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Waxes and Polishes, Part III
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Now if it hadn't been raining since last night!! and I going out of town for weekend. I probably could go out and wash and clay it. Think I will wait on nicer weather.
Pat
I found a sheepskin mit for car-washing at Walmart for just $5. It works great, and so far I have not noticed any scratches from it on my 5 month old Toyota Solara. I use Zaino products and have found that washing the car is very easy since the dirt does not seem to adhere to the finish. The real test will be this weekend, since because of rain and travelling I have not been able to wash it for about four or five weeks and it's pretty dirty.
For drying I use a synthetic chamois (the Absorber) that seems to work pretty well. Drying is always time consuming. Since the water here in San Diego is extremely hard any little bit left on the car will cause spotting, so I have to be thorough. Anybody have any tips to make it easier?
I find that it is possible to get most of the water to run off by itself when rinsing due to the "surfact tension" of water.
First, do not use a regular hose nozzle, the water comes out too hard and the spray sprays all over the car. Get a plastic "fan spray" used for flowers. It puts out a nice even fan of low-pressure water. When rinsing, wet the entire panel, and then use the spray to "push" a wall of water off the car in one smooth movement, and the water will "pull" most of the rest with it. Always rinse top to bottom. Is this clear enough?
I also have a nice Solara, and there is hardly enough water on it to wet the towel when I am through rinsing. Give it a try!
Has anyone used Zaino on a new BMW? What were your results?
I did a coat of z-6 after the Z-2 and it seemed to help.
I'll probably do another coat of z-2 this weekend or next. I'll let you know how it goes.
This is a 6 month old bimmer - and it is not a dark color - but I saw a difference in the shine. When pulling into the garage a couple of nights after the zaino treatment - I wasn't really looking for the shine - but I did a double take when I saw her car. I could see the reflection of my mountain bike from the other side of the garage in her paint. I had never seen this before the Zaino.
Zaino seems to give more of a "showroom" shine.
didn't you struggle with whether to use zaino on your merecedes because of the "zaino on european cars" issue - what has been your experience?
Look here- didn't hurt this finish!
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Flats/7501/febbmw.html
fastdriver
Fastdriver - The Z3 pictures are inspirational! Your cousin's car looks wonderful. How does she care for the top and vinyl window? Does she use Zaino products for those also? Did you do the whole Dawn, clay, procedure before the first application? Had your cousin used other products before you applied Zaino? (P.S. Based on the Tyson home pictures, ear-biting must pay well!)
Thanks for taking the time to post the pictures, etc.
re: the second coat - the weather here is wet and cold - z-2 would take forever to dry - so I will wait til next weekend
Yes, I did the clay, Dawn thing for her. It was the first time that I used the clay. I was dreading it, but it was NOT hard at all. Of course the size of the car makes everything go 10 times faster then when I do my 99 Chrysler 300M! LOL...
I don't think she does anything special with the top or back window. The top is that cloth material. I just washed it with the Dawn too.
As for using other products before ZAINO, I really don't know. I'll ask her when she gets back from vacation. I would say that all she's ever done is wash it! ;-)))
Ear biting?? I was thinking the same thing when I saw it! Glad he wasn't home when I was there. I like my ears! :-)))))))
fastdriver
I finally broke down, mostly due to fastdriver's photos, and ordered a set of Z and did my partners's car this weekend.
It went really fast - Dawn wash, Z1,Z5,Z6 Saturday (clayed a couple of months ago)and Z2, Z6 Sunday. It is a dark metallic green Accord, and responded really well to the Z.
The final verdict - FANTASTIC!!!! I thought the car looked great before, but the difference between my best wax job and the Z job are startling. The finish is just glass smooth! If I drop the towel on the hood, it slides off! The reflections are more clear and distinct than before, and the color is richer and deeper. My reward came when a neighbor driving down the street almost broke his neck ogling the Accord!
I could actually see the swirl marks dissappearing as I rubbed in the Z5. Now, I want to put on even more! This stuff is truly addicting, I can see Zaino Anonymous in the future.
Thanks for convincing me all, and thanks to Sal for his wondrous chemistry. By the way, I emailed him a question Saturday, and had an answer Sunday. Whatta guy!
and saw a polimer wax called Finish First. Of
course the rep said it was better than Liquid Glass
and equal to Zaino. His point was that it does
all of the steps that Z does with one coat.
Anyone ever heard about Finish First or had
experience with it?
Comments please.
Better yet- take the nozzle off the hose and just let the water cascade off the car starting with the roof. Then go for a QUICK spin. There will be very little left to wipe off.
fastdriver
http://ferrariclub.com/faq/clean.html
From everything I've heard Finish First is a top notch product. I've used Klasse, which is similar and also a top notch product.
So I ordered the set of six Canon polishing towels from the Autofanatics website, hoping to take the Zaino plunge this week. I received the box today, opened it, read the Canon tag only to see "Made in Pakistan".
I just assumed I was buying made in the USA towels, and they were much less expensive than buying them in a store. So here's the question - after reading all the posts about only using towels made in the USA, what would you do - send them back? Yikes, I may never get my car detailed....
