I have been gone for a week, but I am concerned about all the comments on pressure washers.
Are you referring to the high pressure rinse wands that they have at do it yourself car washes?
If so, well, I use that all the time and have done so every week for the past 1 1/2 years!! My paint look great. In fact, I think it is superior to other ways for avoiding scratches. I don't risk rubbing sandy soil into the paint.
Of course, I never use the soapy application - I only use the high pressure rinse?
Could awful things happen to me in the future that I am not aware of?
I have previously posted many times on using Zaino in a dry climate. I live in the desert and in the summertime in particular, I have to worry about Z drying too fast, and I can confirm that it dries in only about 2-3 minutes in hot, dry circumstances.
My biggest Z challenge is to apply the Z quickly enough that I can distribute it over a large enough areas before little particles of dried Z form on the applicator and on the lid opening. Also, in my climate, if I don't dampen the applicator, the Z hardens quickly, and I get a thick coat of Z because I can't distribute it before it dries.
Not only do I have to dampen the applicator with water, but I have to close the Z lid between every Z "swipe".
Yes, it is a challenge to get just the right amount of water/Z6 on the applicator. And Yes, you can easily get too much water on the applicator, where you end up with some dampness on the vehicle. However, in a hot, dry, climate the excess water evaporates very quickly, leaving only the Z. The worst that may happen in my opinion is that you won't get enough Z on the car, and you may have to do more applications to get the same result as in more humid or cool situations.
The upside is that you CAN do more Z applications because of the fast drying time.
Also, as you get practice, you will learn how to get just the right amount of dampness. I suggest using a spray bottle of water to dampen your applicator.
I use some Z6 as a dampener, but it is expensive, dries as fast as water, and you will end up using a lot of Z6 if you don't augment it with just plain water.
Note also that the sun does not have much to do with it, except that when you are in the sun, it raises the temperature, which expedites the drying. I always apply my Z in the garage, and I have the exact same condition you describe.
>Sometimes when washing my car with Z7, there are unrinsed dry water >> spots. Is is safe to buff them off with the 100% cotton towel, or >> should one wait until the next wash to get rid of them?
Sal's Response:
Most 'fresh' mineral deposits (water spotting, acid rain, etc.) can be removed with Z-7 Show Car Wash or Z-6 Gloss Enhancer spray. If they have
been on the car for a while and Z-6 or Z-7 will not remove them. Use household white vinegar full strength. This is acetic acid and will loosen and remove the mineral deposits and not harm the paint surface. Most of the time, the water spot etching you see is simply the hardened mineral deposit, giving the illusion of etching into the paint. Believe me, when these mineral deposits harden. They become really tough and hard to remove. The trick is to not give them a chance to harden.
If the above fails, then use the Z-18 ClayBar to remove them.... If those water spots on your car have been there for a while. They might
be already etched into the clear coat. If Z-18 ClayBar will not remove them. Then what you are seeing is an etched spot in the paint surface.
The other weekend, I clayed and washed our older car using another brand of course and also applied a coat of Turtle wax. I decided to do a test and also apply a coat of Z6.
First off, claying does really work, just look at my 10 year old car. I couldn't believe the shine on the hood. Other parts well thats another story. But the hood was amazing. Now I am starting to think maybe I should start using Zaino on this car as well and that there might be still some life in the paint.
So was it the Z6 alone that got this sparkling shine?
I'd hate to start Zing this car since this is our everyday car, sits under the sun 24x7. If this baby starts to shine like new, I may end up Zing her too.
Well, looks like the weather will be in the mid 80's and partly cloudy in my area. Hopefully will be using Zaino this weekend.
Thanks lapvn for your input. Been using Meguiar's wax for some time and was okay with results, though it only last for 3 month. Usually start at 8-9am, wash, clay, wash, dry, rest and have lunch and then wax. Will report my experience with Zaino.
