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Waxes and Polishes, Part III
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nascar: graphicguy and fastdriver have it right. Any smooth surface can take Z1/Z2. I had my doubts about the plastic headlight covers, but Zaino did a great job there. The heat given off by the headlights doesn't seem to bother it either. I've also covered those black rubber moldings with Z1/Z2. There don't 'shine' but they are protected. I also apply Z6 to my windshield wiper blades. It keeps them clean (the rubber oxidizes) and the wiping action is a bit smoother. Hey, I even use a combination of Zaino Glass Polish, Windex, and Z6 on my windshield.
jster and pcleveland2: I know there is a lot of hype out there about various materials. Natural, etc. It doesn't bother me if some folks want to play at being 'New Age', Zaino still does the best job I've ever seen of protecting a man made object like a car. And Teflon? Think about the properties of Teflon. Not very good for an automotive finish. And you'd have to bake it on at about 600 degrees. There may (?) be products that have specks of a Teflon like compound, but the Teflon in there product will DO NOTHING to protect or shine your car. The wax in those products is doing the job and the rest is hype.
LOL... Sorry. She didn't want to pose! That is her standing next to my car in front of the gates to Mike Tyson's house.
fastdriver
Those trees really look lifelike on the car. How'd you do it?
The reflective qualitys are scary. Amazing.
I'm sure if someone was home they would have been on the speaker by the gate asking us what we wanted! Besides, I like my ears! ;-))
tpmiller1 -
I'm sure that if someone was breaking in, Mike could take care of it. LOL....
As for the tree reflection- I didn't do anything except apply ZAINO! Your car can look the same! The BMW only has a few coats of Z-2 on it!
fastdriver
Sounds good to me! Could fit a lot of cars in that driveway. I never did see the garages! I'm sure they're heated and big! Most likely there's a big underground garage. We could Z day and night if we had 3 shifts! LOL...
To the right of where the "main" house is, there was another big house for the staff I guess.
SAL- are you reading this? ;-))
fastdriver
didn't realize I needed. Is there any thing else that can be used for a lubricant?
Thanks for any info,
Dan
Not sure what is "new age" about any car detailing product or paint protectant, particularly a product like Carnauba that has been used in car waxes since the 1930's, at least.
On the subject of "hype"-all manufacturers of these products use "hype", whether it is One Grand, Zymol, Zaino, Meguiars, or what have you.
It seems to me this whole business of car detailing and waxes is a very inexact science, to say the least. I have heard very experienced and professional students of this subject express very different opinions as to the best practices and products to use.
Most of the reputable people who sell these products retail, that I have talked to or read about, will have a favorite product--but they will allow for differences of opinion as to what to use, in part because "how a car looks", is, in the end a subjective matter. Also they realize that people have different needs and preferences that effect what the best product is for them.
As such, the point of my post to pcleveland was to list some of the quality products out there, and list some of them, both those available by mail order/internet, and those available at body shop supply stores. Hopefully he will research further and find a product to suit his needs.
Thank you for seconding my thoughts about Teflon.
I took some pictures of my White 300M that would post, but I don't know how. I'd scan the pics in if you'll help me in posting them.
I just brought home a new Starcraft Imperial Van
Conversion. It is a '97 Astro, with only 18K, and 8 months of warrtany time left! Having a conversion for the first time, I have questions for you:
1. How and what do you use to clean and protect
the roofs of hitop convership vans? Could Zaino work on the fibreglass roof?
2. How do you clean and protect the fibreglass (I
assume) running boards on conversion vans?
While most of you guys probably would never get caught dead in a conversion van, I need to keep this guy running for a while until I can afford a real car like you own.
Thnaks in advance for your collective help.
Sincerely,
John Kay
jkumpire@netpluscom.com
I'm certain that you can use Zaino on the fiberglass parts...protect them well and give them incredible shine. Most cars/trucks today have some fiberglass on the body somewhere. As a point of reference, I wax the fiberglass parts (non-textured) of my car all the time as long as they're smooth. Things like bumper covers, B-pillars, spoilers, etc. are usually nothing more than painted fiberglass, like your bubble-top.
