I`m in the middle of my process.. 15 hours so far - Zaino thoughts...

[HybridKOOP]

Hey guys... I have researched products/techniques on this site for about 4 weeks and decided to do a full "process" on my newly aquired 2003 Lexus IS300 (Intensa Blue Pearl).



Before Autopia, all I knew was washing and occasionally waxing... boy have I really taken a turn lately! I decided that eventhough I really wouldn`t NEED it for my car, I purchased a 7336SP PC, full pad kit w/ velcro from CMA, a Zaino show car kit, 3M MG, SMR, 303, Plexus, MF`s of all sorts, etc... and I must say - I`m having the time of my life with this stuff! (I sound so pathetic to everyone in my life, oh well :xyxthumbs)



Anyway, I`m about 15-16 hours into my process and so far I have:



Dawn wash

Z18 w/ Dawn/water lube

Z7

PI-III MG (mainly only hood for spiders)

Z7

Z5 w/ ZFX

Z6

Z2 w/ ZFX...



I plan to keep stacking a 2:1 ratio of Z2 and Z5 with Z6`s inbetween each coat, but it`ll have to wait... my arms are DEAD as of right now :sosad! Anyway, first impressions...



Firstly, I LOVE the way Zaino smells... the Z7 smells so sweet, I almost want to drink it :D Here in Connecticut today, it was about 85 degrees, with about 90% humidity. I was curious to see how long it`d take the first coat of Z5 to dry with the ZFX mixed in. I measured out 1 oz. of Z5, and used 4 drops of the ZFX. I used the applicators that came with the Zaino, and the product went on easily. I thought to myself, this is WAY too easy... and I was right. After giving it a good hour to dry, I began buffing it off with my MF... well at least TRIED to buff it off. The stuff just didn`t want to come completely off the car. I panicked at first, then decided to go out, get some spray bottles, and make myself a nice mist of some Z7/water. I spritzed the surface, wiped down... voila! Worked perfectly. After the Z5 was removed, I was ALREADY happy with the results. After all, the car is new, so it was looking perfect at this point. After that, I laid down a coat of the gloss enhancer, then mixed an ounce of the Z2 w/ ZFX. I put that on, and buffed it off with a mist of Z7/water as well... and that`s pretty much where I am now.



I am VERY pleased with the results so far. The reflection in the garage from the hood is extremely sharp and clear. Many people have complained that Zaino is "plasticy"... I have to disagree, my shine is very consistent and accurate. I guess I`ll have to look at it in the sunlight tomorrow.



Anyway, I will definitely have pictures up soon... It`s 4am here and I`m ready to pass out :confused:



Thanks to everyone who has responded in my threads to date on this site, I`ve learned alot and my car is loving the TLC! :bounce



- Louis

[chris0626]

Hooray for you, HybridKOOP! :bounce Glad to hear somebody besides me can spend 16 hours getting thru a wash, clay, and 2x Zaino. :D I concur with you about the Zaino "look," too. :up



One question, though. Your comment that you did a "Z18 w/ Dawn/water lube." I thought most folks who used a DIY lube used a more gentle carwash instead of Dawn. Any thoughts there?



Welcome to the tribe! :D

[Deanski]

Great! See, I had the same issue with Z5 streak while removing, spray with the 1/2 cap Z7 and 12 oz water and GONE. Did the same, 3 coats Z5 for a base, the switched to Z2. I even used Z2 on the birds-eye maple in the interior and now it just looks wet!



Zaino makes a car look as if it just came out of a paint cure oven, that`s why some people say it`s "plastic" looking.



I`ll have to watch for a very shiny blue IS300 tooling down the Merrit! If you happen to see a red SC430 in the area with chrome "License Plate Vault" on both front/rear give a wave!



I also used the 3M PIII-MG then switched to Menzerna FP and grey pad so only the Menzerna did all the final polishing, and as much as I hate Glue-Zerna, it came out like a mirror!



Which dealer did you get the IS300 from? Westport or New Haven? I had to get the SC430 from NH, as Westport did not want to "deal" even though I got the RX300 previously from them. Owners wanted at least $3000 profit clear and I`m no doctor or lawyer!



Glad to know it worked well for you!



Regards,

Deanski

[JAGOWNER1981]

Oh yess the zaino look. Hybrid... i have asked u in several threads, what kind of tires do u have and do u like them... but no response. Maybe this time u will.



Here is the zainoed look. 3X Z5/ZFX.... yum!

<img src = "http://forums.mbworld.org/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=167739">

[SK2003TypeS]

HybridKOOP,

Wow....15 hours...I`m so jealous. How many more hours are you planning ?

I was like whoa !! after the first time I did my first coat of Z5 too. My blue (less metalic .....same poster ? nevermind) was jumping off the car at me.



Lynn,

I guess the dawn/water mix would be ok to use with clay. He did a couple more Z7 washes after that. I would just figure it would be a little smoother (glider ?....it`s a word :p ) with a Z7/water mix. I have Pinnacle Clay and lube, so I can`t say from experience. But you`d know better than me.

[imported_garyo]

Even using ZFX I have never been able to get Z to dry in a hour with the type of conditions you described (which describes the months almost the entire summer here in Southern Indiana - hot and very humid). The humidity seems to be the killer. I end up putting the stuff on and leave the car in the garage for 2-3 of hours. This significantly reduces the work/effort needed to remove Z. I have also had great result with putting it on at night and removing it the next morning.



When things do smear or do not remove well I have always used Z6. I may have to give the Z7/water mixture a try.

[The King]

Damn, you guys are nutts spending all that time detailing!!! I have to get me some program to follow when I do detailing. I just joined and have been reading and learning. I`ll get there.



Later

[Scottwax]

15 hours? Seriously? Is any wax or sealant really worth that much time? I could polish and wax my Accord every 4 weeks and spend the same amount of time in total over the course of a year.



You `Zaino-holics` are truly a breed apart! :lol

[Steve @ Guru]

I think he`s spending the time on preparation, like most good detailers would do...we`re not all assembly line detailers who have to slam the cars out in four hours or less to make a living. ;)





I often spend 10-15 hours on my cars not because I have to, or because a certain product requires that much time - I do it because I like spending time with my car. :)

[Scottwax]

Originally posted by geekysteve

I think he`s spending the time on preparation, like most good detailers would do...we`re not all assembly line mobile detailers who have to slam the cars out in four hours or less to make a living. ;)



:lol



I`ll put any one of my "slam the cars out in four hours or less to make a living." details up against anybody here`s 15 hour detail any day. :p



All kidding aside, yes I do have time constraints to deal with.



I can clay, polish, glaze and wax most cars in a few hours unless they have serious paint problems. I just can`t see taking that much addition time for Dawn washing and letting product dry. That is my point, I just don`t see the benefit of any product that takes that much extra work! I`m amazed by those of you who love Zainos that are willing to do all that. It isn`t meant as an insult, it is just that I don`t understand the devotion to a product (or process) that is so time consuming.

[Stl_GT]

I spent more than 20 hours on my car this week, and yes that was 99% prep work before applying zaino. It looks great and the paint is only 3 months old. The zaino application was the easiest part, due to the extensive prep work. Prepping makes a world of difference, I had the time so I took it...lots of it.



Ok so where are the pics ? ?

:)

[Scottwax]

Originally posted by Stl_GT

I spent more than 20 hours on my car this week, and yes that was 99% prep work before applying zaino. It looks great and the paint is only 3 months old. The zaino application was the easiest part, due to the extensive prep work. Prepping makes a world of difference, I had the time so I took it...lots of it.



:cool: That is what I was curious about. I understand that Zainos goes on and off pretty easily, I just wanted to hear from some of you if you feel the results are really worth such a long and intensive prep process.



I can`t see that it would be worth it in my detailing business, but maybe worth trying on one of my parent`s cars so my Dad can spend less time on it once the initial process is over.

[Stl_GT]

I can understand your viewpoint scottwax as well. Like I said, I had the time so I took it. Z dosen`t hide diddly squat, so a good prep is crutial to the outcome of the detailing session. But on the flip side, being this is my persoanl car I will only have to do this extensive of a prep maaaaybe once a year. It`s a totally different thing doing it on a daily basis I would imagine. Everyone has their own system, and judging by the pics you put up your system works well !

[Steve @ Guru]

I also think it`s pretty well known that with ZFX`s advent that the drying time wait is a thing of the past. There`s many, many, many posts on this board that talk about how ZFX gets rid of the waiting time and makes the product easier to work with.



Preparation is the key to any good job, be it detailing, surgery, cooking, racing, software development, etc. Most waxes only enhance the surface below them, so by spending more time correcting defects, you`ll hopefully end-up with a better looking detail job. :)



Enough arguing - it`s Saturday and we should all be standing around our freshly detailed cars sharing beers and stories, not going to fisticuffs. :)

[Stl_GT]

....ummmm, that`s MY stapler!



LOL:D