The "P & S" sounds familiar. What does P & S stand for. I may have tried it but I can't remember.
markbuck,
Liquid Glass and Finish First seem identical in performance in my experience. They both left swirls on the cars I used them on even though I done the whole 100% cotton toweling thing. This tells me that they contain abrasives. Also they weren't very stable, meaning that it seemed like each coat stripped the previous coat, thus no stacking of coats like I get with Zaino.
This is also a downfall of carnauba waxes. Multiple coats of carnauba wax do not seem to enhance looks at all. In fact, one coat of carnauba wax will actually *slightly* reduce the gloss of a freshly polished paint finish. Even Meguiars will tell you this. Lots of show car guys use Meguiars #7 fr a deep shine. The downside is absolutely ZERO protection.
I think that you'd be way ahead to just buy Zaino Z1 and Z2 (or Z5). Zaino polish will come the closest to meeting your twice a year requirement and will most definitely provide more protection for the money/time than ANY wax I have used in my 11+ years of detailing. Just my .02.
doc7,
If you use a piece of 100% cotton towel and a good soap like Zaino Z7 the nap of the cotton and the lubricity of the soap will minimize the chance of getting scratches when you wash away the dust. There's always a chance of scratches but the above mentioned recommendations will definitely lessen the chance.
The contaminants that are removed by clay kinda embed themselves into the surface of the clay. It is recommended that you refold and knead the clay regularly while doing the clay scrub to keep a fresh portion of the clay against the paint. Also, when the clay bar turns dark it should be replaced. Eventually you'd probably get some tiny scratches from embedded contaminants but it's unlikely as long as you monitor the condition of the clay and discard it when it gets dirty (turns dark).
As long as you Dawn wash after claying it is fine to use the lube that came with it. :-)
wstang,
If there is dirt on the car it should be washed instead of touched up with Z7 and water. I only use the mixture to remove fresh bugs from the front of my car after driving it on a trip. If the bugs have a chance to dry I do a wash instead of using the touch up mixture that I keep in the car.
cdg19,
Zaino polish blows Meguiars (any formula or part number, I've used them all including Gold Class, Medallion and #26) out of the water in looks and durability. You'll never get Zaino's deep and clear of a shine with ANY carnauba wax, period. I have yet to use a wax that will last longer than three weeks with regular washes (at least twice a week). Also, I know for a fact that Zaino will stand up to a good Dawn wash and still bead water very well and look excellent. I can't name a wax that can do the same. Just speaking from my experience.
dsomers,
Hate to say it but.... I TOLD YOU SOOOOO! ;-)
On another note... I also done some secret testing and confirmed what I suspected. :-)
This afternoon, I brought home my new Flame Red Metallic Solara. The dealer only washed the car, no wax, per my instructions.
I drove it straight home - 2 miles - parked it in the drive and went to work.
I clayed it - almost nothing was picked up by the clay (a new bar). I washed with Z-7. I applied Z-1, let it dry, applied Z-2, let it dry. Removed the Z-2 and then a quick dose of Z-6.
I started at 5pm and finished by 7pm - and with all that, I spent a lot of time waiting for the drying to finish between steps. That gave me time to read the owners manual in detail.
Zaino is far easier to use than any wax and I like the results better. Tomorrow, I'll apply the second coat of Z-2.
Now that I've prepped the car - tomorrow will be a lot more fun **driving** it!
Does anyone know how long Zaino has been around? What is the longest some has used Zaino regularly. Also, is Sal Zaino the actual inventor of Zaino or is it made by another company and distributed by Sal. One more question, if Sal Zaino did develope Zaino is he a chemist or chemical engineer? This might sound strange, but even though everyone knocks all other brands of wax these are large multi-million dollar corporations with extensive R&D facilities which makes me feel comfortable about using their products.
I also accused Chris of being a shill for Zaino, but, like you, that was BEFORE I actually tried the stuff!
Your comments all hold true, and I can tell that you are very observant based on your statements. To me, the CLARITY of Zaino is one of its best attributes. Optically perfect stuff!
Also, like you, I had to eat some humble pie and apologize to Chris. Every time I see a post like yours, it reminds me of my own skepticism about Zaino. But, like 99% of the people on this board, once I actually TRIED Zaino, I was hooked...BIG TIME!
altair: I also have a flame red Solara. The shine I've gotten from Zaino is pretty freaky: I sometimes get a bit of a start when I walk up to my car and see what appears to be a surface defect--until I realize that it's the reflection of another car 20 feet away!
anyone: 1) I know about the "directional approach" to applying Zaino (front-back on the hood, vertically on the sides). Does it matter how you wipe it off? 2) as far as 24 hours between coats--is this 24 hours after application, or removal? This may sound like nitpicking, but with the colder weather, I end up applying it in late afternoon, and removing it the following AM--the difference is significant, therefore.
Chris, That's right. I only intend to use the mixture for touch up when removing bird droppings, bugs, and small stains. Is that fine? Do I need to use water to rinse the spot after applying the mixture to touch up?
Doc, You won't ever be able to completely clean a car with just a rinse. It's easier after a fresh wax, but still, not everything comes off with just a rinse. Use a good bucket of sudsy water with your favorite wash product. I like the big wash mits if you keep them clean and don't rub real hard. I find they scratch less than wet towels. Good suds are vital, so if your wash product doesn't make good suds, or the suds break down in a couple of minutes, find something else.
Something occured to me, that some people not familiar with clay, might think clay is used on a dirty car. This is a no-no. You should properly wash your car BEFORE using clay. Clay is to get the things that washing can't, like overspray, metal spikes sticking out of paint, glass/silicone etc. This should be painfully evident, but sometimes you just can't take anything for granted, so wash before using clay!
BJbell, I have spent some time on the phone with Sal and I find him to be honest, fair and very informed. I had many of the same questions you have. Sal says he makes his own products in his own factories. His bottles and labels might not look as professional as others, but you can't let that prejudice you against the product. I believe he is working on that aspect and it might be corrected by now. If in doubt, call and talk to him directly. Obviously he is trying to sell his own product, so you have to take what he says and compare to your own experience and come to your own conclusions.
