My Zaino vs. #26 test with photos

A

atldave

New member
I finally decided to compare the two for myself side by side on my own car. It's black and has no clear coat, so your mileage may vary. I took these pictures one day apart in the same place from the same angle with the same weather with the same camera so it's about as scientific as I'm going to get. I definitely prefer carnauba and since I'm going to wax my car every couple weeks regardless of what I'm using, durability isn't really an issue.



Anyhow, here are the pics:



IS300HoodZainoMeguiarssmall.jpg




I also have a larger (480k), higher res photo you can check out, but I was trying not be too obnoxious in the post.



High Res Version
 
A few questions:



1) What did you do for prep on the Zaino side? From the sounds of things, you didn't use a SMR or a Glaze; you just applied Zaino?



2) A day after you applied Zaino to the car, you applied a three-step process (a cleaner/surface improver, an oily glaze (which will deepen the shine), and an oily wax (enhances depth and shine).) Is that correct?



Seems to me you could have used Turtle Wax Super Hard Shell and it would have looked better - the more time you spend prepping for a wax, the better the end result will be....



A more accurate means of comparison would have been to:



1) Wash

2) Clay

3) SMR the whole car

4) #7 The whole car

5) Give a light wash to half of the car

6) Apply Zaino to one half

7) Apply #26 to the other half

8) Evaluate



Not saying the Zaino is better, but there are a lot of unaccounted variables in your test. :) I also question why the parking lights are on in the 2nd picture...and, how can you be sure that the lighting, weather, etc. was the same on both days? ;)



(I only point these things out, because whenever I do a test, I get hundreds of e-mails with comments just like I posted here...) Welcome to the wonderfully fun world of wax testing. :D
 
It appears one car is pictured on a mostly sunny day ( the Zaino pix shows the blue sky and cloud formation). The carnuaba pix appears to being more overcasted or maybe poor reflectivity? :nixweiss



A better comparison would have been at dask. The reflectivity of Zaino on bright sunny days reflects back the surrounding which for a black or dark vehicle gives the imagine of the color being bleached.



Geeky point is soooooo very important. PREP is 90-95% of final appearance and unless the protectant has a colorizing effect ( Klasse and Souveran darken) the protectant used in most cases can not be distinquished.



The bottom line is which result pleases you should be the one you use.



PREP for gloss, depth, reflectivity, trueness of hue (optics) and protectant to preserve all that hard work. :wavey





Disclaimer: I use Zaino, EX, UPP, Souveran, P21S and BF2. All with excellent results since I learned the basic FACT of the importance of PREP. I also have a can (metal) of #26. Have not used it in years but with a good Prep I am sure it too will now look great.
 
geekysteve said:
A few questions:



1) What did you do for prep on the Zaino side? From the sounds of things, you didn't use a SMR or a Glaze; you just applied Zaino?



Washed with Dawn, didn't need clay, DACP, Z1, then Z5. My understanding was that Z1 would remove SMR or Glaze so I didn't bother with it first. I guess I know what to try next time...



2) A day after you applied Zaino to the car, you applied a three-step process (a cleaner/surface improver, an oily glaze (which will deepen the shine), and an oily wax (enhances depth and shine).) Is that correct?



Seems to me you could have used Turtle Wax Super Hard Shell and it would have looked better - the more time you spend prepping for a wax, the better the end result will be....



I removed the Zaino with clay before starting over with the SMR.



A more accurate means of comparison would have been to:



1) Wash

2) Clay

3) SMR the whole car

4) #7 The whole car

5) Give a light wash to half of the car

6) Apply Zaino to one half

7) Apply #26 to the other half

8) Evaluate



Not saying the Zaino is better, but there are a lot of unaccounted variables in your test. :) I also question why the parking lights are on in the 2nd picture...and, how can you be sure that the lighting, weather, etc. was the same on both days? ;)



The weather looked the same to me these 2 days, that's all. Both days were cloudy with blue skies, but the blue showed up much more on the Zaino picture. I didn't mean to leave the fogs on in the second picture, and I'm not sure exactly what effect that may have had.



