After reading over and over about Zaino and looking at pics I've been on the verge of buying it ever since I heard of it. I've been a Meguiars user for a long time and I just recently spent about $100 on their products, that's why I've been so hesitant about ordering Zaino. But the other day broke me, I just washed my car and used Meguiars NXT wax booster spray, looked fabulous in the garage but when I pulled it out into the sun, I noticed alot of really fine scratches. I guess from the towels I was using. By the way the car is only a little over a month old. This just kills me, so I did a search and a little more reading and I finally went and bought the Zaino starter kit and some DF towels. Hopefully I will get it this week so I can get started on those coats. By the way Dr.Bonz the pics of your car put me over the edge, simply amazing.

 

Man'O,

It's more than just Zaino and DF towels. Your scratches can result from how you wash and dry it as well. Are you using just any old towel or rag to wash and/or dry your Z? You should be using a lamb's wool or cotton chenile mitt to wash with and waffle weave Microfiber towels to dry with.

Zaino Z-5 can help hide the swirls and scratches but if you aren't careful with the rest of the detailing process you'll be constantly creating new ones.

 

No, ever since I bought the car I've used the 100% lambswool washmitt to wash and the Absorber to dry. All brand new and rinsed out after every use. It's not like the scratches are at all deep but in certain shades of light you can see them, the average person probably wouldn't notice.

 

manofsteele, i've got a one month old '04 super black touring. Have the same minor scratches you talk of. Using wash mitt and Absorber to dry as well. Definitely thinking about Zaino to get those bad boys out. EVERYTHING shows on black !

 

Yeah I had an 03 Altima SE and I never had this problem, I guess silver hides alot of the fine paint flaws.

Hey Puff, do you ever notice that the Absorber doesn't absorb that well? I don't know maybe cause it's new, but it absorbs the big beads of water but still leaves water behind, which still leaves spots.

 

You won't see many scratches on silver or other light/bright colors. The darker the color, the worse the scratches appear. That's why people curse black cars (my previous Z was black).

Part of the trick to detailing is to sheet the water on the surfaces of the car after rinsing. The majority of the water will run off like it's a huge drop. That leaves very little water spots on the surface that the absorber or any other towel can easily absorb.

BTW, I never rub the surface of my Z with a towel to dry. I lay the towel on a section and let it absorb then lift it up and go to another section. The less you rub the surface, the less chance of introducing scratches.

 

ManO, yes definitely have the same experience with the Absorber thus far. Maybe, like the engine, it needs a "break in" period.

 

Wow I've never heard of doing that, laying the towel down and lifting up, wierd. I have used the sheeting water method, you take the nozzle off the hose and basically just pour water over the car, works really well.

Yeah Puff, I think these things need to be broken in, cause I've used ones that were pretty worn and they seem to work better then the one I got.

 

One other thing you can do to allow for less "towel rubbing" is to use the California Water Blade. It makes drying much quicker and easier.

http://www.topoftheline.com/calwatblad4.html

This is just one place you can get it. Do a Google search on it and you'll see tons of places to buy it.

 

Hey thanks doc, I've thought of using one of those but I've always been skeptical about it not scratching the paint.

 

I just put some scratches down the side of my car by accident with one of those, and won't use it again. I had some dirt blown up on the car by the hose when I went to shut it off that I didn't see. As I wiped down the front fender, I saw three really obvious scratches running about 2' down the car.

Took me over a couple of hours with polish to get it back where they are almost invisible. Yes, it was my mistake, but a towel (or absorber) wouldn't have drug the dirt that far without it going up in the rag. 2 seconds to create a lot of damage.

BTW, moved to Detailing

 

you would get the same scratches with towel, absorber, chamois, or MF towel...anytime you get something between paint and drying medium you could get scratches..not the cali blades fault...

and Manofsteel how you spent $100 on megs stuff and couldn't get something to remove your swirls I am amazed...

NXT wash $6
megs clay $12
megs #9 swirl remover $12 (or any of the #80's depending on how bad off you are - $15 ea)
NXT wax $15 (or if ya hate NXT.. megs #20 - $20)

$50 and you've got a presciption for swirl removal (not masking) and sealing...the other $50 could've got you decent MF towels and some beer

 

Hey mrZee i have all the professional products,
Meguiars-med.cut cleaner, fine cut cleaner, swirl remover, show car polish, show car glaze, NXT wax, NXT wax booster, Gold class wax, cutting pads, polishing pads, clay, Porter Cable 7424 random polisher.
I just don't think I should have to do all that work to a brand new car, and wanted to give something else a try.

 

cutting pads??med. cut/fine cut..on a new car??!?!I'd think you'd need to use that stuff on a '95 ZX not a new Z... bro..its not the products...its gotta be your choices...your right...you shouldn't need all of 'em you have listed...but I'd try and use some of the megs 80's stuff to try and repair the damage you did...even the Zaino may not be even able to hide all that damage..but good luck anyway...

 

No you got the wrong idea, I didn't buy all that stuff to use on the Z, that's the stuff I use for other cars I do. I do detail work on friends and co-workers cars, from time to time, with great results.

And there is no damage to my car, the super fine scratches on it now I could get out with little effort. I just wanted to give something else a try, something with a little better longevity. I've also been highly impressed with the results I've seen and the testimonials I've read. Just trying something new that's all.

 

To cut down on towel rubbing, I use a leaf blower to thin out the water beads, then wipe whatever's left away with a really smooth cloth. I do this section by section, and almost eliminate hand drying all together. This works great on windows BTW.

 

That pic was before wax, by the way

 

I've become a HUGE fan of #80 over the last month or two. It's definately a staple in my arsenol. I agree the list that the guy had of megs stuff is way more then I have and I'm tackling old cars w/ horrible oxidation. I start w/ 83 then move to 80 and it's done a great job at removing swirls/small scratches and other imperfections.


W/ abrasive products like the ones he had listed technique is what is most important. And a cutting pad is a big no/no, i'm still even scared to bring it out. I do most of my stuff w/ a polishing pad then follow up w/ the final step w/ a finishing pad.

 

retrack my statement













You guys should really read this thread on drying, gives some awesome tips

http://www.autopia.org/forums/showth...&threadid=5120

 

Thanks for the link Hotrodguy. That is the part I hate most, the drying. Very good tips.