Zanio Junkies - I need your help

ronmart

ronmart

New member
I have a midnight blue 997 C4s cabriolet and I'm going to try to do the perfect Zaino detail next weekend. Here's my plan (partially audited on Autopia). I'd like to see what you guys think to see if I'm missing anything...

1. I will wash my car as usual with with Griots Car Wash (keep reading)

2. I'll clay as needed using Griots Clay as I like it more than Sonus & Zaino's. (I don't clay while washing because I have to wash in the sun and that will result in water spots)

3. I'll polish any defects out of the paint using Griots Machine Polish 3 (or 2 if there any bad spots).

4. I'll prepare the paint with a coat of Griots Paint Prep which helps to remove wax & sealants.

5. I'll spray the car down with one coat of Z6 and wipe it off (in sections of course) using a blue Sonus MF towel.

6. I'll mix a HALF ounce of Z5 Pro with 2 drops of ZFX and apply a THIN layer to the whole car (as I would do with Klasse AIO & SG) using a Z6 moistend microfiber applicator (orange Sonus ones).

7. I'll park the car out in the dry sun to help it cure as Sal did in Arizona. I'll be working on a limited timetable, so I simply can't wait more than an hour between coats. It should be in the 70's or maybe 80's when I'm doing this with 100% sunshine (no clouds).

8. I'll buff off the first coat in the garage and then repeat steps 5 & 6. I'll repeat step 7 afterwards. My goal is 2 coats of Z5 Pro.

9. I'll REPEAT step 5 (Z6), then I'll use straight Z2 Pro WITHOUT ZFX and apply a THIN layer to the whole car using a Z8 moistend microfiber applicator for one final coat.

10. On Monday after the last coat of Z2 Pro has had 24 hours to set up, I'll finish with a SINGLE coat of Z8 when I do a full car wipe down using a Sonus Blue MF towel.

Please let me know what I'm missing or how I should change my plans for my car. I'm going to print our the final version and use it as my cookbook when I do my car next weekend.

Steps 1 - 4 will take ALL of next Saturday for me (just car washes take me 3 hours - I'm too anal about dirt).

I'll have roughly 6 hours to do steps 5 - 9 on Sunday. I'm hoping I can get it all done that day, and just have #10 to do on Monday.

If by some miracle I should finish early on Saturday, I might prep my windows and wheels and do those in advance of the Sunday marathon.

(NOTE: I'm no newbie, I'm just new to using Zaino so I'm looking for the Zanio experts out their to add their 2 cents)
 
You pretty much have it down. One thing I would reccomend is that if you can let the z5pro cure in the shade without direct sunlight do that. Direct sunlight with zaino makes it very tricky to work with. Apply the z5pro in the shade, let sit for 20 minutes, remove, then z6 and do the next coat. Remove the next coat and then z6 again. Now you can z2pro. I havnt yet used the z2pro but from what I have read and heard it is more finicky than the z5pro so put it on super thing and it might take a bit longer to dry. Once you have removed the z2pro you can z6 and then z8. Stand back and enjoy!

I also reccomend applying the z to your wheels, exhause, windows, pretty much anything. I like to do that because I tend to usually have some z left and need to use it up before the zfx makes it useless.

I have only been a "junky" for a week or so but I think I have it down. Im sure the regulars will chime in as well.

Greg
 
To add to Greg:

-I would use AIO as a base coat polsih (i.e. -apply right before your Z5pro coat). This WILL bond. I'm not familiar with Groits pollish, so I don't know if it will work as well.

-Apply Z5/Z2 with a damp applicator. Moisten with water/Z6. It will go on thin and uniform.

- Dawn wash to help remove the current product on your paint. Dawn + Clay + AIO might be overkill -but you will have a properly prepped surface.

-Mist a few pulls of Z8 or Z6 with Z2/Z5. It will enhance the 'look'.
 
My Blackberry buffer fiilled.....

One more thing....

