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Waxes and Polishes, Part II

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Comments

  • fastdriverfastdriver Member Posts: 2,273
    graphicguy-

    SEE! I told you that you'd get the hang of it! LOL.... Glad that everything worked out okay. As for the shine......... you "ain't seen nuthin" yet! It gets wetter looking! How long will it last? What's that commercial...... it keeps going and going and going............... ;-)

    fastdriver
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,120
    I saw some of the cars that have been in your family from your WEB site. Many very stylish cars.

    45 minutes to Z2? I must work slow. Can you z6/Z2 your car without washing (given the car is not very dirty)? I tend to do everything at once. When I decide to detail, I go all out. I vinylex all rubber plastic molding (don't do the inside dash or plastic as I like the "matte" look), wash wax, dress the tires (current favorite is Meguiars Endurance), polish the glass, treat the leather portions of the interior, vacuum and scotchgard the carpets. I do this mainly in the fall since I don't get much of a chance to do a complete detail in the winter.

    Wish I had a digital camera so you could see how my car looks now.

    Bummer about your 300M problems. It's a fine car. I had a similar problem with a BMW 3 series a few years ago. They were smug and condecending. Long story, but they ended up paying me a lot of diagnotic money back when they wouldn't 'fess 'up to their errors. Still left a bad taste with me about BMWs in general.

    My feeling is that most cars today are made well regardless of manufacturer. The wild card is dealer service and that varies greatly. American makes don't have a lock on poor dealer service.

    Thanks for all of your help.
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • ramadon1ramadon1 Member Posts: 2
    Hi :) I am new to this whole car washing and polishing thing. I have heard that black cars are the worst to keep looking new. I have read the posts. What I need to know is my car is 2 weeks old and I washed it already. I want to keep it looking show room perfect as possible. Please give me advise on steps to do to keep it this way. I live in CT and the car is not garaged ever. I will do it every weekend if you think it is all right. Thank you.
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,120
    Black Accord--nice car.

    Black, when clean and shiny, is the greatest looking car color available. The trick, of course, is to keep it that way.
    That said, black is probably the hardest color to keep clean and shiny.

    1st rule--NO DRIVE THROUGH CAR WASHES. I don't car if they say they use "soft cloth" or not. As sure as your car is beautiful today, these car washes will dull and scratch your finish the first time you use them. The more you use them, the duller your finish will become.

    If you've read through the previuos posts, you've already seen my forray into the world of Zaino (www.zainobros.com). Zaino products (I've used the leather conditioner, the Z1 polish lock, Z2 polish, Z6 detailer spray, Zaino Car Wash) are the best I've used for shine. Although I just completed using them for the first time, the shine is the best I've seen from any wax/polish...very deep and "wet" looking finish. Zaino would look awsome on black. Reportedly, it is also long lasting. I'll find out the longevity for myself in the next few months. No wax residue on the plastic/rubber is left either. Bugs just rinse off a Zaino finish. Follow the instructions on the Zaino WEB site for application.

    If you're looking for something with a little less work involved or something that you can buy at your nearest "PEP BOYS", try Eagle 1 Wet.

    Collonite is another wax that I've used. Carnuba based. It lasts a long, long time although there is quite a debate about the merits (or demerits) of using carnuba waxes compared to synthetic waxes (like Zaino or Eagle 1). Some have said that Carnuba tends to "yellow" over time. I can't comment on the yellowing since it has never happened to me. There is also debate that carnuba waxes "soften" when they get hot. Doesn't shine like Zaino, either.

    The key is getting your finish "prepared". I would do the following to prepare your surface for a good coat of wax/polish:

    1. Rinse off your car well. That means totally drenching every panel to "float" off the loose dirt. Rinse the whole car, every panel, with your hose at least twice, preferably 3 times, before you wash.

    2. Wash with a couple of squirts of "blue" dawn dishwashing detergent in a gallon bukcet filled with clear, clean tap water(do this only once to take the "nasties" and old wax left on your car from the factory/dealership...after that use something that is specifically formulated for washing cars). Use an all cotton "wash mitt" or cotton towel. Again, if you have a Pep Boys near you, Kiwi makes a sponge that is surounded with a 100% cotton cover that I like and use. Make sure to wash only one panel at a time with plenty of "sudsy" water. Rinse each panel well after washing. Rinse your wash mitt vigorously with either a seperate buket of clean water or your hose after each panel has been washed. Any dirt left behind can and probably will scratch your surface.