You mean kinda like shopping at an established business like Sears (just an example)? You know, a new upstart like Wal Mart/Sam's Club a few years back pops up and all but shuts them down. Zaino may turn out to be the Microsoft of polishes but it has to start somewhere. Apple was more established when Microsoft was started but look at them now.
My view is, if you stick with the same ol' same ol' business or product, you get the same ol' same ol' results in my opinion.
I have been using Zaino for right at a year and it works the same every time. It is far better than any other paint protectant I have used in my detailing experience. Also, I have never gotten better customer service. I still try other stuff if it looks promising but have yet to find anything even close to Zaino, much less better.
In honor of all those who wish to this day that they had bought Microsoft stock, try Zaino. :-) I won't benifit from your trying Zaino any more than I would have if you had bought stock in Microsoft.... but you stand to benifit.
I'm not making fun of your comments or concerns I'm just offering another point of view on the subject.
Stillwater,
I remove Zaino polish in the same manner as I apply it, directional. I also do my Z6 wipedowns the same direction as I apply/remove the polish.
You should wait 24 hours from the time the Zaino actually dries. You shouldn't have any problems if you apply in the evening, remove the next AM, and reapply that evening if that's what you're asking. When I apply a coat to my Trans Am I normally let it dry over night and remove it the next day, then Z6 and reapply Z2 and I have no problems. I have 18 coats done this way and it looks awesome.
wstang,
There's no need to rinse with water after using the mixture. I don't and I haven't seen any residue or film after using the "touch up" mixture on my car.
If you use it for removing "dried" bugs or bird poop spray the offending spot and let it soak briefly to soften the bug or poop before wiping it away with a cotton towel. Also, as you wipe, roll the towel so that instead of just wiping across the spot you actually pull the spot away from the paint as you wipe. What I mean is, if you wipe to the left with your right hand, rotate your hand as if you're turning your palm up as you wipe.
Chris Parrish nd4speed@bellsouth.net __________________________________________________
I know I'll be comdemned by the Church of Zaino to smoking a turd in h@ll for comparing Zaino to Microsoft but, oh well...:-) Hmm, maybe Sal Zaino is *really* Bill Gates?!? LOL
I just reread my post and I musta had my head up my butt...
Stillwater,
I live in Georgia so the weather is relatively mild and not much cool weather . The wait between coats is relative to temperature. If the temp is above 70 degrees you can reapply a coat after a six hour wait after removing a coat. If it is below 70 you should wait 24 hours after removing the previous coat. Sorry if I confused you. I'm looking for friday. :-)
Is it advisible to drive the car around with Z2 or Z5 applied, but yet to be removed? Sometimes I need to use the car, but at the same time would also like the Z2 or Z5 to have more time on the paint, after which I'll then wipe off the Z2 or Z5.
I would not recommend that you drive your car with Zaino still on it. By doing this you run the possibility of dirt attaching to the Zaino. When you take your white cotton cloth to remove it, you run the risk of scratches because of the dirt being rubbed into the paint.
Even when I am letting the Zaino dry, I keep my car in the garage and close the garage door to keep the dust out!
Just to clarify this to make sure I am doing it correctly. Although many posts said that they leave the coat of Z2 or Z5 dry overnight before wiping it off, this is not necessary right? One can wipe it off say after an hour, or anything when the coat is totally dry (i.e. leaves a clear layer when one wipe it off with no smearing or whatsoever).
There is no real added advantage of leaving it to dry for 24 hours right? The cure time however, has to be at least 12 hours, or 24 hours, depending on the locale.
Am I correct?
BTW, what does the 24 hour "cure" time do actually?
OK I'm sold. Am filling out order form for Zaino & buying towels at mall. What is the recommended car wash solution for a 3 week old car? Is it the Z7? Also, what is the minimum temp. in which to apply Zaino? I live in N.J.
While trying to read the instructions carefully, I discovered that at the back of the bottle of Z5 has this statement "... Z is the first product to successfully develop a synthetic superior carnauba wax in combination with advanced-chemistry glosss enhancers and protectors".
Does this mean that Z5 contains Carnauba, which all along I thought is not the case?
Buy Clay Magic -the blue bar only. It is available at Pep Boys if you have a store near you. If you have time read over previous postings. There was also an old wax topic in the smart shopper conference if you want to go back that far. Also call Sal and he can e-mail you more directions. He seems to be a very nice guy.
Both Clay Magic (blue) and Erazer will do a great job. Just be sure to use plenty of liquid to lube the surface, either the recommended spray that is available or comes with each product, or the Zaino wash if using that brand of polish, although if you wash after using clay anyway, the sprays will work also, you can use Meguiars Quick Detailer.
ruski, Carnauba is a natural form of wax. If "synthetic" is used with it, I do not comprehend what that is supposed to mean. A man-created, and yet natural carnauba?
My car is black and everything shows on this finish. For a really good wax job (usually in the Spring), I hand wash the car with any dishwashing liquid & water to clean off dirt, grease and old wax. I dry the car and then apply fresh wax. Collinite is my wax of choice (it's made in the town where I grew up!). Let the Collinite dry well, rub it off, then buff. Between waxes, I hand wash the car with Murphy's Oil Soap & water and rinse well. It's extremely mild and smells great so I even use it on the interior. Lots of folks are surprised that I use the oil soap. Anyone else use it to wash their car?
I haven't used it on my car, but I use Murphy's to wash dang near everything else in my home. Great stuff, probably because it is mild.
The weather is GEORGEOUS hear today, and hopefully will be tomorrow. I'm gonna Zaino my vehicles (there is no way to get into a body shop until summer to have the hail damage fixed, anyway) and I'll give ONE MORE test of the magic spot-free wand. I'll let y'all know how everything goes.
wstang, as you posted, it says "... Z is the first product to successfully develop a synthetic superior carnauba wax in combination ". There is no wor "natural" there, right? It says "synthetic carnauba". Which means it is not made from the stuff they pick in the trees, but is derived from polymers in a lab.
