I finally put a coat of Z2 over the Z5 I did ealier, and it looks nice. Now I want to add another coat of Z2-- Do I have to wash the car in between layers, or just wait the 24 hours and reapply?
...updating the instructions (for folks who don't know about Edmunds, etc.) there would be less hassle.
The instructions say "apply a thin coat". Well, a thin coat to person A will be different to person B. And as Squid pointed out, he read the directions both from Sal and Edmunds and still messed up the first time, and I'm sure he's not the only one.
Gee, what would it take for Zaino to put graduation marks on the side of the bottle? Either silk screened or molded into the plastic, plenty of products have them. Then you could easily say in the instructions "for a small car use 1 graduation mark's worth of product, for a SUV use 2, etc..."
Give folks some credit here... many of us know how to read and do research before buying a product (we all used Edmunds to buy our cars, didn't we?).
Forget about this discussion group, assume you are Joe consumer and buying Zaino from the web site. It's apparent Zaino needs to make a little effort into updating their product packaging/instructions.
This is from the Tips and Tricks page- "TIPS & TRICKS TO MAKE YOUR CAR A SHOWCAR!
STEP ONE:
Make sure vehicle is clean. Apply a thin coat of Zaino Bros' Z-1 Polish Lok™ Pre-Cleaner and Gloss Conditioner in a circular motion, using a 100% cotton towel or applicator. No rubbing is necessary. Entire vehicle may be done at one time. Let haze, DO NOT REMOVE Polish Lok!"
Listen to fastdriver. And yes, just let it dry. Like I said, even if it takes a few days. It happens, and its recoverable, and its not the end of the world. When you next get a chance, buf it lightly, and again, try a little Z6. The real cure will be in a week or so when you next get a chance to apply your next layer of Z5. No Z1 will be required, and you can try for a very thin coating. If you have additional questions, give Sal a call.
Folks: Let's not get over-critical here. I've seen Z2 take two days to dry. Ok, I was up in the Bershires (Mountains) in cool wet conditions. We all don't live in Tusan,AZ. But it is very easy to apply more Z than necessary. And getting to those rocker panels and wheels can east up a lot of Z too.
I have read over everything on Zaino's website, read through just about every post on this board, and I still put too much zaino on. I can only imagine what would happen to someone who buys it from one of the few stores the stuff is in and doesn't really understand what "thin" is relative to. I am getting frustrated in trying to get the stuff off, and I only used 3/4 of an inch out of each bottle. I don't know what would happen if someone used half the bottle by going with the "traditional" thin coat of wax everyone is used to.
Listen to fastdriver. And yes, just let it dry. Like I said, even if it takes a few days. It happens, and its recoverable, and its not the end of the world. When you next get a chance, buf it lightly, and again, try a little Z6. The real cure will be in a week or so when you next get a chance to apply your next layer of Z5. No Z1 will be required, and you can try for a very thin coating. If you have additional questions, give Sal a call.
Folks: Let's not get over-critical here. I've seen Z2 take two days to dry. Ok, I was up in the Bershires (Mountains) in cool wet conditions. We all don't live in Tusan,AZ. But it is very easy to apply more Z than necessary. And getting to those rocker panels and wheels can east up a lot of Z too.
I was wondering, what do people do with dust? to maintain their car on a regular basis? I know you're not supposed to wipe off the dust cause that creates swirls, I've used california duster before, but it traps the dust and eventually will start to scratch instead of clean, plus it has some oil/wax in the duster, I dont' know if it's good to mix w/ Zaino.
So, i was thinking of a small leaf blower
in addition, the Z6 says it's supposed to help in repel dust, how good is it in actuality?
I don't think the Z6 actually REPELLS dust, despite what you may read; maybe it does not have a static or a sticky surface and does not attract dust. I don't know, but that's the way it seems to me.
I will say this, however; a few weeks after putting several coats of Z on my new car, I took a 650 mile road trip to the beach. There was lots of rain and of course the usual road dirt. After parking the car, it looked pretty bad. It rained overnight, and instead of looking worse, it looked much better. Very few water spots (and this is a black car) and much of the road dirt was washed off by the rain. It looked almost clean and the shine was quite noticable.
This has not happened to me before, and is due to the very very slick surface of the Zaino finish (I think). I had read about this, but really had to see it to believe it. Yes, the dirt almost falls off the car all by itself.
I think the leaf blower is a bad idea; you can scratch a finish by blowing grit over it just the same as rubbing the dirt over it with a dry rag. On the other hand, I have no simple solution to the dust problem, except to say that the Cal. duster works fine for me so far.
I got another compliment on my Zaino'd Camaro today. I was at the McD's drive-thru and the cashier was telling me how great he thought it looked, and he said "whoever did that, did a great job"..so I said, "it was ME".
he proceeded to tell me that he also works part time as a car detailer and he has seen a lot of waxed/polished finishes and so he's not easily impressed - but he was with mine!
I asked him if he ever heard of Zaino and he said no. He said, "they must have some good stuff..."
Oh, and it hadn't been washed since last Friday, and 3 weeks since the Zaino with only one coat Z2!
And my wife thinks I'm nuts for saying "free car wash" when it rains hard and parking it outside to get a cleaning. The next day she asks me how I had time to dry it and I said I didn't need to :-)
Your post says,"That would almost make sense since Z3 costs more than Z2! I guess Z3 is "Z2 premium"?"
At $12.95 each, Z2 and Z3 cost the same. Are you thinking of Z5, which is $16.95?