My question to all is when you apply Z-2/Z-5 with ZFX, do you dampen you applicator prior to applying the polish? On Zaino's website, it states: "We have found the best way of applying Show Car Polish is with our #314 Custom Polish applicator. Just slightly dampen the applicator with water or Z-6 "Gloss Enhancer" spray"
If so, do you use water or Z-6 or a mixture (if so, what ratio). Thanks, Jeff
I will have to try the white vinegar first, then clay before moving forward to waxing. I wanted to be sure if I got the Total Car Kit that it would be worth it.
just dampen the applicator. One or two pulls of the Z6 handle is plenty. Key is damp not wet. The water/Z6 ratio isn't an issue. Truth be known, you can forget both water or Z6. You'll just use more Z2/Z5. The dampness just keeps the Z on the pad and not in the pad at first.
I dampen with mostly water and then some Z6. In my climate, it would be far too expensive to use all Z6 to keep the applicator damp enough to do the job.
When the climate is more humid/cool, then what Tmart says is probably true. Even small amounts of moisture will do the trick. In my climate, a damp applicator is crucial and I find myself having to redampen the applicator several times. A couple of trigger pulls of Z6 would definitely not work for me.
Well, started the waxing job by washing with dawn, claying, and washing with Z-7. First two steps were nothing new to me as I have done it in the pass, but using the Z-7, I noticed some difference. For one, 1 cap full of Z-7 was able to make a significant amount of suds, which I like. Washing seems a little easier as it seems to glide better over the paint. However, when drying with a California Water Blade, seemd a little difficult for some reason, seemed that everytime I wiped, it would miss some and I would have to dry it again, unlike prior to using Z-7. And the smell of the Z-7, seems very intoxicating... hehe... well, I'm resting for a while and then polishing my truck later this afternoon.
Thougt I share my experience with everyone for newcomers like me or for the pros to give any input. Completed my first Zaino detail job today. Results were somewhat favorable, although the job took me a little longer than I am use to in a wax job. Most of it was done in my garage to prevent the surface from heating to much. Decided to go with Z-5 and ZFX as I had some scratches. Mixed 1 ounce and applied it. At first, felt like I was not apply enough on the paint, but after the pad absorbed some of the mixture, was able to use 0.5 oz for one coat. Waited 30 minutes to let dry and buffed and applied Z-6. Shine was pretty good. During my 30 min wait, decided to use some of the old store bought wax and apply it to my wheels and hub cabs. After a little break, applied a second Z-5 coat. Was a lot easier applying the 2nd coat. Waited 30 mins, during which removed the wax from my wheels and started to clean the bottle and pads, and applied ZEP tire shine. Took the truck out of the garage and started to apply the Z-6. Started to see some streaks, so I figured I buff a little harder. So far, so good. All in all, think the results were better than the Meguiar's wax I use to use. Couldn't really tell as it was a little cloudy. Hopefully durability will be good. Next go-around will use Z-2. Sorry for being so long.
Thanks for sharing your experiences. Your results are typical. Where you start to see the amazing potential of Zaino seems to be at coats 2-4. You will be amazed. Also, they will go much faster as the car gets slicker and slicker with each added coat!
AND - as most here can tell you - once you start breathing the fumes, you can't stop! Maybe we should change the name of the forum to the "Just one more coat" club!
Although I have never used a detailing product other than Z6, I have heard others say that Z6 is different because you have to use so little.
Just a quick trigger pull/mist will do about 2 square feet or more.
Make sure you completely wipe off the Z6 immediately before it dries.
Also, you don't really buff Z5. As soon as it hazes you just wipe it off. Ditto for Z6; you apply then dry very quickly.
Note that your result will vary depending upon the color of your car. For gold or silver or my medium grey, the results are much more subtle than on black and red cars.
If you live in a humid and or cool climate, 30 minutes dry time might not be long enough.
I agree with automophile that right around coat 4 is when things get spectacular.
Well, I'm feeling the affects of Zaino, pretty sore right now. I live in Georgia and it gets humid. But today was pretty low. Its hard to wait 30+ minutes so you can add more coats. What do you guys do while you wait for the polish to dry? When applying the Z6, I used one squirt for each panel (fender, door, side) except on the hood, roof and side of the bed, then I used 2. I would flip my towel frequently, and by the end, the towel was slightly damp. Its hard to determine how much Z6 you used. Wish the bottle came in a clear bottle or something similar to what quarts of oil has with the sight strip. While Zainoing my truck (1997 GMC Sonoma, Smoky Caramel), I couldn't believe how much orange peel I had on the truck. I never really noticed it before when I was using Meguiars. But man, the paint is pretty slick. Probably won't be able to put another coat on the truck for another month or so as I have another car that needs to be Zaino'd (2001 Olds Alero, Sterling Silver)
Between ZFX coats is the time to really clean the interior. Get that shop vac in everywhere. Use the round brush thingie to get all the dust out of the vents, etc. Shampoo the mats. 303 has some excellent carpet cleaner and protectant. Don't forget Lemon Pledge is FABULOUS inside for wood, plastic, metal, vinyl and even your leather, between Lexol treatments. A light spritz on a soft cloth, wipe and buff.