My minivan is three-weeks old, too, and I called Sal Zaino to talk to him about how to use his products. He told me to use Dawn dishwashing liquid the first time I wash the minivan, because this will do a thorough cleaning that will strip away oils and grease as well as any waxes or polishes the dealer may have rubbed (and scratched) into my van's finish. In future washings, Sal said to use the Zaino car wash product, except that Dawn should be used again whenever I want to do a thorough cleaning that will strip away oils, grease, waxes, polishes, etc.
I was refering to the market share and size/establishment...but I'm sure you knew that. :-)
wstang,
As Rob said, the risk of scratches is huge if you drive with polish on the car. I don't recommend it.
As for dry time, Zaino polish is usually dry in 30 to 75 minutes according to the temp and humidity. If it wipes away clear there's no reason to leave it on longer. I leave mine on overnight for convenience mostly. I apply a coat and leave, then the next day I wipe away and I'm done. Also, I have NO patience so waiting for the hour or so for it to dry is like polish water torture to me. :-)
The cure time is the time it takes for all the suspension agents in Zaino to evaporate and for the good stuff to "set up" for lack of a better term. According to Sal Zaino the cure time is about 6 hours if above 70 degrees and 24 hours if below 70 degrees for optimum results.
As for the "carnauba" thing on the Zaino label, I immediately called Sal when I saw that on my bottle of Z5 and he said that the guy who made up the first batch of labels made that term up. I guess the guy thought that would be a good sales pitch since "carnauba" is so (undeservingly) popular with people. I was assured that there was no carnauba in the Z5. :-)
slingoized,
Both Erazer and Clay Magic are good products. I prefer the tack and consistency of Erazer material better personally. As for the minimum temp for applying Zaino, I'd say that around 50 degrees would be about it. Don't quote me on this but I know from my painting background that most anything that dries by evaporation *greatly* slows down at temps below 50 degrees. You might call Sal and get more specific info for his polish.
I also recommed the Dawn wash for the pre-Z1 or pre-clay wash. It works great for removing wax, oil, and grease that would normally end up in your clay material.
DropTop90, re:Murphy Oil Soap... "Anyone else use it to wash their car?"
Uhhhhhh, no. I stay away from oils. If you like Collinite you'd love Zaino, especialy on black. I have now tried both and Zaino still comes out on top. Also, the Zaino car wash is simply awesome. Loads of suds and it leaves my car looking freshly polished.
Interesting, today at work I told a friend who is a German auto enthusiast (e.g., Turbo Carrera Porsche, Mercedes, etc.) who thinks he is an expert on car care about Zaino. I told him to come down in the building garage and take a look. He grudgingly came along, kind of to humor me, I think. Anyway, when we get down to the parking garage and I tell him how shiny it is, he says "Uh huh". We get right up to the car and he freezes and says real slowly, "Wow .. that is shiny! What did you clean that with?". The Zaino shine is truly awesome! Dave
This is a kind of which is worse question. I am a college student and don't have access to a good old hose, so I have three options: 1. go to a car wash 2. only wash the car every month when I go home and have access to a hose or 3. use a self service car wash. Personally, I have chosen option 3. The only downside with this option is that using a bucket and sponge is prohibited and I have to use their foaming brush. However, the brush is very very soft and it suds up a lot and I make sure to clean it out with high pressure water before using it on my car. Have I chosen the best option availabloe to me? I have also placed my order for Zaino and am wondering is Zaino will still show the same durability even though I will be washing it at a self serve car wash 3 out of 4 times a month. Thanks in advance for everyones input.
Just picked up a 1999 Black Sienna Van... in direct sunlight, I can see swirls... what is the best treatment to eliminate... short of having someone buff them out. (I use Zaino products Z1/Z2/Z6 on my Acura with great results... no swirls, etc.) Thanks in advance.
The obvious answer is to give z-5 a try. If you like the results of Zaino z-2 on your Acura, I doubt you will be disappointed with z-5!
Last weekend I met up with a fellow 3rd gen Rx-7 owner to shoot the breeze about our cars. His was Red, mine is Silver. His car looked good. The paint was in very good shape for a 93, nice and shiny. Asked him what he uses...he said Meguiars Gold Class wax. I have also used the Gold Class and it does give a decent shine. Then he looked at my car, and he really liked how good the paint looked. Then he asked me if I saw a difference between his paint and mine. I didn't really know what he was getting at. Then he pointed it out to me. In the bright sunshine of that day, you could really see substantial swirl marks in his paint, very pronounced. Then we looked at my hood, at every possible angle. NO SWIRL MARKS WHATSOEVER!
Then I find out that he had just waxed his car with the Gold Class 5 days earlier! And that he routinely waxes it every 3 weeks!
To make a long story short, I am sure that he has ordered his supply of Zaino products by now!
It was impressive to get a side by side comparison to see the difference in swirl marks. And I only use Z-2! Z-5 should do an even better job at removing heavy swirls.
Now I have 3 coats of Z5 and 2 coats of Z2. The shine is great. The reflection is deepy and glossy.
However, at a certain angle, some reflections (say of a column pillar) edges are not truly straight. It is sort of wavy (not very wavy, but those with small tooths like a saw). I hope you get what I mean. Is this normal? I am not sure if it was like that before.
But I can swear that I have not seen such a shine and glossy deep look before on my car. The Mother's 3 Phase System was no match for Zaino.
BTW, I know that the duration between each coat should be 6 hours if temperature is above 70 degrees and 24 hours if temperature if below 70 hours. Do we have to be so exact? I mean, will say 18 - 23 hours be OK? And what would be the problem or effect if one does not follow this instruction? Anything disastrous?
Just wanted to know. I did follow the instructions given by Sal and the experts here faithfully. *8)
Now I have 3 coats of Z5 and 2 coats of Z2. The shine is great. The reflection is deepy and glossy.
However, at a certain angle, some reflections (say of a column pillar) edges are not truly straight. It is sort of wavy (not very wavy, but those with small tooths like a saw). I hope you get what I mean. Is this normal? I am not sure if it was like that before.
But I can swear that I have not seen such a shine and glossy deep look before on my car. The Mother's 3 Phase System was no match for Zaino.
BTW, I know that the duration between each coat should be 6 hours if temperature is above 70 degrees and 24 hours if temperature if below 70 hours. Do we have to be so exact? I mean, will say 18 - 23 hours be OK? And what would be the problem or effect if one does not follow this instruction? Anything disastrous?
Just wanted to know. I did follow the instructions given by Sal and the experts here faithfully. *8)
I would not use the foaming "brush" at the car wash. I only use these things on our farm truck with paint that was lost to the world long ago! Either find another wash where you can use a bucket/your own wash mitt (I don't recommend sponges for washing...use a big furry mitt) or go to the one you mention late at night when the attendant is not there and it's not busy (assuming you live in an area where you won't get shot that late!) In a perfect world nobody would ever have to use full service car washes, but in winter climates or if you have no other choice, it's better to use a GOOD full service wash than leave things like salt, and polutants on your paint, especially bird droppings and acid rain. You can use one of these, then take the car home, put a fresh coat of wax on and if you start with a good coat, you should do no or extremely little damage. Here is a tip, for those times when you need a clean car and can't do it right, and have decided to use full service, if the dirt is major, then stop by a wand type wash first, and get the worst off, then drive to the full service and let them get the rest.
wstang, Don't get lost in the "details" so much! 6 hours, 24 hours, etc etc. It's just waxing! if you don't have 6 hours or 24 hours, then go ahead and put another coat on or wipe off the product. The main thing with Zaino is to make sure you don't get smearing before you wipe it off. It's not necessary to read thermometers and use timers. The processes mentioned are guidelines and should not control your life! (note smile/wink faces, this is a fun note, not critisism etc). Also, don't worry about the double posting, we are so used to double clicking the mouse that it's easy to do it to the "post" button on this list. Many other people have done the same thing including me.
Droptop90, You have found out,like I have, that Collinite is an exceptional product with crystal clear shine and better than average durability. I find one easy coat is all I need to get a shine that amazes people who see my 10 year old SHO. Plus one can has lasted me more than five years doing several cars, several times a year. Talk about economical use! I also let people at various conventions and car shows use my Collinite and they are always thrilled at the results!
Regarding those reflections that you see in the Zaino'ed car not being "straight", I am sure that it has something to do with the imperfection in either the paint, or more likely in the body of the car itself.
One thing I have noticed with Zaino is that it gives such a deep wet shine with awesome reflections, that it also will really show any imperfections that may exist in the paint or body of the car.
Also remember that the body's of our cars are not perfectly straight, but contoured and rounded. Thus you will not get a perfect reflection off every surface. Instead, you will get a somewhat distorted reflection. The very fact that you noticed this tells me that Zaino is really giving you fantastic reflections.
Remember when orange peel (texture of the paint surface) was discussed in this forum? Well, that's probably what you're describing as the "saw blade teeth" in the edges of the reflections. An uneven surface will reflect light in different dirrections naturally.
The only way to eliminate orange peel is to colorsand and buff the paint and make it glass smooth so that the light reflects evenly off of the surface. I wouldn't recommend doing this on a factory paint job or even an average repaint. It is too easy to remove too much paint when doing this and then the only option is to repaint.
As for the wait between coats of Zaino, not waiting the full 6 or 12 hours will not result in disaster, you just won't get *optimal* results.
Based on my experiences with Zaino, it is more critical (again for *optimal* results) to wait the full 24 hours after removing a coat of Z5 before applying another when trying to fill swirls than it is to wait 24 hours between coats of Z2 when looking for gloss. The Z5 will eventually fill the swirls even if you push it a little but it takes me less coats of Z5 if I wait the full 24 hours. I don't have a clue why this is (I'm not a chemist) but it has proven time and again to be true. I suspect that the wait is just as important with Z2 as well but there's not a visible guage (swirls being filled by fewer coats of Z5 is pretty obvious) to make it as apparent.
I'm not saying to set your alarm clock to know when to apply the next coat, just saying that if there wasn't a performance gain to be had by waiting I wouldn't think Sal Zaino would recommend it. He's a pretty sharp cookie, in my opinion.
You wrote "As for the wait between coats of Zaino, not waiting the full 6 or 12 hours will not result in disaster, you just won't get *optimal* results."
Care to elaborate? How optimal is optimal? How do I know if I have the *optimal* result? Do let me know so that I can know if my hard work has paid off. Rather, I want to make sure I have the optimal results! *8)
I am not sure if my paint has "orange peel". It sure doesn't appear to be existent or obvious to me previously. Or perhaps I was not looking at it as detailedly as I do now. Is "orange peel" serious, and how do I ascertain if the paint is suffering from it? I am really a novice in this. The paint is the original when I bought thr car from the factory. Now, when is it that even a factory can't do a proper paint job? Mine is a Toyota, and from what I can see, most Toyotas (at least the latter ones), are quite well painted.
However, if I look at the paint from certain angles, then the reflection is like glass. It is only perhaps that when you look at 90 degrees perpendicular os so to the paint surface, then you will see this "saw blade teeth" thing, but the teeth is pretty small. Do you still think it is "orange peel"?
No, I can't elaborate. Like I said, I'm not a chemist and I don't have the (very expensive) test equipment that would be required to qualify the exact amount of performance reduction that will result if you don't follow the polish manufacturer's results. All I can say is, they wouldn't recommend the wait if it didn't make any difference. If you want to get the best results for your efforts simply wait the recommended amount of time.
*ALL* cars have orange peel from the factory and it's not something that causes the paint to suffer. You are picking your poor paint to death, man. The texture of the paint has not changed since applying Zaino, you're just looking at it in more detail, in my opinion. Orange peel *never* developes after paint is dry so it *HAD* to be there before.
Just chill and enjoy the "REFLECTIONS". :-)
Al,
I always recommend claying a new car before applying the initial coating of any paint protectant, whether you use Zaino or a no name paste wax.
Go to http://www.erazer.com and click on the links on the left hand side of the main page to see why I recommend this (the side effects). As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words! :-) I also highly recomend the Erazer cleaning material. It is one of the best clay products I have used.
If you wash with Dawn you'll remove any grease/wax/oil that may be on your paint. If it has been more than three weeks to a month since your car was waxed you probably don't have much, if any, protection left anyway. This is based on my experience with the waxes I have used over the years.
Just want to say that after Chris recommended clay, and I clayed my 10 month old Acura, I simply couldn't believe the difference in smoothness of the finish. DO IT.
I need some advice for removing pen ink from my leather seats. I have cream colored leather seats in my Avalon. Somehow, someone was using the passenger seat for a desk and got ballpoint ink on the leather. How do I remove the ink without ruining, discoloring the seats?
No...haven't ordered Zaino,yet, but have created a website about my '98 Chrysler Sebring JXi Convertible (& our cats). Got interested in this when I saw Chris, Rob, and Bob forming one. It is not perfect, but please check it out: www.homestead.com/convertiblencats
I have another ? about Zaino...Chris, I think you said you're in Atlanta (I've lived there) and know that in the summer the humidity is high. Well, I'm in SE TX right now where the humidity is ALWAYS very high. I don't think I have time to wait forever for Zaino to dry before wiping off. How long, if anyone lives in high humidity, does the polish take to dry? Thanks a lot.
About the clay mentioned by "aljee", I ordered some Erazer clay and it made a tremendous difference in the car's look. Plus, it really is easy to use. No hard scrubbing or wiping. Use it! You'll be amazed.
I have a quick question that is not about waxes or is it? What's the best way and products to clean and protect chrome wheels? Also, I have always used AmourAll(sp?) to dress my tires. Does anyone have a product they use which makes the tires look better?
graphicguy, I once set a new tire on my SHO's back seat and the oils from the tire made exact prints of the tread and sidewall on my leather! I went to every pro upholstery shop in my area and we put on some very scary stuff to try to get it out. Nothing made any improvement. I then went back to my trusted favorite, Lexol. I used the cleaner and then conditioner like normal about every 2-3 months. Still the tread pattern was there, but at some point about 2 years later, I noticed that it was gone! The change was so gradual that I didn't see it till after it was all gone. No trace of the tire tread. Now, it might have been helped by some of the harsh cleaners we tried, but I have to believe that proper cleaning and conditioning with the two-step Lexol system made the difference. I have been so impressed with Lexol that it was the first product I bought for my car care retail business a couple of years later. If you can't find it locally (Tandy Leather stores carry it and many other stores do now), I sell it at a discount. E-mail me privately for details.
Comments
The "P & S" sounds familiar. What does P & S stand for. I may have tried it but I can't remember.
markbuck,
Liquid Glass and Finish First seem identical in performance in my experience. They both left swirls on the cars I used them on even though I done the whole 100% cotton toweling thing. This tells me that they contain abrasives. Also they weren't very stable, meaning that it seemed like each coat stripped the previous coat, thus no stacking of coats like I get with Zaino.
This is also a downfall of carnauba waxes. Multiple coats of carnauba wax do not seem to enhance looks at all. In fact, one coat of carnauba wax will actually *slightly* reduce the gloss of a freshly polished paint finish. Even Meguiars will tell you this. Lots of show car guys use Meguiars #7 fr a deep shine. The downside is absolutely ZERO protection.
I think that you'd be way ahead to just buy Zaino Z1 and Z2 (or Z5). Zaino polish will come the closest to meeting your twice a year requirement and will most definitely provide more protection for the money/time than ANY wax I have used in my 11+ years of detailing. Just my .02.
doc7,
If you use a piece of 100% cotton towel and a good soap like Zaino Z7 the nap of the cotton and the lubricity of the soap will minimize the chance of getting scratches when you wash away the dust. There's always a chance of scratches but the above mentioned recommendations will definitely lessen the chance.
The contaminants that are removed by clay kinda embed themselves into the surface of the clay. It is recommended that you refold and knead the clay regularly while doing the clay scrub to keep a fresh portion of the clay against the paint. Also, when the clay bar turns dark it should be replaced. Eventually you'd probably get some tiny scratches from embedded contaminants but it's unlikely as long as you monitor the condition of the clay and discard it when it gets dirty (turns dark).
As long as you Dawn wash after claying it is fine to use the lube that came with it. :-)
wstang,
If there is dirt on the car it should be washed instead of touched up with Z7 and water. I only use the mixture to remove fresh bugs from the front of my car after driving it on a trip. If the bugs have a chance to dry I do a wash instead of using the touch up mixture that I keep in the car.
cdg19,
Zaino polish blows Meguiars (any formula or part number, I've used them all including Gold Class, Medallion and #26) out of the water in looks and durability. You'll never get Zaino's deep and clear of a shine with ANY carnauba wax, period. I have yet to use a wax that will last longer than three weeks with regular washes (at least twice a week). Also, I know for a fact that Zaino will stand up to a good Dawn wash and still bead water very well and look excellent. I can't name a wax that can do the same. Just speaking from my experience.
dsomers,
Hate to say it but.... I TOLD YOU SOOOOO! ;-)
On another note... I also done some secret testing and confirmed what I suspected. :-)
Chris Parrish
nd4speed@bellsouth.net
I drove it straight home - 2 miles - parked it in the drive and went to work.
I clayed it - almost nothing was picked up by the clay (a new bar). I washed with Z-7. I applied Z-1, let it dry, applied Z-2, let it dry. Removed the Z-2 and then a quick dose of Z-6.
I started at 5pm and finished by 7pm - and with all that, I spent a lot of time waiting for the drying to finish between steps. That gave me time to read the owners manual in detail.
Zaino is far easier to use than any wax and I like the results better. Tomorrow, I'll apply the second coat of Z-2.
Now that I've prepped the car - tomorrow will be a lot more fun **driving** it!
I also accused Chris of being a shill for Zaino, but, like you, that was BEFORE I actually tried the stuff!
Your comments all hold true, and I can tell that you are very observant based on your statements. To me, the CLARITY of Zaino is one of its best attributes. Optically perfect stuff!
Also, like you, I had to eat some humble pie and apologize to Chris. Every time I see a post like yours, it reminds me of my own skepticism about Zaino. But, like 99% of the people on this board, once I actually TRIED Zaino, I was hooked...BIG TIME!
Great to hear your comments.
Rob
I also have a flame red Solara. The shine I've gotten from Zaino is pretty freaky: I sometimes get a bit of a start when I walk up to my car and see what appears to be a surface defect--until I realize that it's the reflection of another car 20 feet away!
anyone:
1) I know about the "directional approach" to applying Zaino (front-back on the hood, vertically on the sides). Does it matter how you wipe it off?
2) as far as 24 hours between coats--is this 24 hours after application, or removal? This may sound like nitpicking, but with the colder weather, I end up applying it in late afternoon, and removing it the following AM--the difference is significant, therefore.
That's right. I only intend to use the mixture for touch up when removing bird droppings, bugs, and small stains. Is that fine?
Do I need to use water to rinse the spot after applying the mixture to touch up?
You won't ever be able to completely clean a car with just a rinse. It's easier after a fresh wax, but still, not everything comes off with just a rinse.
Use a good bucket of sudsy water with your favorite wash product. I like the big wash mits if you keep them clean and don't rub real hard. I find they scratch less than wet towels. Good suds are vital, so if your wash product doesn't make good suds, or the suds break down in a couple of minutes, find something else.
Something occured to me, that some people not familiar with clay, might think clay is used on a dirty car. This is a no-no. You should properly wash your car BEFORE using clay. Clay is to get the things that washing can't, like overspray, metal spikes sticking out of paint, glass/silicone etc.
This should be painfully evident, but sometimes you just can't take anything for granted, so wash before using clay!
BJbell,
I have spent some time on the phone with Sal and I find him to be honest, fair and very informed. I had many of the same questions you have. Sal says he makes his own products in his own factories. His bottles and labels might not look as professional as others, but you can't let that prejudice you against the product. I believe he is working on that aspect and it might be corrected by now. If in doubt, call and talk to him directly. Obviously he is trying to sell his own product, so you have to take what he says and compare to your own experience and come to your own conclusions.
Don
You mean kinda like shopping at an established business like Sears (just an example)? You know, a new upstart like Wal Mart/Sam's Club a few years back pops up and all but shuts them down. Zaino may turn out to be the Microsoft of polishes but it has to start somewhere. Apple was more established when Microsoft was started but look at them now.
My view is, if you stick with the same ol' same ol' business or product, you get the same ol' same ol' results in my opinion.
I have been using Zaino for right at a year and it works the same every time. It is far better than any other paint protectant I have used in my detailing experience. Also, I have never gotten better customer service. I still try other stuff if it looks promising but have yet to find anything even close to Zaino, much less better.
In honor of all those who wish to this day that they had bought Microsoft stock, try Zaino. :-) I won't benifit from your trying Zaino any more than I would have if you had bought stock in Microsoft.... but you stand to benifit.
I'm not making fun of your comments or concerns I'm just offering another point of view on the subject.
Stillwater,
I remove Zaino polish in the same manner as I apply it, directional. I also do my Z6 wipedowns the same direction as I apply/remove the polish.
You should wait 24 hours from the time the Zaino actually dries. You shouldn't have any problems if you apply in the evening, remove the next AM, and reapply that evening if that's what you're asking. When I apply a coat to my Trans Am I normally let it dry over night and remove it the next day, then Z6 and reapply Z2 and I have no problems. I have 18 coats done this way and it looks awesome.
wstang,
There's no need to rinse with water after using the mixture. I don't and I haven't seen any residue or film after using the "touch up" mixture on my car.
If you use it for removing "dried" bugs or bird poop spray the offending spot and let it soak briefly to soften the bug or poop before wiping it away with a cotton towel. Also, as you wipe, roll the towel so that instead of just wiping across the spot you actually pull the spot away from the paint as you wipe. What I mean is, if you wipe to the left with your right hand, rotate your hand as if you're turning your palm up as you wipe.
Chris Parrish
nd4speed@bellsouth.net
__________________________________________________
I know I'll be comdemned by the Church of Zaino to smoking a turd in h@ll for comparing Zaino to Microsoft but, oh well...:-) Hmm, maybe Sal Zaino is *really* Bill Gates?!? LOL
Stillwater,
I live in Georgia so the weather is relatively mild and not much cool weather . The wait between coats is relative to temperature. If the temp is above 70 degrees you can reapply a coat after a six hour wait after removing a coat. If it is below 70 you should wait 24 hours after removing the previous coat. Sorry if I confused you. I'm looking for friday. :-)
CP
"Zaino may turn out to be the Microsoft of polishes but it has to start somewhere."
Er, you mean that he'll succeed in selling a shoddy product through clever marketing, fraud, and strongarm tactics? Don't think so.
Any problems to that?
I would not recommend that you drive your car with Zaino still on it. By doing this you run the possibility of dirt attaching to the Zaino. When you take your white cotton cloth to remove it, you run the risk of scratches because of the dirt being rubbed into the paint.
Even when I am letting the Zaino dry, I keep my car in the garage and close the garage door to keep the dust out!
Rob
There is no real added advantage of leaving it to dry for 24 hours right? The cure time however, has to be at least 12 hours, or 24 hours, depending on the locale.
Am I correct?
BTW, what does the 24 hour "cure" time do actually?
Does this mean that Z5 contains Carnauba, which all along I thought is not the case?
Both Clay Magic (blue) and Erazer will do a great job. Just be sure to use plenty of liquid to lube the surface, either the recommended spray that is available or comes with each product, or the Zaino wash if using that brand of polish, although if you wash after using clay anyway, the sprays will work also, you can use Meguiars Quick Detailer.
Don
Carnauba is a natural form of wax. If "synthetic" is used with it, I do not comprehend what that is supposed to mean. A man-created, and yet natural carnauba?
The weather is GEORGEOUS hear today, and hopefully will be tomorrow. I'm gonna Zaino my vehicles (there is no way to get into a body shop until summer to have the hail damage fixed, anyway) and I'll give ONE MORE test of the magic spot-free wand. I'll let y'all know how everything goes.
Bri
College Station, TX
I was refering to the market share and size/establishment...but I'm sure you knew that. :-)
wstang,
As Rob said, the risk of scratches is huge if you drive with polish on the car. I don't recommend it.