The Zaino website states the following about Z3: "Same molecular chemistry formula as Z-2 Show Car Polish above, but also includes a custom blend of emulsifiers to deep clean regular paints, which tend to oxidize, shrink and lose their resiliency quicker. Special filling agents for fine scratches, buffing and swirl marks and a flex agent that is compatible with single stage urethanes, lacquers, enamels, lucite, emeron, acrylics and older paint formulations."
Certainly anyone who has been exposed to older vehicles has seen the cracking that can occur in their paints; from reading the site, I have the sense that Z3 can prevent that cracking.
Be very careful about just wiping the leftover Zaino off a couple of days later. there will certainly be dust and you will be grinding that into the paint. The C.F duster does leave slight wax trails on my car as well - its black and noticeable if I dust when the paint is warm to hot. A quick spray of Z6 is all it takes to both remove the wax trail and add a little shine. I have about 25-30 coats this year alone of Z5-Z2 and i can attest to the joys of water running off the car like nothing i have seen - and leaving behind a glow. Even if my car hasnt been dusted or cleaned for two days - there is a layer of dust that can be plainly seen because of where i park at work - but the glow can also be plainly seen beneath that. In the last 3 weeks, i have had the pleasure of Zaino'ing a 99 vette and a 99 XJR - and both owners were amazed at the difference two - three coats of Zaino made on their cars. Now they have sent a buddy with a metallic grey Benz to me cause he saw the finish and wants it in his car. These are people who can afford, and have paid for pro detailing -but because the shine and rain runoff seems to disappear far quicker than on my poor little SSEi - they now want me to do it on a regular basis. Oh, and its only relaxation for me - i have a real job but just love to look at nice cars that i have made stand out.
I too, had drying problems with first coat of Z-1, Z-2. Humidity in the Midwest can be brutal, and I wondered what I had gotten myself into. After the initial struggle, the next three coats of Z-2 and Z-6 were a snap. I did notice that while applying Z-2 that water spots which were invisible to the eye seemed to "raise", and this worried me since Zaino doesn't have cleaning properties. After letting it dry thoroughly, wiping off, and spritzing with Z-6; presto, pure glossy shine. I guess my advice is for those who are struggling with it is to hang in there and it will pay off.
As posted earlier, I don't think it is an exaggeration to say the people at the dealership where I bought the Solara were "overwhelmed" with the appearance of my car. It is a far cry from the cars their crew "detailed" for sale. They are offering me freebies in exchange for using pictures of my car in promotions. Heck, I might hire an agent. )
Barring rain, coat 5 of Z-2, Z-6 on its way tomorrow.
I have just gotten my Zaino and it time to work. As far as towels. I have heaps of nice soft cotton towels. They are old but good. What is needed in a towel to ensure a good result. Seems to be a lot of opinion about this. Also how much Z1/Z2 should it take to do a large sedan (Audi A8) I am a classic over user when it comes to car products. Its a real problem...
Wrong! There are not a lot of opinions about what towels to use. They must be 100% white cotton made in America towels. Others have poly threads that scratch the car. New or old does not make much difference, but be careful of old towels if they have grit or dirt in them.
See the Zainobros web page for the details on the towels. If I had an A8, I'd play it safe and just go buy some new ones to use only on the car.
As for how much Z1/Z2 to use; I'm sure I used too much the first time; just remember it's not wax, and you are not building up a thick coat and you are not filling it anything. You are just coating the surface. Be sure you have lots of light, and just go around the car twice, once with z1 and then with z2. I did this in the evening, pulled it into the garage and let it dry overnight. I had no trouble removing it in the morning. Most problems with the first coat seem to arise because of the longer drying time of the two coats. If you try to remove it too soon, its still wet and you just move it around on the surface of the car.
Why take the risk. Two laps around an A8 is enough for one day; that's a pretty big car. (I used to have Audi 5000 Turbo, which I think was the same size (which is why I got rid of it, but that's another story)).
Get some towels, take your time, remember to let each coat of z2 or z5 "cure" for 24 hours AFTER removing it, and you will be very pleased. (I hear that the A8 is a real rocket.)
I just got some REALLY old hand-me-down towels (some must have been white once...) that I wouldn't even wash my car with. Right into the garbage.
I have some towels of my own that I retired, that are just OK for this sort of duty.
But I bought one good, US-made, soft, white, bath-size towel at Wal-Mart and let me tell you, it is a joy to use.
Lesson learned: if you're gonna baby your car with the Z, get some good towels. It not only makes a difference in the finish, but it makes the treatment easier to do.
Somewhere back in this thread is a URL where you can get top-quality towels for cheap. That's the way to go!
And if you're driving there, you can stop by the Fieldcrest/Cannon outlet directly. My wife gave me a weird look when I pointed at it and said that's where I got the towels to use on my car while we were on vacation last week :-)
Fieldcrest royal velvet are the towel of choice for those that care. There is one they make that is even thicker but not required. Dont forget the "special " washing instructions.
i keep my car towels seperate from all others in the house - they are probably better than what i use on my body
I'm not trying to cut corners with the towels I just wanted to know what was needed. I am in Canada anyone know where I can get such towels? As far as the A8 being a big car, yes it is my family just added an SC430 to the garage so I am looking forward to cleaning that one as well. But I have done it with the Meguiars Professional line and don't think that a silver car can shine anymore but I am willing to give it a try...
kenyee: Hey! I was in Bah Habah last week too. Funny you mentioned the Towel Outlet because when I passed that place, Zaino came to my mind as well. The weather was awesome wasn't it? Great hiking.
silverbullit: You might notice a marginal difference on your silver car (I have a white car and I can tell the difference between Meguilars and Zaino) but the big difference is the ease of application. Zainoing my car takes 20 minutes whereas applying Meguilars takes 2 hours (for the cleaner-polish-wax steps). Not to mention the durability.
