I have read many posts on the Zaino topic...including the awesome looking green stealth. Some where I remember reading a post where someone commented that if you put on Z5 it wiped out what one did with Z1-Z4...etc.

So, I have two requests (their web site also isn't much help; unless I missed it; all I saw was bunch of marketing on the product)...

#1 - Plain and simple, don't care of the time it takes what steps to take with the Zaino products and which ones to buy (time to wait for next application, which is the next application, etc.)

#2 - 3M paint protection....should this be put on before applying the Zaino.

I need to get these things straightened out so I can plan the few days after delivery...

Thanks a Million...

 

The 3M protection needs to go on a finish that has no wax, or it won't stick very well. An installer will wash it with a wax stripping soap like dawn to make sure stuff like that is off.

 

mike-

Did you read these three pages, probably best in this order, from the Zaino website.

Application
FAQ's
Tips & Tricks

If not, I would definitely start there. The application page is quite descriptive.

If so, then I will have to defer to others because I have not yet tried the product myself. *note to self: PLACE ORDER*


I hope this helps,

JD

 

Mike: I'm no detailing expert. All I can tell you is my experience. The green Stealth was mine.

I'd definitely wait until the 3M was on the car to apply the Zaino.

The Z5 doesn't take off anything. It is simply for polishing swirl marks and should be applied before the Z2 which is the most "optically pure" of the Zaino polishes. The Z2 is used for clear coated cars. If you have an older non-clear coated car, you would substitute the Z3 for the Z2.

I got this straight from one of the Zaino "gurus" on another car message board. He (and those like him) have over 35 coats of Zaino on their cars! They really seem to know their Zaino. I simply used his protocol. For that entire protocol, go to this thread:

Zaino Protocol Thread


The thread is long (over 4 pages) but if you read all the way through it you'll get the amswers to your questions.

 

I contacted Zaino before I bought the stuff. Since the Z is new and presumably has no swirl marks yet, there is no need for Z5. I put on 3 coats of Z2 with the gloss enhancer (I think it's Z6) between and after the last coat of Z2. It worked great...easy to use...especially if you get the accelerator that allows you to put multiple coats on the same day.

 

Zaino takes no longer than any other wax out there, its just that Sal Zaino wants you to get great results and like I have, stressed the prepping of the car. If you get the paint cleaned and polishd ect, Zaino takes not a minute longer than any wax (well, except S100 or Pinnacle Souveran, but they are SO easy to apply/remove)

 

Just put on my 4th coat of Z2 and topped it off with Z6...damn I love this stuff...makes the car just look liquid...it's awesome!

 

Ok, I think I got most of it (not all)...(please bare with me here, first time I am going to try Zaino)...


1. First liquid dawn the car or the clay bar first and then liquid dawn?
(is the clay necessary on new car?)

2. Z1 Polish loc the entire car
(it mentions it doesn't need to dry; but I figured it will have dried in all the places but the last ...by the time I finish applying it no? Or is it better to do it by sections (i.e. fender first so it doesn't dry all the way ...in order to apply Z2)..

3. Apply Z2 over Z1 immediatly.

4. Wait 4 hours (Miami is humid) and use large white bath town cotton to remove

5. Wait 6 hours or so

6. Apply the Z6 gloss enhancer

7. Drive the car around (to at least get to use it a little no???)

8. Next day, wash with Z-Z to clear off any dust collected during the drive

9. Apply another Z2 (don't have to use Z1 again no?)...

10. Wait 4 hours and wite down with town

11. Apply Z6 again...

(2 coats will be fine for the first week...and I'll continue to add more later. I plan on adding more concentration where the 3m film will be at to see if I can reduce that edge...with a buildup Zaino near it...



Please tell me I have a good plan here? I know I can use the ZFX to make things faster, but I get the impression that it may be faster but maybe 90% the quality of Z2...so I rather go Z2.

