Bare Bones Zaino???

Dave N

Dave N

My PC goes to 7...
OK, I've tried Klasse...I've tried Blackfire...and now I want to try Zaino. I don't want to spend $80, so I'm wondering what is the bare minimum I need to get good results?



I already have 3M SMR, and Autoint SMR & ABC, so do I need the Z-1 polish lock?



Do I really need the Z-6 gloss enhancer? If it really helps, I'll get it, but if it's just a glorified QD, I already have a gallon of FI.



I was thinking of getting Z-2, Z-5, and some ZFX. Will this be enough?



BTW, I will trade anyone a little BF + some Autoint SMR for a little Zaino! (Just in case you didn't see my offer in aBay).
 
Z-2 or Z-5 pick which you want, ZFX or Z1 polish lock pick which you want, and Z-6. Most folks use Z-6 between coats as recommended and use FI all other times. Z-7 wash is great, but you can use gold class ect.
 
:bow Zaino



Good choice!!

Here's the bare minimum and what I ordered my first time:



-Z1 Polish-Lok

-Z2 Show Car Polish(you can also sub Z5 here if you have swirl marks or fine scratches)

-Z6 Gloss Enhancer Spray(you really need this if you want to apply more than one coat!!)

-Z7 Show Car Wash(the best wash I've used, but I've heard Gold Class would work, it just wouldn't reinforce the protection on the car!)



That came to about $45. Not too bad:xyxthumbs



You can't use the FI in place of the Z6 during layers because you'll have bonding issues and possibly less clarity...



You also can't use your smr's or cleaners before Z. It won't let it bond. Just use Z1 followed by a couple layers of Z5!



Good luck!
 
Well, like others have suggested already, I have to agree with their recommendations. But here's the way I would break it down for a good sampler kit for under $30:



Light colored car/truck: Z1/Z2

Dark colored car/truck: Z1/Z5 (or Z2 if you already have a flawlesss finish)



I still would also at least recommend Z7, as I feel it's one of the best Z products, besides the polishes of course. The rest of the Z line is icing on the cake IMO, and well worth it if you're comitted (or addicted??) to the entire line, like me! :D



:wavey
 
Dave N said:




I was thinking of getting Z-2, Z-5, and some ZFX. Will this be enough?
Click to expand...



That should get you started, but for the extra gloss and slickness get some Z6 as well.

I've gone thru my Z7 pretty quickly but I've started to use only 2-3 caps per 5 gal bucket if the car isn't to dirty. That seems to working out ok.

Someone on this board recommended pouring the soap into the pail and adding hot water at first. This seems to mix the concentrated soap better, making more suds. Hopefully this will make it go the extra mile and justify the extra cost.
 
I wouldn't consider NOT having Z6. I think it's that important to the shine and slickness of the finish. I would choose either Z2 or Z5. If I could only have one it would be Z5. I also feel Z7 is a key component. Do a search on my review a few months back. It proved to me that it makes a difference. If you are not interested in doing multiple coats in a day then skip the ZFX for now. You can always get that later. It's simply an enhancement, anyway. You don't need it to get the full benefit of the Zaino shine, slickness and durability. Cutting short somewhere else in the system and I think you are shorting yourself.
 
OK, thanks for all the feedback! Just a couple of more questions please... How does this sound?



Clay

SMR

ABC wash

Z2 (+ZFX)

Z6

Z2+Z2+Z2....

Someone said that the Z2 won't bond properly over SMR, but I'm assuming that if I ABC (or Dawn) that will remove all of the oils/fillers and allow the Z2 to crosslink to the paint.



Also, does the ZFX reduce the quality of the shine; is it better to have the longer cure times?



Does the Z5 look as good as Z2? (I have a maroon truck)

Does a combination of Z5 + Z2 look as good as Z2 alone?



Thanks for putting up with all of these questions!



BTW, the main reason I'm interested in Zaino is because my truck sits outside 24/7, and i need something that looks good and is durable. I have Blackfire on the back half of my truck right now, and dirt/contaminants don't seem to wash off of it very well (but it looks really good).
 
If you dawn wash the SMR the filler will be gone, you will be able to tell because with the SMR on it will bead a little and after you wash it should sheet.



Bryan
 
Dave N said:
OK, thanks for all the feedback! Just a couple of more questions please... How does this sound?



Clay

SMR

ABC wash

Z2 (+ZFX)

Z6

Z2+Z2+Z2....

Someone said that the Z2 won't bond properly over SMR, but I'm assuming that if I ABC (or Dawn) that will remove all of the oils/fillers and allow the Z2 to crosslink to the paint.



Also, does the ZFX reduce the quality of the shine; is it better to have the longer cure times?



Does the Z5 look as good as Z2? (I have a maroon truck)

Does a combination of Z5 + Z2 look as good as Z2 alone?



Thanks for putting up with all of these questions!
Click to expand...



1. Dawn will remove the oils and you will be fine from there.

2. You need to Z6 the truck after each and every layer.

3. ZFX is supposed to improve the gloss, not lower it.

4. Z5 isn't AS clear as Z2, more of a wet, carnaubay look(that's why people love it on dark colored cars.):cool:

5. As long as your last coat is Z2, it can't look much better!!!



HTH!:xyxthumbs
 
Dave N. Very good question. I was just getting online about top post the same thing before I saw your thread LOL!