A general question: I think I applied too much Z1 during my initial application (imagine that). Now when I do a Z7 wash, I can see smearing. Should I just continue to Z7 wash until the smearing stops? Thanks
Weather was good for the 2nd half of the week. We went over to Nova Scotia for the first part and it was dreary. We did manage to do the Cape Split hike. The view was amazing. The Cadillac Mtn hike later that week was anticlimactic (plus one of my legs cramped up)-: Got this cool cap at Geddy's w/ a sheep saying "Baaaa Habaaaa" ;-)
For your smearing problem, you might want to check w/ Sal.
Emaison - I am having the same problem. And I have the exact same car as you. I was hoping the smearing would go away as soon as I washed it, but it sounds like that is not doing it for you? How much z-1 and z-2/z-5 did you use? I used about 3/4 of an inch out of both bottles and I guess this is too much? Well, if you go off of the instructions in the website, it says a bottle should be able to do about 8 coats of a midsized car. Well, I have a mid sized car and I could certainly do 8+ more coats at the rate I used it so WHAT GIVES? If this stuff doesn't get resolved and I don't start seeing what everyone is RAVING about then I may be the first person to say on this board that zaino SUCKS. (that should get some responses)
When I put on a fresh z1/z5 earlier in the spring the hood of my car appeared smeared. I emailed Sal, who told me to dampen the area and wipe it down to remove the streaks/smear. That didn't work, however, when I washed it again with Z7, the streaks/smears disappeared. When I applied the z2/z6 immediately afterwards the car came out nice and shiny. It does take some getting used to, to get just the right amount on the car without smearing or streaking. I understand it is frustrating since I almost gave up as well, but since I did the wash process again I began to understand that you have to be patient and let it fully dry before taking it off. I also learned not to drive with the zaino still on the car. Hope this helps, and just hang in there. Z is worth it! Mark
My routine is just a Z7 wash with a Z6 wipedown in between. I don't do the "multiple coat" thing on my car, since it's white and it doesn't really benefit from the "wet look" as much. So, I'll use Z2 or Z5 about once every 3 months, and the Z1 once a year. However, we just got my wife a "new" 98 Taurus that is deep blue, so I plan on Z'ing it this weekend. I may be tempted to do the multiple coat thing, just to see what it does.
You KNOW what it will do on the deep blue! LOL... Haven't you seen enough pics of my former Christine and the new Acura CL-S?? If you need a reminder, just click on my name above and the pics can be viewed again. Sorry, the SmashCast movie I made in photopoint.com with the Acura is gone! They didn't renew their contract with the company that provided the movies. ;-(((
I haven't read all these posts but I have scanned through quite a few pages and I haven't seen what treatment is used for the black bumpers like what my new CRV has. I will be ordering Zaino when I get the group buy info talked about in post 3181. I have a silver CRV so it seems like I might not get the spectacular results the darker paints get but if it helps keep my V looking great it will be worth it.
I will Z-wash - then apply Z5/Z2 - then Z6. Every time. I have (after tonight) about 30 coats this year - - can we say GLOWING BLACK SSEi !
I used ot have the smear look too - it was always because i put on too much. a wash or two, some Z6 spray and bam - gone. Do stick with it - absolutely worth it.
I have been reading all the posts up to about 1200 and am convinced to try Zaino on my new GMC Envoy that is on order (Light Pewter). I have placed and received my Zaino order (Z1, Z2, Z5, Z6, Z7 and Z18).
Yesterday I picked up 4 full size towels at Filenes. They are Fieldcreast and the tag says "100% Cotton/Cotton/Agaloon". Before I have the wife trim and resew the edges, are these appropriate?
kenyee: We did Champlain Mt, Gorham Mt, Beehive (via the Bowl), and Beech Mt. Really clear days for us. Didn't have too much time to take in the views as the mosquitos were merciless. We want to try Nova Scotia next time as well. I hear its nice.
killakella123: I made a conscious decision to use less z1/z5 on my initial application as I read the posts on this board beforehand. I still think I used too much. I let the initial z1/z5 dry overnight. Maybe I should have let it dry longer. I read that a bottle would last 8+ midsize cars as well. We have two Accords and I have two coats of z2 on both and the bottle is still 5/6 full. I applied subsequent coats of z2 or z5 in the midday sun and I use very very little. Just enough so that I can see it go on. I live in a humid area and I think that has a lot to do with my problems. I dont think Zaino sucks at all. I may be having problems with my application technique but I'll figure it out. The main thing with me is the ease of application and the durability. Now gone are the days where every three months I would apply my old waxes in ways that Mr. Myagi would be proud. What color is your accord? I have the Dark Green and even though I have smearing during the wash, it is remedied a little with z6. Looks really great.
homer2000ssei: Wow! 30 coats in one year? Isn't that counterproductive? I mean Zaino's initial cost is much more than other polishes and waxes but its cost per application is much less. Zaino's durability helps make your long term costs cheaper than rival brands.
killakella: Don't give up just yet! Where do you live - the Northeast (my area) has a lot of humid conditions and it rains a lot too. Maybe you should call Sal Zaino. Really, he'll try to help you.
emaison: I too have the Honda Accord Coupe ('98 EX V6) in dark Emerald Green. Looks great. But I also had the same long drying time problems on my initial application.
