Questions, but You guys are going to kill me!

B

Bluedog

New member
i use the vikings big fluffy black foam pads when i apply zaino like many here do. do any of you guys find that the pad has alot of zaino sucked deep inside the pad after youre done using it? after applying 3 coats, the build up atually gets to a point where youre clearly wasting zaino. i always notice this build up deep insde the pad only when im washing them and im squeezing the pad dry. wheni squeez the pad really hard, i can squeeze out the zaino thats been collected. do any of you zaino users experience this too? im pretty sure im not using too much zaino either. i get almost two coats on a half full bottle that comes with zfx.



on a similar subject, what do you guys use to wash your foam pads thats been used with zaino. it seems like water just makes the zaino stickier and harder to remove.
 
I use the yellow Foam pads from CMA, I felt that I was wasting to much Z, useing the cotton Z ones.



I wash my foam pads with a little dawn and rinse good after each time I use them:)
 
I'm using the Viking foam pads also and have noticed exactly what you're talking about. My only solution is after about half the car is done, I start squeezing the applicator to bring Z to the surface rather than adding more from the bottle. It seems to help and there's a little less left in the applicator when I start to wash it out. There's still enough Z left in the foam when I'm done that I hold the applicator under a warm stream of water from the faucet and squeeze the polish to the top of the application side and just swipe it off with my finger, then I wash the applicator in a bucket of very strong Dawn water, squeeze it out and let it dry. After the thing drys, I've started to use my air compressor to blow the polish dust out of the foam, otherwise, it wants to leave a fine white powder of dried Z on the paint when applying the Zaino.
Prelude_after_rearside.jpg
 
IMO I would still say that you are either using to much or wasting Zaino. I can get 6 coats of Z2 w/ ZFX from from half of the mixing bottle (1 oz) 3 on the vette and 3 on the 540. I use it so thin that most of the time its hard to see it on the cars. I know its there do to my pattern of application. Circular? and then back and forth on the upper surfaces, up and down on the sides.



Spray your applicator with Z6 every other time you put more Z2 on it.
 
6 applications from one ounce?? I think thats stretching it a bit. I have gotten 3 and that was a stretch. I don't like using too much Z6 on the applicator....I feel that it is diluting the Z too much. I know thin is good, but I think Sal would have diluted it more if it were supposed to be like that. The ZFX dries so fast the dilution to such thin layers is unnecessary.



I use the Vikings and just squeeze more when I know that it is getting saturated. It's a great applicator...applies evenly and is easy on the hand. I think that there is less chance of pressing too hard because you can't dig your fingers in like a yellow foam pad.





H
 
After using zaino for the 1st time, I washed my 2 applicators in dawn. Are you supposed to wash after each use and if so there was hardly anything coming out at all. The only thing I noticed is that the pads still had a brown discolouration from the Z1 and pink from the Z2. I figured that would let me know what pad to use for each product next time.
 
hey dlw, i noticed u drive a 4th gen prelude vtec! you should definitley come over to our site at www.preludeonline.com. you can find tons of great info for your car and get deals and group buys every now and then. Im also moderating the detailers forum there and would love to have fellow autopians drop by.

as for the fine white powder you speak of, thats exactly what i get after i finish washing the pads and letting it dry. its very very fine and theres not too much of it. i dont have an air compressor or anything but i sometimes use a hair dryer... but that doesnt help reduce the white powder.

Is it actually bad to have a little of that white powder on when you use the pad again? any chances of it scratching?

gmblack3, you got 6 applications from 1 oz!!! thats pretty amazing... the most i got was probably 2 cars and 3-4 panels. maybe using syringes instead of the bottles will help me distribute the zaino more efficiently. i only spray on Z7 once in the beginning and once again after i finish doing 1 coat for the whole car. i also feel saturating it with Z7 might caus the zaino to not bond properly or end up making yourself applying z7 rather than z2 or 5.
 
CMA sells a spur that cleans the pads after they are dry. You should get that powder off as much as possible or is can be like fine sandpaper! :scared



H
 
Sorry not "stretching it" at all.

Did 6 coats from 1 oz: 3 on vette and 3 on 540.

see the vette pics here:

http://www.picturetrail.com/gmblack3/426788

Did 5 coats from 1 oz: 3 on brothers X5 4.4 and had enough left to do 2 on the vette.

See the crappy low res pics here:

http://www.picturetrail.com/gmblack3/570054

Did 6 coats from 1 oz: 3 on my dads 97 Sedan Deville (fabric top) and 3 on my sisters SLK 230 (small car)

See the Pics here:

http://www.picturetrail.com/gmblack3/546534

When Sal tells you to use it thin. I do with great results! :p

No dilutation problems here :nixweiss



<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by bigboyhf [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>6 applications from one ounce?? I think thats stretching it a bit. I have gotten 3 and that was a stretch. I don't like using too much Z6 on the applicator....I feel that it is diluting the Z too much. I know thin is good, but I think Sal would have diluted it more if it were supposed to be like that. The ZFX dries so fast the dilution to such thin layers is unnecessary.

I use the Vikings and just squeeze more when I know that it is getting saturated. It's a great applicator...applies evenly and is easy on the hand. I think that there is less chance of pressing too hard because you can't dig your fingers in like a yellow foam pad.


H [/b]</blockquote>
 
Ok, first off ... I know, I know .... I SHOULDN'T!

I run my vehicles through the car wash. YES! I said I run my vehicles through the car wash! I don't have the time to wash at home. I run my Chevy Silverado 1500 crew through it 3-4 times a week and some times more as I have unlimited washes. I also live in MA and deal with snow & salt. My truck always looks clean and I take care of the paint.

OK, so my old truck (2006) color was called grey-stone metallic (on the darker side) and I used blackfire on it. It looked so amazing and the metallic chips would pop. Anyway, it wouldn't last very long. I would reapply every other month or so to be on the safe side.

I now have a 2011 which is silver (non metallic). I applied the BF to it but it only looks so,so. Now the BF is probably 2 years old and I'm not sure if there is a shelf life so that may be the cause?

My question(s) .... 1) Should I try a different product on my truck because it's a different lighter color? It's not a dark silver and I notice the BF looks better on darker vehicles.... 2) Is there a product out there that gives a great shine and holds up to the God forbidden car wash?

I love the ultimate wet look but I'm not sure if I can achieve that with the color I have now. Any Suggestions?

Thanks for your time!
 
I wish it was a trick question!

There must be a product out there there gives you the ultimate wet look, protection and holds up to car washes. The car wash I run through really doesn't harm the paint to much so buffing it isn't a chore. Someone told me to finish up with NuFinish but I don't think I could bring myself to actually put that on my truck, LOL. My 7 year old wants me to you a pirate smiley so here I go ... :ar!
 
Add more clear coat will help but these days the car washes use very strong detergents that will strip almost all products out there and put swirls on your ride. Opti-Coat 2.0 might be the ticket for you in this case.
 
Going to the car wash as often as you do will certainly strip off anything that you apply. Even if you were to find a product that gives you the look that you desire, it wouldn't last long because of the harsh chemicals that the car washes use.

Angelo is right, try Opti Coat 2.0. It may not give you that super wet look that you desire, but it is a much more durable product then anything else you will be able to find.
 
maccini said:
I wish it was a trick question!

There must be a product out there there gives you the ultimate wet look, protection and holds up to car washes. The car wash I run through really doesn't harm the paint to much so buffing it isn't a chore. Someone told me to finish up with NuFinish but I don't think I could bring myself to actually put that on my truck, LOL. My 7 year old wants me to you a pirate smiley so here I go ... :ar!
Click to expand...

If your going to continue your routine of weekly swirl-a-matic visits, I suggest you find a nice glaze, then top it with nuba :-B
 
I guess I will have to keep applying product to the truck monthly. Do you suggest anything for a lighter color? Or should I continue with BlackFire? Has anyone tried Zaino? Or is it junk?
 
White and silver cars are very difficult to get to "POP." I use BFWD on my red Lightning and love it, but I also use Danase Wet Glaze for that extra pop and find it's the only thing that makes white and silver cars look like you want yours to look.

Danase isn't made any more, but this product from Amazon produces the same result. There may be others, too.


Jim

Please do not post links to other sites/products here, it is against the rules.

Thank you,
Mod 3
 
maccini said:
I guess I will have to keep applying product to the truck monthly. Do you suggest anything for a lighter color? Or should I continue with BlackFire? Has anyone tried Zaino? Or is it junk?
Click to expand...

I love BFWD but I have to admit that I did try Zaino out of curiosity. It's so much more work than BFWD and to my weekend warrior eye, I can't see any difference. Especially since you are talking about re-applying very often, you can't beet BFWD's application. Zaino IMHO would be a pain to apply so often.
BFWD all the way!
 
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