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Comments
Interesting story going around a few months ago at a different site.
Apparently, show car competition is so cut throat, there were people that were actually showing what they were using for wax. They were showing bottles of a particular wax, but the bottles were actually filled with Zaino as they didn't want the competition know what they really used.
Thanks for the recommendation to contact Sal Zaino, and I'll do that, but I was looking for some user descriptions first. Locally, most people claim to use Zymol products with, of course, a number of exceptions. People have talked about Zaino but I don't know anyone who admits to having switched.
Take care.
Joe W.
I love going to see all of those 'cudas, vettes, SSs, Mustangs, GTOs, Chargers, etc. Most of those folks are more than willing to tell you what they use on their finish. It's all over the map. Mainly, they come up with their own concoctions of wax/polish (or so they say). Most seem to have custom paint jobs, too.
I also attend Concours events where I love to see the XKEs, MB Gullwings, Rolls, MGs, etc. They seem to use more of the high buck (not off the shelf) type waxes. The Zymol ,Blitz, etc.
That said, most of the Concours people that I've talked to have shown an iterest in Zaino after we talk about it.
it's time to wash the car again (neighbors are gonna think i'm nuts) and so, my question is this:
i have one of them left over bottles of carwash in a bottle with attachment that you hook up to a hose and it'll spray the soap and the water out at the same time. i wonder if i can dump some diluted z7 in there and use that to "pressure wash" the car rather than "hand wash" the car. anyone tried this?
Just got my Zaino in the mail!! Now all I Need is MY car!! Got the basics and the leather care.
I remember a mention of the addiction to the aroma in past posts! It does smell good... a cross between the tropics and the garage! What a combo!
I've been reading this site for a while now and I agree that the tone of the last 20 or so posts have been a bit... shall we say... a bit much.
I like the information provided by everyone.. pro or con. The friendliness here is something I look forward to. I agree... let's keep it friendly.
Can't wait to give my 2cents worth!!
Why don't you give it a whirl and let us know how it turns out.
I opened my package and looked at everything that was there and discovered that I was missing a bottle of Z7 carwash. I emailed Sal and let him know that it was missing. He email me back (within only a couple of hours, I might add) and said that they would send some Z7 right out to me. I got it in two days. If the Zaino products are only a fraction as good as their customer service, I'm going to love it! I'll post my results later.
bohica10: As a UW grad, I know about your winters. And I'll bet your car looks great. From my little experience, the amount of work, care, and dedication that the owner is willing to put into the finish matters more than the actual products. I know I'll get it for that one, but I've seen so much variation with the same product that I'm amazed. All I can tell you is that Zaino is the best stuff I've ever tried. Never tried Eagle One, however. But your question really comes down to: Given that Zaino is a better product, Is it worth changing brands? The most honest answer I can give you is: Test and Verify. (Always good when you're not sure). Really! Given your level of care and dedication, you'll be comparing the best each product can do under harsh (Wisconsin) conditions. If you can use just one section of the car (ie: a bumper or a lower side panel), test it with Zaino and compare it to your existing product and methods. Or find another car that you can run a test on.
In general, Zaino will not produce a 'better' shine than a very high grade wax. But it will be clearer and after multiple coats, it will be 'wetter' looking. And as you've seen from prior postings, it will have much greater endurance. Unfortunately, as you noted, the first time work does involve more effort. I think it is well worth it. And yes, you can clay the car (gently) without removing existing Zaino Z2 layers.
1. Most users seem to be those fortunate enough to have a newer car. My '91 Accord (dark blue-green) and girlfriend's '92 black Explorer have various problems that I haven't seen covered here. How does Zaino deal with mildly oxidized non-clear coat (single stage) paint (black)? The black Explorer was re-painted on a few panels and they did a single stage job. What about deep etching from water spots?
2. I would expect to use at least 3 coats of the Z5 product to deal with 8-9 years of swirl marks. Does this product just cover them up by filling in the scratches, or does it actually correct the problem by smoothing the finish to eliminate the swirls, the way it should be done?
sdgrant: It is my recollection (I believe from the old Zaino site, since I have not read the new one as thoroughly, and which may only differ from the old one by its graphics and the addition of the pictures) that Z5 was the last best hope for the "appearance" of the paint before a physical remedy of machine "buffing"/ rubbing out, or repainting was taken. So, I would say it fills them in.
I recall Chris Parrish writing that he recommended a 3M product with "Pad" in its name to remedy light oxidation, but that he would try claying and Zaino first. The claying should take care of water spots, but etching sounds like acid rain? You may be able to reduce the appearance of acid rain etching, but not remove it.