Send them back...
They are pricey ($18), but worth it. You can get them in 18x26 or 26x36 sizes. They are very, very dense 100% US pima cotton (more dense than what I can find around here) and the edges are stitched with cotton.
I have also tried cotton towels I've bought locally and cut the edges off. They fray a lot in the washer and dryer and get tangled together. The more expensive ones fray less. I bought a very high priced Cannon (or Fieldcrest) bath towel at Bloomingdales for a low price (it was on sale as a second/blemish item) and I use it for a quick first dry of the car after washing and then do a quick run over of the car with an Aardvark towel which leaves the paint perfectly dry and shiny.
The Aardvark towels are really great for removing Zaino. FYI - I believe Sal recommends using a large terry cloth towel for best results if I remember earlier quotes correctly.
Notice the reflection in the side. This was taken with one of those disposable cameras. I'll try and use a better camera later.
Click here.
Aren't you glad that you used ZAINO?? Picture looks great.
fastdriver
Hopefully in future pictures, the reflections will come out cleaner when I use a better camera. But even with a disposable camera, the shine is great.
Sometimes, during dusk, the car takes on a purplish hue. It looks so nice.
By all means, clan and wax your clear coat, though.
newwestd--saw you got your hand slapped in the other "wax" topic talking about "Z"...LOL! Shame on you!
Oh well - too bad for them!
Pat
Community Leader/Maintenance & Repair Conference
Well, it was windy and almost 70 degrees F today in SE Ohio, so it was time for another beginner's day with Zaino.
Let me thank you folks for your help answering some questions with my last two posts, they were very helpful. Still have some more questions, and some more events to tell...
Today I started about 1:00 P.M. with a Zaino Car wash, very needed. I then put another coat of Z2 on it. Taking your advice, I wetted down the applicator with Z6 before using, and it did help.
At first, I seemed to get lots of "water type droplets" where the Z2 was going, but as time went on, I saw less water, and more Z2 on. I used much less Z2 this time, and was able to see what I did by more organization. However, the old 1 sq. ft. square trick does not work with a van like I have, since the areas of the van have more glass in them, and less sheet metal surface, like a hood or trunk.
It was so easy to see what I was doing today, and the result was unreal! The finish was even better than the first time, and there is still Z2 in the bottle. You are correct, a little Z2 does an awful lot!
Next came a Z6 coat, which I intended to follow with another Z2, but time was too short. Using the Z6 for the first tiem was a pain. It says "use a light mist on a 1x1 square. Well the sprayer on the bottle I got does not squirt a mist, it squirts out a long thin spray, which then ran everywhere. It was not real problem getting the Z6 cleaned up well, but let me ask you guys if you had the same problem. I expect a light spray, not a hard stream if the directions say light spray. I probably ended up using a little too much Z6, but it did help the look of the car. What is the best way to do Z6 on a surface with a steep angle on it (i.e. doors, side walls)
I have to tell you I am impressed with the Zaino stuff. It looks great, and even after a week with a lot of dirty, dusty driving, it cleaned up very well.
Now on to questions:
1. I got a lot of Z6 on the windows, so I thought, what the hey, why not try a window with it on (i.e. spray on, wipe off). Is this a good idea? Is there something better, or do I need to get the Z6 off now. I'd love to find a good window cleaning product.
2. I have metal wheels of some type, can I use Z2/Z6 on them after a cleaning, or there another product that will work better? I have read much about damaging wheels, so I am leary of using Z@/Z6 unless I can find ways for it to be safe. The same goes for the grille
3. I have a lot of dull/flat interior surfaces (i.e. the crash pad vinyl surfaces) in the front. Do you have any suggestions on how to clean them?
4. The van has step ups inside the car, with rubber/plastic knobby surfaces on them, and they are muddy. Is there any Zaino product to clean and protect this area?
Folks, whether you are new to Zaino, or are a veteran user, I can't praise this stuff enough. It is what people in this section make it out to be.
I hope this helps some beginners out there!
Sincerely,
John Kay
jkumpire@netpluscom.com
fastdriver - beware the backlash if you post your pics - go for it!!! I'm up for a little light reading...
I already posted. More for fun then anything else. I have never come to ANY Edmunds group looking for trouble or looking to start trouble. I express my views whether it be about my infamous Chrysler 300M or ZAINO or anything else that might come to mind! I NEVER mentioned the Z word! I just want to see if ANYONE there thinks the car looks good or even acceptable.
fastdriver
Almost forgot you- Z-6 is GREAT for the windows. I use it all the time. It's also great for your computer screen and TV screen. Haven't tried it yet on the house windows OR the tile walls in the shower! LOL...
You can use the Z-1/Z-2/Z-6 on your wheels. I do on my shiny aluminum wheels on my car. As for the Z-6 sprayer bottle- the SECRET is to BARELY open it. Sometimes I spray it on the applicator and sometimes directly on the car. Depends on how windy it is out.
Sorry I can't help you with the other areas of your van. I don't use anything on my dash except a damp towel.