The next in-between, you can do the wheels and tires, the trunk and do the windows really well inside and out. I also use this time to wipe down visible engine compartment parts to keep them clean and shiny. A really FUN afternoon!
jauto - be SURE that the Z is really dry before removing. If it isn't, you can get those streaks. Wipe it with your finger - it should come off as a white dust and leave NO residue. If not, it isn't ready. Go back to work on the inside for a while.
You should not have to do a Dawn wash again. And you only need clay bar a couple of times a year at most. Sounds like you are using the right amount of Z6.
I can't advise on humid areas, since 30% is extremely high for my area. I normally am operating in 5-10% humidity, with temperatures in the low to mid 80s. When the humidity is 25% +, it changes the experience for me significantly.
I do Saturday household chores like laundry while waiting for the Z to dry. Unlike automophile, I don't do a Z and the interior on the same day.
I agree with automophile. Even in my high temp/low humidity, I wait at least an hour before removing the Z.
Decided to apply 2 more coats this morning. This time using Z2 with ZFX. Application time was much quicker than the first two. Also getting the hang of using Zaino, had some left over after making an ounce of the mixture. At first, I had to to get every last drop to finish the job. So far, the shine is coming, but hard to tell as it has been pretty cloudy today. Didn't get as many streaks as before. Neighbor was out mowing the lawn and shook her head, thinking I was crazy polishing so early in the morning.
Usually, the day before I do a detail job, I do the interior the night before; vacuuming, cleaning the inside windows and wiping down the dash. May have to rearrange the order. May decide to wash and dry the night before. Let the car dry up during the night and bright and early in the morning apply the polish. During the 30 minute wait, clean the interior. What do you guys use to clean the engine, Simple Green? Any precautions I should consider before doing it. Thanks.
Don't know where you live in Georgia, but I checked the weather channel web site to see what your weather is.
I looked up Atlanta and Jekyll Island. The humidity for both those areas is at least 70%.
Per Sal's application recommendations on the Zaino bros. web site, you need to wait at least an hour for your Z2/5 to dry. I suspect that if you Z in the morning, you need to wait more than an hour, because optimal temperature for Z is 70+ degrees. You can Z at lower than 60, but Sal warns that dry time is much, much longer below 60.
1/2 hour dry time is probably not long enough for your area.
I have been known to Z at night and wipe off in the morning.
I live in north Georgia. Check the Weather Channel and humidity is 50% and a temp of about 75 when I was polishing. Go farther south, you feel the affects of Henri. Next time will let the polish set for at least an hour. Any tips on light color cars. The polish residue is pretty light and can be a little be difficult to see on a light silver car.
I empathize with you. I think a light/medium color takes some of the fun out of the process because you can't see the haze and the shine is subtle. I wrote Sal on the topic as follows:
======================= My Question: >> 1) It is difficult to see the Z-2 polish haze on vehicles in some colors. >> How does one tell if their application of Z2/Z5 is too light? For >> example, how does one tell if they miss some areas?
Sal's Response:
You will be fine... Don't worry... When in doubt apply a second coat...
========================
I still sometimes miss spots when I wipe off.
The way I tell that Z is helping my car is to compare my paint with that of brand new vehicle of the same color. My car, now 1 1/2 years old, looks shinier than the new ones.
tmart is in the same situation with his gold car, which is why I asked in a recent post if he still owned his gold car.
All I can say is when I get a new vehicle, it must (MUST) be a dark color car, although probably stay away from black, at least for now. Thinking either dark green, dark blue or a dark gray. Tired of looking to see if I had missed a spot.