Emaison, Pblevine - I live in Overland Park, KS near Kansas City. The initial drying time of my first 2 coats was about 21 hours and it smeared just as it did when I checked it at 4 hours. The temp was in the 80's and RH about 50% when I did it. I did talk to Sal Zaino, he tells me he could do my car 28 times with one bottle. He also told me it will come off when I wash it. Even if that is true, it is still a pain in the a**. Well, maybe he should put on the website AND on the bottle that "one bottle will do a mid-size car approx. 28 times." instead of the 8 that it currently states. My accord is red. I think it is one of the better shades of red on cars.. most are either too bright red or too close to maroon for me.. The san marino red is just right. Even though right now it has zaino smears all over it with dust sticking to the smears enhancing the effect. Oh well, I bought the stuff, Im sure I can make it work like everyone else here says it can.
Just be aware that there is a LOT of driving to get from spot to spot in Nova Scotia. And don't trust all the signs. Trust your map. Some brightbulbs decided that it'd be cool to put up signs a few exits early to get you to take the long way through a country road going through their towns. Also make sure you go in season (July-Aug). There were no festivals and stuff last week, so it wasn't too exciting except for the cool hikes. Of course, if you just want to go on cool hikes, go off-season :-)
Even the Zaino couldn't keep the bug splatter off, especially the mustard colored bug guts. :-P
I live in Overland Park (Stanley) and I don't have any problems with the drying time. I do apply it in direct sunlight, but it's usually dry for me in about 2 hours. I'm going to put in on my dark car this weekend, so I'll see if it smears for me or not. So far, on white car and a gold car, I've been nothing but pleased.
Currrently in this weeks climate in Richmond, VA my drying time is under 15 min in the garage and almost instantaneous in direct sunlight! No smearing as yet so it is dry!
While I haven't paid close attention to every detail you've related about your Zaino experience, I believe you said you re-washed the car, but I don't recall your saying you used the Z6 Gloss Enhancer. You should be able to smooth out the smears with Z6. If you have Z6, it can also help in the polish application; spray it on you applicator/application medium before you dab the polish onto the applicator to spread the polish more evenly and thinly. If you don't have Z6, perhaps a reapplication of a very little polish with repeated wipings to spread out the new polish/smear material might help.
It's amazing how much you can learn from this forum. I can pass on three tips I've learned here to minimize both time and effort when drying the car after washing it.
1) For the final rinse, remove the hose nozzle and let the water flow onto the car. This eliminates the "beading" and water retention from using a spray, especially on slick Zed surfaces.
2) Try using a leaf blower after the final rinse. It really works. The car won't be completely dry, but most of the water can be blown off easily in just a few moments. And it's an especially effective way of getting the water out of nooks and crannies.
3) Use a California Water Blade as the final step before towel drying. You'll find that it's required in just a few places. I now use only one towel to complete the drying process, and it's damp enough then to wipe down the interior windows if they aren't too grimy.
One last thought -- I use Z-6 instead of a wash IF the surface isn't too dirty. Use a California Duster or clean white towel (very minimum pressure to avoid scratching) to remove any thin layer of dust before spraying on the Z-6.
emaison - yes - 'bout 30 this year. The cost isnt the concern - the glow is! I was at the dealers yesterday and had a small crowd of people looking over my car - (since it is 2 years old and looks so good) and ended up giving them the Zaino story.
She is black also - and every coat is a plus - im going to try and get 2 coats a week for the summer if i can - but guaranteed to get 1 on.
I know a guy on another UBB that i spend time on who has 500 coats on his Trans Am - about 2 yrs old (maybe 3 max). Sure - that is OCD likely - but geez that puppy shines and is well protected.
keithd1949 - isnt there a name on the tag that might say "royal velvet" or "charisma"? although you are likely ok with the fact that they are fieldcrest , U.S made and labelled 100%
killakella - 28 coats - wow! he must just be holding the bottle over the car and threatening to polish it. i get about 12-14 applications on mine - and am sure to use the gloss spray inbetween every coat and after every dusting.
I am going to start to Zaino my Lexus SC430 tonight...Very excited..When using the Z1 do you really want to work it into the paint like other products or are you just trying to apply a thin layer to the surface. Also I am going to try to use the method suggested to me about using the pad that I got and putting the product on in the form of an X to start off with, that will help me not use too much. For a car that size I should be using around an ince of product. Am I going to see the Z1 when its on, will I feel it? I think that after I have Z! the whole car it will be dry enough to start to put on Z2? Because it 31 degrees(90)out right now I am going to have to let it dry overnight I think.
And then I can use Z6 right? then I must wait another 24 hours before putting on another coat of Z2. When the Z1/Z2 combo is dry will it need to be buffed off or will it just wipe away.Sorry for all the questions but I want to get it right. There has been a fair amount of talk about the first coat of Z1/Z2 not drying that well?
Last but not least I went to the store to get some towels and i found that 90% of them were 100% cotton, just different grades I guess you could say, they had fieldcrest but not in white. Can I use any 100% cotton white towel.
wipe, don't work. on a light colored car, don't expect to see/feel anything. Z1/Z2 is back to back with no wait. Z6 is after you remove, or right before you apply. wipe, don't buff. i tried to use as little Z1 as possible, and i had no problem. use more, wait more. towels must be made in USA, nothing but cotton (be wary if you see any adjective before the word cotton), white, patternless. depending on the age of your vehicle, you may want to dawn/clay/Z5. your timing/technique/materials all only matter to the degree of perfection you expect on the other side. nothing bad will happen if you deviate. it just won't look/last as well as some of ours.
