hi guys,

im new to detailing and have been reading quite a few posts about detailing and have few (A LOT) of questions, and was hoping you guys can help me.

does the following sound accurate to you guys?
...this would be for a new car btw,

1: wash with Z7.

2: dry with ww towel.

3: clay while lubricating with mixture of Z7+WATER(1cap Z7 to 16oz WATER)
- do 1 panel at a time and dry with ww towel.
- do i need to rinse the area with water before drying?

4: wash with Z7.

5: dry with ww towel.

6: Z6
- do i just spray and wipe one panel at a time with ww towel?

7: Z5
- do i apply this to the whole car with applicator then wipe
with a ww towel?
- or do i apply and wipe one panel at a time?

8: Z2
- do i apply this to the whole car with applicator then wipe
with a ww towel?
- or do i apply and wipe one panel at a time?

9: BEER!
- sit back and enjoy my car.


how do you guys wash the inner step and inner part of the doors and stuff? if this sounds unclear, im referring to the painted parts of the car that arent visible when the doors are closed.

also, if your car gets dusty during the week, do u guys use those brushes that look like a hairy dog tail to wipe away the dust?

is it necessary to do all the cleaning steps above once a week?
or do u just do only certain steps more frequently.

sorry for all the questions.
thanks for the help.

 

Step #2 isn't needed. You can go right to the clay without drying after your first wash. I'd wash with Dawn instead of the Z-7 first though. Not a "deal breaker" but that's just what I did.

For the clay you don't need to dry each panel before continuing to clay. You can leave the car wet as you go around all the panels.

Yes, yes, and yes.


For the Z-6 you don't use a waffle weave. It is best to use a Microfiber towel (www.dftowel.com) You just spray on and buff off. You do one area at a time.

For the Z-5 you dampen the applicator slightly with water and apply VERY VERY THINLY in back and forth (not circular) motion. Side to side on horizontal surfaces and up and down on vertical surfaces. If you use Z-5 alone you must leave it on for about 10-12 hours to cure then buff off with a MF towel (not a WW). If you add the ZFX flash cure (3-5 drops per two ounces of Z-5) you can remove it in about an hour or less depending on the temp. and humidity. I wouldn't do the car in direct sunlight with the ZFX as it cures VERY fast and can sometimes streak.

For the Z-2, see the exact same thing above for Z-5. I usually do Z-5 layers until there are no more visible swirls then I finish off with a layer of Z-2.

Pretty much the same way as I do the rest of the car.

I use the California Car Duster. It works great for getting that thin layer of dust off. It shouldn't be used to CLEAN the car though. If it is dirty you have to wash it. I use Z-7 wash to do so.

No, unless you are a Zaino-holic like me!

I apply approx. 2 layers every two weeks on average but that is pretty obsessive. If you do 2-3 layers of Zaino it will last you a GOOD 4-6 months. Over that time, all you need to do is wash with Z-7 and occasionally hit it with a Z-7 misting.

Hope that helps

 

z-7 misting, i think you mean Z-6???
Ditto what dr. bonz said. For the first few layers, use z5 for filling in swirls, then move on to Z2. Every few applications of Z2, it doesnt hurt to do a Z5 once and awhile. Regardless of what you do, there will almost always be swirls.

 

wow!
thanks for the quick and detailed reply dr.bonz and mofoz.

before using "new" cleaning materials, mitts or ww towels, i read that you should rinse them in a washer in cold water, then air dry in dryer?
if this is accurate, then is this necesaary for mf towels also before using a "new" one?

for the Z5 and Z2, if i put in the ZFX, how do i know when its ready to remove after applying? does it turn white or something?

also how do you mix the Z5/Z2 with ZFX? do u just put in something and stir or shake?

thanks again for all your help and being patient with my
noob-i-ness.

 

AHHHHHH! TYPO!!! Yes, I DID mean Z-6 misting. Z-7 probably wouldn't "mist" too well.

Anyway, Zaino supplies you with a couple of those 2 oz mixing vials when you buy the ZFX. You fill one HALF WAY (i.e. one ounce) and drip in the ZFX. Then you just shake it up. One ounce is more than enough to do your car for two layers.

If you are in the shade, it'll take less then an hour to be ready to take off. Just smudge it with your finger and if you see shiny paint, it's ready. If it smears and the paint is still blurry, it's not.

If you do it in the sun I guarantee it'll be ready before you are finished applying to the rest of the car.

 

for preping your towels that seems fine, and when you wash them be sure not to use powered detergent or fabric softener. The powder will stay in the towels, and the fabric softner leaves a coating that could mess up your towels. check the zaino site here for the best application tips. You add about 3-5 drops of ZFX for every once of polish, and no more than 12 i believe. Then just shake for 90 seconds. http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/...de=APPLICATION
And we were all n00bs at one point i actually remember posting a post just like this about 6months ago before i became a zainoholic. And i believe Dr. Bonz answered almost all my questions as well

 

thanks so much, dr bonz and mofoz.
your input helped me out a lot!
i really appreciate your help.
thanks so much u guys!

 

I notice he lives in Southern California. I would recommend drying the car before starting to clay and then using distilled water and Z7 as a lubricant so you don't have to worry about water spots while you clay. Not critical, but the water here is hard and the humidity is low and spots are a fact of life if you're not careful.

Ira

 

thanks ira!
sounds like a very good tip.
i will definitely keep that in mind.

...thanks!

 

Good point. If done in the shade though, hopefully you wouldn't have that problem.

 

If it's 90 with low enough humidity, shade doesn't help much.

Ira