I haven't tried blackfire so I'll need to get it. What other synthetics are there? Isn't there one called Platinum.
 
I would go with the Z2 or Z5, ZFX, Z6 and Z7. ZFX makes the Zaino system extremely user friendly. You can mix only enough z2/5 and ZFX for the number of coats you plan to apply. I have mixed up 1/8 oz (~3.5cc) and one drop of ZFX which gives one coat including wheels. The ZFX fortified polish dries so fast that even if you decide to apply 3 coats in one day it will takes you less than 3 hrs. ZFX gives immediate gratification and slightly better gloss. I also find that instant curing decreases the marring that sometimes occurs without it. The price difference between the Z1 and ZFX is well worth it. Remember after one coat of Z2/5 and ZFX you can follow up with just Z2/5 alone at a later time. Z7 really works and augments the finish.

Z5 -15.95

Z6- 9.95

ZFX- 19.95

Z7 - 7.95



Total $53.80 plus shipping ($60.75)
 
I find the diffs between Z2 and Z5 very minor. Z5 fills in very very light swirls (which is prolly why it's preferred on dark cars) but Z2 leaves a little more reflective finish. If I only had one choice I'd go Z5.



You really need the Z6 and Z7 to finish off the detailing job. Although some have said that you don't need it, I disagree. Zaino products are designed to work as a system. Using non-Zaino products might compromise the overall quality of the job. Some people may use non-Z products and get fine results. I feel the results are not being maximized unless you are using all their products together. And if you're not going to maximize results, why use Zaino at all?



So the basics are:

Z1 or ZFX (gotta use one or the other)

Z2 or Z5 (your choice)

Z6

Z7



Four products minimum.
 
Well, I live in the UK and ordered just Z1 and Z2 as I wanted to keep the postage down and avoid import duty.



It's a new car, so I'd expect just about anything to make it shine.



Last weekend I washed with dish soap to remove the dealer crud, used the Z1 and then Z2, which looked good, then weekend just gone I applied a second coat of Z2, I'll probably do the same this weekend.



I'm not a total perfectionist as it's a daily driver, and the weather in the UK generally sucks. but it looks great, shines and beads like hell - I'm very happy with the results already, so I'm not going to lose any sleep wondering if it would look any better if I'd used Zaino car wash and Zaino QD and Zaino applicators etc etc etc... basically it would have cost around twice as much all in to get maybe 5% visible improvement IMHO



rgds

Paul
 
if i had to do it all over again and just get the absolute essentials, then here's my list:



ZFX (forget Z1 because you use Z1 ONCE!)

Z5

Z6 (QD yes but can't live w/out its shine and slick, need it to make Z5 go on easier and clean up easier)

Z7 (the car wash is very important IMHO, it alone will give you the Z shine).



Z1 is a big waste, ZFX is expensive but why spend $ on Z1 when you only use it ONCE? ZFX not only speed it up but you can use it sparingly only for those MULTI-coating days.
 
Well, I guess in the end I'll probably "do it right" and order everything (ZFX, Z5, Z6, Z7, and maybe some Z2 in the future). This is what always happens with me, no matter what I'm buying -- I start out wanting to save some money, but after looking into everything, I end up spending the money to "do it right" (or buying the best, because I know I won't be satisfied with anything less!).



Thanks for all the suggestions.
 
Dave N said:
Well, I guess in the end I'll probably "do it right" and order everything (ZFX, Z5, Z6, Z7, and maybe some Z2 in the future). This is what always happens with me, no matter what I'm buying -- I start out wanting to save some money, but after looking into everything, I end up spending the money to "do it right" (or buying the best, because I know I won't be satisfied with anything less!).



Thanks for all the suggestions.
Click to expand...





you will not be sorry:)
 
Remember, except for the Z6, the other items should last until at least the New Year even if you become a Zaino addict and must apply at least one or two coats a week. The system is so easy to apply and remove.

We will be waiting for your comparison results since you will be a tri-sealant user (Zaino,Klasse,& BF). :wavey
 
SC5spd said:
if i had to do it all over again and just get the absolute essentials, then here's my list:



ZFX (forget Z1 because you use Z1 ONCE!)

Z5

Z6 (QD yes but can't live w/out its shine and slick, need it to make Z5 go on easier and clean up easier)

Z7 (the car wash is very important IMHO, it alone will give you the Z shine).



Z1 is a big waste, ZFX is expensive but why spend $ on Z1 when you only use it ONCE? ZFX not only speed it up but you can use it sparingly only for those MULTI-coating days.
Click to expand...



You DON'T only use Z1 once!!!:nono

You use it every six coats to renew the bonding and tighten up the polish layers!

You can use it alot if you love to layer(like me!):D
 
I sent my money order for ZFX, Z5, Z6, and Z7 off this morning! So hopefully I'll have my Zaino for next weekend. Can anyone tell me how fast they ship? I'm in Illinois, so I figure if they get my order by Monday, I may get it by the end of the week. Do they ship UPS?



The total came out to just over $60, so I guess it really wasn't "bare bones" after all...
 
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