Thanks for your suggestions showdere, I have done all the steps and am ready to Z1, its REALLY humid here right now and I tried to put a little Z1 on the surface with the applicator and it went on but there were tiny moisture drops that seemed to follow me around when I moved it around. Is that normal or due to high humidity. Z1 followed right after by Z2 won't they just blend together if the Z1 hasn't bonded with the surface? I appreciate the comment about nothing bad will happen if I deviate but I won't do that, before Zaino I used products and got every last bit out of them, from an appearence aspect and a technical protection aspect and that is what I expect do get from Zaino products as well. Part of the kick I get out of owning nice cars is taking care of them and making sure they always look their best adn will continue to do so for years to come. Thats why I am always asking questions.
I just Z'd my SC430 last month; it will not take you long.
Since it's a SC430, it's not older than March 15th, and the Lexus paint is better than most, so you do not really need the clay bar, especially if the car has not been driven for more than a week or two.
Check the zainobros.com page for complete instructions. Briefly, regarding your questions, and bearing in mind that I have only done this once (although I have 5 or 6 coats of z5 and z2 on there), I suggest:
Put the z1 on lightly, don't rub it in -- it's not going in anyway. More importantly is to be complete -- don't miss any spots with the z1. Use a work light if you do this indoors or in the evening. When you are done with the z1, do another lap around the car with the z2; don't wait, just keep on going. Yes, they blend together but they are supposed to and/or it does not make any difference. The directions from Zaino are real clear ==> you don't need to wait for the Z1 to dry before adding z2 right on top of it.
Then, what I did, was let it dry overnight. I did the application in the evening in a garage, and wiped it off in the morning. This is really easy.
Wait 24 hours or more after removing the z1/z2, and then use z6 and then apply another coat of z2 (or z5 if you want, but you should not need that on a new car unless your dealer "washed and waxed" it for you creating swirl marks. The darker the color, the more you might want to add a coat of z5 in there.
On my black SC430, I built up as follows: Z1/z5, then z2, then z2, then z5, then z2. This took over a week, of course, because I did each application in the evening and removed it in the morning, then waited a day and a half to do the next coat. (Apply z6 before each application of z2 or z5).
Be sure to get inside the doors jambs, and be sure to get the horizontal thin "lip" across the back of the car under the trunk lid. You have to open the trunk to do this, but I notice after a rain that this lip is filled with dirty water spots from rain trying to get into the trunk. Everything under the spoiler on the back of the car takes lots of spray due to the way the car interacts with the wind (I think).
With good paint like the Lexus paint, and great polish like Zaino, you will love the result. Be patient, it's well worth it.
My SC430 is Silver so I am not using Z5 nor did I order any. I am actuall going to wait and do the Lexus last and work on another car first also silver as well. Great tips about the special spots to do on the Lexus, its sure a great car and the Silver really looks good. Black on Black is a great combo but I would go crazy keeping it clean, I'm a nut when it comes to that. Enjoy and thanks again for the tips.
I came very close to getting a silver/black, but, after seeing the ecru interior, I wanted that over the black. I did not like silver/ecru, so I went for the black/ecru because it came in before the blue/ecru (I still have not seen one of those). With the top down, the black/white car really draws a crowd, and the incredible shine from the Z on the black finish is like glass. My only problem is that I know how good it can look when perfectly clean, and I want to spend too much time keeping it that way.
The silver/black (I presume that's what you have, as I have never seen any other interior with the silver) is a great looking car. I have heard that it is the most frequently produced combination, and it's the one they show in most of the ads, for obvious reasons.
Once you get the Z finish on it, it will look even better.
I'm planning on claying, and Z5ing this weekend, but its going to be very humid (and is already) up here in the NorthEast. I think I'll try wasing, claying, and washing again on Saturday - rain not withstanding. And hopefully, Sunday will bring better conditions up in Otis, MA.
Also, apply Z1 in light circular motion - apply the Z2 in straight lines. Horizontal surfaces - go front to back and on vertical surfaces - top to bottom.
im not sure about the need to wait 24 hours before giving it a spray of Z6 - i do mine immediately after wiping of the Zaino - but do what you are comfortable with.
the key - light pressure grasshopper - -polymer on, polymer off
Well I let it dry overnight, so that would be about 10 hours or so. It seems that the rear of the car is dry but the hood and some other areas still smear. I think I will wait and do the whole thing at once. But I did remove a little patch on the trunk. It looks no different than before (Meguiars Products). I have heard not to expect anything fantastic with silver cars and Zaino especially after the first application. Maybe a little Z6 will get it going as well. I also read that if you let dry overnight and then remove the product the next day you don't neem to give it another full 24 hours to sit before another Z2. Whats everybodys opinion on using Z6 right after taking off Z2 and then again just before another coat of Z2.
Silverbuilt asks: "Whats everybodys opinion on using Z6 right after taking off Z2 and then again just before another coat of Z2. "
From what I know, and I'm no expert, that's a fine idea. I think that's common and maybe even recommended.
My understanding is that all Z formulas are compatible and you can do no harm in applying them in any order at any time.
I think the idea is to get some z6 on the car in between coats of z2. If you do 1 or 2 or 6 coats of z6 in there, it can't hurt.
When you do all this z6 and z2 every day or so for a week, your towels really get a workout in the washing machine, don't they. I felt like I was running a gym for a week or so.
Comments
TIA
Mark
The instructions say "apply a thin coat". Well, a thin coat to person A will be different to person B. And as Squid pointed out, he read the directions both from Sal and Edmunds and still messed up the first time, and I'm sure he's not the only one.