    3. Dry with a chamois, or a synthetic chamois like the "absorber" (my personal favorite), or 100% cotton bath towels, made in the USA. None of these will scratch your surface. If you use cotton bath towels, make sure you get them from a quality source (Penney's, Sears, etc.). Look for brand names like Cannon, Fieldcrest, etc. Don't trust the cotton content of foreign made towels. Why so choosy? Well, you want to keep your Accord as free as possible from scratches. 100% cotton will not scratch your surface. "Non-cotton" towel materials, will. Non-cotton content in towels is usually found in foreign, lower quality towels. Make certain that you dry all the door jambs and seams. I make it a habit to open the hood, trunk and all the doors when drying to get all the water left in the crevices.

    4. (OPTIONAL) Since your car is new, you may or may not want to "clay" your surface to safely pull out any contaminents that may have attached to your surface while the vehicle was transported. Most cars are transported by rail. Ever see how dirty frieght trains are? I rest my case. Look for clay from companies like Zaino, Erazer, Mother's, Clay Magic. Don't, I repeat, don't use Meguiars clay. It leaves a lot of clay residue on your surface, it streaks and is hard to work with. Follow the instructions that came with the clay. Usually there is a "lubricant" that came with the clay. After claying, repeat steps 1,2 and 3 above.

    5. Now your surface is prepared. By now, you should have a very clean, smooth surface. Time to wax. Since the car is new, there is no need to use any sort of cleaner on your finish. Follow the instructions that came with the wax or polish you choose to use. Don't use all-in-one cleaner/waxes. They contain abrasives (no matter what the label says). Wipe off/buff with only 100% cotton towels per the wax directions. Again, you should visit the Zaino site. Better yet, go to www.ls1.com to see some awsome shines on muscle cars using Zaino.

    6. Detail
    --tires, to make your tires look new, I use Meguiars Endurance. Zaino also has tire dressing which is supposed to be very good.
    --rubber/plastic trim, again Zaino has some good rubber/plastic treatment. I also use Vinelx from Lexol. Don't forget to treat the rubber parts around the door, hood, trunk seals.
    --Dash treatment, I don't like dash treatments as I prefer them to be clean only. A cotton towel with a little water dampening should do the trick (unless "big gulps" are flying out of your cup holders regularly).
    --CAUTION--Don't use Son of a Gun, AmorAll or any of this ilk of product on rubber/plastic parts as it will suck out all of the emollients. This will cause cracking over time.
    --Scotchgard--I buy a couple of cans of scotchgard to use on all the fabrics/carpets in the interior. This keeps accidental spills from staining the carpets/seats and keeps any dirt from soaking into the material.
    --If you have leather, I like Zaino leather conditioner and Lexol.
    --windows, 3M window cleaner is the best I've found for the windows. It cleans with no streaking. If you meed to get stains off of your windows (damn bug guts must be made of super glue and are tuff to get off of windows), use Zaino window polish.

    OK...you're done...stand back and look at your finish. You should be amazed!!!!! Now all you have to do is wash it every week and you should be good to go. Get at least two more coats of wax on before winter weather hits and you should be able to carry on through until next spring.
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • fastdriverfastdriver Member Posts: 2,273
    graphicguy-

    WOW! You have become an expert! Great directions! Now that all your self-confidence is back, you can help others like ramadon1 above. Black is beautiful when it's clean, but it is hard to keep it that way. If he follows your advice above, he should have the shiniest black Honda in CT. I'll have to keep my eyes open for him! I'll recognize that wet-looking ZAINO shine anywhere!

    Keep us posted.

    fastdriver
  • orange606orange606 Member Posts: 32
    I too use cheap 100% cotton towels. They seem to be ok, but I believe they are creating scratches. Those cheap Fieldcrest are most likely not the ones you get at other places unless they are the same product line, and not just Fieldcrest in general. The problem is that even if the nap is 100% cotton the backing could be a mix. Even if the backing and nap is 100% cotton then the edges, or the stitching in the edges could be a mix. That's why you would cut the edges off. Any non 100% high quality cotton in a towel could add scratches randomly, and gradually making it hard to tell that they are even there. I think the best deal are Aardvark towels at http://planetaardvark.magicplace.com/ . This way you know what you are getting instead of just hoping the towel is really 100% high quality cotton. I plan on ordering some Aardvark towels soon because I just moved, and didn't bring any car towels with me. I have from people who have used them, the say they are great.
  • pat455pat455 Member Posts: 603
    With all due respect, shoman is just plain wrong in his opinion about how to get a "wet look" - Zaino used correctly achieves this easily and quickly, especially if you follow the tips and tricks at the website www.zainobros.com. There are also many helpful hints in this topic and its predecessors.

    As mentioned in a previous post, there are many pictures of the results of this phenomenal (IMO) car treatment on www.ls1.com in the Showcar and Detailing section, as well as more help in the use of Zaino to achieve the desired results.

    I've been using Zaino on my new Acura TL purchased in April and am absolutely thrilled with the results, the exterior paint products and the leather care. I learned of Zaino here and was very skeptical, but decided to give it a try, and it definitely lives up to all the hype given to it here.

