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Comments
My current favorite combo is an initial polish with Meguiar's #83 Dual Action Cleaner Polish (aka DACP). This polish starts out like a fine cut cleaner and buffers down to a swirl mark remover. This slightly levels the paint, removing semi-serious scratches, deep swirls, oxidation, light stains, etc.
I follow this up with a very mild polish to bring out the best gloss possible. I use a polish called S100 Shine Enhancing Paint Cleanser. S100 is marketed by the same folks as P21S but to motorcycle owners. From what I can tell its the same exact stuff with a different name and a lower price. I buy S100 products at Harley Davidson dealers.
When I go detail someones car I usually bring along 6-7 polishes as I don't know exactly what will be needed. But I can cover 98% of my bases with those products.
And keep in mind I do all my polishing by machine - Porter Cable 7424 and a multitude of buffer pads. Add up all the possible combinations of polishes, pads, and buffer speeds and I can fix most any paint problem with relative ease.
To answer your other questions, I'd give that Benz polish a try on a small area to see how it works for you. And, yes, polishing will remove existing Zaino.
Hope all this was helps.
No more mailing checks to Sal which adds days to the process. Click, click, type a little here and there, and the order is placed.
Getting Zaino products is now as easy as getting porno.
How does Zaino compare with sealants put on by commercial detailers. I've talked to 3 of them; none knock Zaino; say it's good stuff, but that it would take them too long to use, and their stuff works just as good.
Comments? (I just got a new Lincoln LS 2 days ago; where to begin..... !!)
I also like the liquid like gloss that Z5 gives the finish. Z2 seems to be balanced to give more of a "deep" shine. And together (ie: alternate layers), they can't be beat.
As for those realy deep scratches, either re-painting (for large areas) or touch up paint will have to be used. Your car's dealer will be able to sell you touch up paint which matches your original paint. There's a whole art to using touch up paint correctly. My little method is based on what I've read here at Edmunds and from Chris Parrish. I haven't been really keeping up with it, and haven't attempted to "get" every little nic on my bumpers. But here goes:
First, the scratch has to be cleaned of oxides and dirt. I've used a tooth pick which I first coated with Zaino Glass Polish. Use it very gently! You don't want to make the scratch bigger. Or you can use a nail file. Again, remove just the paint oxide and dirt in the scratch. Second, apply the touch up paint with a tooth pick. Just put a very little bit (not a bead of paint!) at the tip of the tooth pick and apply VERY thinly in the scratch.
Don't attempt to "fill up" the scratch. Just apply a thin coat. Let that coat dry for about 30 minutes and repeat with additional coats until the touch up paint has built up to the original paint depth around it. Touch up paint will shrink as it drys, so even it you fill the scratch, it will dry to a lesser level. On the last coat, you can allow it to come up to or just over the level you desire. When I've done this, I was able to "pat" down the touch up paint about 15 minutes after I applied it. I used an ice cream stick with just a tiny amount of pressure. Any more, and you'll hurt the glossly finish on the touch up paint.
I think there are other forums here at Edmunds which can give you more complete advice about the use of touch up paint.
>I was a casual car caretaker, bought a new car in 1999 and researched on the web to try to decide whether to accept the dealer's sealant offer. Stumbled on Chris Parrish's accolades about Zaino here in Edmunds. Tried it; liked it; became a distributor.
How does Zaino compare with sealants put on by commercial detailers.
>It is what I believe I expected that car dealers (and detailers?) used before reading, probably in Consumer Reports, that these products were more profit center for dealers than a truly performing product. Not being a chemist or detailer, I could only go by the fact that dealer paint protectants required retreatment. How different, and more expensive, was that from regular washing and waxing?
I've talked to 3 of them; none knock Zaino; say it's good stuff, but that it would take them too long to use, and their stuff works just as good.
>I would say they are not current in their information about Zaino; with ZFX, the curing time wait that made Zaino less commercially attractive to them than other products has been overcome. The Wax Test results in Guru Reports implies that "their stuff" does not work "as good" as Zaino. Zaino came out tops; its grade was pulled down by a characteristic that I think has nothing to do with Zaino's performance: availability of the product.
