Zaino - did I do it right ?
06-10-2002, 08:12 AM
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Zaino - did I do it right ?
I got my shipment of Zaino last Thursday and started working on my month-old '02 on Friday night. Here's what I did:
1. I washed the car with a cap full of Dawn, then dried it using my Charisma towels.
2. I applied one coat of Z1 with a cotton applicator and used about 1/4 of the bottle. Is that too much?
3. Without waiting, I applied one coat of Z2 using the same applicator after I sprayed it with some Z6. Here, I was surprised because the Z2 didn't go on smoothly. It would sometimes smear and leave thick spots that became hard to spread. I used about 1/6 of the Z2 bottle. Again, did I use too much?
4. Waited for half an hour. I tried to wipe the Zaino off using my cotton towels, but I just kept moving it around. I wasn't until I drove home a few blocks away (I was at a public car wash) that it finally dried up. I was then able to polish it off. By that time, it was getting late and I decided to leave the Z6 application for another time.
I'm a bit disappointed by the results. The color (blue) is a bit deeper, the shine is good but not amazing and the surface is fairly smooth. Also, my car is all fuzzy with dust today.
My main objective when I polish my car is to protect the paint and clear coat. Although the enhanced looks is definitely desirable, I'm more concerned about keeping the paint in its original condition and avoiding the permanent streaks that you'll see under the sun on older cars.
I used McGuire's a lot on my old car and got awesome results. I decided to use Zaino because I understood it had no abrasives and involved less wiping back and forth on the clear coat. I ended up doing a lot of that to get the Zaino completely off.
With all the good comments I've heard about Zaino, I'm sure it's a fine product and I know I did something wrong that prevented me from getting optimal results.
I know I should have done it earlier during the day. I also know that I probably used too much (correct?), but it's the first time I use cotton towels and I have trouble believing that I'm not putting streaks in the clear coat when I'm wiping the car with them (any comments on this?). That's why I put more Z1-Z2 to make sure the cotton applicator slid properly on the surface.
What's your advice and what should be my next step? Should I apply another coat of Z2 after my next wash?
Thanks.
1. I washed the car with a cap full of Dawn, then dried it using my Charisma towels.
2. I applied one coat of Z1 with a cotton applicator and used about 1/4 of the bottle. Is that too much?
3. Without waiting, I applied one coat of Z2 using the same applicator after I sprayed it with some Z6. Here, I was surprised because the Z2 didn't go on smoothly. It would sometimes smear and leave thick spots that became hard to spread. I used about 1/6 of the Z2 bottle. Again, did I use too much?
4. Waited for half an hour. I tried to wipe the Zaino off using my cotton towels, but I just kept moving it around. I wasn't until I drove home a few blocks away (I was at a public car wash) that it finally dried up. I was then able to polish it off. By that time, it was getting late and I decided to leave the Z6 application for another time.
I'm a bit disappointed by the results. The color (blue) is a bit deeper, the shine is good but not amazing and the surface is fairly smooth. Also, my car is all fuzzy with dust today.
My main objective when I polish my car is to protect the paint and clear coat. Although the enhanced looks is definitely desirable, I'm more concerned about keeping the paint in its original condition and avoiding the permanent streaks that you'll see under the sun on older cars.
I used McGuire's a lot on my old car and got awesome results. I decided to use Zaino because I understood it had no abrasives and involved less wiping back and forth on the clear coat. I ended up doing a lot of that to get the Zaino completely off.
With all the good comments I've heard about Zaino, I'm sure it's a fine product and I know I did something wrong that prevented me from getting optimal results.
I know I should have done it earlier during the day. I also know that I probably used too much (correct?), but it's the first time I use cotton towels and I have trouble believing that I'm not putting streaks in the clear coat when I'm wiping the car with them (any comments on this?). That's why I put more Z1-Z2 to make sure the cotton applicator slid properly on the surface.
What's your advice and what should be my next step? Should I apply another coat of Z2 after my next wash?
Thanks.
06-10-2002, 10:14 AM
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sounds like you used wayyyyyy too much zaino. they say you can get 3 coats with just one ounce.
here's what i did
washed with dawn
clayed the car - boy what a difference even with a new s2k
washed with Zaino car wash
mixed two ounces of z2 with zfx and put a dime sized amout on the applicator. did my hood and fenders. used another dime sized amount to finish. waited 20 minutes (zfx) and buffed then used z6 (gloss spay) then re-applied z2.
when done i had three coats and even the spa yellow has a brilliant shine. did my dad's dark green ls400 and i swear you could off it. she is like a mirror. This was two weeks ago and they are still shinning..
here's what i did
washed with dawn
clayed the car - boy what a difference even with a new s2k
washed with Zaino car wash
mixed two ounces of z2 with zfx and put a dime sized amout on the applicator. did my hood and fenders. used another dime sized amount to finish. waited 20 minutes (zfx) and buffed then used z6 (gloss spay) then re-applied z2.
when done i had three coats and even the spa yellow has a brilliant shine. did my dad's dark green ls400 and i swear you could off it. she is like a mirror. This was two weeks ago and they are still shinning..