    Shoman came in here many months ago with a huge chip on his shoulder about Zaino, and I see he is still hanging on to it. As he often does, he's offering to sell something, which is against the User Agreement as I read it.
  • fastdriverfastdriver Member Posts: 2,273
    pat455-

    IGNORE him and don't even respond to his posts and he'll disappear again! It's been so peaceful and friendly on this board for MONTHS! We all know his motive. He's already driven away one great source of info for us, maybe more. Thank God we still have access to Chris Parrish via e-mail, his webpage and his detail discussion board.

    Enough said about this. I guess it is a good warning for any newcomers!

    fastdriver
  • pat455pat455 Member Posts: 603
    Wonder why he gets away with offering to sell his products in so many of his posts?

    Absolutely agree about Chris. He helped me out once via email on an oxidation question I had about a friend's car.

    Still, it's hard to ignore stuff that's just plain wrong, but you are right, enough said!
  • lometalometa Member Posts: 2
    Hi, My 2000 Caravan will be in my driveway in about 2-weeks...(still being built) its inferno Red. The new color that replaced candy apple red. just ordered...Z-1,Z2,Z6 have told dealer Not to do anything as far as cleaning or waxing.thanks to people like Fastdriver...I now know how to get the deep wet shine I've always wanted, but did not know the right way to go about it. will let you all know my results when my van gets it's first ,second,and third coats of the Zainos. Joe
  • scruplekscruplek Member Posts: 33
    I am having Katzkin leather installed in my van and it says not to use polishes on it. Only water and to dry it afterwards. So how come so many of you are using Zaino's leather treatment?

    Also, any hints on how to Zaino the top of a van?
  • fastdriverfastdriver Member Posts: 2,273
    lometa-

    Good luck with the van. I'm dying to see this new Inferno Red. Is it like the orangy-red on the big Fords?

    The weather will be PERFECT for ZAINOING the van!

    scruplek-

    Never heard of Katzkin leather, so I can't help you there. The Zaino leather treatments help to keep the leather supple and prevent it from drying out. I never heard of using water on real leather.

    As for Z'ing the top of the van, I guess your best bet would be a ladder or a pair of stilts! LOL... Good luck.

    fastdriver
  • lometalometa Member Posts: 2
    Hi, Inferno Red is very similar to the ford color. The red seems to change from each angle. at one position it will look like candy apple red,then from another a kind of orange red, the degree of color change is even more notable at night...It's HOT! Joe.
  • ramadon1ramadon1 Member Posts: 2
    Thank you so much for your help. I plan on ordering my zaino tomorrow. I know I will have to wait, but now I know what to do. Your detailed instructions are great.
    Just other ?'s I have is the dealership but on a protective finsh on the car, was this a good thing or bad? Also, since my car is new should I wax right away or wait? Here in CT one never know what the winter is going to bring.
    THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH
  • gusgus Member Posts: 254
    #267>

    shoman, please don't use this as a forum for your personal sales. There is a difference between recommending a product because you use it and like it, and recommending a product because you sell it.

    The fact is that people don't need to call you if
    they can't find wurth products locally (which they're not likely to, anyhow). Wurth products has a web page that people can access at www.wurthusa.com.

    I should point out that this is not a personal
    endorsement of Wurth products, nor is it an
    endorsement of Wurth products by Edmunds.com.

    Feel free to debate the "wet look" and what does or does not cause it all you want.

    Gus
    Conference Host
  • phoopesphoopes Member Posts: 1
    I have been following this thread for about 6 months now, and after reading all the positive comments about Zaino I decided that I would try it on my new BMW 323i which I have had for almost 4 months now. I bought and used Z1, Z2, Z5, Z6, Z7, Z12, and Z16. I am more or less completely satisfied with all of the products...except for the Z6 Gloss Enhancer. My car is dark green in color, so naturally it shows all dirt/dust. During the 1st 3 months, I used the Z6 after every wash and/or Z application. Car looked fantastic. But I noticed that after only a few days, the dust was very noticeable on the upper surfaces....more so than with previous dark colored cars I have owned. So, a month ago, I decided to do an easy test. After washing the car, I applied Z6 only to one half of the hood. First of all, I could not tell any difference in the shine appearance of the 2 sides. After 1 week (with no rain to negate the experiment) I could distinctly see a differnce in the 2 sides. The entire side that had Z6 applied to it was definitely dustier than the side with no Z6...I could see a line separating the 2 sides right down the middle of the hood! The difference was most notable when viewed from certain angles...approx 45 degrees from rear looking forward. I repeated this experiment a total of 3 times to ensure different temp/humidity combinations...same result each time. I would be curious for some of you who have darker colored cars to try this and report your results. Since I can see no benefit from Z6 in my particular case, I plan on not using it anymore. I will, however, continue to use the other products.
    sincerely,
    Tomcat1
  • fastdriverfastdriver Member Posts: 2,273
    gus-

    THANKS!

    fastdriver
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,120
    ramadon1--good luck on your new van. It's not "bad" that the dealership put on a coat of wax when they delivered it to you. The only issue I have is that I've yet to see a dealership that "preps" their new cars well. They use "drive through" washes that use either plastic brushes or those supposed "soft cloth" washes.

