I'm taking the plunge - Zaino is on the way!

LOL - You guys are great! I haven't ordered my Z hat and t-shirt just yet.


I'm just trying to share my experience and perspective on the product -just as I do on many other products.
 
Wait a minute.. did i miss something? Does Zaino have a cap. :rolleyes:

I really like the product also. The product has proved to work very well on my vehicles.
What Zaino has done for me is to take the prep to the best possible condition to get the best results.

These days I do not use Zaino on the black truck cause I want to practice my skills as a detailer. Am constantly trying to perfect techniques and products to provide the best paint surface.

This detailing forum has taught me that prep is the key. But it was the Zaino users that really made me see what I was looking at. Finally got it thru my head. Hard as it is. Not the Zaino products but the detailers that stressed the practices of prep to make the detail. If you are not going to do the work why would you want to use Zaino.

With the same attention to detail I have been getting great results with Liquid souveran. My particular product this week. I say week because often it is less than a week these last few months.
 
Just to make one thing clear to those who don't know or might be confused - it's only necessary to have 1 coat of Z5 or Z2 Pro. Multiple coats are the choice of the user, not a requirement.

Many years ago, I knew nothing but Zaino. Then I spent a good while away from it trying everything I could and almost despising Zaino. After seeing and using the other top products, I went back to Zaino and realized that it really is a *very* good product line. I still use and test other products to this day, but I've yet to find anything I like better than Zaino for the appearance, durability, etc. that I prefer.
 
Well, it's been over a month with Z on the silver STS and Black Tahoe.

Here are a few observations (based on my use):

Pro's

-Slickness retention is excellent. We've had rain every other day for the past 3 weeks, and this is usually takes a toll on your LSP. Z holds up. It's not as slick as day1 (after over a month of use), but it's far above any other LSP product that I've used.

-Rain Splatter. This week it rained just about every evening, and the roads were wet most every morning -tons of splatter. Z repels rain/staining better than anything I've ever seen. The wells, tires, and rims were covered in film, but not the paint -no kidding.

-Bird Sh**: The Tahoe is black... and I don't want to wash it every day because of the color (marring), and because of the mass. I had bird crap on the hood (lots of it) for 3 days, and when I rinsed the truck it lifted right off and didn't leave a stain. -I have to admit, I was ready to break out some FPII to clean it up, because I NEVER let bird sh## sit on my paint, but thankfully I didn't have to. (If it was summer and full sun, I would have caved in and washed it off).

-I've never seen anything rinse as clean as Z. After the rain, etc... the hose jet cleaned off any (and there wasn't much) noticeably signs of dirt uniformly

No caking, no patching, etc.. -the paint appeared noticeably clean after the rinse.


Cons:

-N/A on silver paint. I still think FK has more 'pop', but other than that, I have no complaints.

-For some reason (I have no idea), after a wash, the paint slickness doesn't return unless it's 70 degrees or above (I know this because of my garage heater). When you wipe down cold paint, it doesn't feel as slick -but it does return. ???

-On black paint: I had some slight marring on the lift gate, and door frames (where my wife touches the paint), and a few areas around the fenders. Black paint is he** -especially in direct sun -there is no forgiveness!! The moral of the story here is... Z doesn't eliminate marring on black (at least not for me).

To deal with the marring:

I used ZPC on the PC with a Polishing pad -1 pass didn't clean it up as well as I wanted. I stepped up to my cyclo using ZPC, and polishing pads and 1 pass cleaned it up. I re-applied Z5/Z8 -good as new.


Overall View:

All things said.... I'm VERY happy with the Z sealers (Z2Pro, Z5, Z8). The only other sealers that have performed in this league on black paint (again IMO), are FK#218/2180. All others have faded MUCH quicker.

Guys, I still use EX, UPP, WG, FMJ, #218, #2180 and a host of others (I'll never settle on 'one' look), but I have to admit.... Z is very impressive.

I started this post as a sceptic.... and that has changed.
 
Enjoyed reading your comments. Very interesting reading.

I know I am lucky but have never been hit by bird bombs. But find that Zaino does help keep a car clean or easy to keep clean better than most.

Thanks for the update of your detail!
 
I used ZPC on the PC with a Polishing pad -1 pass didn't clean it up as well as I wanted. I stepped up to my cyclo using ZPC, and polishing pads and 1 pass cleaned it up. I re-applied Z5/Z8 -good as new.
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I believe this is due to the fact that ZPC has no oils in it and is water-based which makes for a different feel from other polishes and leaves a harmless slight haze.
 