06-10-2002, 10:27 AM
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I put a second coat of Z5 on my Red S2000 this weekend; probably used less than 1 ounce per application. Awesome, awesome, awesome!!
You must have used way too much; I'd wash the car with Dawn and try again with less than an ounce.
You must have used way too much; I'd wash the car with Dawn and try again with less than an ounce.
06-10-2002, 11:05 AM
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First off, you probably needed more time for the Zaino to dry off (since you probably used too much). I wouldn't try to strip the Zaino off (with Dawn or rubbing alcohol) if I were you, especially after all that hard work. Just wash the car again with Z7 (? .. Zaino's car wash detergent) or equivalent. Buff out any remaining residue from your first application and do a light (read: LIGHT, or you'll get some streaks) application of Z6. Then apply your second coat of Z2 (remember not to use too much), and buff it out when you can run your finger across an applied spot and see nothing but clean/clear paint underneath. If you run your finger and it doesn't reveal a nice clean spot, you'll need to wait a little longer for it to completely dry. I usually wait about 2-3 hours just to be safe, but then I have some optimal conditions here (sunny, warm and relatively dry). Your mileage may vary.
I'll have to say that when I first used Zaino, I was disappointed too. It wasn't until I washed my car again, and applied my 3rd coat that I was absolutely flabbergasted (sp?) by the results. Deep deep wet look. First tip-off for me was how absolutely easy it was to wash and dry my car. The surface felt sooo slick, and the water just kept running off the car.
In fact, I almost fell off of the side of the car once when I was leaning over and cleaning the front fender. 
Unfortunately, the first application is a pain in the poop-chute, especially if you clay your car. But the great thing is that afterwards, each coat you apply is so incredibly easy. Just be disciplined, and do not use too much Z2. I get three coats for every ounce.
Good luck, and let us know how your next application goes!
I'll have to say that when I first used Zaino, I was disappointed too. It wasn't until I washed my car again, and applied my 3rd coat that I was absolutely flabbergasted (sp?) by the results. Deep deep wet look. First tip-off for me was how absolutely easy it was to wash and dry my car. The surface felt sooo slick, and the water just kept running off the car.
In fact, I almost fell off of the side of the car once when I was leaning over and cleaning the front fender. Unfortunately, the first application is a pain in the poop-chute, especially if you clay your car. But the great thing is that afterwards, each coat you apply is so incredibly easy. Just be disciplined, and do not use too much Z2. I get three coats for every ounce.
Good luck, and let us know how your next application goes!
06-10-2002, 12:45 PM
#7
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shouldn't be a prob with cotton as long as you used 100% american cotton towels that have been pre-washed (no fab softners).
you really should check out the Zaino Bros website for all the info you need.
good luck
you really should check out the Zaino Bros website for all the info you need.
good luck
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06-10-2002, 01:39 PM
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Besides the amount of the product you used, you made another error:
Z-2 on top of Z-1 requires a loonnnnggg hazing time. If you want to remove the excess Z-2 after a half hour, you need to be using ZFX instead of Z-1.
Basically, when done right, you probably won't believe any Z-2 is actually making it onto the car. If you look really closely, you might notice it vanish into the finish upon application and still think, "No, that can't possibly be enough".
Eventually the polish hazes, and the excess zaino "precipitates" out (i.e. you can see it) and can remove it. If youre able to see it after a half hour using Z-1, you are using way way WAY too much.
Z-2 on top of Z-1 requires a loonnnnggg hazing time. If you want to remove the excess Z-2 after a half hour, you need to be using ZFX instead of Z-1.
Basically, when done right, you probably won't believe any Z-2 is actually making it onto the car. If you look really closely, you might notice it vanish into the finish upon application and still think, "No, that can't possibly be enough".
Eventually the polish hazes, and the excess zaino "precipitates" out (i.e. you can see it) and can remove it. If youre able to see it after a half hour using Z-1, you are using way way WAY too much.
06-10-2002, 05:56 PM
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Great post, Albert. You saved me a lot of typing.
I thought I was putting the Z1/2 on very thin my first time almost four years ago. After 24 hrs, it still hadn't hazed over. I felt the same as you, S2K02. Give it a chance. The shine gets better, the application gets easier, and Zaino will last a long time.
I thought I was putting the Z1/2 on very thin my first time almost four years ago. After 24 hrs, it still hadn't hazed over. I felt the same as you, S2K02. Give it a chance. The shine gets better, the application gets easier, and Zaino will last a long time.