit, I tested it on the underside of the car to make sure and no micro-scratches.
Yesterday was the FIRST time I ever used clay. I ordered it from Sal. I used the Z-7 car wash in a spray bottle as the lubricant. It was REALLY very easy. Nothing like I thought it was going to be. Of course, I don't think I'd like to do it more then once a year because it does take time. Of course it didn't take me too long yesterday because I was doing my cousin's little 2-seater BMW roadster convertible! LOL..... I'm sure it would take me a LOT longer to do my 300M. I'll probably never use it on the 300 because I had the ZAINO on that almost from the very beginning. I think it looks great.
I never used the Erazer so I can't compare it to Zaino. I would imagine that they are all pretty similar except for the abrasive ones they make.
The BMW looks great now with NOTHING on it yet! I can't wait to put on the Zaino. The weather did not cooperate today. It was supposed to be 60-65, but it was foggy, cloudy, drizzly and damp! NOT good drying weather for the Zaino. I'll see what tomorrow brings. In the meantime, the BMW is in the garage and my 300 is outside! LOL...
Why would you not want to buy the Z-7 wash. It works great and smells even better. Plus for the glass problems try try the Zaino Z-12 glass polish, it works great. First glass cleaner I have used that actually makes the glass clear. Just clayed my 2000 Olds Alero and getting ready to Z1 & Z2 it, the bad thing is the clay let me see the imperfections in the paint job. So far this stuff seems great.
Seem to recall a previous posting recommending a distributor of Zaino products that accepted credit cards. The prices were the same as listed on the Zaino website. Does anyone have this same recollection or know the website address/phone number of such a distributor?
I finally got my new 2000 Odyssey and wanted to take advantage of the warm weather here in NY and Zaino my van. I went through all the steps (dawn, Z1,Z2,Z6,Z2,Z6)except for the clay(I received my Erazer too late-I'll clay in spring). Van looked great but of course a few days later,we had some wet weather. One thing I noticed was that the water gidn't seem to bead up as well as the Nufinsh does on my other car. Is this the experience that everyone else has with Zaino or did I do something wrong-maybe I put on too thin of a coat of Z2.
Sounds like you did the correct precedure with Zaino.
It depends on what you were expecting as far as water "beading". I've never used Nufinish so I can't comment.
I also thought I put too thin a coating of Z2 when I first Z'd. Don't know if that's possible. The key is getting an even coat of Z2 on the vehicle. If you did the "Z" thing twice, I doubt that you put too little on. I did get a good tip from this board when applying Z2 (I think from "fastdriver")...squirt your applicator with Z6 in an "X" formation. Then apply two thin lines of Z2 in an "X" over the Z6 on the applicator...squeeze the applicator to get the Z6/Z2 evenly covering the applicator. I only have to put the Z6 "X" on the applicator twice (once for each half of my car). I re-apply Z2 with the "X" for every panel. It seems to work quite well. When you get to the last panel of your car, you may not even need any more Z2 as the applicator usually has enough Z2 on it at this point.
What you should notice with Zaino is a lot of "water run-off" when you soak it down to wash. The "beads" that are left will be a quarter to a half dollar in size.
I've seen other products that leave smaller "beads", but that doesn't mean that it's is offering more protection than Zaino.
I, too, have 3 coats of Z2 on my car. Have had it on there for about 3 months. Many rain storms and washings (about one/week) and the water "runs off" the car the same as when I first Z'd. After washing, the car looks just as good as when I first waxed it. If I have the time, I usually wipe down quickly with Z6 after washing and the car looks freshly waxed.
Like others on this thread, I've used many, many different products over the years, and have yet to find a more durable wax, with a better shine than Zaino. Personal testament...Zaino is the best wax/polish on the market, bar none. This includes some of the expensive "boutique" waxes I've used over my 25 years of car ownership.
I can wash/dry/Z6 my car in about an hour. Thow in a Z2 session and I add another 30 minutes to this. Easy stuff to use, too.
rikl, Graphicguy has a lot of very good suggestions in Post #541 above. I've also had good results as per water beading with just one coat of Z2. All I do is spray some Z6 on my applicator. Nothing fancy, just two sprays. I work it in a bit, and then apply the Z2 as an "X" on the pre-lubbed applicator pad. I apply it to the car's surface with light strokes.