(I only point these things out, because whenever I do a test, I get hundreds of e-mails with comments just like I posted here...) Welcome to the wonderfully fun world of wax testing. :D



The Zaino had been on for about a month before I took the first picture. I added the last coat that morning. I wasn't planning on doing this, I just figured as long as I was going to try something different I would take some pictures to give myself a frame of reference. You're absolutely right though, there are tons of unaccounted for variables. Just thought I'd share my experience. Maybe I'll put more Z1 and Z5 on half the hood and take a picture of that to see how that changes things.

Click to expand...
 
CharlesW said:
Hey atldave:

Just pick the look you like best and go with it.

It really doesn't make any difference what anyone else thinks.

Car looks good either way, but since you said you prefer carnauba, don't let someone tell you that you need to use Zaino. If you like the Zaino, then by all means use it, but make it your decision not someone else's.



Charles:wavey
Click to expand...





:confused:

Who mentioned anything about which product should he use. Both responses just stated that the test perimeters were skewed because of pre-application PREP. Obviously, you did not read them.



Geeky never offer a preference



and I actually stated :



"The bottom line is which result pleases you should be the one you use."



I even wrote: "Disclaimer: I use Zaino, EX, UPP, Souveran, P21S and BF2. All with excellent results since I learned the basic FACT of the importance of PREP. I also have a can (metal) of #26. Have not used it in years but with a good Prep I am sure it too will now look great."



Maybe you are referring to another thread? :nixweiss
 
I use(d) both on my black car ... comments on the Zaino application ( sans prep) would have been a little more equal if it was Z1/Z5/Z6/Z5/Z6/Z5/Z2/Z6/Z2





But both look good .. and depending on how thw Zaino stands the winter up here I may be back with #26 in the spring after a proper prep.
 
I'm confused on one thing. A couple people raised the point of what about the prep on the Zaino side, and why not do the same prep as the #26 side?



Can you even DO that? I thought Zaino (from everything I've been reading here over the last couple months) was super picky as to whats underneath. Won't the Zaino have problems bonding on top of cleaners and glazes?
 
Not if your wash post prep to remove the oils in some polishes/SMR's. I personally would not use a classic glaze for any sealant. My route would be to maximize the inherit gloss of the finish via prep rather than enhancing with a glaze. Mind you my finishes are not deteriorated to the point where a glaze is the only route to maximize gloss, wetness and depth.

A glaze is fast but it will not last. :cool:

Also if you use a water-based polish like Menzerna IP and FP bonding would not be a problem. Nevertheless, I still wash afterwards to remove any polishing dust that might be in cracks and crevises. I'm anal that way. :D
 
blkZ28Conv said:
:confused:

Who mentioned anything about which product should he use. Both responses just stated that the test perimeters were skewed because of pre-application PREP. Obviously, you did not read them.



Geeky never offer a preference



and I actual stated :



"The bottom line is which result pleases you should be the one you use."



I even wrote: "Disclaimer: I use Zaino, EX, UPP, Souveran, P21S and BF2. All with excellent results since I learned the basic FACT of the importance of PREP. I also have a can (metal) of #26. Have not used it in years but with a good Prep I am sure it too will now look great."



Maybe you are referring to another thread? :nixweiss
Click to expand...

Gee, excuse me for stating my opinion.

My post has been deleted.
 
Each side looks about like I expected them to, and both look terrific. Maybe topping Zaino with #26 would be your best option.
 
Scottwax said:
Each side looks about like I expected them to, and both look terrific. Maybe topping Zaino with #26 would be your best option.
Click to expand...



Thats what I did with great results on a black car. This is #26 on Zaino





325272_21_full.jpg
 
I don't understand why or when has Zaino been mixed with Autopia :confused:



Zaino users are usually more dedicated to one brand than others. In Autopia there are more members using other products than 'Z only' users, and they live happy liking this X product now and the Y in a few weeks. And all this is discussed on Autopia. And DC!



It's not a matter of 'being with us' or 'against us' as some Z people make it. It's about detailing, liking to do it and enjoying the final results.



Glad you like #26 looks, I haven't tried it yet :xyxthumbs
 
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