The running boards probably have some sort of "imbedded textrue" in them somewhere. If they don't, then once you waxed them, they would become very slippery when wet and waxed if you use them to step into the van. This would not be a good thing because of a possible "slip and fall" injury. If they do have some sort of "grain or textrue" on them to help keep your footing, I don't know that I'd put anything on them.
Your bubble top should be just fine to wash and wax. Just use the same wash/wax routine that you would use on the rest of the van.
What about the CORVETTE that your friend has? That's all fiberglass and it looks great with ZAINO- no?
fastdriver
Did you just order the Zaino clay and none of the other Zaino products?
You can use a mixture of a 1/2 capful of Zaino car wash (Z7) in a spray bottle filled with water as a lubricant.
You can also use the Zaino "gloss enhancer" (Z6) as a lubricant. It will workd the same way as the Z7 and water as a lubricant. It's much cheaper to use the Z7 and water, though.
If you don't have either of those, go to your nearest autoparts store and get a spray bottle of Eagle One, Meguiars, etc "gloss enhancer" to use as a lubricant. As long as you Dawn wash your vehicle after you clay to remove whatever gloss enhancer as lubricant, you should be OK. The one downfall here is that the "non-Zaino" formulations will not interact with the Zaino Z1/Z2/Z5/Z6/Z7. Zaino formulations are designed to give the best results by interacting with each other as a total system.
Thanks for the info.
Yes, I ordered Z1,Z2,Z6 & the clay. I think I'll try your suggestion of using Z6 for the lubricant so I don't have to make another order.
For non-painted plastic and rubber surfaces I found 303-Protectant works best. I use it on my Jeep Hard Top, small plastic and rubber parts, Wiper Blades, Tires, Side Steps, For Lamp Cases, Plastic Covers, Vinyl Spare Tire Cover, Moldings.
After last four-wheeling trip my truck got some non dip scratches. I've seen an infomercial for this sort of things long time ago. Some kind of paint (sold in number of different collours) that fills the scratches an they become invisible. You just rub it in with a cloth. Anyone can tell me what is it that I can use on my Jeep's Stone White Clearcoat?
pblevine & jster--"new-age" or natural products do seem to be the rage right now. Carnuba has been around for a while. I used carnuba products for many years in different formulations. Some had polymers mixed in, some had "other" compositions mixed in. None of them gave me the the ease of use, shine, "wet look", lustre, depth or longevity of Zaino. In spring, summer and fall, I spend about 1 hour/week Z7 washing, drying, maybe applying Z2/Z6 to my car. I have yet to see a finish that looks better for a longer period of time (except other Zaino users or custom paint jobs) than mine.
It seemed that every spring I went looking for a different polish/wax combo. Like most everyone else, I would scour around the internet and the auto parts stores looking for something that was better than what I had used before. All of what I found offered compromises. Some shined well, but attracted dust like a magnet or didn't last very long. Most were very hard to use, especially carnubas (hard to put on, hard to take off). The more money I spent on them it seemed, the harder they were to use. Some would last a long time, but they would not give a very good shine. Most (especially carnubas) left the "white residue" in the cracks and non painted surfaces. Some had abrasives in them and left swirls. Some, like teflon products and informercial products (yea, I tried some of those, too) were completely bogus. Again, all compromises.
When my wife bought her new car about a year and a half ago, she asked me to find a wax that would last as she is not nearly as fanatic about her car's finish as I am. She didn't want a lot of work involved and didn't want to do it often. I started my search again. While doing a little research, I stumbled upon a small thread on the internet (can't remember where) raving about Zaino. I had never heard of it. Reserached a little more and found out more. After looking at the Zaino web site, I called the company. Low and behold, Sal Zaino answered the phone and we spoke about car care for about half an hour (when was the last time you got the owner of Meguiar's, Blitz, Zymol or any other wax company to talk to you about their products person-to-person). Sal knew his stuff and explained his background and history. He spoke no BS, just facts. I ordered Z1/Z2/Z6/Z7 (about $50 worth of products in total or less than what I would have spent on other "boutique" products) on the spot. Haven't looked back since. The best, bar none, that I've every used with no compromises.
Now I don't have to look anymore for the best. All I do is call Sal whenever I order or when I have questions. I have never been disappointed with any Zaino product. The whole line is very high quality backed by the best guy in the industry, Sal Zaino.