Comments? (I just got a new Lincoln LS 2 days ago; where to begin..... !!)
>I have had one customer complain about Zaino in an email; I offered to take it back, but as he hadn't asked me any questions while trying it, I asked him in what way was he "disappointed." Never heard from him again.
>I have a detailer customer; he no longer aches from his detailing sessions because of how easy Zaino is to apply.
>Zaino is not slap on, wipe off, but using the common sense of any product: use non-scratching materials to touch the paint (white, made in the USA, 100% cotton towels for many or Microfiber cloth for others) in cleaning it, applying product, and wiping it off, getting the vehicle very clean at the start, and the Zaino instructions to apply very sparingly and evenly, using the gloss enhancer, Z-6, on your applicator to help achieve that thin, even application, you are on your way to a well-protected, as-good-looking-as-it-can-be paint. The protection and look are enhanced by multiple coats, which you would only need do at the start, then it can be quite casual and still, very satisfying.
>I would get ZFX, two bottles of polish (Z-2, and Z-5, or, if you have no scratches and swirls, two Z-2), 1 or 2 Z-6, Gloss Enhancer, 1 or 2 Z-7, Car Wash, and 1 Z-18, Clay Bars. I'd apply as many ZFX-accelerated coats as one bottle (or half of each if you get Z-2 and Z-5) will do as soon as possible, then apply polish, accelerated or not, as rain stops beading. Use distilled water and Z-7 in a spray bottle as your clay lubricant and as a quick cleaner, especially for bird droppings. Wash with Z-7, dry, and wipe down with Z-6 for your recurring maintenance. That should take care of you for 2-3 years.
I was also under the impression that you clay at least once a year, which is what I plan to do.
Speaking of Z2 or Z5, I find the shine of Z2 more appealing to me, and have very or no swirls, what do you guys suggest for the amount of times I should be applying the Z5. I was thinking of alternating the two every other month.
As for claying, my car is more than 3 years old, had Z treatments from the start, garaged always, never been clayed and probably never will be. The finish has always been slippery smooth.
However, it was never subjected to "train dust" during delivery, and it's been kept very clean, always, with a coat of Z-2 every few months (and Z-1 every 6 months).
There's been no need for Z-5. The paint is brillliant silver metallic, and I've never seen a swirl mark on it.
Hope this helps.
In my case, I put three coats of Z5 on twice per year as part of winter/summer maintenance. I always finish with 4+ coats of Z2. After that, when I need a pick-me-up between times, I apply coats of Z2.
I thought I had read somewhere that some of you actually alternate between the two products.
Even though the car is new, garage kept, and used 90% as the family weekend car, I want to make sure that I keep the evil swirl monsters away by alternating with the 2.
Am I just waisting the Z5 and my time if I am applying Z5 without any swirls
The key is to experiment. After all, some folks actually prefer Z5 to Z2. My preference is to end with Z2.
Note that my car is relatively new (bought in March 2002, 10000 miles), and has been Zd since day 1, so I have few scratches.
Perhaps I am crazy, but I like the "deep" appearance of Z5 followed by the mirror look of Z2.
I replaced a fender in 1996 RAV4 (Sequoia Green). I primed the fender and applied the paint (which I bought for a custom paint house). The custom paint house matched the color chip using OEM paint code. When I paint the color matches alright.
But the metallic shineI have in rest of the car and this replaced fender is way off. I have looked this up in various light conditions. I have applied also two clear coats and still does not solve it.
Help please
/ram
Seriously, thanks very much for the run-thru on Zaino vs. dealer/detailer approach. It sounds good. Will give Zaino a try.
Or the "all natural" microfiber towels? (e.g. DF Concours e towels) The DFtowel.com site says that most common microfibers are polyester and will scratch the surface of your car "if you aren't careful."
But the polyester/polyamide blend microfiber sites claim as much as 221,000 fibers per square inch, and say they're fine for car use.
Has anyone used microfiber towels? And have they worked OK without scratching the paint finish?
Thanks for any light you can shed!
thanks for your help
/ram
I asked Sal (Zaino) about MF. His experience is there is still a lack of quality control. He'll get 10 towels from a manufacturer; seven will be fine; three will scratch. He's still not ready to recommend them.