I was feeding a parking meter yesterday when the parking police walked past and said "wow, nice shiny new car!". He just about fell over when I told him it's a 28-month-old, 85,000km (55,000mile) "new" car. Spent the next 10 minutes telling him all about Zaino. He was very impressed with the results. My navy blue 2001 Chev Impala LS looks better than the brand new ones on the lot.
Zaino rules!
Brad (card-carrying member of Zainoholics Anonymous)
You and I are on opposite sides of the car color world. You say you buy dark colored cars so you can determine whether you've missed a spot. I'll keep buying very light colored cars that not only fool you about missing a spot, but also fool you about whether the car is actually dirty or even NEEDS the polish!
I have to admit that a dark colored car -- when clean and especially when freshly Zainoed -- is more striking and shiny. But I'll sacrifice that look and be content with my almost always shiny light colored car, content knowing that a dark colored car will quickly show every speck of dirt.
No offense intended -- as they say, to each his own, and different strokes . . .!
I definitely agree with you. My two gold cars hardly ever look really dirty even when they are. What I don't understand is how the Z still makes them look so clean when they aren't. Ah, the mysteries of Zaino.
Hey everyone. Wondering if anyone has an alternative to the Zaino applicator pad. After 4 uses, the edges are coming undone and is not as soft as it use to be. Afraid that it may scratch the paint. I hand washed mine using liquid tide. Would like to have one that can be thrown in the washing machine. Any suggestions?
I machine wash them after 2-3 hand washing, and then use a stiff brush to "fluff" up the napp. (knap?)(fluffy bits?) Anyway, THEN after a couple more uses, I toss them and get more!
Someone here had mentioned another type of applicator. I imagine a soft foam pad would work well. When I was still laboring with a polisher and wax, I was using foam polishing pads instead of terry cloth, and satisfied with the results.
Also - Guess what I did today - Just One More Coat!
Immediately after I use the pads, I pour on some dawn and let it sit while I return all the other bottles, put away all dirty towels and what not. The final step after doing 1 MORE COAT, is to rinse off the pad and hand it to dry. So far my pads still look like new and just as soft.
Alternate pads, well I used those for applying the leather treatment. They look like crap. So far from my test, the pads Zaino has is much much better than what you can get at the stores. Same goes for the wash mits. Bought a three pack once and returned it right away. Felt like I was just applying water. The Zaino wash mits are much much better.
Get out cars dirty. Heavens to Betsy. Would anyone really want that if they could help it. NO WAY FOR US ZAINOHOLICS. Winter is another story, after all I would have to wait for weather to be around 60 to even think of doing a wash.
I would like to thank Mr. Spell for his 1 MORE COAT speech at last weeks ZA meeting. dah, do you think I have kids or what.
"one more coat before winter" for us northern Zainoholics!!! Anyway, I was talking about my watermarks last week and wanted to tell you the results. Yesterday, I Z7 washed and dried. Then, Z18 claybar and dried. Was told by atoews to try vinegar, so I wet a small cotton hand towel with vinegar and went up and down the hood with that and dried. Then 2 coats of Z5 and finished off with Z6. Results: Still see some of the watermarks, so I guess they are etched into the clearcoat. They are hardly noticable but I could only imagine how bad they would have been without all those coats of Z. I'm definetly a Zainoholic: The wife comes out yesterday, sees all my Z stuff out, the vinegar I robbed from the kitchen and all the towels I used in a pile on the side of the driveway, asks WHAT ARE YOU DOING? After explaining the above process, she says, what marks? I tell her if you look at this certain angle you can just make them out, she looks at me and says "your crazy". She says you clean this car when its clean(That's the Z), and she jokingly says she wants as much attention as I give to the car finish.
After reading for some time, and using Z for a year or so, I noticed some posting that they don't wash in the winter, and just let the grime and salt stay on the car. Should we wash? I live in NE where it can get pretty nasty, and it seems wrong to leave the car covered in dirt and stuff to be brushed up against and leave scratches.
maxpower - LOL!! My wife was mad when I took the rubbing alcohol from the bathroom to remove some pine pitch. This past weekend, my FIL grabbed my towels and started putting them down as dropcloths - HEY WHAT ARE YOU DOING??!! He thought I was nut. Just tell your wife you could be somewhere else other than the driveway.
sysadmin - I'm south of you in MA and I've used a touchless only once in the past 3 years. I just had to get the grime off my Accord this past winter. I haven't noticed any scratches from the dirt. YMMV.