And, no, I don't have any financial stake or profit in any way from Zaino. I'm just so pleased with the product and service (OK, maybe we can get Sal to start accepting credit cards some day...that would please me even more) that anyone who is at least mildly interested in the way their car looks and is cared for should at least try it.
My question is, what can I do (short of washing the entire car over) to clean it up a bit? If I just hose off with plain water then dry, do I risk scratching the finish? Can I use a California Duster (on dry surface of coarse) to remove the spotty dust?
Terry
I have seen cars where Zaino has been applied-and they look very nice and glossy, but I don't think the depth of shine is as good as with some other products-it is a little more "artificial" looking then some of the Carnauba products. Again as I said earlier, it is subjective and a matter of taste.
jster--I think pblevine was referring to the fact that the "all natural" push of most products of any ilk are being touted. Kind of like "new age" natural look make-up that my wife is so fond of (I always tell her that she is beautiful with or without make-up. I usually get a few "points" for that comment with her). I'll never berate anyone for their choice of wax. I do know that some aren't very good that I've tried. Carnubas still have other "artificial" solvents in them to make them workable. I have used many, many high quality carnubas. You are right. It's a matter of preference. I don't think Zaino looks artificial at all. On my wife's car (a Toyota Avalon) which is peralescent white, Zaino adds depth, shine and lustre that I've never seen on a pearlcoat before. On my car, which is a deep burgandy metalic (Pontiac calls it redfire metalic), which is a darker color, the metalic really comes through and reflectivity is astounding. I attribute this to the color's individual prooerties to reflect or absorb light. My biggest beef with carnubas, are their lack of durability and the work you have to go through to put on and take off. I have yet to try one that offers the shine, durability or ease of use, dirt repelling qualities that Zaino does. As you said though, it's a matter of taste. Have you ever tried Zaino? It sounds as if you are a car care journeyman. Try it and tell us what you think. I'd like to hear your opinion comming from the carnuba side of the fence after you've used it.
nascar: Everyone gets those little spots when there is any dirt (dust, etc.) I now tend to dry my car quickly. Then I use Z6. Z6 applied quickly with a very clean towel will do the trick. Try it. The Z6 will then help to form a more static free surface which will help keep dust away.
BTW, with a black car, you might find yourself spending longer than you want maintaining it every week!
As far as questions about claying over a Zaino finish, I would suggest sending an e-mail to Sal Zaino. You can get his address at www.zainobros.com or you could call him (phone number is on the website. He's responded to every inquiry I've ever made, and I believe he's being completely up front and honest in his responses - i.e. the effect won't be as dramatic on a white car as it would on a darker car. He could have easily said that it would be the wonder product of the century (he would still have been right -IMHO!), but he played it straight with me.
I just did the whole routine (clay and zaino) on my wife's new Honda Odyssey this weekend. You should have seen the neighbors when they stopped by to see the new purchase. The wives are all looking at the gizmos and gadgets in the van and the guys are all gawking at the shine outside the van. It was the best of both worlds!
Terry
Saying Zaino and other pure polymers look "artificial" was not the best choice of words. By "artificial" I don't mean "fake"--but it is a different look than carnauba--more of a "show car" type look--very eye catching. Carnauba is a somewhat "warmer" look, I guess.
Like many people I have tried many waxes, including polymers (Klasse, and a product called "Slick Shine" made in Oregon) as well as carnauba waxes (Blitz, Zymol Japan) and mixes (Meguiars #26) and cleaner waxes. They all have their advantages and disadvantages. Weirdly enough, I get a kick out of "sampling" them, and I'm sure I'll eventually get to Zaino, as well.
By the time you decide WHAT to use, it'll be time to trade it in! LOL........
fastdriver
fastdriver
I'm not what you'd call a car nut, but I do want my car to look as good as possible, and more importantly, be easy to clean (particularly through MA winters). And my time is limited (3 kids under 5 will do that to you). And the damn thing is black!