-If you plan to top Z5pro with Z2pro and you have metallic paint I would mix up 1/2 oz of Z2 with Z5, and a trigger of
Z8 -or- Z6. (Z8 will look a little better). This will put incredible gloss and depth on your paint (in my eyes).

-good luck ;)
 
Thanks Greg!

mgm2003 said:
-I would use AIO as a base coat polsih (i.e. -apply right before your Z5pro coat). This WILL bond. I'm not familiar with Groits pollish, so I don't know if it will work as well.

-Apply Z5/Z2 with a damp applicator. Moisten with water/Z6. It will go on thin and uniform.

- Dawn wash to help remove the current product on your paint. Dawn + Clay + AIO might be overkill -but you will have a properly prepped surface.
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Griots Paint Prep is used in place of Dawn in step 4, but I didn't think of using AIO. I'm a big AIO fan, but I think I might skip it this time since I'm working on a limited timetable and I'm trying to go all Zaino for the LSP to see how it compares to my beloved Klasse Twins.
mgm2003 said:
-Mist a few pulls of Z8 or Z6 with Z2/Z5. It will enhance the 'look'.

-If you plan to top Z5pro with Z2pro and you have metallic paint I would mix up 1/2 oz of Z2 with Z5, and a trigger of Z8 -or- Z6. (Z8 will look a little better). This will put incredible gloss and depth on your paint (in my eyes).
Click to expand...
Your not the first person to suggest mixing some Z8 with the final Z2 coat. I'm going to have to try that.

What do you think about me not putting ZFX in the final Z2 coat? Good or bad?
 
I've done both and think you always have better results using zfx when you switch between Z5 and Z2 or vice versa.

If you have Z8, I highly recommend a pull or two mixed in with Z5 or Z2.

I would also use Z8 to wipe down between coats vs. Z6.
 
mgm2003 said:
I've done both and think you always have better results using zfx when you switch between Z5 and Z2 or vice versa.
Click to expand...

Sorry if I seem dense as it is Monday morning and I'm not quite awake yet, but are you saying here that you recommend NOT using ZFX on the final Z2 coat or you DO recommend using ZFX on the final Z2 coat?

Have you contacted Sal or Zaino customer support about using Z8 - if so, what did they say?
 
Here's my final plan of Attack after talking to Sal Zaino

Okay, I just spent 15 minutes talking to Sal Zaino about my plan below and he had a lot of interesting things to say (great guy). Based on that conversation, here's my final plan:

NOTE: I have a metallic midnight blue (almost black) Porsche 911 cabriolet (so no top to finish), so let me know if I need to use different products or combos.

1. I will wash my car as usual with with Griots Car Wash (although Sal likes his better :D ).

2. I'll clay as needed using Griots Clay as I like it more than Sonus & Zaino's. (I don't clay while washing because I have to wash in the sun and that will result in water spots)

3. I'll polish any defects out of the paint using Griots Machine Polish 3 (or 2 if there any bad spots).

4. I prepare the paint with a coat of Griots Paint Prep which helps to remove wax & sealants. Sal recommends washing again at this step, but he didn't seem very familiar with Paint Prep, so I don't believe re-washing is necessary.

5. I'll spray the car down with one coat of Z6 and wipe it off (in sections of course) using a blue Sonus MF towel.

6. I'll mix a HALF ounce of Z5 Pro with 2 drops of ZFX and apply a THIN layer to the whole car (as I would do with Klasse AIO & SG) using a Z6 moistend microfiber applicator (orange Sonus ones).

7. Based on Sal's comments, by the time I'm done applying to the whole car it should be ready to remove. I'll test it first, but it sounds a lot like the dry time of Klasse AIO (an on / off product).

8. I'll buff off the first coat in the garage and then repeat steps 5 & 6. I'll repeat step 7 afterwards. Sal says 2 coats of Z5 Pro is plenty. Anymore is just wasting the product.