I move in a back and forth manner and overlap my strokes just as if I was painting a wall. As per directions and suggestions from the Zainobros site's FAQ, I move from front to back on all horizontal surfaces, and up and down on all vertical surfaces. It does make a difference. As my car has a lot of curves, I sort of blend the stroking action through these areas. I'll normally get about 4 or 5 strokes before I reapply a little more Z2 to my applicator. I also let it dry for a long time. About a year. Only kidding, but I've waited overnight on cold day/humid days. Normally about an hour will do.
Now, being that Thanksgiving is just a day away, I have two suggestions:
* Don't (and I know you're tempted!) apply left over turkey fat to your car! It may look good now, but the smell....!
After about 10 minutes of the hamsterdace, my cat just tried to attack my screen (no joke!) He made a flying leap towards the screen and bonked his head. He looks real confused right now.
Now, I do find that a little leftover giblet gravy does give my car a shine like no other. Letting it dry overnight does present some problems when trying to remove it. I also notice that my car is attracting quite a few furry creatures. All these creatures have been able to "lick" the shine back, though. The only problem here is that cat tongues are not very soft and leaves a lot of the proverbial "cat tongue swirl marks". It's real shiny, but I have to use some Z5 to remove the swirls.
If I remeber correctly pblevine, you are a GTP bretheren, correct? If so, what color?
I'm amazed at how much the water beads on my car - it's incredible- even after 2 months. It's like plastic armour coating. It's super tough.
I don't know why Z wouldn't do the same on other cars. Could it be that without claying, the paint surface is not as smooth and contaminant-free which might interfere with the beading or performance of Z? Or perhaps one Dawn washing did not remove all the polish/wax that the dealer may have applied - if any.
Other than that, it's very curious. Rikl,you should call Sal and ask him.
Comments
I've used Scotch Guard on all me carpets and I would think that applying it to cloth seats would also be a good idea. But please read the Scotch Guard disclaimers and directions first. You may wish to try a very small patch first to determine if the spray might have any dis-coloring affect.
If my post seems to skip a few days here and there, its because I'm now running between one of our (systems engineering) clients and our primary office. I never know were I'll be.
What kind of cars are we talking about? I might have missed that part. Maybe I can help. You can also e-mail Sal Zaino- he's great at getting right back to you! http://www.zainobros.com
fastdriver
Chevy is has clear coat
I have spoken to sal as well as E-mailed him he is going to think I'm crazy and he told me to test a spot on the car with abrasive maybe I didn't rub hard enough but either way just in case one is clear coat and the other isn't do I still need both z2 andz3?
"Z-3 is also non-abrasive and could be used on clear coated paint. It just has some extra additives that are needed for non clear coated and regular paint. When in doubt, you can use Z-2 or Z-5 and you will be fine.....
Even if your car is not clear coated. You will be fine using Z-2 especially if you also use Z-5. The combo of these products will work great on clear coat and regular paint. Kinda the best of both worlds."
My situation was similar to yours, I knew my car is clear coated, but did not know about a friend's car that I also wanted to Zaino, wanted Z5 for the friend's (dark and swirled) car, but didn't know whether I had to get the Z3 as well.
My own car is light colored, brand new at the time and I did not think I needed Z5, but I put a couple coats of Z5 on top of a couple Z2s, and then added another Z2 (over the course of several months). The Z5 really increased the depth of shine, IMO, although it was a terrific shine without it.
So this may be something you'd like to try on both cars, rather than the Z3.
Good luck!
I still think that the Z-5 is a good thing to have because no matter how soft the towels- 100% cotton/USA and all that- you still get some little scratches/swirls somehow. Although I must say that I have very few. Then again, I do use the Z-5 and Z-2.
fastdriver
-new car prep
The risk to you from new car prep is the detailer improperly using a rotary buffer which would introduce swirl marks. They will probably use a cheap wax loaded with silicone because that will give a bright shine when you come to pick it up. Unfortunately it will wash off quickly.