Gee, what would it take for Zaino to put graduation marks on the side of the bottle? Either silk screened or molded into the plastic, plenty of products have them. Then you could easily say in the instructions "for a small car use 1 graduation mark's worth of product, for a SUV use 2, etc..."
Give folks some credit here... many of us know how to read and do research before buying a product (we all used Edmunds to buy our cars, didn't we?).
Forget about this discussion group, assume you are Joe consumer and buying Zaino from the web site. It's apparent Zaino needs to make a little effort into updating their product packaging/instructions.
Just my 2-cents from a customer's point of view.
This is from the Tips and Tricks page-
"TIPS & TRICKS TO MAKE YOUR CAR A SHOWCAR!
STEP ONE:
Make sure vehicle is clean. Apply a thin coat of Zaino Bros' Z-1 Polish Lok™ Pre-Cleaner and Gloss Conditioner in a circular motion, using a 100% cotton towel or applicator. No rubbing is necessary. Entire vehicle may be done at one time. Let haze, DO NOT REMOVE Polish Lok!"
fastdriver
Folks: Let's not get over-critical here. I've seen Z2 take two days to dry. Ok, I was up in the Bershires (Mountains) in cool wet conditions. We all don't live in Tusan,AZ. But it is very easy to apply more Z than necessary. And getting to those rocker panels and wheels can east up a lot of Z too.
Folks: Let's not get over-critical here. I've seen Z2 take two days to dry. Ok, I was up in the Bershires (Mountains) in cool wet conditions. We all don't live in Tusan,AZ. But it is very easy to apply more Z than necessary. And getting to those rocker panels and wheels can east up a lot of Z too.
So, i was thinking of a small leaf blower
in addition, the Z6 says it's supposed to help in repel dust, how good is it in actuality?
I will say this, however; a few weeks after putting several coats of Z on my new car, I took a 650 mile road trip to the beach. There was lots of rain and of course the usual road dirt. After parking the car, it looked pretty bad. It rained overnight, and instead of looking worse, it looked much better. Very few water spots (and this is a black car) and much of the road dirt was washed off by the rain. It looked almost clean and the shine was quite noticable.
This has not happened to me before, and is due to the very very slick surface of the Zaino finish (I think). I had read about this, but really had to see it to believe it. Yes, the dirt almost falls off the car all by itself.
I think the leaf blower is a bad idea; you can scratch a finish by blowing grit over it just the same as rubbing the dirt over it with a dry rag. On the other hand, I have no simple solution to the dust problem, except to say that the Cal. duster works fine for me so far.
he proceeded to tell me that he also works part time as a car detailer and he has seen a lot of waxed/polished finishes and so he's not easily impressed - but he was with mine!
I asked him if he ever heard of Zaino and he said no. He said, "they must have some good stuff..."
Oh, and it hadn't been washed since last Friday, and 3 weeks since the Zaino with only one coat Z2!
Your post says,"That would almost make sense since Z3 costs more than Z2! I guess Z3 is "Z2 premium"?"
At $12.95 each, Z2 and Z3 cost the same. Are you thinking of Z5, which is $16.95?
The Zaino website states the following about Z3: "Same molecular chemistry formula as Z-2 Show Car Polish above, but also includes a custom blend of emulsifiers to deep clean regular paints, which tend to oxidize, shrink and lose their resiliency quicker. Special filling agents for fine scratches, buffing and swirl marks and a flex agent that is compatible with single stage urethanes, lacquers, enamels, lucite, emeron, acrylics and older paint formulations."
Certainly anyone who has been exposed to older vehicles has seen the cracking that can occur in their paints; from reading the site, I have the sense that Z3 can prevent that cracking.
In the last 3 weeks, i have had the pleasure of Zaino'ing a 99 vette and a 99 XJR - and both owners were amazed at the difference two - three coats of Zaino made on their cars. Now they have sent a buddy with a metallic grey Benz to me cause he saw the finish and wants it in his car.
These are people who can afford, and have paid for pro detailing -but because the shine and rain runoff seems to disappear far quicker than on my poor little SSEi - they now want me to do it on a regular basis. Oh, and its only relaxation for me - i have a real job but just love to look at nice cars that i have made stand out.
my .02
As posted earlier, I don't think it is an exaggeration to say the people at the dealership where I bought the Solara were "overwhelmed" with the appearance of my car. It is a far cry from the cars their crew "detailed" for sale. They are offering me freebies in exchange for using pictures of my car in promotions. Heck, I might hire an agent.
Barring rain, coat 5 of Z-2, Z-6 on its way tomorrow.
Also how much Z1/Z2 should it take to do a large sedan (Audi A8) I am a classic over user when it comes to car products. Its a real problem...
See the Zainobros web page for the details on the towels. If I had an A8, I'd play it safe and just go buy some new ones to use only on the car.
As for how much Z1/Z2 to use; I'm sure I used too much the first time; just remember it's not wax, and you are not building up a thick coat and you are not filling it anything. You are just coating the surface. Be sure you have lots of light, and just go around the car twice, once with z1 and then with z2. I did this in the evening, pulled it into the garage and let it dry overnight. I had no trouble removing it in the morning. Most problems with the first coat seem to arise because of the longer drying time of the two coats. If you try to remove it too soon, its still wet and you just move it around on the surface of the car.
Why take the risk. Two laps around an A8 is enough for one day; that's a pretty big car. (I used to have Audi 5000 Turbo, which I think was the same size (which is why I got rid of it, but that's another story)).
Get some towels, take your time, remember to let each coat of z2 or z5 "cure" for 24 hours AFTER removing it, and you will be very pleased. (I hear that the A8 is a real rocket.)