9. I'll REPEAT step 5 (Z6), then I'll use straight Z2 Pro WITHOUT ZFX and apply a THIN layer to the whole car using a Z6 moistend microfiber applicator for one final coat. (NOTE: Sal says your final coat doesn't need ZFX. You can use it, but it isn't required NOR is a long cure time required - wipe on and wipe off is sufficent).

10. According to Sal, immediately after the last coat of Z2 Pro has been removed, I'll ]finish with a SINGLE coat of Z8 when I do a full car wipe down using a Sonus Blue MF towel.

Sal claims that steps 5 - 10 could be done in as little as 45 minutes with the best possible results that the product will offer. I don't think I move that fast, but I guess the real point is that all of these claims about long cure times don't offer any benefit (according to Sal).

If I have the engergy, I might prep my windows and wheels and do those in advance of the Sunday marathon.

Other interesting notes from my conversation with Sal:

  • Sal claims that Werkerstat and Klasse products are made by the same supplier so they are the same product. Both are VOC compliant which he claims translates into Klasse AIO not being as good now as it used to be before it was VOC compliant. He's not a fan of Klasse, but I love the stuff personally.
  • He stated clearly that you SHOULD NOT use Z8 moistened applicators, but rather use Z6. He made it sound like that it was a waste, but he was pretty clear that I shouldn't do that.
  • He seemed to think there is no harm in putting some Z8 in with your Z5 or Z2. He doesn't feel like he can notice any benefit, but he said it doesn't hurt and if someone can see a benefit then sure go for it.
  • He stated the main benefit of ZFX is to allow immediate curing. The reduced dry time is a side effect, but not the purpose of ZFX. He said that it is nonsense to think that using Z2 Pro or Z5 Pro with ZFX requires long cure times - it simply doesn't.
  • Sal said there's no advantage to NOT using ZFX - he claims it is required if you are going to do multiple coats in the same day, but it isn't required on the last coat (but you can still use it if you like).
  • If you screw up with any Zaino product (Z2, Z5, Z8, etc...) then you should simply get a wet towel and wipe it off. In the case of Z2 & Z5 with ZFX, you don't need to re-apply because the bottom layer would have bonded, so you are good to go for your next step.

If you have ANY questions about these claims, I encourage you to send mail to Sal
 
My only comment is that you do not actually apply a "coat" of Z-8....it is more like you mist the car (in sections) and do a final polish with a MF towel. It ensures you have removed all of the Z2Pro and gives a brilliant shine. I use the ZFX with Z5 and Z2, but what do I know.
 
Statman said:
My only comment is that you do not actually apply a "coat" of Z-8....it is more like you mist the car (in sections) and do a final polish with a MF towel. It ensures you have removed all of the Z2Pro and gives a brilliant shine. I use the ZFX with Z5 and Z2, but what do I know.
Click to expand...

Yes, you are correct about the Z8. I also found that Z8 is temperature sensitive, because even though my paint was fairly cool and I was in an enclosed garage with no light on the car, just the 85 degree air was enough to cause it to be as sticky as honey dispite the fact that I pointed it toward the windshield at the bottom of the hood and did one trigger squeeze.

Here's my before and after results:

http://autopia.org/forum/showthread.php?t=76320&page=1&pp=12

Skipping the ZFX in the Z2 was fine. I had no issues with it bonding and drying quickly, but it was super dry here on Sunday.
 
ZaneO said:
This could have been a contributing factor to your problems with Z8.
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I would doubt it since it was Sal who specifically told me that I didn't need ZFX on the final Z2 coat and that I should use Z8 after that.
 
ronmart said:
I would doubt it since it was Sal who specifically told me that I didn't need ZFX on the final Z2 coat and that I should use Z8 after that.
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Have you used Z8 since (in the shade on cool paint)?

How is your detail holding up so far?
 
ronmart said:
I would doubt it since it was Sal who specifically told me that I didn't need ZFX on the final Z2 coat and that I should use Z8 after that.
Click to expand...

Well good luck to you then.
 
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