BMW E60 just detail by KC- enter by yr own RISK

[imported_doug]

I guess I was bored.

Starting with the "Zaino Test" I did a while back, I've been doing a lot of little experiements lately. I bought one of those dual-head 1000w halogen lights on a tripod (my wife calls it "Johnny Five") - and I've found that in a dark garage with that light shining on my black car, I can see EVERYTHING.

Today's test was to see how different applicator materials compared in applying light polish. (I used Meguiar's Body Shop hand polish, which is extremely mild.) I first tried 100% terry, made in the usa cotton toweling. I also tried an ultimate wipe, a foam pad, and my softest foam pad on the orbital. I buffed each out gently with an ultimate wipe and some detail spray.

The "scratches" left by any of these techniques would be invisible in ordinary light. They are so fine they are more like a haze - but I tried strokes at 90 degree angles to confirm I was in fact seeing the results of this test.

From worst to best:

4) terry towel
3) ultimate wipe
2) foam pad (by hand)
1) soft foam pad by orbital

I now know for final polishing and waxing I will be using the orbital with the softest pads I can find.

For a surface in worse shape, I suspect the terry towel may have the best "cutting" action - but for swirl mark remover or lighter, I think the above is useful info.

How does this match up with your experience?

 

[JonB]

Wow! That was a very well thought out and scientifically performed test on Zaino. I personally have Klassed a Steel Gray 330i and a Dark Green Mustang. So far I am very satisfied with the results (but have not looked quite as closely as you have). Today I Zaino'd my sons silver 2001 Accord. The paint is in excellent condition and just needed a touch of PPCL and a bit of clay. Did Z1 and Z2 yesterday and 2nd coat of Z2 today. I did seem to use about a half a bottle of Z2 ~ $4.50 worth and about the same $ amount of Z1. So for ~ $9 I had the 2 coats of Z on the car. So far I am very impressed. While the Klassed cars looked quite good, I did end up topping with Souveran to meet my personal taste in the finish. So far, I don't think the Zaino really needs it, but I will have to see it more to tell for sure. The one thing that I didn't really get to test was Z5 and its swirl hiding ability since there were virtually none to hide. I do think that if I had a car with significant swirling, I would definitely address that with polish first before using Zaino Z5.



It would be nice to really see the scientific method used to compare more products, side by side under identical conditions like you have done. All other claims are simply annectodal.... Thanks for your report!



H

 

[imported_killerjg]

carguy,



Which orbital? If a PC which pads?

 

[mikeg]

Interesting....... I park my black supra in the garage and in the winter time (gets dark out early) I see every little scratch when walking buy her. Recently I decided to get rid of all the swirls. I went all through the processes got the PC and 3M stuff along with the Zaino I've been using for a year or two. Anyway I was using a very old towel and the thing wouldn't scratch anything. But after the towel was gone I needed something else. Everyone raved about Charisma towels so I ordered some, warshed them and the towel left scratches in my paint. Only seen when in the garage under the florescent (everything looks like crap lights) in the garage. Someone mentioned trying them on a CD and that maybe the CC was soft but guess what, they scratch the CD to.... So now I using a Calvin Klein T-shirt with no scratches.



Also

The Z2 should be applied in thin coats. 1/2 bottle used seems like your putting way too much on???

 

[Scottwax]

I use terry cloth towels when I am working out faded paint by hand. I agree they add some cutting power, but I have also found I can maintain uniform pressure across the paint with terry cloth towels when buffing that I cannot with foam.



For light polishes and waxes, I only use foam.





BTW, how did you like the Hand Polish when compared to Show Car Glaze? Once I tried HP, I stopped using SCG.

 

[Neeraj]

1/2 a bottle of Z2 is way too much to use per application.



To give you some reference, I've applied about 10 coats on my first bottle of Z2.



I use a cotton applicator pad.



Brian

 

[imported_doug]

Hi -



likecars: I use a Porter Cable. 5" velcro plate and Lake Mountain foam pads for cutting, a Meguiar's or griots soft foam pad for the polish and or wax.



Scottwax - I'm glad your experience confirms what I thought. I am definitely still learning! (And the more I learn, the more I leanr how much there is to learn.) Yes, I think I like the hand polish better than the show car glaze too. Meguiar's show car glaze leaves too much oil around and it is hard to buff out. (If you plan to wax though you just buff off what you can without too much rubbing and wax right over it.)



/Greg

 

[Glozz]

I am a follower of Zaino, however after trying the Z-5 on my wife's 4Runner I was not impressed.



I applied 5 coats of Z-5 over the coarse of three weeks. The finished looks was not good. So I just bought a Porter Cable and use Meguire's #2, #9 and MF towels on the finish and the results are fantastic. Of coarse after all was done, I applied Zaino once again and was very happy.



To apply Zaino, I use the Meguire's yellow foam pads. They come in a 4-pak and can be washed afterwards. Even though Sal says to use 100% cotton to apply his product, I find foam will allow me to apply a very thin coat and it goes a long way as well.

 

[Cybercowboy]

He has the mind of an engineer. Keep the experiments coming! I personally am not 100% satisfied with any product I have ever used - yet. Well, I must clarify a bit. The entire beer product line is to my liking!



Oh yeah, I'm getting about 12-16 applications per bottle of Z. It does take some refining of your techique, though.



I have a friend (Zack) who detail cars kind of part time. It's his other job, works out of his house. Anyway, him and his wife came over for dinner tonight and he inspected my cars afterwards. (Zack used to detail my Expedition and my wife's car, until I decided I wanted to give it a shot.) Zack is a die-hard Meguiars guy, and I like their stuff to - heck, I used it for years. Anyway, Zack is going to try Z on his pride and joy Chevy SUV soon, just so he can get a feel for it.



