Zaino vets...ZCS consensus

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Intercooled

New member
I've been useing Zaino for years and exclusively for the last couple of years. I have ZCS and feel it works great. I use it pretty much as a touch up between uses of Z5 which I might apply every 3 months or so. I havnt been on here in a while and was wondering what the best approach is with ZCS usage. Are you guys completely skipping Z2,Z5 applications and just using ZCS? Hows the durability with ZCS alone? Like I stated earlier, I still like applying Z5 every 3 months or so as a solid base. For some reason I feel the traditional creamy sealant seems to be a little better and longer lasting than the liquid ZCS, but i havnt really used it all that much and havnt used it as a stand alone product.
 
I use it as an in-between durability booster for my vehicles. I sometimes use it after ZAIO for a very fast one-two punch for others' vehicles.



Like others, *I* prefer Z5 Pro and Z8 for our black and red.
 
Im curious about Z-CS to. Im not sure when to use it between coats or after everything. After SIP and 106ff, Im doing Z-AIO then Z2 pro. When do I use CS? I also want to use

Z8 for the finale wipedown.
 
My usual protocol: on daily driver

Wash Z7

ZAIO once or twice per year on good paint. ZCP if needed. Then always follow with Z5.

Z5 once every 2-3 months

Z6 between washes if the paint isnt too dirty, when,if I feel like touching it up. Before Z5 or ZCS application

*Z8 After every wash.

ZCS in between Z5 applications as a booster/ touch up, maybe use once or twice.

Z16 on tires after every wash

*I dont use Z8 immediatly after ZCS or Z5. It seems harder to spread and streaks a bit. I believe that the sealants need a 12-24 hr curing time and then the Z8 goes on like butter.
 
This is what I was thinking.



Z7 wash

Clay

SIP

106FF

Z-AIO

Z-2

Z-CS let cure for 45 min to an hour

Z-8



How is that ^^ and also Should I wash the car with Z7 any other time other than the beginning for best results?
 
dsms said:
This is what I was thinking.



Z7 wash

Clay

SIP

106FF

Z-AIO

Z-2

Z-CS let cure for 45 min to an hour

Z-8



How is that ^^ and also Should I wash the car with Z7 any other time other than the beginning for best results?
Click to expand...



Looks good and thorough.



You may want to consider another wash after the clay.
 
I still feel my best results are from using the whole Zaino system as it was meant to be used.



1. wash

2. ZPC

3. 2 coats Z5 ( always ZFXed)

4. 2 coats Z2 ( always ZFXed )

5.ZCS

6. Z8



This is done every 3-4 months or as needed



1. Wash

2. ZCS

3. Z8



This is weekly maint.



I have yet to find a system that yields better durability for me. ZCS & Z8 for me can't be beat.



I think ZCS locks in all my hard work and leaves the finish crystal clear.
 
I love Zaino but I just didn't get the whole CS thing. I bought a bottle and tried it for a while. I quickly went back to Z5, Z6 and Z8. I sold my CS on the trading post.
 
I was unimpressed with CS. Disn't really add much of anything to the finish in terms of looks, and I found durability to seriously lack (for a Zaino protectant) when used completely as a stand alone (no other LSP base). I, like others, much prefer Z8 over a coat of Z2 or Z5. I gave my CS away...
 
I've pretty much stopped using Z5. In all reality it's doesn't look any better 98% than if you just use Z2 and the filling properties suck. I'll occasionally use it on dark cars or if someone requests it but in my opinion, as long as the paint is prepped correctly, a couple coats of Z2 is more than fine and using Z5 with it really isn't going to make that much difference if any at all. I actually tested this out by doing 2 panels side by side on black, silver and red car with Z2 on one panel and Z5 & Z2 together on another. I had 5 friends that are also car enthusiasts look at the cars and not one person was able to see a difference.
 
I like Z-AIO, and the Z-5 combo, but now over a month. I've been doing a layer of Z-CS and Z-8 once a month. I'm starting to get a little lazy, but can't help it since it rains when it's supposed to be my day of washing.



I plan on applying Z-CS after I wash the car hopefully this week :)



I guess I'll work this routine, and apply a layer of ZFX w/ Z-5 every few months.
 
I like:



Z5 pro(ZFX)x2 topped with Z2(ZFX) x 1 topped with Z8

(looks like an algrebra problem!!) :)



Tried CS and was not that impressed with the look of it.



I think that its main purpose is ease of use and durability, so if you use it by itself then you may have something. However adding CS over a Z5/Z2 product (which is already very durable) is sort of a waste IMO. I would rather just use Z6 and Z8 when I want more gloss.



Maybe I will use the Z-CS (by itself after prepping with Z-AIO) on my dad's red caddy to see what it does there. I believe in giving everything a second chance.



side note:

I had originally tried applying Z-CS with the Zaino applicator and it just did not work out. I followed some advice from Scottwax that I saw in a thread and used the Megs yellow foam hand applicators, and CS went on a lot better. So if you like the CS product get yourself some of the yellow pads. There are well worth it for applying Z-CS and Opti-seal.



Thanks Scott for the tip.
 
I use CS as a base and a final "lock-in appearance" agent. I also use it as a protection extender for my daily drivers. I have not applied Z2/Z5 (except beta-testing areas) for over a year on some panels of Escalade and it seems to be well protected and appearance has been maintained with 2-3 month interval applications (Z8 and Z6 are also used between these sessions). This what "I" want form CS. The convenience of a wash and 10 min appearance augmenter and protection additive.



I am still a "creme" ;) type of detailer on my fun vehicles but as I mentioned I still use CS on them as a base coat and final coat. I like the clarity that this product brings to the table and I believe my prep brings out 98% of the paints appearance level. :nixweiss



I tried the sponge-type applicator but my hands are too big to grasp those tiny sponges and using my digits causes fatigue after a few panels. I like the way cotton pads slide effortlessly across a well-polished smooth panel.:D
 
blkZ28Conv said:
I tried the sponge-type applicator but my hands are too big to grap those tiny sponges.
Click to expand...



If you are talking about the foam applicators, they have two sizes now. The regular size and then try these (bigger size - same foam pad):



Item Name: Meguiar's Extra Large 6" Diameter Foam Applicator Pad 2-Pack

Item Number: MX3075
 
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