 

Dawn first, THEN clay. If you have the Z7 carwash, you use that as your lubricant when you do the clay. If not, use a dilute mix of Dawn and water and spay it on the car as you clay it.
YES do the clay even on a new car.

You don't have to do sections of the car with Zaino. You don't put it on in a circular motion like other waxes. You do straight lines all the way acrossed the car (i.e. uninterupted lines). On the horizontal surfaces (i.e. hood) do side to side lines and on the vertical surfaces (i.e. doors) do up and down lines.

If you want to wait all that time (i.e. no ZFX) that's fine but I really don't think you lose any quality with the ZFX and it's a lot faster.

Make sure you don't let the Z6 dry on the car. It should be on and immediately off. This one you DO do sections at a time. They even said that if it does dry on the paint to reapply it and immediately take it off. Kinda like using windex to clean a window, spray on and wipe off. Someone even mentioned not spraying in directly on the car since you waste a lot of it that way. Just spray it on an applicator and apply it.

You re correct, only use the Z1 once. The other coats should be Z2 (or Z5 if you have swirlmarks).

Just to clairfy, I don't think you SUBSTITUTE the ZFX (which is added to the Z1) for the Z2. You can use them both if I understand it correctly. That's what I did at least. Can anyone else clarify this?

 

Heres what you do. Dawn (or preferably) ABC the car. Then clay if needed. NEVER use dawn as the lubricant, it will ruin the clay bar. Using regular car wahs soap is ok, but quick detail spray is best. Then go right into Zainoing. No need to wash after claying if you did a good job. If you add the ZFX, you add it to the Z2/Z5, NOT to the Z1. If you use ZFX, there is no need for Z1. Hope this helps.

 

What do you mean by "ruining the claybar" Brad? Do you mean the job will be inferior or do you mean it physically damages the clay itself? This is what I did and I had no problems.

 

Does car need to be absolutely dry before starting Z1??

 

Yes, MUST be dry. Bonz, first, I don't really like the idea of suds as a lubricant. But its not like commiting a sin, it will work. I prefer just buying a gallon of cheap QD such as Megiars Final Inspection. It forces you to work in smaller areas and be more careful. Now Dawn is a different story. It doesnt provide as much lubrication as a good car wash or QD, but also the alkalinity of it can begin to break the clays structure down. Ive heard of clay bars that tun soft and stringy after usig them with a dawn a couple of times. Not recomened.

 

ok...i just bought all of my Zaino products(Z2,Z6,Z7,ZFX). From what i have gathered, Zaino is just a polish right? If so, what type of Wax do you guy's recommend? Or, can a wax even be applied as a final coat to seal in the Zaino?

dan

 

Zaino is a polymer sealant, not a polish. Their marketing is a little so so.

 

so should i apply all the Zaino products, then maybe order griot's garage show car wax as a final product?

or is just the polymer sealant good enough

thanks
dan

 

PLEASE don't apply all of Zaino's products. They make you think you should, but you don't at all. Only buy the Z2 (possible Z5 for down the road swirl filling), and some Z6. You can buy a car wash, clay and everything elsewhere. Im not against Zaino at all, but don't restrict yourself to just their products. Polymer sealants (if you read the sessions its explained much better) will last on their own 4-8 months and dont need anything else to protect them except regular matainence. You CAN put a wax over a sealant strictly for apearanec puropses (get the shine/protection of poly and the depth/warmth of a wax). But this complicates things as you cant put another layer of Zaino over the wax "topper" as its called. I would just stick to the Zaino for now. IF you think you want more 'pop" and depth to the shine, and you have time, put a quality wax over the Zaino, just remember, you cant layer the Zaino again until you remove everything when you prep the paint with clay or ABC.

 

thanks Brad4rdhay. A novice like myself really apperciates your knowledge.

dan

 

My pleasure.

 

I can't imagine ANY wax improving on the depth of shine that you get after layering on the Zaino.