I didn't suggest it to him, he just asked what in the hell I used on the vette the last time I saw him. So, I think it's great for all these knowlegable folks out there to cross-polinate - try different stuff and all. Then report back what works and what doesn't. This was a short post, now is long. Oh well. I'm going to show him my Z techiques, and let him use my Z1 instead of him having to buy an entire bottle for maybe one application. I bought two, and am still on #1, after 8 coats (on 7 different vehicles including vans, SUV's and normal cars.)

 

[Langley Interior Car Kare]

i guess each case is different...but did you Z6 in between and after each Z5...i usually do it like 24 hrs after the Z5....i have used both foam and the terry(viking and the one that Sal sends)....the foam does give u more control but i like the firmness of the terry...for today anyway...you know we all change our minds constantly about these things....

 

[Cybercowboy]

Just wondering if maybe, just maybe, an ultra glossy finish is really better than one that has "micro-marring." Think about it. The micro-marring may scatter light in a very appealing way. Or not.



Could be - once you get to this level of detail it all becomes so subjective. Almost like the Pepsi Challenge.

 

[imported_doug]

Thanks, Cybercowboy -



I guess I do have some scientist/engineer in my genes. I completely agree about cross-pollination. I am continually experimenting and happy to share my results. I try to document as well as I can so others can make a more informed decision about whether to trust my findings.



I personally get tired of all the "opinion" based raves on all kinds of products without the facts to back them up.



But I'm completely open to other opinions and education - you can never get enough!



Cheers -

 

[Glozz]

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by FLONI [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>i guess each case is different...but did you Z6 in between and after each Z5...i usually do it like 24 hrs after the Z5....i have used both foam and the terry(viking and the one that Sal sends)....the foam does give u more control but i like the firmness of the terry...for today anyway...you know we all change our minds constantly about these things.... [/b]</blockquote>
Yes I did! That's why I was very bummed out. I think that I may have had swirls that were just too much for the Z-5 to handle. In any case it got me off my butt and a Porter Cable in the garage!

I do however use Z-5 on tiny little swirls on the Bimmer and it appears to be working, but this is a new finish and a lighter color car.

 

[ISLANDSBEST]

Yes, I have found that the Z5 does help with swirls, but, it does not handle, and never was intended to handle, serious problems. I find that it helps with very light swirls. But, not any heavy duty ones.

 

[DETAILKING]

I found that multiple coats of Z5 works will cover up very minor swirls. Deeper ones will have to be removed abrasively.



Z5 works really well covering up swirls that are in the polish layer. For example, once the finish is perfect and you apply a few coats of zaino, most of the minor swirling that develops from dust, improper washing, towels,etc,etc is in the polish layer, and Z5 works really well in filling those lines in. This enables one to keep on layering on coats of Zaino and keep that "perfect paint" look instead of stripping, removing the swirls abrasively and starting over every time swirls develop. Z5 seems to work best in this manner in my experience.



Also, I had very minor swirls on my black acura that Z5 would not fill. After using an abrasive, I found out that those marks were under the clear coat (spider-webbing), in the paint, and will NEVER be removed or hidden.



Hope this helps

 

[BradE]

DETAILKING,



Nice to have you back. People were starting to ask where you went, anyway welcome back.

 

[kc's]

I received an urgent call ...to detail an UDM ..... putting aside all my other agenda...off I go..travelling about 50 KM at 7 am

upon arrival......looking at my favourite White on Bimmer ............ classy ...classic white Chariot

the owner particular request for a more detail interior job more than anything

good looking ...ultimte ride



WARNING!!!!!!!!! pls scroll down at your own RISK....do not hold liable to the Blogger / Publisher / simple as that me......I am pnly responsible in detailing her only

Swirls only ma.....look carefully....what do u OBSERVE?

A rare thing on a white....HOLOGRAM appeared..............

scroll down with your risk

this is a real hard hacked job

ANOTHER HACK JOB..............this is a real HACKER

If there is an award or record in guinese...I am sure u know who to vote?


Is there concious? or just a norm

have u ever heard of the term buy 1 free 1

this case i s...when u sent your car to polish ...u will get a free HOLOgram art

a bit interior pics

this was one of the 50/50 pics manged to capture on a white..plus holograming Tattoo
Rear bonnet

another
front bonnet

in making another 2face


hehehehehehe

13 hours later

and this

tatatatata

Tuan tuan & paun paun


di persila kan.........Bimmer alpine putih

classic bimmer

look at the wet looking

another rare shots....mirror shinning on a white

I manged to explaine to the owner...then his dad.....his mum.......his wife & evening....alll his in law
what is detailing all about...this is very satisfying...to bring out awareness...& showed them how a car should be wash & not scratched.......

Guys...stay tuned...I will give u a elaborate report...once i recuperate...from my detail lag

anothetr step by step walking thru with you....post

On my way home....i had a sneak a peak on my next assigment

Its only 5 in M'sia......:top:

a M3 Convertible.....fully imported new ....with detachable hard top

i stay over an hour wiht the owner...to admire at my dream babe....oppsss sorry

He admit that it is his wife.......

rare jewel......indeed...why post more....................soon

keep tune in

pay attention to the side mirror

i had another 16 hours out today...only had 5 hours sleep anight before...stay tuned

 

[Old Pirate]

Great correction work there KC, came out great! Those mirrors on the M3 look like something from a Bond movie..............:thumbup:

 

[kc's]

Great correction work there KC, came out great! Those mirrors on the M3 look like something from a Bond movie..............:thumbup:

thanks mate


I presume so...there is also a mobile that comes with this

rare indeed in our country

thanks for yr kind words

 

[imported_Flash Gordon]

K.C. I beleive you have cracked my top 5 list now. Great job bro :money: