Are Z-5 and the grit guard legit?

B

backwoods_lex

New member
I was reading about Z-5's filling ability on the Zaino website. The combination of fillers and a sealant would be great for my car. Are the fillers legit and is longevity good with 3 layers.



And I know a lot of people grit guard, but I dont understand it. When the dirt enters the bucket, just how does the guard lock in the dirt? Is it legit?
 
Some of the big particles that can scratch your car will fall to the bottom of the bucket after you dip your sponge. The grit guard as its name suggest will keep them down there when you agitate the water by dipping your sponge again and again. This way you aren't carrying the particles back to your paint and potentially causing scratches.



I believe Z2 has no hiding or filling abilities like Z5. A zaino expert will answer you soon I'm sure :)
 
The dirt falls to the bottom of the bucket. When you drop your mitt, sponge, whatever you are suing to wash with into the bucket it keeps it out of the dirt.
 
Z-5 has a different look from the Z-2...the Z-heads will give a you a more elegant explanation. The filling effects of Z-5 are very minimal to not noticeable. The Grit Guard is a great accessory. It doesn't "lock in the dirt" it primarily keeps your mitt etc. off the bottom of the bucket and out of the silt that collects there. It also interferes with the currents that would tend to stir the silt back up as you take your mitt in and out. You can also rub your wash media (mitt) against the grit guard to loosen any debris. Once you wash with a Grit Guard it's hard to be without it; simple yet effective.
 
Z2pro is bright and shiny with no filling ability. Z5pro is darker looking and will fill *minor* micromarring. Top with CS to add a bit more wetness. I use a collander(spagetti strainer) which you can get for $1 at Walmart and broke the handle off and use it in a 5 gallon bucket instead of buying a grit guard bucket combo.
 
Z-2pro brings the gloss out, especially for light colors. Z-5pro looks better on dark colors since it will make the color darker. As for filler on Z-5pro, I think it's very minor. Personally I have a gray car (Anthracite) and usually I finish up with Z-2pro since it's more reflective.



I have the Grit Guard, and I would drain all the soap water and see how much dirt collects under the Grit Guard after each wash to see if it really works. Usually MOST of the dirt is well on the bottom.
 
Macruz19 said:
I have the Grit Guard, and I would drain all the soap water and see how much dirt collects under the Grit Guard after each wash to see if it really works. Usually MOST of the dirt is well on the bottom.
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I think anyone who has examined the bottom of their wash bucket and sees all the dirt, sand and grit at the bottom can appreciate the value of having something that holds the wash media off the bottom of the bucket, whether it be a Grit Guard, a spaghetti strainer, an eggcrate light diffuser or what have you. The arguments about whether turbulence in the bucket just stirs the stuff back up...that may be possible (although the baffles and compartments in the Grit Guard reduce this), but it's better than the alternative. I got my Grit Guards for $8 ea. I think, and they seem like they will last forever. In comparison to all our other detailing expenses, they seem like a reasonable investment.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
I think anyone who has examined the bottom of their wash bucket and sees all the dirt, sand and grit at the bottom can appreciate the value of having something that holds the wash media off the bottom of the bucket, whether it be a Grit Guard, a spaghetti strainer, an eggcrate light diffuser or what have you. The arguments about whether turbulence in the bucket just stirs the stuff back up...that may be possible (although the baffles and compartments in the Grit Guard reduce this), but it's better than the alternative. I got my Grit Guards for $8 ea. I think, and they seem like they will last forever. In comparison to all our other detailing expenses, they seem like a reasonable investment.
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I agree it's a good investment.



I was thinking of buying a 2nd one for my other bucket that I use for wheels, but i think one is good enough.
 
Actually I reckon the grit guard would probly last longer then any other tool I have and like everyone else said once you check the bottom of the bucket and see the grit, you know it's done it's job.



I wash the cars here at my home twice a week and even with two washes a week it still collects grit. Also sometimes I feel the bottom and sometimes u won't see much but just touching the bottom you can feel the grit sitting in the bottom.
 
I've been using Zaino for 2 years and I'm switching away from them. I've used Z5 Pro on 2 cars and I don't buy the filling it abilities. However I do by the gloss and feel of both Z2 Pro and Z5 Pro. Can't comment on the grit guard yet.



-Brett
 
joshtpa said:
I used Z-5 exclusively up until 2 years ago. I never noticed any filling capabilities at all.
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It does have filling capabilties but not in direct sunlight. If you bought z5 thinking it will hide your swirls, you will be dissapointed. But then again there aren't too many swirl hiding products out there. It's better to remove them.
 
Z5PRO will only handle the finest of surface imperfections. If your vehicle needs polishing Z5PRO will not help you. If you only have marring in the protective layer (Z2/5) Z5Pro does an excellent job of filling/hiding these blemishes.



A good pre-test of Z5's ability to handle your blemishes is the glaze test. If a glaze will not hide/fill them, Z5 will not either.



I use the 2-bucket method and have not noticed any need for a grit guard. Nevertheless I see not problem for adding some extra protection by using one. Fortunately, my vehicles rarely get very dirty where grit is ever abundant at the bottom.
 
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