As for dry time, Zaino polish is usually dry in 30 to 75 minutes according to the temp and humidity. If it wipes away clear there's no reason to leave it on longer. I leave mine on overnight for convenience mostly. I apply a coat and leave, then the next day I wipe away and I'm done. Also, I have NO patience so waiting for the hour or so for it to dry is like polish water torture to me. :-)
The cure time is the time it takes for all the suspension agents in Zaino to evaporate and for the good stuff to "set up" for lack of a better term. According to Sal Zaino the cure time is about 6 hours if above 70 degrees and 24 hours if below 70 degrees for optimum results.
As for the "carnauba" thing on the Zaino label, I immediately called Sal when I saw that on my bottle of Z5 and he said that the guy who made up the first batch of labels made that term up. I guess the guy thought that would be a good sales pitch since "carnauba" is so (undeservingly) popular with people. I was assured that there was no carnauba in the Z5. :-)
slingoized,
Both Erazer and Clay Magic are good products. I prefer the tack and consistency of Erazer material better personally. As for the minimum temp for applying Zaino, I'd say that around 50 degrees would be about it. Don't quote me on this but I know from my painting background that most anything that dries by evaporation *greatly* slows down at temps below 50 degrees. You might call Sal and get more specific info for his polish.
I also recommed the Dawn wash for the pre-Z1 or pre-clay wash. It works great for removing wax, oil, and grease that would normally end up in your clay material.
DropTop90,
re:Murphy Oil Soap...
"Anyone else use it to wash their car?"
Uhhhhhh, no. I stay away from oils. If you like Collinite you'd love Zaino, especialy on black. I have now tried both and Zaino still comes out on top. Also, the Zaino car wash is simply awesome. Loads of suds and it leaves my car looking freshly polished.
Chris Parrish
nd4speed@bellsouth.net
Dave
(I use Zaino products Z1/Z2/Z6 on my Acura with great results... no swirls, etc.)
Thanks in advance.
The obvious answer is to give z-5 a try. If you like the results of Zaino z-2 on your Acura, I doubt you will be disappointed with z-5!
Last weekend I met up with a fellow 3rd gen Rx-7 owner to shoot the breeze about our cars. His was Red, mine is Silver. His car looked good. The paint was in very good shape for a 93, nice and shiny. Asked him what he uses...he said Meguiars Gold Class wax. I have also used the Gold Class and it does give a decent shine. Then he looked at my car, and he really liked how good the paint looked. Then he asked me if I saw a difference between his paint and mine. I didn't really know what he was getting at. Then he pointed it out to me. In the bright sunshine of that day, you could really see substantial swirl marks in his paint, very pronounced. Then we looked at my hood, at every possible angle. NO SWIRL MARKS WHATSOEVER!
Then I find out that he had just waxed his car with the Gold Class 5 days earlier! And that he routinely waxes it every 3 weeks!
To make a long story short, I am sure that he has ordered his supply of Zaino products by now!
It was impressive to get a side by side comparison to see the difference in swirl marks. And I only use Z-2! Z-5 should do an even better job at removing heavy swirls.
Rob
However, at a certain angle, some reflections (say of a column pillar) edges are not truly straight. It is sort of wavy (not very wavy, but those with small tooths like a saw). I hope you get what I mean. Is this normal? I am not sure if it was like that before.
But I can swear that I have not seen such a shine and glossy deep look before on my car. The Mother's 3 Phase System was no match for Zaino.
BTW, I know that the duration between each coat should be 6 hours if temperature is above 70 degrees and 24 hours if temperature if below 70 hours. Do we have to be so exact? I mean, will say 18 - 23 hours be OK? And what would be the problem or effect if one does not follow this instruction? Anything disastrous?
Just wanted to know. I did follow the instructions given by Sal and the experts here faithfully. *8)
Thanks.
However, at a certain angle, some reflections (say of a column pillar) edges are not truly straight. It is sort of wavy (not very wavy, but those with small tooths like a saw). I hope you get what I mean. Is this normal? I am not sure if it was like that before.
But I can swear that I have not seen such a shine and glossy deep look before on my car. The Mother's 3 Phase System was no match for Zaino.
BTW, I know that the duration between each coat should be 6 hours if temperature is above 70 degrees and 24 hours if temperature if below 70 hours. Do we have to be so exact? I mean, will say 18 - 23 hours be OK? And what would be the problem or effect if one does not follow this instruction? Anything disastrous?
Just wanted to know. I did follow the instructions given by Sal and the experts here faithfully. *8)
Thanks.
I would not use the foaming "brush" at the car wash. I only use these things on our farm truck with paint that was lost to the world long ago!
Either find another wash where you can use a bucket/your own wash mitt (I don't recommend sponges for washing...use a big furry mitt) or go to the one you mention late at night when the attendant is not there and it's not busy (assuming you live in an area where you won't get shot that late!)
In a perfect world nobody would ever have to use full service car washes, but in winter climates or if you have no other choice, it's better to use a GOOD full service wash than leave things like salt, and polutants on your paint, especially bird droppings and acid rain. You can use one of these, then take the car home, put a fresh coat of wax on and if you start with a good coat, you should do no or extremely little damage. Here is a tip, for those times when you need a clean car and can't do it right, and have decided to use full service, if the dirt is major, then stop by a wand type wash first, and get the worst off, then drive to the full service and let them get the rest.
wstang,
Don't get lost in the "details" so much!
6 hours, 24 hours, etc etc. It's just waxing! if you don't have 6 hours or 24 hours, then go ahead and put another coat on or wipe off the product. The main thing with Zaino is to make sure you don't get smearing before you wipe it off. It's not necessary to read thermometers and use timers. The processes mentioned are guidelines and should not control your life!
Also, don't worry about the double posting, we are so used to double clicking the mouse that it's easy to do it to the "post" button on this list. Many other people have done the same thing including me.
Droptop90,
You have found out,like I have, that Collinite is an exceptional product with crystal clear shine and better than average durability. I find one easy coat is all I need to get a shine that amazes people who see my 10 year old SHO. Plus one can has lasted me more than five years doing several cars, several times a year. Talk about economical use! I also let people at various conventions and car shows use my Collinite and they are always thrilled at the results!
Don
Regarding those reflections that you see in the Zaino'ed car not being "straight", I am sure that it has something to do with the imperfection in either the paint, or more likely in the body of the car itself.
