Hi all - alittle background on me first. I started a thread on ClubSi many, many months ago about an 11 hour wax job I had done and the process I had used. Since then, I've been PM'd and emailed to many times to count with questions. Dr. Bonz let me know about the Zaino craze that is going on here at my350Z.com and I thought I'd come over and try to answer any questions I could. If you have any questions about the process or the product, let me know, and I will try to answer to the best of my ability.

Here are some links to my car. It now has close to 20 coats of Zaino on it. Take note of the first picture, this is IN MY GARAGE, the reflection of the wall BEHIND ME off the rear quarter of my car.
http://photos.napalm.net/reflection1.jpg
http://photos.napalm.net/afterwax.jpg
http://photos.napalm.net/atlanta2.jpg
http://photos.napalm.net/closeupstreet.jpg
http://photos.napalm.net/sean2168-c1.jpg
http://photos.napalm.net/sean2168-c4.jpg
http://photos.napalm.net/sean2168-c5.jpg
http://photos.napalm.net/sean2168-c7.jpg
http://photos.napalm.net/sean2168-c8.jpg
http://photos.napalm.net/sean2168-c9.jpg
http://photos.napalm.net/sean2168-c11.jpg
http://photos.napalm.net/sean2168-c13.jpg
http://photos.napalm.net/sean2168-c17.jpg
http://photos.napalm.net/sean2168-c19.jpg
http://photos.napalm.net/sean2168-c22.jpg
http://photos.napalm.net/sean2168-c27.jpg
http://photos.napalm.net/sean2168-c28.jpg

Some things to know about the Z1 process someone was asking about. Z1 can still be used, and is still available, but its somewhat of an older "technology" now. Before, the Z1 took several hours to cure, the ZFX accelerator has the same effects of the Z1, but cures in half the time, and requires much less product.

Another thing to remember about Zaino and the cost of the product, this stuff lasts for quite a while. The 2 oz. bottles that ship with the ZFX are used for mixing the Z5 and Z2 wax. One 2 oz bottle should EASILY wax a car with 2 coats. I can't stress enough that you can NOT put this on too thin, if you think your putting it on too thin, put it on thinner. This wax "stacks" instead of replacing the previous coat. Same with the Z6 spray, the 16oz bottles of Z6 spray are concentrated enought that it can be deluted with 50% water and still not lose any of its effectiveness. Trust me, I do this and it still works great!

One more thing, Dr. Bonz, you say you "buffed" the wax off the car, note that the wax should be used in a circular motion. The removal of the wax is not as important as the application of the wax, but you should NEVER use circular motions. I also suggest using 100% cotton baby diapers for removal of the wax, these are the softest cloth on the market.

If anyone has questions about this process, please feel free to ask me.

 

For staters:

1) Do you ever need to start from the base paint ever again? I mean like 1-2 yrs down the road, just strip all the Zaino down and re-apply?
2) How can you remove all traces of Zaino if you do not like the outcome, or decide on another product for sealent later?
3-6)So, once I do like 3 coats of Z5, then 2 coats of Z2, I am done for now? From this point on, all I have to do each weekend is just wash it? How long will it last? Does it make more sense to go ahead and make 1 more coat of Z2 each time you clean it?

Thanks
Michael

 

Some people choose too, but it's up to the individual and the amount of effort they put into the up keep of the car and the wax. This used to be a bigger issue in the past with Zaino, but not so much anymore. Many people believed after time that the wax would fade or become less clear, the fact is this wax doesn't fade, the Z2 & Z5 wax actually have a SPF40 sunblock mixed in that prevents fading of the wax and the original paint! Over time if more wax is not cared for or new coats applied, dirt and buildup will make the wax/paint appear to have less of a shine too it. This can be fixed by a clay bar process and starting again with Z5 wax. The clay bar will not strip the wax, it will just take the contaminents off the top.

Dawn UNSCENTED dishsoap.

After those initial coats (which is exactly what I did) you are done for a while. From this point on, it's exactly how particular you are on cleanliness and shine. I wax my car every 3 weeks with 2 coats of Z2 (one 2oz bottle). Every 4th time (so about every 3 months) that I'm waxing the car, I go back to 2 coats of Z5 (thicker) rather than Z2. I do this to fill in any swirls that have come about from washing, waxing, etc. Do I need to do it so often? No? Why do I it so often? Remember this, this wax "stacks." Your forming a protective shell over the car. After about 20 coats you've got a pretty thick shell! What does this mean? Say you get a small scratch in the car that's not very deep, you just scratched the wax instead of scratching paint. A few applications of Z5 to that area and the scratch is gone.