    I would wax the van as soon as possible. Understand that the dealership only wants you to "approve" of how the van looks before you drive it off the lot. Past that, they really don't care. So who knows what they put on the van. If you go through the Dawn wash procedure, you will have very little, if any, wax protection as you will have stripped off the "old" wax. As you said, one doesn't know how CT weather will turn this time of year so do it now.

    fastdriver--again, thanks for all of your help. 20+ years ago (showing my age) when I was in college, I used to run a small detailing business off campus. No paint work, just wash, wax and detail work. All the rich kids with their "cool" cars would have me detail their cars at $30 a pop (sometimes, $25 a pop with beer thrown into the deal). I would do 4-5 cars every weekend. "Coolest" car I ever did was a Shelby Mustang. Parents gave it to this guy for high school graduation (where did my parents go wrong????). It kept me in book and spending money. Pretty soon I was doing the detail work for faculty (faculty always got charged $30 and they threw in $5 "tip" money). Then the local Alfa (remember them?) dealer asked me to do the same for their new car deliveries, paid me $20/car (they let me use their heated garage for free for all my detail work). After awhile, I had to work full time after classes just to keep up. By my senior year, I was doing 20-25 cars a week and had a part-time employee. I was grossing over $600-$700/week in 1978 money (all cash business, don't you know). I didn't have any tricks, just good ole hard work washing (used to use kerosene and water as a wash to get all the garbage, tar, oil off the cars), waxing (used 2 coats of Simoniz), q-tips, dove soap (was great for cleaning and softening up leather seats), and shop rags for the interiors. Does that make me an expert? Dunno!

    The car care stuff available now is worlds better than the products available then. Just had to apply my "old experiences" with today's products and learn from others on the WEB.

    Using all the advice from the sights listed throughout this thread, I've become an amateur detailer again...just with my own cars.
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • pblevinepblevine Member Posts: 858
    Wow, I've been away for just a few days and came back to 34 new posts!

    graphicguy,
    'Glad to see you are up to par. Up to par? With your experience, I'm sure you could teach us all a few tricks. I too used to use Simonize wax a 'few' (yeah, OK, 20+) years ago. My Zaino seems to really last a long time. I put on my second (actually third) coat of Z2 on July 4th weekend and the shine was still near perfect through Labor Day. I Z'd my car again over Labor Day weekend.

    But now I've got a real problem. Someone in the garage where I keep this '98 Accord Coupe in NYC gave me a really good scratch. Its right in the middle of the door and on the dark emerald green finish, it really stands out. I've also gotten a few minor nicks, etc. on the bumpers thanks to these wonderful garage attendants. Those I can handle myself, but the 'big one' will require a pro to fix. I brought the car into Honda for an estimate, and the guys in their shop kept coming over and asking me what brand of wax I was using. They couldn't see the scratch from the Zaino shine. And that's without a washing for a few weeks!

    A few minor notes:
    Z6: Yep, Z6 is not really anti-static. But I use it to quickly (and easily) remove dust between washings. And it does enhance the shine a bit too. Z6 is also very handy for cleaning windows.

    Dry Times:
    The first time I used Z1, it took a long time to dry. But that was up in the Berkshires (Western MA) in cold humid conditions. I've read that Zaino has since improved the drying times for Z1. I'll order some of the new Z1 to take advantage of this feature.

    Towels:
    Yes, my wife also complained about the fuss I made over 100% cotton towels. But that only lasted for a day. It does pay to invest a few bucks in FieldCrest as some of the other cheaper brands have nylon in the border stiches. You'll have to wash them separately from other garments. Don't use bleach in the wash, and don't use anti-static sprays or 'Bounce' when drying them.

    Shoman,
    Don't worry about him. He means well but just cannot help himself. And we all need a critics. They keep us honest.
  • pat455pat455 Member Posts: 603
    #280, phoopes -

    Your experiment is very interesting. My TL has plastic bumpers. After I wash and dry the car, I can feel the static on them, makes the hairs on my arm stand up, you know what I mean? Then when I Z6 'em, that is gone, no more static feeling.

    I've never tried anything like you did - my car is sort a gray-green, it's light colored (laguna green in Acura speak), and I never really notice dust on it. I wash and Z6 it weekly.