I've used ZPC on the PC, Cyclo, Metabo, and DW. The Cyclo is the sweet spot (IMO). ZPC is an excellent DA polish.


I read a post from cwcad last week about applying Z via a finish pad. I thought 'Man, what a waste of product!' -I was dead wrong.

I polished the STS and Tahoe with a finish pad (slightly misted with Z6), and I don't think I used a cap full of Z5. IMO, applicators soak in more Z, and by hand it doesn't go as far. A DA polisher, with mild pressure makes a little go a long way.

I'd like to top Z with some Pink Wax, but I'm afraid of losing the advantages that I've seen so far. Z protects, it's slick as can be, and washing it is like running butter over a hot cob of corn!

OK, I'll stop (but Z is staying in my collection).
 
Here are a few shots (night). It's been raining all day in the NE. The good news is... it's going to rain all day Sunday too. I guess it's better than snow :)


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SilverLexus said:
Flakes are a popping on that STS. :)
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The Lexus has a very nice looking Z 'pop' too :)

I'm headed to the Philly car show in Sunday. I can't wait to see the new ES! My wife had one a few years ago and loved it.

One last note on Z.....

I've also noticed that if you have ANY problems wiping it off, it's because you applied it WAYYYY to thick. A very thin coat is all you need, and it comes off with ease, and leaves a very slick finish. It took me an 8oz bottle of Z5 to figure it out, but I'm set moving forward.
 
mgm2003 One last note on Z..... I've also noticed that if you have ANY problems wiping it off said:
Are you Norwegian? Took me that long as well. Actually it took me a little longer. So may be your not Norwegian :noexpress

The saying, Less is more... was made to order for Zaino application.
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cwcad said:
Are you Norwegian? Took me that long as well. Actually it took me a little longer. So may be your not Norwegian :noexpress

The saying, Less is more... was made to order for Zaino application.
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Hat's off to you my friend.... a finishing pad & Z is the answer for a very thin/even coat -and you use very little product.

I guess if you have to apply Z by hand the pad Sal sends works ok, but a finishing pad & DA do a more efficient and effective job IMO.
 
Hey I think the Z is good, but not for detaling a couple car's a day no way.
The Z is good for your owen car,but not to good for prduction!!!
 
mgm2003 said:
... I'd like to top Z with some Pink Wax, but I'm afraid of losing the advantages that I've seen so far. ...
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mgm,

Sean (GSRstilez) topped his Zaino with Pink Wax, and IMHO that Integra looked its best with that combo! You'll lose some of the Z's slickness but I think optically you will gain.
 
I really wonder about topping Zaino - it seems to me that the oils in a carnauba may damage the Zaino look either chemically or optically. Zaino is so clear, I think a wax would at least darken it.
 
Just wondering if you can comment on Z as compared to FK 2180 + 425. I've heard from posts on here that they are very similiar in looks, durability and slickness. What's your experience?
 
I am almost positive that whatever one puts over Zaino products will change the looks. There are those that think it is better. There are those that think something else.

The only thing that I do know about topping Zaino, with any product, is the fact that I will not be able to layer Zaino to get the look that I had to begin with. I will have to start again. Which I guess is not bad but it is more work. Which is one of the main complaints why people do not use Zaino in the first place.
 
Durability is really good with Zaino...Here's my wife's car with 3 months of Z-2 Pro and only hand washes. This car sees a lot of wear since she drives it to a barn over gravel and mud several times a week:

cam1.jpg


cam2.jpg
 
BlackSunshine said:
Just wondering if you can comment on Z as compared to FK 2180 + 425. I've heard from posts on here that they are very similiar in looks, durability and slickness. What's your experience?
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Im also interested in compareing these 2 anyone have any experience with both?
 
GSRstilez said:
Overall Thoughts:

This wax blew my socks off. Yes, it's a heavy wax and is not well known at all. However, there was a noticeable improvement in wetness, clarity, and overall richness of color (depth). The slickness bumped up a bit as well. Beading with this wax is pretty neat to look at as it's usually very tightly spaced, large/tall beads. I have used it over a sealant (Zaino) and wax (Natty's). Both times it went on and off easily and both times it improved the appearance.
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Original thread:
http://autopia.org/forum/showthread.php?t=55424&highlight=thoughts+pink+wax
 
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