05 Ford Expedition - a zaino detail

[Frugle]

Hello all,

yes, this is my first detail with my new PC 7424. and thanks to the incredible comunity of autopia, I feel it was very sucessful .

Products Used
Dawn wash
Zaino Z18 claybar
PC 7424
Optimum polish
Wolfgang orange cutting pad
Wolfgang small profile orange cutting pad
Zaino Z6
Zaino ZFX
Zaino Z5 pro
Zaino Z2 pro
Zaino Z8
Amor all Extreme Tire shine Gel
Chemical guys VRT
Meg. Leather Care
Stoner invisible glass


The Mission
To clean my moms expedition per her arrival from out of town tomorrow; learning how to sucessfully use a PC; and to satisfy my obsessive compulsive nature.

The Results
Satisfactorally dissapointing.

The Process
Fill a main bucket with dawn and water
fill a secondary bucket with fresh water for rinsing
Wash the wheels using a designated microfiber(re) towel
Wash the tires using a tire brush, doused in the dawn water, and topped with Bon Ami (bars aid)
Empty said buckets and refill with same materials
Wash the car completely using a MF mit [for more bite than a lambswool]
While washing, before rinsing, clay the car with z18
Dry the car by first, blowing it with a leaf blower, and then using MF towels and the chase method.
After drying, spot check with clay, using a 16oz spray bottle filled with distiled water and 2/3 a cap full of Zaino Z7 car wash.

Examine the car for any abnomalties and break out the PC.
Apply Optimum polish in a circle around the wolfgang orange cutting pad.
Spread polish on panel while turned off
turn on PC on speed 3 to work the polish in.
Turn PC to speed 5.5 and start polishing.
Move PC in a switchback pattern moving at about 1/2 to 1 inch per second.
After worked in completely, examine. If saticfied, move on.
Continue this method, periodically moving the car in and out of the garage to see if I am doing anything. (looking at the sun through the finish.

When done polishing,
QD the truck using Zaino Z6 spray.
Create my Z5 pro concoction using the provided 2 ounce bottles, fill botlle 2/3s full, put 6 drops of ZFX, and 1 spray of Z8.
Apply to car using vertical storkes on all panels, and horizontal strokes on hood.
Apply z5 to wheels.
Let dry for 30 minutes, and then buff.
again, QD the truck using Z6 and prepare for a second coat.
Apply second coat, including wheels.
Again wait 30 minutes, and buff.
again, QD the truck using z6.
prepare Zaino Z2 pro concoction using the same method as for Z5p in a diferent bottle.
Apply using the same method as Z5p.
Wait 30-40 minutes, and buff using a PC with microfiber[re] cover.
Apply a final coat of Zaino Z8 show car seal and gawk at your work.

Apply Chemical Guys VRT to all Vinyl, rubber, and (optionally) tires (VRT).
Opt to apply Armor All Extreme Tire Shine Gel to tires.

Vacuum all interior carpets
apply Meg. Leather car to all leather surfaces x2

gawk at your work and pat yourself on the back for suffering through the arm pains.

Objects Learned
Don't hold clay loosly.
PCs vibrate....a lot.
Pressure works.
Don't leave Zaino on longer than needed before removing. (was a pain in the butt to remove)
I don't like the extreme tire gel on SUV sized tires. too reflective, and splochy.

I'm not sure I was apply 303 right. I applied it to plastic surfaces, and it was extremely splochy.
I also found mothers back to black was extremely splochy.
I found Chemical Guys VRT works incredibly making an even black apearance, AND is an incredible cleaning tool for light colored plastics.

I feel like I got 90% of the swirl marks out (light swirls to begin with)
and probably 60% of the water spots (moderate spotting)


Conclusion
I was dissapointed finding out I did so poorly removing water spots. When I was doing it, I would pull the car out in the sun and look to see if I could find any more. but I guess the sun was so bright I couldn't see what was there (duh) After I pulled it in the garage I could see the remaining water spots through the basic ceiling light above.

I was also dissapointed that it took me freaking 11 and 1/2 hours. I started at 8:30, and pulled into the garage at 8.


Overall, great learning experience, was tidious, but I feel prepared to do my car.

Thank you autopia for teaching me everything I know.


Now, on to the pictures.

obviously very dirty




water spots on back window

After Wash

[Frugle]

I'm sure this was an unecessary setp, but it sure did make it a lot easier not having to clean the polish off of the rubber and trim


The sun didn't come out until noon, these were the best shots I could get of the water spots and swirls

[Frugle]

After 1 pass of OP w/ orange cutting pad

[Frugle]

Post OP, post Z6, pre 1st coat of Z5p

Post 1st coat of Z5p



Post Z5p x2, post z6, pre z2p

[Frugle]

I was unable to get pictures of it after Z2P x1, and z8 becuase the sun went down. I will try to get those later.

Thanks for looking. Please leave a comment if you have a chance

[DieselMDX]

WOW great post u basically summed up all of what I have learned in countless hours of searching on ONE thread.

great job, did u happen to get the OC also or just the polish?

[Frugle]

yeap, I have OC, but I felt it was too aggressive to try on this car. My trunk lid on my car (03 camry) has more heavy swirls that I will probably use the OC on.




Forgot to add,

I used the PC and OP on the rear most windows to get rid of water spots...

and I also applied the zaino to everything, including windows. (z5p x2, z2p x1)

(has anyone mentioned how annoying the picture limit is? )

[klnyc]

Good lord 12hr
Amazing job

[Frugle]

thanks

BTW: previously, since being purchased in August of 2005, I have washed it frequently, (though not apparent in the pictures), and clayed twice. After claying both times I had applied a coat of Meg. NXT.

the swirls were induced by a visit to the car was before an understand was made about the damaging nature of swirl-o-matics.

the waterspots were induced by poluted atlanta rain, and siblings washing without drying.

[Eliot Ness]

You did great for your first time out and your mom will be very pleased! It's obvious that you read a lot and were well prepared before you ever got started..... and there was a LOT of paint on that Expedition to work on.

Some things you just have to learn by doing. As you get more experience things will go faster and you'll develop a "flow" or "rhythm" that will speed things along. I did my first Zaino job on the wife’s mini-van last weekend, and after the first application by hand I went to the PC. I used a grey 4” finish pad (primed with a touch of Z-6) and it was much easier doing the last two applications that way. Since I got started late in the afternoon, and I was running out of daylight, I also skipped the Z-6 after the first and second coats, but it still went on/off easy and looked great. I also liked the way the PC worked the Z into the paint….. seemed better than what I was doing by hand.

[DieselMDX]

Originally Posted by Eliot Ness

You did great for your first time out and your mom will be very pleased! It's obvious that you read a lot and were well prepared before you ever got started..... and there was a LOT of paint on that Expedition to work on.

Some things you just have to learn by doing. As you get more experience things will go faster and you'll develop a "flow" or "rhythm" that will speed things along. I did my first Zaino job on the wife’s mini-van last weekend, and after the first application by hand I went to the PC. I used a grey 4” finish pad (primed with a touch of Z-6) and it was much easier doing the last two applications that way. Since I got started late in the afternoon, and I was running out of daylight, I also skipped the Z-6 after the first and second coats, but it still went on/off easy and looked great. I also liked the way the PC worked the Z into the paint….. seemed better than what I was doing by hand.

Very good point about working in the polish. Do you think it was easier using the 4" or can also use the 6.5 2?

[Eliot Ness]

Originally Posted by DieselMDX

Very good point about working in the polish. Do you think it was easier using the 4" or can also use the 6.5 2?

The only reason I used a 4" pad was so it wouldn't take as much Z to prime it, since I had wasted a little by using (priming) the hand applicator for the first coat. Otherwise there wouldn't be any problem using a larger pad...... it also depends if there are some "nooks and crannies" where a 4" can get to easier than a larger pad.