Zaino has a non-clear coat polish, Z-3, that would seem to be what the single-step paint the Explorer has calls for. So my recommendation is Dawn, Clay, Dawn, Z1, Z5, Z3 with Z6 Gloss Enhancer for day(s)-to-day(s) light dust maintenance and with Z7 Wash Concentrate for week(s)-to-week(s). You may want to alternate the Z5 and Z3, since the Z5 concentrates on only one aspect of the paint's appearanc; the Zaino site/literature speaks about possibly needing five coats of Z5 to get as much of the scratches and swirls reduction as possible, but that may be only necessary for light colors.
Since you're talking about two vehicles and one is large, don't fail to buy enough product to get you through your initial efforts, you don't want to have to spend $6.95 shipping more times than you need to. Also, beside the recommendation to use Z1 once (for show cars) or twice a year (for everyday cars), in my mind it more depends on the vehicle's exposure to the elements, Sal also recommends that Z1 be used between every ten coats of polish for those who want to put multiple layers on; it renews the molecular bonding the product line is based on. Your initial effort with the Explorer would seem to need to consider this.
Your situation would seem to call for 2 Z1s, Z2 for the Accord, 2-3 Z3s for the Explorer, 2-3 Z5s, 2-3 Z6s, 1-2 Z7s and probably only one Z18, if you're careful with it. In mixing the Z7 and water into a spray bottle for the Z18 lubricant, consider distilled water.
Also keep in mind the recommendation to dampen your applicator with water and put Z6 on the surface of your applicator before putting on the polish. The water is to keep your applicator from absorbing product; the Z6 is to help the spreadability of the product. You can use the same applicator for the Z1 and Z5/Z2/Z3, whichever polish you use right after the Z1.
And last, apply everything as thinly/sparingly as you can. It's easier to work with and works better that way, using as little product as is necessary. The Z6 nozzle should be barely open; you want a fine mist, not a stream.
On another site they got together and did a group purchase and received a discount. You all mite consider that, if you havent allready.
Anybody else have info on what to use on a ski boat?
Thanks, scott.
Thank you,
Don
It will help with step by step instructions
I also deleted or hid several that only referenced the goings-on, rather than the intended topic.
Obviously things have gotten way out of hand here lately, and I apologize for that. As your host, I let you down. It won't happen again.
Regards, Bruce
I've just finished washing with z7 and polishing with z2 and I notice some trouble spots of bugs and some paint on the edge of the door, can I clay these spots at any time, or do I have to wait until after I'm ready to dawn again to use clay. Do I have to clay the whole car, or just spots that need it. If I have to wait, what other products should I use for these trouble spots. Thanks, Sally
edwardh1, I believe that CR was only testing off- the-shelf products, maybe someone else can clarify. Zymol and Zaino are two different products.
Pat
Community Leader/Maintenance & Repair Conference
NO! Only the first letter of the name is the same. A number of folks have been a little confused by that.
ZAINO VS. WAX
As you regulars know, I am a confirmed skeptic with about 30 years of fanatacal care car experience.
I had read your posts for a year, but felt that what I was doing with Eagle One and Meguiar's was great. After seeing fastdriver's car a few times, I felt it was time for a trial. So far, I have done our '97 Accord and '99 Solara.
The results are without par. The cars looked great after my full detail job with Dawn, Clay, Glaze, Wax and Gloss Enhancer. However, the cars look BETTER with the Z treatment.
1. The Gloss is sharper - it is more like a mirror. Details are sharper and the color of the car is richer. Even non-car oriented folks have noticed.
2. Durability - The jury is still out at this point, but after 1 month, they last 2 weeks sitting outside 24/7, the Accord looks just waxed after a Z7 wash. The water beads amazingly. My best waxes would have started to decline a little by now.
3. Ease - Of course the first time is a bit of work, but after that, it is nothing. It takes me about 20 mins to do a Z coat. And - I don't need to use the noisy orbital buffer any longer!
I'm still convinced.
Also - I wonder if the person that did the side-by-side test (and started the conflagration) applied more than one coat of Z? I find that this is critical to getting the "show car finish".
http://www.geocities.com/newwestd/CarPage3.html
I have some pics of my car to show you what it looked like after 22 hours of just about non-stop driving through every kind of weather except snow! As soon as I catch up with the e-mail and my topics here AND a flooded cellar this morning from a 10 year old hot water heater, I'll post the pics.
newwestd-
WOW!!!! The Honda looks GREAT!
Thanks for posting those Solara pics. I told him that I would post them ASAP, but you beat me to it. Thanks. I have to deal with this hot water heater first thing in the morning and the Zaino e-mails! I do have some info to add to go with the Solara pics-
"2000 Flame Red SLE V6, 1 coat of Z-1, and 2 coats of Z-2 with Z-6 used between each coat. I put on a third coat of Z-2 after these pics. I did not use the claybar, and I don't know if that would have made any difference, or not. Wife would trust me with the Polish, but not with a bar
of clay. She envisioned a pink Solara after the claybar! Sorry, Sal.