I finally had a chance to thoroughly wash and Z my Navy Blue '01 Impala LS. During the process (before applying any Z) I noticed that several areas on my car have water spots. I tried several different methods to remove them (clay, rubbing alcohol, etc.) but to no avail.
Does anyone have any suggestions how to get rid of these?
Thanks!
Brad
If so, my limited knowledge says to next try spot cleaning with Z-1, then a polishing glaze, then a polishing compound, then a rubbing compound, in that order. At any point at which you feel it's beyond your skill or willingness to risk damaging the paint, go to a reputable detailer.
Regarding water spots: Spots left on the surface after washing are easy to remove by re-washing and quickly drying with a soft (100% cotton) towel. Spots which have been overlaid with Z5 present another problem. As daverose stated, first remove the covering Z2/Z5 layers and then clean the surface. Not an easy task. I've found a few such spots in odd places and have elected to simply ignore them. Then again, I've got a very dark (green) car.
I've elected to ignore them too. I bet I'm the only person who would even notice them. The spots are not very obvious at all - you have to be at just the right angle to see them, otherwise they're invisible.
I need to learn to relax ;-)
Brad
In trying to take advantage of the 20 minutes or so that it does not rain.
My question is this, if I take a big spray bottle, like a 32 oz, mixed in some Z7 (same ratio claying), and just spray and wipe for a quick "clean" on the car.
Would this be good or should I just wait for the next sunny day.
I'm sure you probably dilute it, and wash it off right away, but is a better-quality car wash solution just as effective as Dawn in preparing the paint surface for Zaino?
Bret may have other thoughts on what to use to strip any old wax.
Dawn should not be used as a regular cleaning agent for your car and hence the advice in your owner's manual. However, to prepare your car for the Zaino process, it is adviseable to remove all inpurities fron the vehicle surface and, according to Sal Zaino, Dawn does that. Sal has indicated he would never recommend using Dawn (or other diswashing detergent) at any other time.
Hope this helps...
I guess I should dry the car after every rain storm, but I'm just too lazy. Besides, I commonly drive over some really bad dirt roads and my car has received more than its share of mud. I'm sure that if I attempt to dry the dirty water, the junk in it will cause additional scratches.
LOL.... ah...... another ZAINOHOLIC joins the "cult"!! You've "grown so fast" because of all those ZA meetings you've attended! :-))) RAIN??? This is WHY I have not been in this topic since May! Just read 120+ messages! WHO has been thinking about Zaino with all this rain? More coming tomorrow right through the weekend- AGAIN! I think it's about the 6th or 7th weekend in a row with rain! I just put on a coat of ZFX/Z2/Z5, all mixed together, on Father's Day. It was the FIRST Z application since LAST August!
However, look at these pics that I took in May-
http://photos.yahoo.com/ramrod2@snet.net
Car looks great for no Z since August of 2002- NO? Especially after the horrendous winter that we had here in CT AND the chamois strip car wash that I HAD to use on 3 occasions to get it clean!
maxpower02-
LOL..... "pushing drugs"!! I know exactly what you mean. EVERY Z owner knows exactly what you're talking about. I have been using Z since the summer of 1998 when I bought my PREVIOUS "award-winning, Motor Trend Car of the Year" 1999 Chrysler 300M!! The BEST thing about that car was the ZAINO CANDY APPLE RED SHINE!! LOL.... If you click on my name above, you can see the great job Zaino did to keep it looking like that from Day 1 until I FINALLY dumped it 33 months later before it hit 36,000 miles with NO warranty! God only knows that those "award winning 5-STAR" dealers didn't keep it looking like that. Ah... how LOOKS can be deceiving!
swordfish555-
Mmmm......a "one word" answer from Sal? Doesn't sound like Sal to me! He is definitely a man of more than one word! Did you try reading the FAQ's at http://www.zainostore.com/ ? I think you'll find all the answers there.
fastdriver
Figures, just when I find something to get really excited about (what, you couldn't tell I was excited about Zaino) in regards the car, it does nothing but rain on the weekends. Story of my life.
Stay dry everyone.
