"Layering Sealants": Fact or Fiction?

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imported_Luster

New member
There are two schools of thought on "Layering" sealants.

1. Anything more than 3 coats is a waste of product and effort.

2. You can just keep adding layers of sealant and it will keep getting wetter and better!

I've toying with layering Blackfire Wet Diamond. I now have 5 coats on my Corvette and it just keeps looking better.

Is it psycological? Or do the additional layers really add depth, shine and wetness.

I can testify that I had a black Grand Prix in early 2001. I started layering Zaino Z2Pro every couple months and did it for 4 years. I NEVER polished the car because I didn't even own a polisher.

Here's the amazing part. That black car had so few swirls and micromarrs, you would swear it had just been polished.

I must admit that I was EXTREMELY careful about what kind of towels touched the car. But it was a daily driver and did see lots of winter weather, rain, sleet, etc.

How can that be explained???

I've also read on Corvette Forum, posts like this: "I just put on my 50th layer of Zaino!!!!"
I believe layering improves the appearance of any paint.

What's your opinion on this?
 
My opinion is that more then 3 coats of sealant doesn't serve a purpose no more. The finish is now protected and it's just a waste of product. But if one thinks it looks better then before then go for it. Everyone has that opinion on what they like to do (layering) their ride.
 
I think beyond a few layers it is purely psychological. I do think that sealants layer to a very limited degree. I know that Zaino topped with Opti-Seal looked/beaded/lasted much better than either product alone, so I have reason to believe that these products "layered".

Also, I would much rather apply, say, 3 layers of product over the course of a couple months (maybe one layer every 2 months to re-up your protection) than 3 layers of product all at once.
 
I'm a "two layers to ensure uniform coverage" kind of guy. I've never seen any improvement in the looks department but then I've never notice a huge difference in most LSPs (looks).
 
After a full detail I throw on one coat of wax and then the second gets put on the next time I wash it or the next day if I have time.
 
Until someone can prove that each layer is actual adding a measurable build, I'm sticking with 2 coats for uniform coverage.

I personally think people get too involved in all the layer hype, especially Zaino freaks. IMO it's nothing more than a marketing pitch.

If you tape off a few sections for testing, and actually see a difference, then by all means keep adding layers. Personally I've never seen a difference after 2-3 layers.

Most the time I will ony do one coat between washings. I find some selants/waxes can get fusy if applied back to back.
 
Watch who you call a zaino freak. :D

Clients usually get 2 layers of zaino from me, unless they want to pay more.
 
A Zaino user and proud of it ! :)

Been using it for 7 years now here in the Northwest, and it beats anything on keeping the paint good until you can thaw out the water hose and do it again say by end of winter.
And then, the amount of preparation to get it ready is not nearly as much as the first time, because it is still on there.
I am also going to try some Blackfire products this time around to see if there is a difference that will help me sell more details.
According to some of you guys, this stuff is supposed to be really good and it certainly shows on the pictures you have posted... so Im in, let me see how it works for me.

As far as layering Zaino alot, I havent had time to do as many coats as say you, Bill, but I can tell you the Zaino Rep up here has dozens of coats on his red toyota solara, I believe, and its beautiful, even dirty.. So something must be said about layering at least that product anyway..
I saw his car for the first time a few years ago, when he delivered his product and didnt know he had multiple coats of Zaino on it until he told me, so the pyschological factor didnt apply to me..

DanF
 
Personally, I think layering is psychological. I've done as many as four coats of Zaino (three layers of Z5 + ZFX followed by one layer of Z5Pro the next day) and I did not notice any difference between the first three coats. I barely noticed a difference one I put on Z5Pro.
I've gone as high as five coats of Blackfire sealant on my old black Acura TL-S. Again, I did not see a difference after the first coat. I always did do at least two coats for even coverage purposes though.
 
To my knowledge, all polymer sealants are based on an emulsion system containing silicone oils or solvents. Zaino Show Car Polish is the only polymer sealant that I'm aware of that is not based on the element silicone (its lubrication system is a polymer) it contains reactive resins that cross-link and provide long-term durability and can therefore be successfully layered (a new application of Zaino Show Car Polish does not remove previous applications). Zaino also has an ultra violet (UV) protection added
 
The layering question is one that, at least theoretically, should be easily answered: measure it! Do multiple coats of a given sealant actually result in a thicker sealant film? I don't know what kind of sophisticated equipment one would need to use to accurately measure the film build, but I bet the equipment exists out there, even if it is unavailable to the average Joe.

Until scientific measurements are taken, all we have are unsubstantiated opinions on both sides of the question.
 
TOGWT said:
To my knowledge, all polymer sealants are based on an emulsion system containing silicone oils or solvents. Zaino Show Car Polish is the only polymer sealant that I'm aware of that is not based on the element silicone (its lubrication system is a polymer) it contains reactive resins that cross-link and provide long-term durability and can therefore be successfully layered (a new application of Zaino Show Car Polish does not remove previous applications). Zaino also has an ultra violet (UV) protection added
Click to expand...

Are you sure it doesn't have silicone?

I asked Sal this and he chuckled.

I asked Tony Lawer this point blank and he gave a me a sly smile and said,"It doesn't anything that is bad for the paint."

I asked him again, and he winked and repeated his first answer.

 
th0001 said:
Are you sure it doesn't have silicone?

I asked Sal this and he chuckled.

I asked Tony Lawer this point blank and he gave a me a sly smile and said,"It doesn't anything that is bad for the paint."

I asked him again, and he winked and repeated his first answer.
Click to expand...

I asked Sal and Tony the same questions... I was told that other sealants are "Loaded" with silicone and Zaino is not.

That could mean it has none or it could mean it has less.
 
th0001 said:
Are you sure it doesn't have silicone?

I asked Sal this and he chuckled.

I asked Tony Lawer this point blank and he gave a me a sly smile and said,"It doesn't anything that is bad for the paint."

I asked him again, and he winked and repeated his first answer.
Click to expand...

I was told by Sal that it didn't contain silicone
 
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