I have some towels of my own that I retired, that are just OK for this sort of duty.
But I bought one good, US-made, soft, white, bath-size towel at Wal-Mart and let me tell you, it is a joy to use.
Lesson learned: if you're gonna baby your car with the Z, get some good towels. It not only makes a difference in the finish, but it makes the treatment easier to do.
Somewhere back in this thread is a URL where you can get top-quality towels for cheap. That's the way to go!
Steve
i keep my car towels seperate from all others in the house - they are probably better than what i use on my body
As far as the A8 being a big car, yes it is my family just added an SC430 to the garage so I am looking forward to cleaning that one as well. But I have done it with the Meguiars Professional line and don't think that a silver car can shine anymore but I am willing to give it a try...
silverbullit: You might notice a marginal difference on your silver car (I have a white car and I can tell the difference between Meguilars and Zaino) but the big difference is the ease of application. Zainoing my car takes 20 minutes whereas applying Meguilars takes 2 hours (for the cleaner-polish-wax steps). Not to mention the durability.
A general question: I think I applied too much Z1 during my initial application (imagine that). Now when I do a Z7 wash, I can see smearing. Should I just continue to Z7 wash until the smearing stops? Thanks
For your smearing problem, you might want to check w/ Sal.
Mark
You KNOW what it will do on the deep blue! LOL... Haven't you seen enough pics of my former Christine and the new Acura CL-S?? If you need a reminder, just click on my name above and the pics can be viewed again. Sorry, the SmashCast movie I made in photopoint.com with the Acura is gone! They didn't renew their contract with the company that provided the movies. ;-(((
fastdriver
Every time. I have (after tonight) about 30 coats this year - - can we say GLOWING BLACK SSEi !
I used ot have the smear look too - it was always because i put on too much. a wash or two, some Z6 spray and bam - gone. Do stick with it - absolutely worth it.
Yesterday I picked up 4 full size towels at Filenes. They are Fieldcreast and the tag says "100% Cotton/Cotton/Agaloon". Before I have the wife trim and resew the edges, are these appropriate?
Thanks
killakella123: I made a conscious decision to use less z1/z5 on my initial application as I read the posts on this board beforehand. I still think I used too much. I let the initial z1/z5 dry overnight. Maybe I should have let it dry longer.
I read that a bottle would last 8+ midsize cars as well. We have two Accords and I have two coats of z2 on both and the bottle is still 5/6 full. I applied subsequent coats of z2 or z5 in the midday sun and I use very very little. Just enough so that I can see it go on. I live in a humid area and I think that has a lot to do with my problems. I dont think Zaino sucks at all. I may be having problems with my application technique but I'll figure it out. The main thing with me is the ease of application and the durability. Now gone are the days where every three months I would apply my old waxes in ways that Mr. Myagi would be proud.
What color is your accord? I have the Dark Green and even though I have smearing during the wash, it is remedied a little with z6. Looks really great.
homer2000ssei: Wow! 30 coats in one year? Isn't that counterproductive? I mean Zaino's initial cost is much more than other polishes and waxes but its cost per application is much less. Zaino's durability helps make your long term costs cheaper than rival brands.
Don't give up just yet! Where do you live - the Northeast (my area) has a lot of humid conditions and it rains a lot too. Maybe you should call Sal Zaino. Really, he'll try to help you.
emaison:
I too have the Honda Accord Coupe ('98 EX V6) in dark Emerald Green. Looks great. But I also had the same long drying time problems on my initial application.
Even the Zaino couldn't keep the bug splatter off, especially the mustard colored bug guts. :-P
1) For the final rinse, remove the hose nozzle and let the water flow onto the car. This eliminates the "beading" and water retention from using a spray, especially on slick Zed surfaces.
2) Try using a leaf blower after the final rinse. It really works. The car won't be completely dry, but most of the water can be blown off easily in just a few moments. And it's an especially effective way of getting the water out of nooks and crannies.
3) Use a California Water Blade as the final step before towel drying. You'll find that it's required in just a few places. I now use only one towel to complete the drying process, and it's damp enough then to wipe down the interior windows if they aren't too grimy.
One last thought -- I use Z-6 instead of a wash IF the surface isn't too dirty. Use a California Duster or clean white towel (very minimum pressure to avoid scratching) to remove any thin layer of dust before spraying on the Z-6.
She is black also - and every coat is a plus - im going to try and get 2 coats a week for the summer if i can - but guaranteed to get 1 on.
I know a guy on another UBB that i spend time on who has 500 coats on his Trans Am - about 2 yrs old (maybe 3 max). Sure - that is OCD likely - but geez that puppy shines and is well protected.
keithd1949 - isnt there a name on the tag that might say "royal velvet" or "charisma"? although you are likely ok with the fact that they are fieldcrest , U.S made and labelled 100%
killakella - 28 coats - wow! he must just be holding the bottle over the car and threatening to polish it. i get about 12-14 applications on mine - and am sure to use the gloss spray inbetween every coat and after every dusting.
Also I am going to try to use the method suggested to me about using the pad that I got and putting the product on in the form of an X to start off with, that will help me not use too much. For a car that size I should be using around an ince of product.
Am I going to see the Z1 when its on, will I feel it? I think that after I have Z! the whole car it will be dry enough to start to put on Z2? Because it 31 degrees(90)out right now I am going to have to let it dry overnight I think.
And then I can use Z6 right? then I must wait another 24 hours before putting on another coat of Z2. When the Z1/Z2 combo is dry will it need to be buffed off or will it just wipe away.Sorry for all the questions but I want to get it right.