    Call or e-mail Sal Zaino with your results. He is unbelievably interested in his products performing totally as promoted, and it is clear that customer satisfaction is his top priority. He definitely will want to hear what has happened for you and may even know what you can do to keep this from happening again. If Z6 does not do for you what he promises and what you need it to do, he will take care of it, one way or another.
  • fastdriverfastdriver Member Posts: 2,273
    graphicguy-

    LOL..... WE'RE giving YOU advice??? Pblevine is right- you could teach US a few tricks! I used to "detail" all the cars for my family- aunts, uncles etc. That kept me busy enough. I've used Simonize too, but I also used to use the Blue Coral(dark blue bottles), 2-step program that they had WAY back then. First, there was the liquid Blue Coral. Once that was done and wiped off, you had to use the paste stuff that was real PAIN to put on AND get off. I think I used to use cheesecloth to wipe it off! WHAT A SHINE! Definitely NOT as easy as ZAINO!

    fastdriver
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,120
    LOL...OK, now you're making me blush. You guys brought back a lot of memories. Cheesecloth!!!!! That stuff really was pretty decent to use to get wax off. Interestingly, I still see Simonize paste wax in cans around every now and again...wonder if it is the same formula from back in the '60s and '70s? I remember that stuff taking off the color pigment, actually the paint, on cars (before clearcoat) every time it was used. Used to put it on pretty thick, too. Way too harsh by today's standards. I've wanted to try the old kerosene wash to see if it still worked on today's finishes. No one will volunteer and I'm certainly not going to try it on my own cars.

    I have to say that the cars of yesteryear had a lot more paint applied to them than the cars now. Of course, they had to...cars rusted pretty easily once the metal was exposed on the old ones. Now most body panels are galvanized so it's not neccessary for such thick coats to protect from rust. No matter how hard you tried, washed, waxed, buffed, the old finishes you still couldn't get a shine like you can today with clearcoat and a product like Zaino.

    I actually remember a guy who used to rub honeycombs on his '62 Olds 98. Not sure how long the bees wax lasted and did nothing for the shine.
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • jonyen98jonyen98 Member Posts: 6
    I have a similar problem to post #10. I have a white 1999 corolla and it is covered bumper to bumper with very, very tiny brown spots. I does not come off after washing. It only comes off if I use my fingernails to carefully scrape it off. But that is impractical.

    I don't know where these spots come from. But ever since I applied Turle Wax to my car, I noticed this problem. I actually don't car where these spots come from. I am only concerned with getting rid of them!!!

    Please help.
  • drscopemdrscopem Member Posts: 83
    Hi:
    Try using clay to physically remove the spots. You can use either detailing spray or soapy water as your lubricant.
    Good luck.
  • pblevinepblevine Member Posts: 858
    Yep, the good old days (before clearcoat) were HARD. I also used every Dupont product ever made and never got results like I do now with Zaino. And it lasts.

    jonyen98: As recommended by drscopem, you should try 'claying' your car. But first, wash the car with "Dawn" liquid dish cleaner. 'Same as for kitchen usage. And only use the Dawn once. It will remove the old wax which may be the source of your brown spots. Then 'clay' the car. There are several brands of clay on the market. I heard of very good results from Eraser and Clay Magic. By rubbing this compound across your finish, the clay will pick up all sorts of 'bad stuff' such as brake dust and metalic particals. It may be that small iron particals embedded in your finish rusted out and the process of waxing just moved the rust around a bit. After you get rid of all of those spots, you should protect your finish with a coat of good wax or a polymer such as Zaino.
  • jonyen98jonyen98 Member Posts: 6
    Thanks guys. I'll give it a try. Where can I purchase these clay?

    I did some more reading on what exactly these spots are. They are not metallic (like the product's website suggest) but more like a stubborn [pindrop sized] film of some sorts. There are a ton of them (I can't even remove the ones on the glass with glass cleaner). And they are evenly spaced it seems, about 1/2 to an inch apart. When I run my fingers over them, they feel gritty and sandy.

    Anyways, like I said, I'll give it a try and let you know if it works.
  • pblevinepblevine Member Posts: 858
    Perhaps those spots are due to tree sap. Actually, tree saps only run like that in early spring. And when I last had sap drop on my car, the spots were not evenly spaced. Sounds like your car got sprayed with something but you'll probably never know what. Again, washing with Dawn and claying seems to be the way to go. The above posting #292) should be very helpful for obtaining a batch of clay. I've used Erazer with very good results, and yes, I found their spray also does a good job. Let us know what happens.
  • shomanshoman Member Posts: 97
    I stand by my point that no wax product can fill in the waves and orange peel of a typical factory paint job. If anyone out here can prove otherwise, I would be happy to check it out. You can make orange peel paint look very shiny, but you can't fill in the waves. No wax, not mine, not yours, is that thick, even in multiple layers. This isn't a slam against any particular product, just the facts. Let logic do a little work here folks.
    My objection is that a true "show car/wet look" finish comes from paint that starts out perfectly smooth, without blemishes. Ask any painter, you can't get it with orange peel, no matter how good the wax.

