!!!!! Meguiar`s Lab Sample "d"!!!!!

**C. Charles Hahn** · 10-28-2003, 05:07 PM

Originally posted by Mike Phillips

It looks like my mistake was applying the Z1 in the beginning. How much will that hurt this test?

shouldn`t be a significant difference, the product will still bond to the surface; any better/worse is negledgable.

**imported_Intermezzo** · 10-28-2003, 05:15 PM

Originally posted by Mike Phillips

Note: blkZ28Conv pointed out that I will be applying fast curing Z5 over a coat of Z2 that only cured for about 50 minutes without ZFX. So the test is probably completely worthless. But, it`s too late to start over, so I`ll assume that while the Z2 didn`t get to cure for 24 hours, it`s probably only microns thin, and by applying multiple applications of ZFX enabled Z5 over it, I should still get an inkling of how this product performs overall.

That picture may very well be coming out different that it looks in person, but if I`m seeing it correctly, the Z application on the passenger side looks about ten times thicker than I normally apply it. **IMO** (& in my opinion only!), the *apparent* thickness in which you applied Z would affect results MUCH more than layering a few coats of Z-5 over uncured Z-2 (which i doubt would affect results too much at all).

**imported_memnuts** · 10-28-2003, 05:20 PM

A terrible mistake by using Z1-Z2 with total drying time of 90 minutes and than applying Z5/ZFX x 3? Probably, not. As I mentioned any unusual variation of longevity in terms of durability "may" be questioned because of the questionable (unusual) procedure used to set the foundation of the Zaino side. Like building a house, if the foundation is poorly established, anything build on top of it will also inherit this instablity. Is this a truism for Zaino? Uncharted waters.

Food for thought and an avenue for questioning your wonderful average Joe consumer comparison test.

These finer points can be addressed ( corrected) with the anally prepped Autopian/ Show Car Garage comparison test.

This could just be the picture angle, but you are using way too much Zaino. Very, very, very thin layer of product should be used. It should be barely invisible. Effect on results? Probably none. Just wasted product and increased drying time. :wavey

This reminds me of Autopia of old!!!

**Deanski** · 10-28-2003, 05:27 PM

Mike,

No big deal in appying Z5 after Z2. However, Z5 has limited swirl hiding effect. If you use the ZFX/Z5 mix and get any haze after wipe-off after it dried, mix up 1/2 cap Z7 and 12oz distilled water and mist over effected area and wipe off. No more streaks!

Now, Z5 IMO, has very limited hiding, even with several coats. This is by no means a 3M IHG type. You have to shake up the Z5 bottle well prior to mixing.

After one coat of Zaino is dry and cured, mist over with Z6, wipe off and then apply your next coat of Zaino with ZFX to provide the best drying/curing. No need for Z1 if using ZFX.

After prep, I did my car with 3 coats ZFX/Z5 with Z6 between each coat, then 3 coats next day with ZFX/Z2 since it`s clearcoated. Finding new Lexus paint not as hard as it used to be!!

Once I mix ZFX/Z5 or Z2, shake well, put it down and mist finish prior to application with Z6. Once done with Z6, then grap your mixed Zaino with ZFX and apply nice and thin as you well know.

Good luck with all the testing! Looks like you`re off to a good start.

So, any name yet for the new Lab Samples?

Regards,

Deanski

**Mike_Phillips** · 10-28-2003, 06:25 PM

End of day results

What I think I reaffirmed today, was that surface prep is the most important factor in determining your end-results.

I was hoping that this new product would be able to take on major cobweb-effect without any surface prep for example, the PC with a W-8006 pad and #83 DACP.

At the same time, I had to test its limits, and I also want to test for longevity against another product popular for the same characteristic.

So while the end results were not what I hoped for, the test is still valid. Now that I have three coats of each product fully applied and dried to one half of each side of the hood, I will monitor the results over the next 4 weeks. I will only wash once a week using the Z7 car wash.

The sun is going down now, and it is hard to get a good picture. Also, if you will note the gold/yellowish color due to the smoke in the sky resulting from the Southern California fires.

Here is a picture of the Zaino side,

**Mike_Phillips** · 10-28-2003, 06:28 PM

Below is a picture of the Lab Sample E side,

**Mike_Phillips** · 10-28-2003, 06:50 PM

Here are two shots shooting down the line, left side is Z5, right side is LSE.

It was easier to see a difference with your eyes, and quite hard to capture with a camera. I asked several people to tell me which side they thought looked best. Everyone picked the Lab Sample E side because it showed less cobweb effect when you looked at the sun in the middle of each section. It was noticably better, but not as dramatic as I think it is after first machine cleaning.

**Mike_Phillips** · 10-28-2003, 06:52 PM

Here`s a picture with the flash mostly on the E side,

**Mike_Phillips** · 10-28-2003, 07:05 PM

Oh yeah, here are some shots of the Honda with the carbon fiber hood, side by side, before and after.

Before Side

**Mike_Phillips** · 10-28-2003, 07:06 PM

After side,

**C. Charles Hahn** · 10-28-2003, 07:41 PM

I would say that by a VERY small margin, lab sample e has better filler capabilities than the zaino.... still not good enough to be a one-step product though.

**Deanski** · 10-28-2003, 07:42 PM

Mike,

See what I mean? Not much hiding with Z5.

This is one product, although good, needs absolute perfection on a finish.

Looks like "E" did a good job in trying to hide them.

You`re still killing me

Regards,

Deanski

**Mike_Phillips** · 10-28-2003, 08:02 PM

Originally posted by Shiny Lil Detlr

I would say that by a VERY small margin, lab sample e has better filler capabilities than the zaino.... still not good enough to be a one-step product though.

I highly agree.

But the curios cat in me wanted to push the envelope.

Hardest part about today`s tests were that after 11:00am, I had to conduct them in covered parking lot which is still suseptible to ash fallout.

The training garage was taken over to prep two Meguiar`s vehicles for SEMA. For these two vehicles, a team of our guys swarmed around them with compounds, cleaner/polishes, wool pads, and foam pads, rotary buffers and PC`s and lastly Lab Sample E.

Here`s a pic

**rstype** · 10-28-2003, 08:02 PM

It`s not that I don`t trust the pictures, but being the (very) pessimistic person I am, I still have to try it for myself. :p Mike, keep us updated on how long the swirl hiding lasts for you.

**jerry@robs** · 10-29-2003, 03:09 AM

Manila based tester ready to try it on a lot of cars hehe... Sounds great... if this comes out as promised then I`ll be switching back to Meg for top coating on client cars (right now Im using EO Polymer as a topper on all our client vehicles)