Sorry to take so long to get back to you; very busy at my real job.
Other ideas: If you're pressed for the time of day or amount of time you have; consider doing only part of the vehicle at a time. Also do the side of the vehicle in shadow, but try to insure that it has been in shadow/shade for a while. Yes, the products can be used in sun, but on a cool surface. There's no harm in doing it in hot conditions, you'll just have to work harder and over a longer period of time to get visually satisfactory results.
I consider this VITAL to longevity of anything METAL in Illinois, where the Toll Authority's winter motto is: "There is not enough salt on the road until the crunch of crystals drowns out the ring of coins..."
The "no brushes, slappers or 'cloth' of any kind" washes seem to do OK, they will eventually take off the wax/Zaino but hey isn't that what a heated garage is for? You can reapply the good stuff on otherwise boring Saturaday or Sunday weekend...
This weekend here in NY it was crystal clear. Cool and not a cloud in the sky. So I decided to give the Black Type S one more coat of Z5. Big Mistake. Streaks all over the place. Waited for the sun to go down and then Z6. Streaks are gone. The power of the One More Coat fumes are hard to fight. But the moral of the story, Only Z in the Shade. Took the Acura Tsx to the winery here on Long Island. Before we left, I washed it and Z6. I can't tell you how many people stopped and stared at the glowing paint in the parking lot. One young girl was combing her hair and using the shiny paint like it was a mirror.I was in Z heaven.
Thanks, always remove the plate...I remember reading above that some said the pressure washers help strip the z off, but I think at least getting the heavy sand/salt/dirt off from N.E. winters up here would be fine.
I too learned the sun lesson the hard way. I got up early one morning last week to give "Hooloo" a quick Z7 wash and Z6 "gloss enhancement". The sun was already beating down pretty strong and heated up the hood, roof, and one side of my car. By the time I got to Z6 I was getting streaks/smearing all over the place. I waited until the sun moved around and the car was in the shade and cool, and did Z6 again. Voila - no more smearing.
Ontario roads also have severe hypertension caused by excessive salt use in the winter. I simply cannot endure looking at my salt-caked car for the entire winter, so I take her to a 100% touch-free wash place every couple of weeks. It does an acceptable job of removing the worst crap, and it doesn't harm the Zaino layer. Last year I Z'd in mid-September and by my first hand-wash in April the water was still beading and the shine was still there.
Comments
Are you referring to the high pressure rinse wands that they have at do it yourself car washes?
If so, well, I use that all the time and have done so every week for the past 1 1/2 years!! My paint look great. In fact, I think it is superior to other ways for avoiding scratches. I don't risk rubbing sandy soil into the paint.
Of course, I never use the soapy application - I only use the high pressure rinse?
Could awful things happen to me in the future that I am not aware of?
My biggest Z challenge is to apply the Z quickly enough that I can distribute it over a large enough areas before little particles of dried Z form on the applicator and on the lid opening. Also, in my climate, if I don't dampen the applicator, the Z hardens quickly, and I get a thick coat of Z because I can't distribute it before it dries.
Not only do I have to dampen the applicator with water, but I have to close the Z lid between every Z "swipe".
Yes, it is a challenge to get just the right amount of water/Z6 on the applicator. And Yes, you can easily get too much water on the applicator, where you end up with some dampness on the vehicle. However, in a hot, dry, climate the excess water evaporates very quickly, leaving only the Z. The worst that may happen in my opinion is that you won't get enough Z on the car, and you may have to do more applications to get the same result as in more humid or cool situations.
The upside is that you CAN do more Z applications because of the fast drying time.
Also, as you get practice, you will learn how to get just the right amount of dampness. I suggest using a spray bottle of water to dampen your applicator.
I use some Z6 as a dampener, but it is expensive, dries as fast as water, and you will end up using a lot of Z6 if you don't augment it with just plain water.
Note also that the sun does not have much to do with it, except that when you are in the sun, it raises the temperature, which expedites the drying. I always apply my Z in the garage, and I have the exact same condition you describe.
By the way, do you still have a gold colored car?
