How do you clean complex grills?

M

m5m3

New member
I am new to this, currently I have been using Autoglym polish and Gloss finish products (aston Martin approved). I have been reading about Zaino on this board and have some questions :



Every one here apears to live in and apply Zaino in warm weather (wish I did), Is there any issue with putting it on when it is -1 to 3 deg C - will it cure.



Does damp conditions affect hw it goes on (its winter here and cold and wet - eg condensation in the garage).



I read Zaino is a polymer - it is not thick like putting on a varnish is it (and you can get it off if you do it wrong / do not like it).



Is this the best / sutable for a clear coat dark met Blue (my 996).



regards
 
hi richard! i think that is a little too cold for zaino. the website instructions are a little conflicted (states 45 degrees F as minimum, but in some application notes talks about applying at 38 degrees F, or about +2 degrees C.) probably best to wait until its above 3 C.



the humidity is also a factor in cure/dry time, and if there is condensation that might make it really messy to apply - although the zaino does not mix with the water it probably will streak?



good luck on getting a few warm dry days for detailing.
 
Thanks for that, maybe I will have to crank up the space heaters. One more question. People talk about 'clay' - in that they clay their car twice a year. I am asuming this is som esort of abrasive rubber to remove marks ?. Currently every month I have to wipe over my whole car with a tar remover, as you get it throuwn up from the road surface, leaving black spots the size of a pin head (but loads of them). is this what 'clay' is for.



regards - a person who lives in the Uk and hates the state of the roads.
 
Welcome to the forum.



Clay is made by a bunch of manufacturers and is used with a lubricant spray or soap and rubbed on the car to remove overspray or othe contaminates. Go to the Carport site and look under details details details. It ios explained there very well.



Also a search on clays here would give many older threads to help you out.
 
Welcome, also.



Clay is not an abrasive. It is good, however, for removing surface and embedded contaminants. It will also remove a bit of any coat of Zaino on the car, according to Sal Zaino (inventor of Zaino).
 
I have actually been getting better results with it lately, with temps here in Florida in the 40 (nights) to 70 degree range, and little humidity. The summer humidity really gave me fits with Zaino, lots of streaks, even after curing overnight (the only way i do it ). Some Z6 remedied that with a bit of effort though...





I have been enjoying the product MUCH more. Seems i'll have to take a hiatus next summer, and do all my layering in the cooler, less humid air . I know there's enough on there to carry me through LOL.
 
richardp, nice to see someone else from the UK here. If you want a very shiny car, this is the best place around. Very nice helpful people.



Any pictures of your 996?



Although the UK does not have the range of products compared to the USA, some like Blitz wax are in the UK, as is P21S, whilst Ziano can be imported from Germany, 303 from Finland and so on.



Steven

Alfa 164

Cumbria
 
Well, the car was repainted black by myself in 1997, so technically I get 5 years of credit, since you'll have to go on faith the paint before was just as good. It was silver ( light titanium ). The oem paint was actually perfect, but the car was hit lightly twice while parked, and the shops that did the repair and paintwork could not match the color to save their lives. I just got sick of looking at a poor blend and match and decided to do it myself, and chose black for the depth and easy to match concerns.

I have painted quite a few cars in my life, kind of did it for friends and family etc.

And that kind of leads to the detailing side too; I wet sanded the entire car and buffed it out. There is no orange peel now like a factory Ford. LOL. It's all in the prep as they say.....and Zaino sure does help.

I really do appreciate the comments, it means a lot coming from you guys. DAN H
 
Thanks for all the replys, this forum looks like it has a lot of knowledge. I will take some pics of my 996 and post them (when it gets back from my local OPC), and let you know how I get on. I was going to order some Zaino and compair to my current Autoglym. - Regards
 
Very sharp looking car, I'm more impressed now to hear you painted it yourself.



You ought to do a video on the whole process. follow up website, the works.
 
When I wash grills, I usually cannot clean them when using a dreadlock style wash mitt or a sponge since you are trying to shove something in the between the grill louvers. With grate grills, you have to use a tool.

Do you use a brush for general grill cleaning? If so what type?

What other tools can you use.

I do not like the swissvax style brushes but had tried the wheel cleaning type brushes. I have been looking at the pricey boar's hair brush.
 
From the pics I've seen, the "woolies" they sell on the PAC site are a good solution, especially for the honeycomb grills. Looks like it takes a lot of patience, but I'm learning that's what detailing is all about.
 
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