    About what happened with Chris, A couple of you, just like last time, seem to be intent on causing trouble. anyone wanting to read the extensive history can research what happened. I didn't drive Chris off the list, he was mad because a majority of the people here stood up to the very hateful rhetoric (not coming from Chris for most of that "discussion", BTW)that was aimed not at me, but at anyone that didn't unconditionally promote and love the Z product. The list administrator also asked those people to tone it down. It was shown quite clearly that this irrational hate was not appreciated on this list, and I am sure people don't appreciate it now.
    Chris left of his own accord, along with a couple of others. I never said anything against the "Z", but apparently it's not possible in some peoples mind to like anything else.
    I will remind those starting up this hate line again, that this is a public topic and not about one and only one line of products. Several commercial companies representatives post regularly here with their names and numbers, where is your outrage when that happens? I submit that I do NOT push my business here, although when I can solve a problem, like many others, I try to post a solution, in the least commercial way possible.
    you took offense at something that no reasonable person should have.
    I hope you continue to participate in a positive way, but if you take your attitude and your "chip" and go somewhere else, then don't blame anyone but yourself.

    Don M.
  • SporinSporin Member Posts: 1,066
    I believe what shoman is refering to is that Pebble Beach Concours winning finish is all about the paint and not the wax. Zaino and other products provide a great shine, but nothing compares to cars that are purposefully, expertly, and expensively refinished and readied for those top level events.

    You may be thrilled with the "deep shine" of your Zainoed cars (and well you should be for the price) but don't even begin to confuse that with the level of shine and color depth that is on those Pierce-Arrows and Hispana-Suzas at Pebble Beach. That is what shoman was reffering to and quite clearly, I might add.

    As for jumping on shoman for selling products, isn't everyone? Everytime you guys put out a link to Zaino Bros, EraserClay, or Meguiars, you are doing the same thing, I don't think the fact that shoman is directly selling product makes any difference. Sal Zaino relies almost completely on word-of-mouth through the web for advertising, so you guys are no better. Besides shoman gave a different place to get the Wurths, with his addy as a last resort (again, quite clearly).

    Try not to take it all so seriously. It is possible to be confident in your car and it's finish without being shortsighted and hostile.

    Waxes and Polishes are like football teams, each has its pros and cons and everyone has a favorite, keep it in perspective.

    --Dave
  • pblevinepblevine Member Posts: 858
    sporin: I've never gone after anyone (shoman included) in this topic. As long as people are talking about specifics of detailing and/or products, that's fine with me. I'm NOT at all involved in this business. I'm a systems analyst and software engineer. I have no link to any product. And Sal Zaino has not been posting here. If I recommend a product (Zaino, Erazer, etc.), its only because I've tested/used it and have found it to be good. And 99% of the people who read and post here are the same. OK, since nobody has any more chips on their shoulders, let's just move on.
  • SporinSporin Member Posts: 1,066
    First let me say that I am not familiar with, apparently, some old feud between shoman and Chris P. from ages ago, and am only defending a very clearly written and fact based post by shoman concerning the quality of paint on a car and how that affects anything you put on top of it, whether it be wax or polish or Zaino, etc.

    I just think that people were overeacting when shoman said "if you have trouble finding it, give me a call..." , this is hardly a big commercial statement.

    It is SO ridiculous that people jumped all over him for suggesting(correctly IMO) that the difference between a regular car that is Zainoed or waxed and a Pebble Beach car is night and day. His post about paint quality was 100% correct and I don't see how anyone can consider this a Zaino slam.

    I am just trying to interject my own points, and not singling out anyone in particular so there is no reason to be so defensive. You are right, let's just move on.

    --Dave
  • pat455pat455 Member Posts: 603
    I'd just like a couple of minutes to clarify.

    I take shoman's point on a perfect finish being essential. However, I stand by mine that Zaino products give an outstanding wet look without the extensive and abrasive surface prep that he says is required. This is just MO - maybe shoman and I should just agree to disagree. I am happy with the products I've chosen, and I do not think they are "expensive" for their return.

    I raised the issue of his using posts to offer to sell things (and therefore make a profit, unlike other posters who are just sharing product info they have found useful) because he has also done this in many of his previous posts. I agree that this one was rather mild, but other posts have been more blatant. I have read every message in this topic and its three predecessors. Anyone can check it out who would like to do so. Also please read the Participant Agreement to understand my objection.