>Sometimes when washing my car with Z7, there are unrinsed dry water
>> spots. Is is safe to buff them off with the 100% cotton towel, or
>> should one wait until the next wash to get rid of them?
Sal's Response:
Most 'fresh' mineral deposits (water spotting, acid rain, etc.) can be
removed with Z-7 Show Car Wash or Z-6 Gloss Enhancer spray. If they have
been on the car for a while and Z-6 or Z-7 will not remove them. Use
household white vinegar full strength. This is acetic acid and will
loosen and remove the mineral deposits and not harm the paint surface.
Most of
the time,
the water spot etching you see is simply the hardened mineral deposit,
giving the illusion of etching into the paint. Believe me, when these
mineral deposits harden. They become really tough and hard to remove.
The trick is to not give them a chance to harden.
If the above fails, then use the Z-18 ClayBar to remove them....
If those water spots on your car have been there for a while. They might
be already etched into the clear coat. If Z-18 ClayBar will not remove
them. Then what you are seeing is an etched spot in the paint surface.
First off, claying does really work, just look at my 10 year old car. I couldn't believe the shine on the hood. Other parts well thats another story. But the hood was amazing. Now I am starting to think maybe I should start using Zaino on this car as well and that there might be still some life in the paint.
So was it the Z6 alone that got this sparkling shine?
I'd hate to start Zing this car since this is our everyday car, sits under the sun 24x7. If this baby starts to shine like new, I may end up Zing her too.
I'll try the Z18 claybar again and then try the white vinegar. Will finish up with a couple of coats of Z2 or Z5.
Thanks lapvn for your input. Been using Meguiar's wax for some time and was okay with results, though it only last for 3 month. Usually start at 8-9am, wash, clay, wash, dry, rest and have lunch and then wax. Will report my experience with Zaino.
If so, do you use water or Z-6 or a mixture (if so, what ratio). Thanks, Jeff
When the climate is more humid/cool, then what Tmart says is probably true. Even small amounts of moisture will do the trick. In my climate, a damp applicator is crucial and I find myself having to redampen the applicator several times. A couple of trigger pulls of Z6 would definitely not work for me.
AND - as most here can tell you - once you start breathing the fumes, you can't stop! Maybe we should change the name of the forum to the "Just one more coat" club!
Just a quick trigger pull/mist will do about 2 square feet or more.
Make sure you completely wipe off the Z6 immediately before it dries.
Also, you don't really buff Z5. As soon as it hazes you just wipe it off. Ditto for Z6; you apply then dry very quickly.
Note that your result will vary depending upon the color of your car. For gold or silver or my medium grey, the results are much more subtle than on black and red cars.
If you live in a humid and or cool climate, 30 minutes dry time might not be long enough.
I agree with automophile that right around coat 4 is when things get spectacular.
The next in-between, you can do the wheels and tires, the trunk and do the windows really well inside and out. I also use this time to wipe down visible engine compartment parts to keep them clean and shiny. A really FUN afternoon!
jauto - be SURE that the Z is really dry before removing. If it isn't, you can get those streaks. Wipe it with your finger - it should come off as a white dust and leave NO residue. If not, it isn't ready. Go back to work on the inside for a while.
I can't advise on humid areas, since 30% is extremely high for my area. I normally am operating in 5-10% humidity, with temperatures in the low to mid 80s. When the humidity is 25% +, it changes the experience for me significantly.
I do Saturday household chores like laundry while waiting for the Z to dry. Unlike automophile, I don't do a Z and the interior on the same day.
I agree with automophile. Even in my high temp/low humidity, I wait at least an hour before removing the Z.
Usually, the day before I do a detail job, I do the interior the night before; vacuuming, cleaning the inside windows and wiping down the dash. May have to rearrange the order. May decide to wash and dry the night before. Let the car dry up during the night and bright and early in the morning apply the polish. During the 30 minute wait, clean the interior. What do you guys use to clean the engine, Simple Green? Any precautions I should consider before doing it. Thanks.
I looked up Atlanta and Jekyll Island. The humidity for both those areas is at least 70%.
Per Sal's application recommendations on the Zaino bros. web site, you need to wait at least an hour for your Z2/5 to dry. I suspect that if you Z in the morning, you need to wait more than an hour, because optimal temperature for Z is 70+ degrees. You can Z at lower than 60, but Sal warns that dry time is much, much longer below 60.