There has been a fair amount of talk about the first coat of Z1/Z2 not drying that well?
Last but not least I went to the store to get some towels and i found that 90% of them were 100% cotton, just different grades I guess you could say, they had fieldcrest but not in white. Can I use any 100% cotton white towel.
Thanks guys and Gals
on a light colored car, don't expect to see/feel anything. Z1/Z2 is back to back with no wait.
Z6 is after you remove, or right before you apply.
wipe, don't buff.
i tried to use as little Z1 as possible, and i had no problem. use more, wait more.
towels must be made in USA, nothing but cotton (be wary if you see any adjective before the word cotton), white, patternless.
depending on the age of your vehicle, you may want to dawn/clay/Z5.
your timing/technique/materials all only matter to the degree of perfection you expect on the other side. nothing bad will happen if you deviate. it just won't look/last as well as some of ours.
I have done all the steps and am ready to Z1, its REALLY humid here right now and I tried to put a little Z1 on the surface with the applicator and it went on but there were tiny moisture drops that seemed to follow me around when I moved it around. Is that normal or due to high humidity.
Z1 followed right after by Z2 won't they just blend together if the Z1 hasn't bonded with the surface?
I appreciate the comment about nothing bad will happen if I deviate but I won't do that, before Zaino I used products and got every last bit out of them, from an appearence aspect and a technical protection aspect and that is what I expect do get from Zaino products as well.
Part of the kick I get out of owning nice cars is taking care of them and making sure they always look their best adn will continue to do so for years to come.
Thats why I am always asking questions.
Since it's a SC430, it's not older than March 15th, and the Lexus paint is better than most, so you do not really need the clay bar, especially if the car has not been driven for more than a week or two.
Check the zainobros.com page for complete instructions. Briefly, regarding your questions, and bearing in mind that I have only done this once (although I have 5 or 6 coats of z5 and z2 on there), I suggest:
Put the z1 on lightly, don't rub it in -- it's not going in anyway. More importantly is to be complete -- don't miss any spots with the z1. Use a work light if you do this indoors or in the evening. When you are done with the z1, do another lap around the car with the z2; don't wait, just keep on going. Yes, they blend together but they are supposed to and/or it does not make any difference. The directions from Zaino are real clear ==> you don't need to wait for the Z1 to dry before adding z2 right on top of it.
Then, what I did, was let it dry overnight. I did the application in the evening in a garage, and wiped it off in the morning. This is really easy.
Wait 24 hours or more after removing the z1/z2, and then use z6 and then apply another coat of z2 (or z5 if you want, but you should not need that on a new car unless your dealer "washed and waxed" it for you creating swirl marks. The darker the color, the more you might want to add a coat of z5 in there.
On my black SC430, I built up as follows: Z1/z5, then z2, then z2, then z5, then z2. This took over a week, of course, because I did each application in the evening and removed it in the morning, then waited a day and a half to do the next coat. (Apply z6 before each application of z2 or z5).
Be sure to get inside the doors jambs, and be sure to get the horizontal thin "lip" across the back of the car under the trunk lid. You have to open the trunk to do this, but I notice after a rain that this lip is filled with dirty water spots from rain trying to get into the trunk. Everything under the spoiler on the back of the car takes lots of spray due to the way the car interacts with the wind (I think).
With good paint like the Lexus paint, and great polish like Zaino, you will love the result. Be patient, it's well worth it.
Great tips about the special spots to do on the Lexus, its sure a great car and the Silver really looks good. Black on Black is a great combo but I would go crazy keeping it clean, I'm a nut when it comes to that. Enjoy and thanks again for the tips.
P.S. The wife thinks I'm "freakin'" crazy
I came very close to getting a silver/black, but, after seeing the ecru interior, I wanted that over the black. I did not like silver/ecru, so I went for the black/ecru because it came in before the blue/ecru (I still have not seen one of those). With the top down, the black/white car really draws a crowd, and the incredible shine from the Z on the black finish is like glass. My only problem is that I know how good it can look when perfectly clean, and I want to spend too much time keeping it that way.
The silver/black (I presume that's what you have, as I have never seen any other interior with the silver) is a great looking car. I have heard that it is the most frequently produced combination, and it's the one they show in most of the ads, for obvious reasons.
Once you get the Z finish on it, it will look even better.
I'm planning on claying, and Z5ing this weekend, but its going to be very humid (and is already) up here in the NorthEast. I think I'll try wasing, claying, and washing again on Saturday - rain not withstanding. And hopefully, Sunday will bring better conditions up in Otis, MA.
im not sure about the need to wait 24 hours before giving it a spray of Z6 - i do mine immediately after wiping of the Zaino - but do what you are comfortable with.
the key - light pressure grasshopper - -polymer on, polymer off
But I did remove a little patch on the trunk. It looks no different than before (Meguiars Products). I have heard not to expect anything fantastic with silver cars and Zaino especially after the first application. Maybe a little Z6 will get it going as well. I also read that if you let dry overnight and then remove the product the next day you don't neem to give it another full 24 hours to sit before another Z2.
Whats everybodys opinion on using Z6 right after taking off Z2 and then again just before another coat of Z2.
From what I know, and I'm no expert, that's a fine idea. I think that's common and maybe even recommended.
My understanding is that all Z formulas are compatible and you can do no harm in applying them in any order at any time.
I think the idea is to get some z6 on the car in between coats of z2. If you do 1 or 2 or 6 coats of z6 in there, it can't hurt.
When you do all this z6 and z2 every day or so for a week, your towels really get a workout in the washing machine, don't they. I felt like I was running a gym for a week or so.