    Sorry that my comments created this, I would just rather hear from people who are relating personal experiences without a financial stake in promoting their opinions.
  • fastdriverfastdriver Member Posts: 2,273
    pat455-

    You didn't start anything and you don't have to explain anything! This is what happened before. He definitely rubs people the wrong way. I guess I spoke too soon when I said it's been peaceful here.

    You know what your car looks like and I know what mine looks like. Some people have blinders on and some people need them when they look at my wet-looking ZAINO shine. ;-)) I know that you, me and hundreds of others all know what ZAINO has done for us and our cars. I don't think ANY of us are preparing our cars for Pebble Beach or any other car show with $10,000 paint jobs!

    Save your typing fingers for more important stuff. Happy Z'ing!

    fastdriver
  • seesengoodseesengood Member Posts: 1
    Here is just a quick observation I had about car washing. I have noticed in other posts that many people use dish washing detergents such as Dawn to wash their cars. I am under the impression that this is not a good idea. Products such as this are capable of stripping off your layer of wax. My personal favorite car wash product is Meguiars Soft Wash Gel. Anyway, I just thought I would throw my two cents in.
  • ssonnetssonnet Member Posts: 27
    Read deeper. Stripping the wax is the whole point of using dish washing detergent. The idea is to start fresh without previously applied wax. Once you apply your desired wax, you don't use the dish washing liquid.
  • codakcodak Member Posts: 10
    Does anyone use a glass cleaner that doesn't streak or smear? If so, please let me know what you're using. I used Zaino's glass polish yesterday, and I wasn't happy with the results. I love all the other Zaino products except for this one. So, what else is everyone using on their windows other than Zaino?
  • fastdriverfastdriver Member Posts: 2,273
    codak-

    I have found that if I dampen the cloth before using the ZAINO Z-12 window cleaner, it is easier to apply. I use a small towel for this. I let it dry thoroughly, then I wipe it off with another towel and apply Z-6 to the windows.

    I hate cleaning the windows to begin with because in my 300M, you have to be a contortionist to clean the front and rear windows because of their deep slope. You can't get the leverage that you really need. I go for weeks without cleaning the inside windows- the front and the rear.

    I have read that people use window cleaners that DON'T contain ammonia and use black and white newspaper instead of a towel to wipe the stuff off. By the time you're through, the windows may be clean, but you're all black from the newsprint! ;-))

    fastdriver
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,120
    I've used and like 3M glass cleaner that you should be able to find at pep boys or the like. If not, try going to your dealership and ask what they use on new cars. They seem to be able to get all the gunk off windows that sets on the glass during shipping.

    As far as newspaper on windows, the ink in newsprint contains a fine pumice. The news "paper" itself is corse and acts as a polishing cloth. The only issue I have with newspaper is the difficulty in getting your windows completely dry with such a "non-absorbing" material as paper. Plus, the newsprint does "run" onto your hands.

    I have heard of a "bon-ami" type fine cleanser that some car manufacturers recommend, but can't seem to find it (except for the stuff that is meant for sinks...this, in my opinion, would be too corse for your windows).
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • pblevinepblevine Member Posts: 858
    seesengood: In agreement with ssonnet, ONLY use Dawn ONCE to strip existing wax layers. Then give the Dawn bottle to someone with a new kitchen.

    codak: Zaino's Z12 Glass Polisher contains abrasives (mild) and is really designed to eliminate the tough film build up due to aging of interior plastic parts. And it does a very good job in that application. For daily window wash / cleaning, I use good olde Z6. Inside and out. I've never used newspaper on a window, but I'll give it a try. Enough people have mentioned it in these topics to peek my interest. Now let's see, should I use a tabloid or full size format?
  • fastdriverfastdriver Member Posts: 2,273
    pblevine-

    Try the National Enquirer!! LOL.... Then again, maybe not. Your windows might steam up! LOL....

    fastdriver
  • mantamanta Member Posts: 4
    Hi,
    I've wanted to try and use Vinylex by Lexol but can't find it up here in Canada. I've emailed the company twice with no response (why bother having an address at all?). Are there any Canadians out there who know of a source?
    Thanks.
    Andrew.
  • maxim5maxim5 Member Posts: 6
    What brand of auto shampoo better use to wash a new car? I mean regular washing, not to remove wax or so. Thanks.
  • drscopemdrscopem Member Posts: 83
    Hi:
    - windows
    I use kitchen towels with Eagle One 20/20 for most cleaning needs. If there is crud on the outside, I use Bon Ami Powder in the RECTANGULAR can. It is also available as a cleaning cake. It contains feldspar and soap and was used to clean the windows of Skylab. It will not scratch. You have to go to the hardware store to get it as grocery stores only have the cleanser.
    DO NOT USE the Bon Ami CLEANSER in the ROUND can which contains feldspar and calcite. It will scratch. For oily film that doesn't respond to the above try The Wax Shop's Oily Film Remover and Window Cleaner.
    An old pro tip for angulated glass - wrap the towel around a hard plastic ruler then wipe. You can reach about anywhere with it.
    -washing
    For suggestions about car shampoo try post #36 in this topic. Another poster just told me he thinks the Sonax smells and shines like Mother's. Since I haven't tried Mother's in years I'll have to check it out and repost. I did send email inquiries to both Mother's and Sonax to see if they were the same but no replies yet.
    Good luck.
  • wareware Member Posts: 28
    My wife has put spot marks her dash by spilling coffee on it over the years (she puts her cup on the dashboard on the way to work). I tried Lexol Vinylex which did a nice job on everything but the spots. Anyone know a strong cleaner to use on the dash that might take out these spots (light in color)? Afterwards, I will reapply the Vinylex.

