Zaino'ing tips???

moolman said:
somebody needs to explain to me, what extra they see from Z-8. I'm very liberal with the Z-8 too, it's applied it at least 12 hours after the final coat of Z-CS. I guess I never did the half the car with Z-8 and the other half without.:chuckle:
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Z8 is highly concentrated. With Z8... truly less is more. A few drops dribbled on the hood will do the entire hood. Remember... THIN - THIN - THIN!



For the zaino experts, what do you guys use for maintainence. After I did the ultimate zaino steps, I was thinking of just 1 layer of Z-2 or Z-5 without Z-FX followed by Z-CS every 3 months after claying sections that needed it. Any suggestions?
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That sounds good to me. I like CS/Z8 so much I use them much more often than that, even though I don't need to!
 
I was never impressed with Z8, especially for the price. All it did was attract dust. On the other hand, Z5 on black paint looks amazing.
 
Logan06GTO said:
I wash in one of the wash stations 25 cent things, then i take it back to the parking garage and detail in the shade...
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Be very careful with this. I make it a point NEVER to drive my car even a short distance between a wash and a wax/seal.:nono It is a sure fire way to get MAJOR swirling. I learned my lesson the hard way. When I was younger I used to wash my car at the $1.00 car wash and drove home 1/4 of a mile and never could figure out how I got all those swirls after waxing.:cry: If I only knew then what I know now!:) :laugh:
 
mborner said:
Be very careful with this. I make it a point NEVER to drive my car even a short distance between a wash and a wax/seal.:nono It is a sure fire way to get MAJOR swirling. I learned my lesson the hard way. When I was younger I used to wash my car at the $1.00 car wash and drove home 1/4 of a mile and never could figure out how I got all those swirls after waxing.:cry: If I only knew then what I know now!:) :laugh:
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curious to know how swirles come from this? I've never had a problem.



Then again, I dont dry my car there. I drive home, with it still wet, and take the leaf blower to it. Then I very gently dry the rest with a towel, almost using like a chomois to get the rest off.



Havent had a problem.
 
supastar1568 said:
curious to know how swirles come from this? I've never had a problem.



Then again, I dont dry my car there. I drive home, with it still wet, and take the leaf blower to it. Then I very gently dry the rest with a towel, almost using like a chomois to get the rest off.



Havent had a problem.
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A wax applicator will not touch my car unless it is squeaky clean right from my own driveway. I would have to say that driving home with the car wet would be even worse. Driving the car (any distance) gets dust and debris on it. A leaf blower would not remove the dust and wiping it off with a towel will leave swirl marks. I'm guessing your car is white or silver. Just the thought of driving a car home after a wash to apply wax sends chills up my spine!! :soscared: I would think that most Autopians feel the same way.
 
mborner said:
A wax applicator will not touch my car unless it is squeaky clean right from my own driveway. I would have to say that driving home with the car wet would be even worse. Driving the car (any distance) gets dust and debris on it. A leaf blower would not remove the dust and wiping it off with a towel will leave swirl marks. I'm guessing your car is white or silver. Just the thought of driving a car home after a wash to apply wax sends chills up my spine!! :soscared: I would think that most Autopians feel the same way.
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hmm, good info.



anyone have any tips when I do not have a hose accesible at my house. We put our hose away for the winter.



The car wash is a quarter mile away. not sure if i feel like applying 3 coats of z-2 at the car wash.



hmmm.. :)
 
supastar1568 said:
hmm, good info.



anyone have any tips when I do not have a hose accesible at my house. We put our hose away for the winter.



The car wash is a quarter mile away. not sure if i feel like applying 3 coats of z-2 at the car wash.



hmmm.. :)
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I feel your pain. You could try ONR, or you could use a high quality quick detailer on each panel before you apply your wax.
 
supastar1568 said:
hmm, good info.



anyone have any tips when I do not have a hose accesible at my house. We put our hose away for the winter.



The car wash is a quarter mile away. not sure if i feel like applying 3 coats of z-2 at the car wash.



hmmm.. :)
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ONR with a grout sponge works well. That's untill you get the hose out.



Deanski
 
Logan06GTO said:
What pads do you use?? I may not do as many coats the first time, but we'll have to see. Where do i buy these legit MF? or are Target/Walmart towels fine, b/c I got the white with orange borders 20 for 7.99 :) but after I started reading on here i might return them.
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Pads, all depend on the condition of the finish. As for application, skip trying to do it with a PC or other machine and apply by hand very very thin. So thin it's hard to see.



Removal, right now, the cheapest and best way is 100% USA cottom towels with no edging. Wash them a few times w/o fabric sheets in a dryer as they tend to lessen absorbtion of the cotton. Nice deep pile 100% cotton made in the USA have the best effect.



Later you can look into higher quality MF towels or use the Alpine towels from DF as these are very soft.



Deanski
 
A little off-topic, but...For those of us who value the USA-made towels, we may want to stock up now. These companies are having a hard time staying in business with the overseas competition. I've tried a lot of towels that just don't absorb water that well. Then you go back to a good USA towel like Grand Patrician, and it is a relief. Soft and absorbent.



I've got and use microfibers, but like Sal, I really have more confidence in 100% cotton towels. When they come out of the wash, I feel confident they are really clean and completely release dirt and debris.
 