Hope this helps. Let me know if there is anything else.

 

While i agree with most of what your saying, I really endorse the idea of cleaning your paint (stripping off the coats of Zaino), as your paint is being poluted wheather you like it or not, and they need to be physically/chemically cleaned off. I encurage you to layer polymer sealants sucha as Zaino, but I really like to deep-clean the paint every 6-months.

 

By being a polymer sealant, how is the paint being polluted when it is infact, sealed? I am under the impression that the purpose of a sealant was to lock in and protect, and to do so it has to keep harmful substances from reaching the paint.. Therefore, the process of starting a Zaino job with a dishsoap carwash to strip the car, then claybar, followed by another dishsoap carwash would leave the car contaminent free. This process should be immediately followed by the first coat of wax, and as I recommend, at least 3 more total in the first application to ensure the paint is properly sealed and free of contaminents.

 

Because your car is constantly being bombarded with physical polutants, that will attacch themselves to the Zaino. The Zaino isnt like armor, chemicals can etch through it, and industrial fall out can stick to it. So if you don't deep clean the car often, your essentially sealing in these contaminants.

 

Sean, your car looks AMAZING. Great job!

 

thanks!

 

What the pros/cons of Zaino v. Blackfire?

 

sean that first shot with the garage wall reflection is completlly amazing. im sold!!!!!!!!!!

 

Heres my take: Blackfire looks better, Zainmo lasts longer.

 

Thanks for coming over Sean. I was glad I could find your e-mail since many people here were PMing me with questions. I tried to tell them that I was merely the young Zaino-Jedi student while you were the "Yoda" of Zainology!

 

So is the going opinion that Zaino may not show off as much on the white? I have some Blackfire and Zaino coming. I have to do a pepsi challenge here. Got a 99 GMC Suburban (ozone killer) as well..needs some attention in a big way.

Great pic!

Truly a 'Z'en moment

 

I looked at the first pic and thought "GREAT pic of the garage but I don't see any cars."

I thinks it's too late!

 

I can't comment on blackfire because I've never personally used it. But Zaino is a long lasting polymer that really seems to hold the light. Before I started using Zaino, I was using Meguiers Gold Class and their detailing spray. Here are some before and afters of mine:
Before- Notice that there is shine on the car, but it doesn't hold the light as well, reflections aren't near as clear.



after- Notice how bright and true to color the reflections are. The hood looks like a mirror and the side looks like a mural.




I will say however, this process is very time consuming, and your results will vary on car to car and the color of your paint. Black is a very reflective surface, so your more likely to see shine and reflection, where as white will see less reflection and more shine.

 

Here's another from that same day.

http://photos.napalm.net/reflection2.jpg

In this picture you can see the rear wheel well and just barely into the interior. These pictures where taken on the original wax day. This was the 3 coats of Z5 and 2 coats of Z2 with a Z6 spray inbetween each coat.

 

Really nice SS Sean! A couple years ago I had the WS6 TA, which was a blast to drive.

Any rate, I can see a difference and what you describe makes sense but, I don't know about white being less reflective? Maybe it is. I will make sure and post some before and after using the Blackfire..see what you think

 

Is it just me... I cannot view any of the pictures.

I have tried both at home and at work and the links are bad.

 

That'd be great, I'd love to see it. Like I said, I'm going from my own experience and I've also never used blackfire. My buddy has a 97 SS, white with black painted stripes, and the black just seems to reflect a better image than the white on the car, but it could just be me. *shrugs*

What year was your T/A? My brother has a 97 WS6, driving it makes me miss some of the low end torque my 96 SS LT1 car had, but the LS1 makes up for it on the top end.

If you are talking about my pictures, they still work for me, I cleared my cache and I can still view them after that, so the links should be good!

 

2000 Artic White TA WS6, with the Hurst 6 speed shift. It was one bad boy. It didn't handle hitting the cement highway divider at 80 MPH very well however. I do have some pics of that.

Lesson to all in case they have not learned it and it seems so common sense. Friend or not - DO NOT let them drive a high performance car if they do NOT own one.


I will post this weekend! Thanks for the advice between you and Brad4