Light dust easily can be removed with the Z-6 and the shine jumps right back. Z-7 Car Wash just does a wonderful job of bringing the shine back if
the car is really dirty. I don't know when I'm going to have to polish again, but I am going to place a new order from Zaino this weekend. I've
had at least five friends and neighbors ask for the order form and one has already placed a $75 order. She hasn't used the Zaino yet.
I've tried them all, but this product is the best that I have used."
fastdriver
Thanks,
Dave
I don't think that using the Meguiars Quik Detailer with the Zaino is a good idea. IF I remember correctly, the Quik Detailer has silicone in it. The Z-6 does NOT. ALL the Z products work in conjunction with one another.
Last night, in reading all the posts that I missed last week when I was in sunny FL, I noticed one about spotting! I know that people are from all over the country and that results seem to vary, but spotting was ONE thing that did NOT happen to my 300M after I applied the Zaino products. As soon as I have a chance, I'll post a few pics of what my car looked like after the 22 hour drive to FL in every kind of weather except snow! NO spots even after the downpour last Sat. night. The sun dried the car on Sunday morning with no spots. I can't remember if the writer said that the spots appeared after a rain storm or after washing. If it was after washing, then it must be the "hard" water. If it was after a rain storm, then I don't get it. I will say that if my car is dusty and it just sprinkles out, then I will get spots, but they come right off if I wash the car. If it's a heavy rain and the sun dries the car, there are no spots.
fastdriver
There are 3 ways to post pictures - All require that you have the picture uploaded to a site where it can be stored and viewed. An example is a personal website on Geocities or Yahoo.
1) Link - After uploading the photo, you simply type the complete link address in your post - the Edmunds software makes it into a link. This is the easiest way.
2) Insert Photo - You use HTML commands to insert the URL into the page code. Then, when you open the page, the Edmunds site goes out and retrieves your photo and sticks it in. If you "View Page Source" in the browser, it will give you some idea of the typical HTML codes.
3) email your photo to me or fastdriver and we will post it for you - why not?
Please send me the instruction on how to do it.
The moderator was doing his job.
Just click on my name and e-mail me for details!
fastdriver
What should I do once I got my car back? Should I just Zaino the portion affected? I want the whole car to be in sync with the amount of protection offered by Zaino, and yet I shudder when I think of the effort to do 10 coats all over again.
What's the simplest and most effective way? What are the steps? Z1 needed? Thanks for any input...
Bruce
The damage panels would certainly require a coat of Z1. If the 10 coats you had on already had never had a coat of Z1 applied between them, it's time for Z1 on those panels, too. Your eye is the judge of how well-balanced your Zaino applications on different panels are and which ones need more.
daverose: I'd use the "Pad" as recommended by Chris Parrish and rub test those areas to insure you got all the oxidized stuff off prior to using Z1/Z5/Z2. Again, I don't really know, but I'd think that Z1 (despite the label) would not remove oxidation residue. That's why I recommended a rubbing compound and claying. Maybe a direct call to Sal would be in order on this subject. Let us know how you do.
Sergeich: Ah, don't go man. Bruce was just doing his job. We'll all train him, and in my case, myself, to act in a civil manner. In any case, let's not get bent out of shape over a minor point.
Bruce: Yep, the whole point of clear coats is to preserve the paint. But clear coats ARE paint too. And they too can oxidize. When clear coats oxidize, the residue would be clearer than the underlying paint. Brake and rail dust can pit those surfaces too. That's why Zaino is such a good protection tool. With a 15 year old car, I'd wash, clay, wash again, and then test (rub with newspaper) to determine if any oxidaztion residue remains. Provided you got it all, then start the Z1/Z5/Z2 process. Hopefully, your garaged car will still be undamaged. Trust your eyes, but verify.
wstang: The first question should be what did your body shop do? Did they apply a clear coat? I'm not an expert on this subject, and maybe you should email Sal. I did have a large scratch repair on one door. The body shop took that area down to the metal, applied a primer, applied color matched paint, and then applied a clear coat. Each coat was heat dried. Make sure they don't put any of that "hand glaze" junk on your car. If they did, wash it off with Dawn. Provided a clean surface, apply the Z1 to just that area. Then follow up with multiple coats of Z5/Z2 until that area matches the rest of your car. Anyway, it seemed to work for me.
Ok experts, How do I get the idiot's paint off? Rubbing compound, then start the Z process again?
Thanks.
There's a topic around here on GS27 that you can probably find with the Topic Search feature on the left. As I recall, the majority of the (small number of) experiences reported were not positive.
Maybe it depends on if you are removing someone else's paint from your painted surface, or are trying to fix a scratch where your paint has actually been removed by the object which did the scratching. Hmmm...
Pat
Community Leader/Maintenance & Repair Conference
An easy test for clear coat - use a little rubbing comppound or cleaner-wax with a white cloth. If you see color - NO clear coat!