If you think about it, you shouldn't even try to remove the existing Zaino prior to claying (provided you've already Z'd the car.) Yes, it is very important to clay the car before the first application of Z1/Z2. That establishes a good clean base. But after a few coats of Z2, the rail and brake dust (ie: metalic particals) will embed themselves into the top (ie: Z2) layer of polish on the car. Carefully claying that layer should effectively remove those damaging dust particals. You don't have to use much effort, just a light claying should do it.
Again, once the car is protected with Zaino, claying once a year should be more than enought to protect and maintain the finish.
Just got a new Ford Focus ZX3 and I'm going to try the Zaino on it. Going to clay it first to get the cheap dealer liquid wax off along with the rail dust. I know it's not a Lincoln, but it's my new toy. Haven't found anything bad about Zaino anywhere on the internet, just good remarks on lots of different sites.
Just thought I'd offer my 2 cents worth.
Pat
Couple questions: what's the best type of applicator for both the Z1 and Z2? Wax pads from Pep Boys, cotton hand towels???? Any reason I couldn't apply the Zaino in an unheated garage in MA? Anyone have success with Clay Magic?
One other thought - as I stood staring at the wax and polish shelf in Pep Boys, I saw the Meguire's 3-step Deep Crystal products, and remembered there were some posts in either this forum or another. Any unbiased opinions on the differences between the Deep Crystal and Zaino?
pcleveland2, would love to hear the results - when are you doing it? What brand clay will you use?
As you can see, I'm somewhat of a novice at this, so bear with me......
FYI -- I wouldn't use Dawn and water as a lubricant with Clay Magic. It seemed to break down the clay.
You can also order clay from Zaino and use some Z7 (car wash) and water as a lubricant.
Sal Zaino usually includes an applicator with each order over $25 or so and you can also buy more applicators from them, if I remember correctly. I like to use cotton diapers. I cut them in half or into quarters and they seem to work very well for me.
You will be able to apply in an unheated garage, it just may take a while to dry. The test is to wipe your finger across the "waxed" portion and if there is no smearing, it is ready for the next step (Z2 after Z1 or wiping off of the Z2).
Never tried the Deep Crystal, but am very happy with Zaino.
Best of luck,
Terry
I'm not sure if you saw my recent sites or not. My 99 Chrysler 300M is almost 21 months old. I have NEVER clayed it! I found out about ZAINO when my car was 5 months old. DOES IT LOOK "MALNOURISHED"?
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Flats/7501/Feb.html
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Flats/7501/feb_21/ - for this group, click on the "dirty" pics first, then the clean ones.
fastdriver
PS The winter weather is just as bad in CT.
My Zaino order form in the mail. It's 28 and snowing outside. Last week would have been okay. Hoping for warmer weather before I do it. I'm in upstate New York near Buffalo. The road salt and sand is a real pain. My brother in law is building a heated garage, but it's no where completed yet so I'm holding out in hopes we will have spring real soon.
Pat
It does NOT grind down your paint like a rubbing compound or glaze. It just slides across the paint, and sucks out the pollutants, and perhaps knocks off little peaks. I used it on a car that I had previously glazed, and the resulting paint was literally smoother than the glass.
I started using clay when a high-end detailer I visited told me that he would NEVER wax a car without claying it first.
I used Mother's clay with Mother's detailing spray as the lubricant with good results. Hose down your drivesay to remove all dirt, and then put down an old blanket just in case you drop it. Dirt and grit will also stick to it very well!
Once you do the initial Dawn, Clay, Dawn, Z1/Z2 routine, you won't spend much time in maintenance mode. As I mentioned before, I can Z7 wash, dry, Z2-Z6 my car in about an hour.
I live in OH, so winter is tough here, too. You'll notice that a Zaino'd finish tends to repell dirt better than anything else. Sometimes, all that's needed is a rinse to get your car clean.
The best applicators are the ones that you will get with your Zaino order (or purchase from Sal for $2.50). In a pinch, I have used the applicators you saw at PEP Boys that are made of cotton terry cloth. I think that "kiwi" makes them. They have a little "sleeve" in the back that you can put your hand in. They actually do a decent job. Stay away from the sponge applicators, though. The best ones are still the ones from Zaino, however.
Let us know how you make out or if you need any help.
Don't me intimidated. All of us Zaino users have been in your shoes before. The Zaino first time is kind of like being with your first..........no, I won't go there;-)