You can judge your own level of protection by looking at the way water beads on the surface. As the wax/sealer wears away you will see the water beads get larger and larger until it simply sheets when there is no protection left.
- clearcoat?
Older cars have pigmented paint all the way through whereas clearcoated cars have a clear paint as the final coat. If you rub with an abrasive it removes some of the surface paint. If the car is not clear coat, you will see the rag have the color of the car (because it's pigmented paint all the way). If it's clear coated then you are removing clear paint and you won't see anything.
- Z5
Z5 is designed to fill in swirls and surface imperfections like putty fills in dimples on the walls. Z2/Z3 are designed for the final coats and so have higher optical reflectivity properties.
Good luck.
I'm not sure of the order of things I should now use. One option would be: Dawn, Z1, Z5, Z2. Or how about: Z5, Z1, Z2, Z5, Z2. Or: Z1, Z5, Z2. Maybe I should even clay the car again and then go through the full cycle. Opinions Please.
Write to Sal Zaino. He'll tell you the best way to proceed. Most likely just wash with DAWN. That WON'T take the ZAINO off, but it will take that glaze off. Then you can proceed with the Z-2/Z-5. Don't forget the Z-6!!
fastdriver
My car got speckled by spray paint from a nearby building being painted (Grrrr!), so I bought some Zaino Clay when I was re-ordering Z2 and I intend to clay, Z1, Z2 etc.
The instructions say to use Z7 car wash as a lubricant, but I don't have any of that and would just as soon not order any.
Can I use regular car wash liquid as a lubricant(e.g. Turtle car wash)? Has anyone tried this? What do other clay products recommend for lubricant?
Also, is it safe to clay windshields to get rid of spray speckles? I used Acetone on the front windshield, but you have to be very careful with that stuff.
Thanks.
Another poster indicated that he used clay on his windshield with great results.
Call or email Sal Zaino for the recommended lubricating options for his clay other than Z7.
z6 and don't have time to order some.
is there a store product that you can
use.
thanks.
w.w.
waynewolf - it is my understanding that other detailer sprays contain silicone and will work against your zaino. I guess if I ran out of z6, I'd probably use a mixture of 1/2 to 1 capful of z7 with 16 ounces of water in a spray bottle.
Both of you could email Sal to be sure of what I am suggesting (sal@zainobros.com).
Clay is one of those products that sound too good to be true but is everything it claims to be and more. It removed every spec of overspray in just one or two swipes, plus all those hard to remove bug splats, tar and sap specs and other unidentifiable junk. It was so easy to use. After doing the horizontal car surfaces the bar was almost solid green from the removed overspray (green paint from a nearby construction site). It worked marvelously on the windows and plastic parts too.
I originally thought clay was some kind of very fine abrasive, but I'm sure it doesn't work like an abrasive. The lubricant seems to create a micron-thin floating layer between the car and the clay bar, and anything that sticks up above that micron layer bonds to the gummy/rubbery material of the clay and gets 'ripped' off the surface. You can actually feel that happening. After a couple of swipes, removing the impurities, the clay bar just seems to float over the surface without making direct contact, and the surface becomes extremely smooth.
I wish I had found this when I owned my Trans-Am, it always had specles of something on the paint and bug residue that I could never get off completely.
I knew I couldn't do the whole car without dropping the bar so I hosed-off the driveway thoroughly before claying and kept it wet while I was working. I did drop it a couple of times but it didn't pick up any grit, I tested it on the underside of the car to make sure and no micro-scratches.
Yesterday was the FIRST time I ever used clay. I ordered it from Sal. I used the Z-7 car wash in a spray bottle as the lubricant. It was REALLY very easy. Nothing like I thought it was going to be. Of course, I don't think I'd like to do it more then once a year because it does take time. Of course it didn't take me too long yesterday because I was doing my cousin's little 2-seater BMW roadster convertible! LOL..... I'm sure it would take me a LOT longer to do my 300M. I'll probably never use it on the 300 because I had the ZAINO on that almost from the very beginning. I think it looks great.
I never used the Erazer so I can't compare it to Zaino. I would imagine that they are all pretty similar except for the abrasive ones they make.
