I have been very happy with the results I've gotten with Zaino since I got my 350Z; the finish looks very liquid and the car in general looks very impressive. I'm getting low on Zaino now, though, and so it's time to buy some more. I just read this thread, and I'm considering making the switch to CG. It seems from all I have read that CG is much easier to apply, resists dust and dirt better, and looks at least as good as Zaino, if not better.

However, I'm concerned about the many posts that lead me to believe that CG doesn't do well at all when applied over Zaino. Is this true? Does the reported hazing effect go away after one hellish session of buffing it out? Is it possible that they just applied the CG too thick the first time & caused their own problems? Is there a prep I could do to avoid this, like maybe Dawn or claybar?

Anyone with experience of this issue and especially people affiliated with CG who have probably researched this, please reply, either publicly or through PM.

Thanks

 

Someone actually did do a coat of CG over Zaino and it turned out awsome he said. ITs a guy with a red g35c, don't remember his name though.

 

There seems to be a good amount of confusion as to the application of Crystal Guard. All waxes should be removed BEFORE application of CG. Crystal Guard is a paint sealant, not a wax sealant. If you apply CG over your wax, it will only adhere to your wax.... not the paint. There is absolutely NO buffing required during the application of CG.

 

On the surface, that's a fair statement. You can't guarantee how your product will react to anything other than paint and/or clear-coat.

In reality, you could be a little more helpful.

In your market niche you aren't mainly competing against mere waxes you're competing against polymers like Blackfire and Zaino. People who use them know that they are not wax. Lumping them in with waxes shows your ignorance, kind of like comparing yourself with products that purport themselves to include teflon (which according to its manufacturer will only bind itself to a surface and become effective at extremely high temperatures).

Although it's arguably not your place to advise how to remove other products, you should help as much as you can to get the best results out of your product. Zaino, for example, gives very detailed directions how to strip the old wax off the car for best results prior to applying their product.

I looked at the videos etc. on the CG website and I have a theory. I suspect that, if you have a polymer such as Blackfire or Zaino on your car already, you should probably not start with Crystal Guard Quick; rather you should start with the Pro kit. The Primer seems to be the kind of thing that would remove a polymer and get you started with CG properly. Is this true?

Have you tried applying Crystal Guard Quick over Zaino or Blackfire? If not, why not? If so, what were your results?

 

That would be me. I have put CG over Zaino on two of my cars, both with wonderful outcomes.

When you put CG over Zaino, you will need to do some buffing after it has dried. The amount of buffing is less than removing Zaino (IMHO). One trick is to use a microfiber towel to do the last 5 - 10% of the drying so the towel gets kinda damp. Then use that towel to buff out the finish to a shine that I believe is better than Zaino, at least on my red cars any how.

I did not remove Zaino. With all that TIME and effort spent, no way was I going to remove it. Plus the results are awsome.

 

That's exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for posting. Has anyone else done this?

 

How do you guys remove the wax?

 

We remove the wax with the primer product available in the Crystal Guard pro application kit.

 

Is there any other non "Crystal Guard Pro" method you could suggest please.

 

is it possible to use a spray gun that's not gravity feed? Or do you ONLY recommend gravity feed air guns? I tried to order one from Amazon, but it won't come till Tuesday, and I have MOnday off to apply CG.....

 

You can apply with the sponge or microfiber also.

 

it's all good, I found a gravity sprayer at home depot for $60. now to just borrow a compressor and use my buddy's garage.... damn I need to find a place with a garage!

 

Crystal Guard Pro kit makes your car very shiny.

 

If it's just wax and not a polymer (like Blackfire or Zaino) you can strip it off by washing with Dawn dishwashing soap. You wouldn't want to do this regularly, but to strip wax prior to another sealant it's fine.

 

If it is semi-permanent sealant product, you can apply CG over that but if it is temporary one such as wax, I recommend you to remove it before you apply CG.

Thanks.

 

Should I remove old wax with, say, dish washing detergent or can I use regular car was like Eagle One?

 

WOW!! This stuff is awesome! I've never seen anything like it. I used the following method on a black Mercedes CLK 320. My pikes peak white is due in on June 11 and I'll be putting CG on as soon as possible!
1) Wash car with dawn to remove old wax.
2) Clay bar with dawn to "deep clean".
3) Wash with dawn to remove any clay bar residue.
4) Apply 3 coats of CG and let sit about 15 minutes. I didn't add any more water to the car after the first coat of CG. There was enough remaining between the car and the microfiber.
5) Rinse the car while gently wiping with the microfiber.
6) Dry with The Absorber.
7) Smile at what just happened!

This stuff is great! I'm ordering 2 more bottles as soon as I post this.

 

Nice!!

 

I just received my CGQ (CG Maintenance Kit) a couple of days ago and have some comments and questions.

I've read this thread twice now.

1) As a new user, there still are not any comprehensive instructions included with the product. If you want to give the best to your customers, I think the tips and tricks should be included with it. For almost $100, I don't think that is too much to ask. Replace the fancy advertising card with some detailed instructions such as removing the old wax, clay bar, don't use too much, etc.

2) Comparing the hardness of the CG to a nail is sort of misleading. What a general consumer would think is that you can't scratch the finish with a nail. Not hardly. If we had microscopic particles (brake dust, road grime), then they may not scratch the CG.

3) What's the real difference between CG EX, CG Pro and CGQ? By all accounts of the advertising and the web site, CGQ is described as being used for periodic maintenance after using EX or Pro. Is it as good as EX or Pro? Why would we choose one product over another? Please help us understand.

4) If CGQ is left on a car for a longer length of time, what's happening? Anecdotaly, it seems to be better, but is this really better or not according to the mfgr?

I hope to put a coat on my new Z this weekend...

Thanks for your time.
mgk65

 

Can you put too much CG on your car? What would happen if you used it every time or every other time you washed your car?