Can Zaino be used on the car right away? I thought I heard that a newly painted car must wait about six weeks before being waxed because the paint needs to cure. Or maybe that just applies to cars repaired at body shops.
If anyone knows, please fill me in if it's okay to use Zaino even though the car will have just been built and painted.
1) All new cars already had their paint cured once leaving the plant. I think the wait is more of an old wives tales now. Maybe several years back that was the norm (to wait a few weeks), but even our new car now already notes on the owners manual to wax the car right away.
2) Some people here already noted that they Z their car from day one. I would suggest to do so, especially the claying to get rid of any dust "MITES" from the rail or road. Why wouldn't you want a sparkling new car from day one.
They say when a butterfly flaps its wings in Australia, it affects our climate about a year later. Well, some bat must have barfed all over the Pacific about a year ago!
fastdriver: Nice pics! 'Guess you like that CL-S of yours. I too went a long time without Z'ing. In fact, I just washed the car on Fathers Day. My last coat of Z2 was back in October 2002. And as I washed the dirt off my car, the water was still beading! Amazing! Well, the front bumper and part of the front hood lost most of the last Z. But given the horrible winter we all just went through, that's still amazing. Once I got rid of the dirt and road salts, however, I found a number of very thin scratches most likely caused by flying road sand which was used during the winter on I-287. I'm still trying to figure out how to handle them (Bret, are you there?). I may try a little touch up paint via a tooth pick.
You say you mixed Z2 and Z5 in the same batch with ZFX? How did you do it (relative amounts) and how did it work?
lenscap and lapvn: Lapvn is absolutely correct about factory paint curing. Zaino a new car on day one! And don't let the dealer put any of that damn wax/mineral oil junk they are fond of using on new cars. Lenscap, have your friend tell the dealer to not even wash the car. I too have an Accord, and even though the "dealer" says it was built last week, the car probably spent at least 10 days outdoors on the factory lot prior to shipping. The shipping process alone will expose the finish to all sorts of bad stuff (like brake dust). Not only is the exterior paint "cured" by the time you get it, it is in "utter dire need" of a Dawn washing, claying, and about three coats of Zaino.
I unloaded my CL (tranny issues), and got a Mazda-6i w/ Sport package, and black to boot. I thought I would never ever find myself owing a black car, but dang it sure looks good.
I have read about the new ZFX product, which I'm assuming will help make the whole process easier, YES?
I just need some support in getting me to commit to doing the Zaino thing.
Any special advice on black cars ?
ZFX - ZFX replaces Z1. It makes the process easier than using Z1 in several ways:
a) ZFX eliminates an application - you have to apply Z1 separately from Z2/5, but ZFX is mixed in with the Z2/5.
b) ZFX eliminates the 24 hour wait between coats of Z2/5. You can apply up to three coats of Z2/5 in one 24 hour period when you mix them with ZFX.
c) Sal claims that ZFX speeds drying time, but there are some of us who don't experience the difference in drying time.
The first application is painful, even with ZFX, because of the extra wash/rinse cycle with Dawn. However, since the Dawn serves the purpose of getting rid of residual wax, you will never have to do the Dawn thing again after the first time, if you commit to Zaino.
Day 1: I Dawned and clayed the car, which only has 5800 miles on it, so not too much work to do, but might as well start off right, eh?
Day 2: Bright and early, I ZFX/Z5ed the car. Waited 30 minutes, then Z6 spray-and-wiped it. Had the feeling something wasn't quite right and hit this discussion to discover that the entire car only needs about 9-10 full pulls of the spray trigger. I was pulling 10-12 just on the hood! Oops, lesson learned. Re-Z5ed and Z6ed (sparingly!) and let iy sit overnight (for no reason other than being busy with other things).
Day 3: Z2, Z6, Z2, Z6, Z2, Z6. Whee! Sat back and admired my sweaty reflection in the door panel. Drove it to the front of my neighborhood for some pictures by the pond.
Day 4+: It's too pretty to drive! Curse you, Zaino!! (just kidding)
Thanks for all the advice folks!
-T
Just a suggestion to really show off that shine- take the pics at dusk and maybe have something reflecting in the car's finish. That will really show off that Z shine better than in the direct sun. Looks good anyway.
fastdriver