Hope this helps.
fastdriver
So therefore I am assuming that the polishing cloths are ok to use, but not their polishing towels (the ones made by Canon)?
For your interior you can use Lemon Pledge on everything - wood, chrome, plastic, rubber, leather, vinyl, your wife, etc. It cleans and provides a nice gloss without being shiny. I have used it for many, many years with consistent good results.
For your rubber step plates - First you have to clean them to get the mud off. It seems a stiff brush and some soap and water and rinsing is called for.They are not inside the car are they? If so, maybe a wet towel will work. Then, probably most any rubber treatment will do to keep them black. Use whatever you use on your tires. I have been using "No Touch" and Turtle Wax "2001" tire foams with good results. I just tried Meguiar's tire cream - it looks good, but don't know how it lasts yet. Since the polish is so good, I may trust and try the Zaino rubber treatment.
fastdriver is right - Z6 is really good for the windows, after they are cleaned with Windex, etc. They are now so shiny you have to have dark glasses to look at the car. It really makes a difference, and the dirt seems to stick less.
Well, it was windy and almost 70 degrees F today in SE Ohio, so it was time for another beginner's day with Zaino.
Let me thank you folks for your help answering some questions with my last two posts, they were very helpful. Still have some more questions, and some more events to tell...
Today I started about 1:00 P.M. with a Zaino Car wash, very needed. I then put another coat of Z2 on it. Taking your advice, I wetted down the applicator with Z6 before using, and it did help.
At first, I seemed to get lots of "water type droplets" where the Z2 was going, but as time went on, I saw less water, and more Z2 on. I used much less Z2 this time, and was able to see what I did by more organization. However, the old 1 sq. ft. square trick does not work with a van like I have, since the areas of the van have more glass in them, and less sheet metal surface, like a hood or trunk.
It was so easy to see what I was doing today, and the result was unreal! The finish was even better than the first time, and there is still Z2 in the bottle. You are correct, a little Z2 does an awful lot!
Next came a Z6 coat, which I intended to follow with another Z2, but time was too short. Using the Z6 for the first tiem was a pain. It says "use a light mist on a 1x1 square. Well the sprayer on the bottle I got does not squirt a mist, it squirts out a long thin spray, which then ran everywhere. It was not real problem getting the Z6 cleaned up well, but let me ask you guys if you had the same problem. I expect a light spray, not a hard stream if the directions say light spray. I probably ended up using a little too much Z6, but it did help the look of the car. What is the best way to do Z6 on a surface with a steep angle on it (i.e. doors, side walls)
I have to tell you I am impressed with the Zaino stuff. It looks great, and even after a week with a lot of dirty, dusty driving, it cleaned up very well.
Now on to questions:
1. I got a lot of Z6 on the windows, so I thought, what the hey, why not try a window with it on (i.e. spray on, wipe off). Is this a good idea? Is there something better, or do I need to get the Z6 off now. I'd love to find a good window cleaning product.
2. I have metal wheels of some type, can I use Z2/Z6 on them after a cleaning, or there another product that will work better? I have read much about damaging wheels, so I am leary of using Z@/Z6 unless I can find ways for it to be safe. The same goes for the grille
3. I have a lot of dull/flat interior surfaces (i.e. the crash pad vinyl surfaces) in the front. Do you have any suggestions on how to clean them?
4. The van has step ups inside the car, with rubber/plastic knobby surfaces on them, and they are muddy. Is there any Zaino product to clean and protect this area?
Folks, whether you are new to Zaino, or are a veteran user, I can't praise this stuff enough. It is what people in this section make it out to be.
I hope this helps some beginners out there!
Sincerely,
John Kay
jkumpire@netpluscom.com
IMHO, polishing cloths for polish removal are like synthetic oil for engine. Manufacturers and dealerships say to use regular oil, Zaino Web Site says to use regular towels
Consider this. I would never use cotton cloths to clean my photographic lenses because it would scratch coating. Even though the stuff I use to clean my lenses is much safer than cotton, I actually try to use it as rear as possible, because it also damages coating.
re Wheels: I've used Z1/Z2 on my metal wheels with very good results.
re Internal Surfaces: newwestd has some good ideas, and I'll try them too. I've also used good olde Fantastic on scuff marks on internal vinyl. And I've also used Zaino's "Leather In A Bottle" on these plastic surfaces with very good results.
Jeez, I'm starting to sound like a bible-thumper, I'd better back off!
Don't get carried away. I don't use it on EVERYTHING! It does work great on computer screens and TV screens. I don't do windows- just car windows when I absolutely have to! ;-)) I'd rather Z the whole car then do the windows!
" Sal doesn't recommend this use, but I've found it very helpfull." WHAT doesn't he recommend? Windows?
fastdriver
I have tried everything! Windex, Armor All and 3M window cleaners, Mother's window cleaner (like the old Glass Wax), newspaper, soft towels, etc. etc. Any suggestions? It is ONLY inside the rear window. It seems I could never get that "new car film" off properly. Thanks!