Sherri Zann said:
A little off-topic, but...For those of us who value the USA-made towels, we may want to stock up now. These companies are having a hard time staying in business with the overseas competition. I've tried a lot of towels that just don't absorb water that well. Then you go back to a good USA towel like Grand Patrician, and it is a relief. Soft and absorbent.



I've got and use microfibers, but like Sal, I really have more confidence in 100% cotton towels. When they come out of the wash, I feel confident they are really clean and completely release dirt and debris.
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I agree that good quality USA towels are coming harder to find, most are now adding blends 70/30 cotton/poly which you have to avoid. Really good MF towels are also becoming a bit of a crap shoot due to quality control.



Here's another towel I use and are extremely soft: DF Concours products They even make a sock for the cord to your buffer, great investment! These are very soft and deep pile.



Deanski
 
Well I have no access to a hose, I live in the Dorms at Texas Tech University, the only place with an outlet is the parking garage that is probably 1/3 mile away, so my only choice it to do a Dawn was there, and then maybe a ONR when I get back, then Clay, then do maybe just ONR washes? What are some opinions?
 
mborner said:
I feel your pain. You could try ONR, or you could use a high quality quick detailer on each panel before you apply your wax.
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yeah, im thinking, after i get the vehicle home, a nice coat of z-6 before I proceed with the sealant (z-2, etc.)
 
I have been using ONR because of our drought--car washing with a hose is not legal here due to water restrictions. If that's all I can do, that's what a do, though I far prefer a regular 2-bucket wash.



You may want to use z-AIO before moving on to Z-2/5 or CS. The z-AIO will prep the surface for a reliable bond between the Z sealant and paint, particularly since ONR states that it has some polymers and does leave some shine.
 
3-4 gallons in a bucket using ONR is all you need. And it can be done in the safe confinement of a garage or good shade area. You should have a shower or some where you can get a few gallons of clean water. Fill it up a gallon a time out of the sink. A leaf blower works great and/or good quality MF or 100% clean cotton towels to dry. I wouldn't drive from outside the garage to inside if I did not need too.



I too use the AIO, 2 coats of Z-3, (single stage paint), and buff off with Z-8, a little expensive but man does it shine. Finish with CS and final Z-8 coat. Car looks like red glass. For an 86, it looks better than new. ONR every week or two and Z-8 and you should be good for 9-10 months.



One of my buddies who is also on here frequently recommended Carnauba for a warmer, deeper shine, but I can not see myself ever using anything but Zaino. And the idea of adding wax every month or so, nah, I prefer driving the car over waxing it.
 
Can some Zaino experts give me some more tips?



I did the lazy man's Zaino on my wife's Lexus RX350. We got the car a year ago but I was really lazy and never bothered to wax it. And throughout the year, I did the lazy man's wash, which is just going to a wash bay, spraying soap on it, blasting the soap off with the high pressure wash and if there was any bird poop, I'd just blast it off with the high pressure. Finish off with the spotless rinse which works at some car bays. Anyway, rarely there was a towel on it since I just drove fast on the freeway to dry it. And the paint was never scrubbed with anything.



The paint overall looks okay, it's a silver car and I can't see swirl marks like a black car but I do see very slight scratches, instead of round swirl marks, the lines are straight.



So 2 weeks ago with the lazy man's Zaino, I dawn washed, skip claying because I'm lazy. Z-AIO with ZFX, 1 layer of Z2 with ZFX, Z-CS, Z-8 12 hours later. And of course Z-6 between each step.



Now I'm going to go back in sections, clay the car and try to get rid of the slight scratches. What do you think is the best way to do this? Obviously, the Z-AIO by hand was not enough but pretty dang good because they are hard to see. I was going to use Z-PC with maybe the orange or white pads on a PC but it might be overkill. Has anybody tried Z-AIO with maybe the white or black pads with a PC? I'm wondering if that would make Z-AIO work better than hand to get rid of the slight scratches.



Thanks
 
A PC is never overkill. ZPC with an orange pad will remove marring and should leave a nice finish. Finishing with the white pad might bring the gloss up a bit. I'd clay first.
 
So seeing as I have no other way of washing my car except for in a wash bay and then driving it back to my parking garage to do the rest. What should I do? Wash with Dawn to remove everything, then go back and do an ONR wash, then Clay, then ONR wash, then ZPC etc etc with a UDM????
 
Logan06GTO said:
So seeing as I have no other way of washing my car except for in a wash bay and then driving it back to my parking garage to do the rest. What should I do? Wash with Dawn to remove everything, then go back and do an ONR wash, then Clay, then ONR wash, then ZPC etc etc with a UDM????
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I think people are being too cautious. I've done what you've done plenty of times when I didn't have access to a hose. Once you get home, before doing anything else, just use a microfiber or towel and spray on some Z6 and wipe, should get any dust that got on there. If the Z6 and towel can't get rid of it, you're screwed regardless of if you drove it 1/4 mile home or not.
 
Any potential swirls from the drive home and subsequent wipe down will be removed by the ZPC anyway. I'd wash it, drive home, wipe with Z6, clay, then ZPC. All the extra steps aren't necessary.
 
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