The BMW looks great now with NOTHING on it yet! I can't wait to put on the Zaino. The weather did not cooperate today. It was supposed to be 60-65, but it was foggy, cloudy, drizzly and damp! NOT good drying weather for the Zaino. I'll see what tomorrow brings. In the meantime, the BMW is in the garage and my 300 is outside! LOL...
fastdriver
Thanks,
It depends on what you were expecting as far as water "beading". I've never used Nufinish so I can't comment.
I also thought I put too thin a coating of Z2 when I first Z'd. Don't know if that's possible. The key is getting an even coat of Z2 on the vehicle. If you did the "Z" thing twice, I doubt that you put too little on. I did get a good tip from this board when applying Z2 (I think from "fastdriver")...squirt your applicator with Z6 in an "X" formation. Then apply two thin lines of Z2 in an "X" over the Z6 on the applicator...squeeze the applicator to get the Z6/Z2 evenly covering the applicator. I only have to put the Z6 "X" on the applicator twice (once for each half of my car). I re-apply Z2 with the "X" for every panel. It seems to work quite well. When you get to the last panel of your car, you may not even need any more Z2 as the applicator usually has enough Z2 on it at this point.
What you should notice with Zaino is a lot of "water run-off" when you soak it down to wash. The "beads" that are left will be a quarter to a half dollar in size.
I've seen other products that leave smaller "beads", but that doesn't mean that it's is offering more protection than Zaino.
I, too, have 3 coats of Z2 on my car. Have had it on there for about 3 months. Many rain storms and washings (about one/week) and the water "runs off" the car the same as when I first Z'd. After washing, the car looks just as good as when I first waxed it. If I have the time, I usually wipe down quickly with Z6 after washing and the car looks freshly waxed.
Like others on this thread, I've used many, many different products over the years, and have yet to find a more durable wax, with a better shine than Zaino. Personal testament...Zaino is the best wax/polish on the market, bar none. This includes some of the expensive "boutique" waxes I've used over my 25 years of car ownership.
I can wash/dry/Z6 my car in about an hour. Thow in a Z2 session and I add another 30 minutes to this. Easy stuff to use, too.
Graphicguy has a lot of very good suggestions in Post #541 above. I've also had good results as per water beading with just one coat of Z2. All I do is spray some Z6 on my applicator. Nothing fancy, just two sprays. I work it in a bit, and then apply the Z2 as an "X" on the pre-lubbed applicator pad. I apply it to the car's surface with light strokes.
I move in a back and forth manner and overlap my strokes just as if I was painting a wall. As per directions and suggestions from the Zainobros site's FAQ, I move from front to back on all horizontal surfaces, and up and down on all vertical surfaces. It does make a difference. As my car has a lot of curves, I sort of blend the stroking action through these areas. I'll normally get about 4 or 5 strokes before I reapply a little more Z2 to my applicator. I also let it dry for a long time. About a year. Only kidding, but I've waited overnight on cold day/humid days. Normally about an hour will do.
Now, being that Thanksgiving is just a day away, I have two suggestions:
* Don't (and I know you're tempted!) apply left over turkey fat to your car! It may look good now, but the smell....!
* Go to: www.hamsterdance.com.
Drive safely and have a happy Thanksgiving!
Now, I do find that a little leftover giblet gravy does give my car a shine like no other. Letting it dry overnight does present some problems when trying to remove it. I also notice that my car is attracting quite a few furry creatures. All these creatures have been able to "lick" the shine back, though. The only problem here is that cat tongues are not very soft and leaves a lot of the proverbial "cat tongue swirl marks". It's real shiny, but I have to use some Z5 to remove the swirls.
If I remeber correctly pblevine, you are a GTP bretheren, correct? If so, what color?
I don't know why Z wouldn't do the same on other cars. Could it be that without claying, the paint surface is not as smooth and contaminant-free which might interfere with the beading or performance of Z? Or perhaps one Dawn washing did not remove all the polish/wax that the dealer may have applied - if any.
Other than that, it's very curious. Rikl,you should call Sal and ask him.
carlady/roving host