FWIW, here is what I have done so far, in case anyone is interested and/or has the same questions I did. I also spoke to the Zaino folks. As an aside, to the folks that think it is hard or confusing...Zaino is so easy...put a few drops of ZFX, shake it up, ready to go. Literally if you can't figure it out, give the DMV your license
. I think it is easier than anything else I've used. There aren't a lot of products out there where I could wash & apply 3 coats (plus 3 of Z6 in between) in just 2 hrs.
1) Washed with Dawn, twice, just to be sure.
2) Dried car using the virtually touchless system where you dry with water as shown on this site.
3) Patted dry with 100% cotton towel (not wipe), because my microfiber weave towel didn't arrive in time. I plan to only use microfiber when it arrives.
4) Drove around the block (city block, so no worries of dirt road or whatever).
5) Patted dry with towel (again, never wiped).
NOTE: I skipped the clay bar because I have used about 4 months ago, and although my car is driven daily, I have a garage on both ends of commute.
6) Examined every panel closely, applying MeGuire's Scratch-X where ever appropriate, using foam applicator pad and microfiber buffing.
6) Went over most of the car with 3M Finish It Swirl Mark Remover. I started to apply this with a foam pad, but it just wasn't working well for me, since you sort of rub it in until it is gone sort of thing. So I switched to using a microfiber towel to apply/buff off. Worked great.
7) Repeated (6) as necessary, paying special attention to those lovely curved hips on her, since they really catch the light and show off any microscratches. As the Zaino guys said, the better the paint is before Zaino starts, the better it can do it's work. Parts of the car had 2-3 coats of 3M FI SMR.
8) Went back over car with microfiber to make sure i got all the Scratch-X & FI SMR off.
9) Washed with Dawn again. (Now reading this post, not sure if i should have done that part or not).
10) Dried with water.
11) Patted dry.
12) Drove around block.
13) Patted dry.
14) Applied Zaino Z5 with ZFX additive. Shook for a few minutes, applied with their applicator. I'm not sure, given my love of microfiber now, this is the best tool. It is good, but not sure the best.
(Post note: I have been trying foam applicators with good luck...any thoughts here?)
15) Buffed off the Z5 with microfiber.
16) Applied Z6 gloss enhancer with microfiber.
17) Repeated Z5, Z6, Z5, then ran out of light and temperature cooled off. My experience is Z6 is hard to be sure to buff off completely under those circumstances.
18) Let her sit overnight (well, did take her out Sat night).
19) (Next morning) Wash with Z7.
20) Dry with water, pat dry, drive around block, pat dry.
21) Applied Z2 with ZFX additive, again using (different) Zaino applicator.
22) Buffed off Z2.
23) Applied Z6.
24) Repeated: Z2, Z6, Z2, Z6
25) Did about 4 laps around car looking for any bit of anything I missed.
26) Repeated 19-25 next couple of weekends
So, I now have a swirl mark removed, 14 coats of Zaino midnight blue metallic Porsche 911...yum.
EDIT: Now it is 19 coats, and I threw in a coat of Z5...seemed to make it pop again...anyone else find same effect?
Time for a cold one. Any spots you guys would suggest to improve?
And one more comment...I'm now down to using only up to the (1) mark on the bottle to do an entire coat. So a half mixing bottle for me does 4-5 coats. Of course, I have no top.
EDIT: Now I use the syringe, and use 6 ml per coat, but about to shift down to 5 again.
:xyxthumbs
