Confused on Zaino Prep

[paco]

I guess my biggest problem has always been the fact that I'm impatient. I could never stand waiting the necessary curing time for Z1 or Z2. I usually just applied it, and let it dry (maybe 15 min) then took it off w/ a MF towel. But understand that I live in Southern California, where the weather is usually pretty warm

Z1 is the Z2/Z5 fixative. It's just wipe on, and follow-up with Z2 or Z5. There isn't any cure time associated with it. Also, you shouldn't wipe it off either!

So how's this for a regiment:



1) Wash with Z7

2) Clay with Zaino klay bar ( I still have one stick left).

3) Use SMR. I just bought the Meguiars ScratchX. But somehow I don't think that will work well enough to get rid of the swirls. I was hoping to use the PC for more than just SMR.

4) Wash car again

5) Apply Zaino using the ZFX.

Scratch X is meant to be a spot corrector rather than a whole car solution. I'd use one of the other SMR's available. If you do go with Scratch X. Just keep you're on it as it may dry out quickly when applied with a PC. The Scratch X from what I recall is a bit more aggressive than a SMR and may actually be closer to a FineCut or Medium cut.

Would it be more advisable to compound (using 3M Fine Cut) then use the ScratchX over that? in lieu of step 3?

I'm assuming that the Clay barring and the subsequent use of the SMR will adequately remove all traces of Zaino?

Claying won't touch the Zaino to any significant level or remove swirls. The SMR will wipe it out the Zaino though with ease. I'd use the 3M SMR before the Fine Cut. See if it works with a polishing pad. If not, move up to the cutting pad (non wool) and see if that does the trick. If not, then go up to the Fine Cut with polishing pad.



Remember: Go with the least aggressive product that get's the job done.

As I mentioned before, I have the hazing on the hood. I'm assuming the best method to get that off would be to use the clay bar and the smr. Also, the rest of the car has alot of swirl marks, so I basically want to take the Zaino layers off and start with a clean slate. Does that reasoning sound alright???

Hood Hazing. Do you know how you got the hazing. Hazing is another one of the vague terms that people use interchangeably. Is it a fine mesh of swirls or a moveable film that you just can't seem to get off?



Anyway, you stated the whole car has swirls, I'd hit it with the SMR first, try a couple of passes, if they won't go away, then hit it with a Fine Cut (note that the difference between a FC and SMR is probably not as great as you might think. You may need a medium cut to get the job done depending on the severity of the swirls/scratches.



Keep asking away, I'm sure other's will jump in and help as well.

 

[Buckwild]

First off let me apologize to Scott P for hijacking your thread!

Z1 is the Z2/Z5 fixative. It's just wipe on, and follow-up with Z2 or Z5. There isn't any cure time associated with it. Also, you shouldn't wipe it off either!

I never wiped off the Z1 before applying the Z2. I followed the instructions on their site religiously (except waiting for the cure time). The reason I used Z1 beforehand was because I bought the zfx after I had Zaino'd the car already. From then on, I didn't want to wait the hours required for the Z2 to cure.

Scratch X is meant to be a spot corrector rather than a whole car solution. I'd use one of the other SMR's available. If you do go with Scratch X. Just keep you're on it as it may dry out quickly when applied with a PC. The Scratch X from what I recall is a bit more aggressive than a SMR and may actually be closer to a FineCut or Medium cut.

I remember reading that on the gradient of aggressiveness, the Scratch X was the least aggressive, with the 3M being the middle of the group and another product (name escapes me at the moment) being the most aggressive.

Hood Hazing. Do you know how you got the hazing. Hazing is another one of the vague terms that people use interchangeably. Is it a fine mesh of swirls or a moveable film that you just can't seem to get off?



Anyway, you stated the whole car has swirls, I'd hit it with the SMR first, try a couple of passes, if they won't go away, then hit it with a Fine Cut (note that the difference between a FC and SMR is probably not as great as you might think. You may need a medium cut to get the job done depending on the severity of the swirls/scratches.

The hood looks like it has a cloud over it when viewed from certain angles. I have a black car, and aside from the numerous swirls marks, there is just this haze over it. It's hard to accurately describe it tho. I'm not sure what you mean by "moveable film" but it doesn't seem to be that type. No idea on how I got the hazing. As far as I can tell, its only on the hood.



Now would it be a better idea to just forego the compounding and just use the 3M SMR (I really need to go find the sections on the differences between compounding and SMR's). Man, after having lurked for a few months, the acronyms and techniques are still very daunting I've had the PC for 2 months now and I haven't even taken it out of the box yet.