Well I'm going to start by saying that I was a sucker and went for the Super Black Z. Yes it does look the best when clean but the god awful swirl marks are so incredibly noticable ! So thats why I've spent a small fortune building up my detailing collection. I'm expecting my orders to come any day now so I've been reading every night trying to learn as much as possible.
My plan was going to be to wash my car with Dawn followed by a claybar treatment. I have a few minor scratches and swirl marks that I would like to eliminate before applying Zaino and was wondering which polish I should use? I was going to try Meguires Gold Medallion Paint Cleaner or is there something better? I'm going to be applying by hand aswell. Thanks.



Yielar

 

The Zaino Z5 removes fine swirlmarks and scratches.

From www.zainobros.com

Z-5™ Show Car Polish is the only polish formula available that fills and levels minor surface scratches, swirl marks and spider webbing to create an optically perfect finish on your car.

FACT: The only way to permanently repair severe swirl marks and surface scratches in your paint is to have your car professionally machine buffed with abrasive compounds and polishes. This procedure is both expensive and dangerous.

We engineered our Z-5™ Show Car Polish formula to be a safe, effective alternative to machine buffing with harsh abrasives. Using our unique, micro-filler polymer technology, Z-5™ Show Car Polish fills and levels minor imperfections. With each application of Z-5™ Show Car Polish you will see the swirl marks and fine scratches gradually lessen, until the marks are no longer visible. The result is a wet-looking, mirror-like finish .

Z-5™ Show Car Polish is our best base-coat polish for black, dark blue and red cars, which tend to show all marks and imperfections. After using Z-5™ Show Car Polish, follow with one or more coats of Z-2™ Show Car Polish. The results are nothing less than stunning.

Like our other polishes, Z-5™ Show Car Polish contains state-of-the-art optical enhancers, gloss additives, and Ultra-Gard™ UV(40), our most advanced sunscreen.

Stop fighting with swirl marks. Let Z-5™ Show Car Polish fill those swirls until they disappear. We guarantee you will love the results.

 

Zaino Z-5 does not remove scratches and swirl marks, it gradually fills them in. If they are minor, you'll notice them less and less with each coat of Z-5 added. If not so minor, you may need to use a swirl mark remover to make the surface look as good as possible before applying Zaino. Wash with Dawn to remove the oils from the SMR before Zainoing.

 

Ditto to the two previous replies! I just applied another coat of Z5, followed by an additional coat of Z2 last night. So, of the 29 application 7 are Z5. I might suggest also that you look at dftowel.com for towels that are a lot better than 100% cotton. Hope, like me, your "detailing collection" does not consist of a lot of 100% towel. The "df" towels are remarkable!

 

Speaking of towels, I use sheep mitt to wash my car and microfiber towels to dry it. I find microfiber towels dry quicker than 100% cotton towels.
I did the first wash on my Z 2 weeks ago but i did not clay bar, Z5 & Z2 it (just Dawn & Z7). Z7 does not really provide any shine elements to the car though.

 

Well I broke down and bought a Porter Cable random orbital polisher from the local Crappy Tire ( Canadian Tire ) since it was so highly recomended on Autopia. I've decided to go with Meguires polishing products prior to my Zaino applications. This is how I'm going to be prepping my Z;

Wash extremely well with Dawn using a sheep skin wash mitt and two bucket method.
Clay Bar ( Autopia's Glide, Block and Waffle kit )
Apply Meguires Medallion Premium Paint Cleaner
Wash with Z7 and dry
Meguires #9 Swirl Remover
Meguires #81 Hand Polish
Wash again with Z7 and Dry
Z6
ZFX Z5 (X2)
Z6
ZFX Z2

I'm going to be using PakShak Microfiber towels to remove any polish and Autopia's Magic Microfiber for the final buff. I want to see what Zaino can do given a flawless finish to start from. I'll post some pics in a week or so once I receive all of my items in the mail. Thanks for any experienced advice or tips.


Yielar

 

i have about 20 coats of z2 can i still use z5 to elimate some small swirl marks?

 

Sal says you can yep

 

I won't consider myself a sucker for buying a superblack Z, maybe a masochist. I've had my car 4 months now, I followed the entire Zaino procedure (dawn, claybar, z-5 (2x), Z-2), and have alternated since having put about 8 coats of Zaino on since (Watchout Bonz!). The Zaino works great and my car still looks awesome. I only use microfiber towels (both polishing and with the z-6). After washing (once a week), I rinse without the nozel and then use the big blue towel. My car does have alot of swirls whcih show uo in the sun and you just have to live with that unless you want to use a polisher all the time. oh yea, every day when I get home( I drive about 80 miles r/t a day-car is in garage at both ends) I dust it with a California duster and then maybe a quick wipe with a microfiber towel. One tip, the parafin in the duster comes off and melts on the car, it shows up on black like oil spots. I wrapped the duster in newspaper overnight and it took the parafin out.
All I can say is black is a LOT of work, but the car looks great if you take that few minutes a day and a weekly car wash.

One other note, I always carefully inspect my towels before putting them on the car. Early on some metal fragment got caught in one and I scratched the **** out of my car before noticing. A polisher got them out but I learned my lesson and meticulously inspect the towels.

Paul

 

If you like the MicroFiber towels from your local Auto Zone / Pep Boys / or Check, whatever the case might be, try dftowel.com. Once I received the DF Towel, applied a couple of coats of Z5 to the already 3 coats of Z5 and 15 coats of Z2 and WOW. Refuse to use any other towels on the car except for "Big Blue" for drying. "Big Blue" is also a joy to use. Have two, use one down the left side and the other down the right. Wash a couple times a week with Z7. California Duster daily followed by Z6. After 29 coats of Z5/Z2 and countless Z7, I feel I can slow down. Thinking once a week with Z5 w/ZFX. Then Z2 without ZFX, in the garage
for 8-12 hours to dry. Then buff, followed by Z6 and hit the road.

 

"Countless Z7", should read "Countless Z6"! After a while, ALL those ZZZZZZZZZZZ to include the one in the garage can start running together.