    I've ordered the Zaino products for my new car's first wax. Hopefully, I will quickly master the technique of applying per the posts here and elsewhere. I will practice on my old cars first.

    I was going to start using RainX on my windows. Anyone know if Zaino's car wash will strip it each time I wash? Will any car wash strip it requiring reapplying each time I wash? How well does Z6 clean the windows - is it suppose to be used on the windows? Does it work as well as RainX? Just curious.
  • scruplekscruplek Member Posts: 33
    Ok, I need advice. I have a new van and want to do the best I can to keep the paint job looking the best. How can I do all the steps involved: Dawn:Clay:Dawn:Zaino in one day? Do I even have to? I only have a carport with no enclosed sides. Plus, I live in Florida, so it will only be shady in the morning and evening. I live down a dirt road and fear what will happen if I start and stop the process. How long is all this going to take?
  • fastdriverfastdriver Member Posts: 2,273
    This morning I was sitting in the breakfast nook having my coffee. To the right of me is a TV stand with a small, 13" GE color TV. I usually
    put my little ashtray right in front of the TV. As I flick my ashes into the ashtray, they IMMEDIATELY get sucked OUT of the ashtray and onto the TV screen and the front of the black control panel because of the static.

    Even though it was early, a light bulb went off in my head! Why not try some Z-6 on the TV and the screen! I jumped up, ran for the Z-6 and tried it! VOILA!!!!! The ashes STAY in the ashtray where they belong! I have NO CLUE why I never thought of this before!

    What was that about Z-6 NOT being anti-static? I have some computer screens that collect an inordinate amount of dust that I'll have to experiment with next.

    fastdriver
  • ruking1ruking1 Member Posts: 19,826
    #312
    Thanks FD. Am off to try that now.
  • tp4unctp4unc Member Posts: 437
    I have become an absolute believer in Zaino Z-1 and Z-2. It seems lots of folks may be getting scared off of Zaino because of the perceived difficulty in using it. I read some posts here prior to tryin it and got a little nervouse myself. In my personal experience, this stuff is a breeze to use! Not nearly as "involved" as I feared. You should easily be able to wash, clay,
    Z-1, and Z-2(one coat) in one day( evenif you are really slow!). Try it guys. It works.
  • fastdriverfastdriver Member Posts: 2,273
    tp4unc-

    I agree with you. I think we "old time" ZAINO users have gone overboard telling people not to use too much ZAINO. It's just that when you are used to using paste wax, you might tend to go overboard with ZAINO because you need so little to get those dazzling results!

    Folks, tp4unc is right. It really is NOT as involved or as complicated as it may seem. With the Fall weather coming here in the Northeast, it's a PERFECT time to Z the car! I have NEVER had to let ZAINO dry for hours or overnight as some here have done. Sal Zaino says that if the Z rubs off when you use the finger test and doesn't smear, it's ready to be wiped off.

    Last week I timed myself. It took me 45 minutes to apply Z-2 and wipe it off on my 99 Chrysler 300M. Is that an inordinate amount of time to spend keeping a car clean? If it is, then maybe you should just go to the car wash and let them scrub the dirt off and apply liquid wax.

    When I first read about ZAINO last year, I was VERY skeptical. It sounded like an infomercial to me! Then I thought- could ALL these people who are praising ZAINO be lying? If they were, WHY? Were they Sal's relatives? I decided to try it for myself! The rest is history!

    My car is almost 16 months old and looks better now then the day I picked it up except for the stone chips on its low-sloping hood. Look for yourself.
    http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Flats/7501/

    fastdriver
  • tfloyd1tfloyd1 Member Posts: 1
    I just picked up a new Mazda 626LX. The Car is Black, Never had a black car before and was wondering what wax to use etc.. Checked out the info on this site and looks like Z1 and Z2 is the thing to use. How long does it take to get the product? I live in Wisconsin and its getting cold!
    Thanks Ron
This discussion has been closed.