One thing I have noticed with Zaino is that it gives such a deep wet shine with awesome reflections, that it also will really show any imperfections that may exist in the paint or body of the car.
Also remember that the body's of our cars are not perfectly straight, but contoured and rounded. Thus you will not get a perfect reflection off every surface. Instead, you will get a somewhat distorted reflection. The very fact that you noticed this tells me that Zaino is really giving you fantastic reflections.
Rob
The only way to eliminate orange peel is to colorsand and buff the paint and make it glass smooth so that the light reflects evenly off of the surface. I wouldn't recommend doing this on a factory paint job or even an average repaint. It is too easy to remove too much paint when doing this and then the only option is to repaint.
As for the wait between coats of Zaino, not waiting the full 6 or 12 hours will not result in disaster, you just won't get *optimal* results.
Based on my experiences with Zaino, it is more critical (again for *optimal* results) to wait the full 24 hours after removing a coat of Z5 before applying another when trying to fill swirls than it is to wait 24 hours between coats of Z2 when looking for gloss. The Z5 will eventually fill the swirls even if you push it a little but it takes me less coats of Z5 if I wait the full 24 hours. I don't have a clue why this is (I'm not a chemist) but it has proven time and again to be true. I suspect that the wait is just as important with Z2 as well but there's not a visible guage (swirls being filled by fewer coats of Z5 is pretty obvious) to make it as apparent.
I'm not saying to set your alarm clock to know when to apply the next coat, just saying that if there wasn't a performance gain to be had by waiting I wouldn't think Sal Zaino would recommend it. He's a pretty sharp cookie, in my opinion.
Chris Parrish
nd4speed@bellsouth.net
You wrote "As for the wait between coats of Zaino, not waiting the full 6 or 12 hours will not result in disaster, you just won't get *optimal* results."
Care to elaborate? How optimal is optimal? How do I know if I have the *optimal* result? Do let me know so that I can know if my hard work has paid off. Rather, I want to make sure I have the optimal results! *8)
Thanks.
I am not sure if my paint has "orange peel". It sure doesn't appear to be existent or obvious to me previously. Or perhaps I was not looking at it as detailedly as I do now. Is "orange peel" serious, and how do I ascertain if the paint is suffering from it? I am really a novice in this.
The paint is the original when I bought thr car from the factory. Now, when is it that even a factory can't do a proper paint job? Mine is a Toyota, and from what I can see, most Toyotas (at least the latter ones), are quite well painted.
However, if I look at the paint from certain angles, then the reflection is like glass. It is only perhaps that when you look at 90 degrees perpendicular os so to the paint surface, then you will see this "saw blade teeth" thing, but the teeth is pretty small. Do you still think it is "orange peel"?
Thanks.
I will be ordering my Zaino (Z1,Z1,Z6) very soon.
Do I reALLY need to *clay* this NEW caR (sUBARU 99 wAGON)
iF i SKIP THIS step, what are the side effects...
If I wash the car next week with Dawn, will I lose any protection, if I don't have my Zaino products yet....?
thanks in advance
Al
No, I can't elaborate. Like I said, I'm not a chemist and I don't have the (very expensive) test equipment that would be required to qualify the exact amount of performance reduction that will result if you don't follow the polish manufacturer's results. All I can say is, they wouldn't recommend the wait if it didn't make any difference. If you want to get the best results for your efforts simply wait the recommended amount of time.
*ALL* cars have orange peel from the factory and it's not something that causes the paint to suffer. You are picking your poor paint to death, man. The texture of the paint has not changed since applying Zaino, you're just looking at it in more detail, in my opinion. Orange peel *never* developes after paint is dry so it *HAD* to be there before.
Just chill and enjoy the "REFLECTIONS". :-)
Al,
I always recommend claying a new car before applying the initial coating of any paint protectant, whether you use Zaino or a no name paste wax.
Go to http://www.erazer.com and click on the links on the left hand side of the main page to see why I recommend this (the side effects). As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words! :-) I also highly recomend the Erazer cleaning material. It is one of the best clay products I have used.
If you wash with Dawn you'll remove any grease/wax/oil that may be on your paint. If it has been more than three weeks to a month since your car was waxed you probably don't have much, if any, protection left anyway. This is based on my experience with the waxes I have used over the years.
Chris Parrish
nd4speed@bellsouth.net
I should have typed... "manufacturer's recommendations"... not "manufacturer's results".
I think Monday is bearing down on me. ;-)
You know who I am...
thx for your reply to my msg #294.
I went to the http://www.erazer.com site, and they also mention their polish called *acrylic paint polish*.
Do you have any comments about this product.. Seems to be alot less steps than Zaino...?
thanks,
AL
Anyone?
thanks!
www.homestead.com/convertiblencats
I have another ? about Zaino...Chris, I think you said you're in Atlanta (I've lived there) and know that in the summer the humidity is high. Well, I'm in SE TX right now where the humidity is ALWAYS very high. I don't think I have time to wait forever for Zaino to dry before wiping off. How long, if anyone lives in high humidity, does the polish take to dry? Thanks a lot.
About the clay mentioned by "aljee", I ordered some Erazer clay and it made a tremendous difference in the car's look. Plus, it really is easy to use. No hard scrubbing or wiping. Use it! You'll be amazed.
Thanks.
I once set a new tire on my SHO's back seat and the oils from the tire made exact prints of the tread and sidewall on my leather!
I went to every pro upholstery shop in my area and we put on some very scary stuff to try to get it out. Nothing made any improvement.
I then went back to my trusted favorite, Lexol. I used the cleaner and then conditioner like normal about every 2-3 months. Still the tread pattern was there, but at some point about 2 years later, I noticed that it was gone! The change was so gradual that I didn't see it till after it was all gone. No trace of the tire tread.
Now, it might have been helped by some of the harsh cleaners we tried, but I have to believe that proper cleaning and conditioning with the two-step Lexol system made the difference. I have been so impressed with Lexol that it was the first product I bought for my car care retail business a couple of years later. If you can't find it locally (Tandy Leather stores carry it and many other stores do now), I sell it at a discount. E-mail me privately for details.
Don