My first experience with Zaino Clear Seal

R

Ryan314

New member
Well let me just start out saying that I am a die hard Zaino user and stand by every one of their products! If you haven't already seen my pictures from this past weekend, check 'em out here! http://autopia.org/forum/click-brag/88599-warning-shiny-bugeye-wrx-inside.html



Anyways, this past weekend I got to try out the new Zaino Clear Seal for the first time. I was excited without a doubt. I did my usual Spring routine (click on my picture link to see my routine) and used Z-CS for the last step. Application of ZCS was pretty simple, it glides on like oil and spreads fairly easily. I applied it to my entire car, trying to only use 1 pump per. panel (I cheated in some areas). Then I just sat back, and waited, and waited, and waited...:work: and waited... catch my drift? I gave the ZCS almost 3 hours to cure and it still showed streaks and haziness. I was not very happy. The weather was fantastic, 75 degrees and dry, so the weather was definetly not a factor. Maybe I applied it too thick? I didn't think I did, I know how to use Zaino products and thought I applied it thin enough. I also noticed that the spots on my panels where I sprayed the ZCS never fully cured either, those were the streakiest/haziest areas. The directions say to hold the bottle 4 inches from the panel, but I learned if you spray this close, it will be too thick in that area... next time I'm gonna try to spray further away. So anyways, I was tired of waiting so I gave the car a final wipe down with Z8 Finale Spray. Luckily, the Z8 cleared up all of the streaking and haziness and left a gorgeous shine. The slickness of the paint was incredible too.



So, all in all, ZCS is a great product, but I'm not the only one to mention streaking and haziness issues with it. I'm not complaining at all, the Z8 cleared it right up and I was happy. It's a fantastic product, but maybe they can improve it some or maybe make an applicator specially designed for applying it? Who knows, again, I'm not complaining, I'm 99% satisfied with this product :bigups



Just thought I'de share my experiences! Remember to check out the pictures here http://autopia.org/forum/click-brag/88599-warning-shiny-bugeye-wrx-inside.html



Ryan.
 
Check out Opti Seal and compare. Very little streakiness and I did try it on top of Z5 Pro and it worked very well.
 
Your applicator could have been the problem.

It must be clean and dry. You have to have one just for the CS nothing else.

Some where is a thread that tells how to clean one out for the CS.
 
You might also want to try using a (new!!!) foam hand pad. I have had better results using both CS and OS with foam hand pads than cotton applicators.



Also, don't use a full pump spray, that will be way too much. Just lightly mist the pad. If you do that, I think you will find CS a lot easier to use.
 
Scottwax said:
You might also want to try using a (new!!!) foam hand pad. I have had better results using both CS and OS with foam hand pads than cotton applicators.



Also, don't use a full pump spray, that will be way too much. Just lightly mist the pad. If you do that, I think you will find CS a lot easier to use.
Click to expand...





One of the Zaino experts here said that there was NO problem using significantly more than that on each panel. There was a thread last week about it. So I am not sure that is the problem.
 
joshtpa said:
One of the Zaino experts here said that there was NO problem using significantly more than that on each panel. There was a thread last week about it. So I am not sure that is the problem.
Click to expand...



That may be. However, I have used CS and when you use too much, you can get streaking. Use the right amount (some trial and error), I get very little to no streaking.



Personally, I think most problems people are going to have using CS or OS is going to be from not completely wiping the paint clean and free of excess polish after buffing.
 
When I spray onto a panel, I am about 10" away from it. Did you work the product into the panel at all? I work in the product to the panel for about 15 seconds. By doing this, I can spread it thinner and and ensure even application. I would try working it in a bit. That was the ticket for me.



Greg
 
GregCavi said:
When I spray onto a panel, I am about 10" away from it. Did you work the product into the panel at all? I work in the product to the panel for about 15 seconds. By doing this, I can spread it thinner and and ensure even application. I would try working it in a bit. That was the ticket for me.



Greg
Click to expand...



That's a really good point... I didn't work it into the panel. I just sprayed it on, then went up and down over the panel once just to spread it out.



I'll have to work it in next time. Good tip.
 
remember 3 coats max per day-not sure how many layers you did. Also CS needs a new applicator and then dedicate it to CS usage (put in a ziplock bag). Spread it out and let it dry. Any thick areas can be cleaned up with Z6.
 
wannafbody said:
remember 3 coats max per day-not sure how many layers you did. Also CS needs a new applicator and then dedicate it to CS usage (put in a ziplock bag). Spread it out and let it dry. Any thick areas can be cleaned up with Z6.
Click to expand...



I did 3 coats of ZFXed Z5 on Friday, then 1 coat of ZFXed Z2 on Saturday.
 
Is CS self leveling of is there fear of uneven high's and low's in the paint?



Thanks for the help. Also I was under the impression that spraying the pad directly might help application...



Andrew
 
I use less than 15 sprays on my whole entire car, and the only places it would haze is my windows and my hood. I have always used the #314 applicator cotton pad provided by Zaino.



Next time, I'll try a foam pad and hopefully I'll have better results.



I have also heard once you have Zaino (Z2p/Z5p) already on, that it's hard to tell if Z-CS is actually making contact with your paint which causes me to spray a little more on the pad.



Once I see that there's haze, I follow up with Z-8 the next day and I say "DAMN, my car looks good"!
 
Yah, when I 1st starting using ZCS, I did get few streak here and there. What I did was...come back to that spot and hit it with some some Z8.
 
Heres what I do..



1. Make sure car is completly clean (use z6 to clean surface if needed)

2. Shake bottle very well!

3. spray applicator lighty to cover the whole pad

4. mist panel

5. work product in panel lightly



Should dry in 15 minutes or so...should not have any streaking at this point, but if they are any use z6 to wipe away streaks with ease.



I have topped with z8 1 hour later with no problems and the gloss gets richer and deeper
 
Ryan, my guess is that you used way too much. With that weather and conditions the stuff should have dried completely within a few minutes. I did two vehicles last weekend in Seattle where the temp was about 60. They were completely dry within half an hour. I waited until the next day for Z8, by the way.



On a side note, I also used Z5 on a truck with a low-rider cap (plenty of surface area). It only took a single ounce for the entire truck! I had mixed two ounces with ZFX and didn't want to waste it, so my Acura got an extra coat it wasn't expecting. I still had a little left over. I was amazed because I tend to use too much product. Looks like I'm finally spreading thin enough in spite of myself! :-)
 
Scottwax said:
Y'all must be using a lot of CS because it clears out and dries in maybe a minute max for me. :nixweiss
Click to expand...

I agree I used CS for the first time this weekend. It dried very fast. I used about 2 sprays per panel and had a few streaky spots but I just worked it in untill the streak dissapeared.

I found very hard to see where I applied it and where I might missed some spots. Following the directions and spreading it thin, I felt like I wasnt even applying it in some spots.
 
Reason I use a little more product is because I can't see if Z-CS is actually "covering" the surface I work the pad in.



Like I stated, I'll have to try a foam pad next time.
 
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