1/2 hour dry time is probably not long enough for your area.
I have been known to Z at night and wipe off in the morning.
=======================
My Question:
>> 1) It is difficult to see the Z-2 polish haze on vehicles in some colors.
>> How does one tell if their application of Z2/Z5 is too light? For
>> example, how does one tell if they miss some areas?
Sal's Response:
You will be fine... Don't worry...
When in doubt apply a second coat...
========================
I still sometimes miss spots when I wipe off.
The way I tell that Z is helping my car is to compare my paint with that of brand new vehicle of the same color. My car, now 1 1/2 years old, looks shinier than the new ones.
tmart is in the same situation with his gold car, which is why I asked in a recent post if he still owned his gold car.
Zaino rules!
Brad (card-carrying member of Zainoholics Anonymous)
"JUST ONE MORE COAT" (I love that one!)
I have to admit that a dark colored car -- when clean and especially when freshly Zainoed -- is more striking and shiny. But I'll sacrifice that look and be content with my almost always shiny light colored car, content knowing that a dark colored car will quickly show every speck of dirt.
No offense intended -- as they say, to each his own, and different strokes . . .!
I'm a Zainoholic too, but I'm often forced to go weeks without a wash -- and a commercial wash is out of the question.
But as I said, different strokes for different folks!
Someone here had mentioned another type of applicator. I imagine a soft foam pad would work well. When I was still laboring with a polisher and wax, I was using foam polishing pads instead of terry cloth, and satisfied with the results.
Also - Guess what I did today - Just One More Coat!
Alternate pads, well I used those for applying the leather treatment. They look like crap. So far from my test, the pads Zaino has is much much better than what you can get at the stores. Same goes for the wash mits. Bought a three pack once and returned it right away. Felt like I was just applying water. The Zaino wash mits are much much better.
Get out cars dirty. Heavens to Betsy. Would anyone really want that if they could help it. NO WAY FOR US ZAINOHOLICS. Winter is another story, after all I would have to wait for weather to be around 60 to even think of doing a wash.
I would like to thank Mr. Spell for his 1 MORE COAT speech at last weeks ZA meeting.
I'm definetly a Zainoholic:
The wife comes out yesterday, sees all my Z stuff out, the vinegar I robbed from the kitchen and all the towels I used in a pile on the side of the driveway, asks WHAT ARE YOU DOING? After explaining the above process, she says, what marks? I tell her if you look at this certain angle you can just make them out, she looks at me and says "your crazy". She says you clean this car when its clean(That's the Z), and she jokingly says she wants as much attention as I give to the car finish.
After reading for some time, and using Z for a year or so, I noticed some posting that they don't wash in the winter, and just let the grime and salt stay on the car. Should we wash? I live in NE where it can get pretty nasty, and it seems wrong to leave the car covered in dirt and stuff to be brushed up against and leave scratches.
Best product I've ever used....one neighbor finally caved and came over to inquire what I use...Another convert coming soon.
sysadmin - I'm south of you in MA and I've used a touchless only once in the past 3 years. I just had to get the grime off my Accord this past winter. I haven't noticed any scratches from the dirt. YMMV.
Other ideas: If you're pressed for the time of day or amount of time you have; consider doing only part of the vehicle at a time. Also do the side of the vehicle in shadow, but try to insure that it has been in shadow/shade for a while. Yes, the products can be used in sun, but on a cool surface. There's no harm in doing it in hot conditions, you'll just have to work harder and over a longer period of time to get visually satisfactory results.
The "no brushes, slappers or 'cloth' of any kind" washes seem to do OK, they will eventually take off the wax/Zaino but hey isn't that what a heated garage is for? You can reapply the good stuff on otherwise boring Saturaday or Sunday weekend...
Ontario roads also have severe hypertension caused by excessive salt use in the winter. I simply cannot endure looking at my salt-caked car for the entire winter, so I take her to a 100% touch-free wash place every couple of weeks. It does an acceptable job of removing the worst crap, and it doesn't harm the Zaino layer. Last year I Z'd in mid-September and by my first hand-wash in April the water was still beading and the shine was still there.
Zaino is truly remarkable!
Brad
OMMMMMMMM! (While Zainoing)