Z-5 vs Scratch X
- Thread starter E30 325i
- Start date
imported_RIC
New member
They are really not comparable products. Zaino Z5 is a durable filler with no abrasives and can work well with several coats. If you are using the Zaino products already and have some swirls/scratches it is worth trying Z5 first before resorting to abrasives.
Z5 is not meant to be a stand alone scratch repair product, whereas Meguiar's Scratch X is. Scratch X uses abrasives as well as fillers. In terms of removing scratches/swirls Meguiar's will be better although I believe there are better products than Meguiar's Scratch X too.
Z5 is not meant to be a stand alone scratch repair product, whereas Meguiar's Scratch X is. Scratch X uses abrasives as well as fillers. In terms of removing scratches/swirls Meguiar's will be better although I believe there are better products than Meguiar's Scratch X too.
So what else would you recommend besides Scratch X? The thing is, i'm not really worried about scratches. I have a little, but i'm sure the Scratch X will fill it nicely since they aren't that bad at all. I'm just worried about swirls. I don't have a PC yet so I can't go all out on removing swirls by using 3M FI-II, SMR, or products like that which should be applied with a PC for best results. So i'm just look for a temporary "fix", something that will cover up the swirls until I do get a PC, then I can really go to work on those swirls 
.
So I heard Z-5 covers up swirls pretty nicely, but haven't heard much about Scratch X for swirl removing (I should say covering), i've just heard about people talking about scratch removing with Scratch X. I just wanted to know which one is better and covering up swirls because i'm sure they both do absolutely nothing for removing the swirls.
. So I heard Z-5 covers up swirls pretty nicely, but haven't heard much about Scratch X for swirl removing (I should say covering), i've just heard about people talking about scratch removing with Scratch X. I just wanted to know which one is better and covering up swirls because i'm sure they both do absolutely nothing for removing the swirls.
imported_BretFraz
New member
Scratch X is moderately aggressive, meaning between #2 and #9 in the Meg's product line in terms of abrasive aggressiveness. If you want something to remove light scratches and moderate swirls by hand then Scratch X is fine.
But to completely remove swirls you'll need a machine and several products depending on paint condition. Doing this job by hand is extremely time and energy consuming.
I was very disappointed in the swirl filling ability of Z5. I have 6 coats of Z5 on some parts of my car and felt it did a poor job in filling them. Some people love it and swear it works to perfection, so you be the judge. If you're a Zaino user then it should be a part of your inventory anyway.
Consider using a glaze to fill swirls and hide them until you come up with a process to remove them. Glazes are best used with carnaubas for protection.
But to completely remove swirls you'll need a machine and several products depending on paint condition. Doing this job by hand is extremely time and energy consuming.
I was very disappointed in the swirl filling ability of Z5. I have 6 coats of Z5 on some parts of my car and felt it did a poor job in filling them. Some people love it and swear it works to perfection, so you be the judge. If you're a Zaino user then it should be a part of your inventory anyway.
Consider using a glaze to fill swirls and hide them until you come up with a process to remove them. Glazes are best used with carnaubas for protection.
bretfraz said:
Yeah, that's why i'm not even going to try because it will take a very long time and most likely not get rid of a lot of my swirl marks.
I'm not a Zaino user yet, but will try some of the Zaino products soon. I guess people will get all kinds of different results with different paint.
What's the difference between a glaze and a polish? I'm still new to all this so sorry if this is a stupid question.
Do you think 3M IHG would do a good job for filling the swirls in?
imported_BretFraz
New member
Yeah, IHG should work OK depending on how bad the swirls & scratches are.
If you're not a Zaino user then skip Z5. It's not gonna do what you want it to.
Glazes are very mild products comprised mostly of fillers and oils. They're designed to hide and fill minor swirls and leave a very glossy finish to the paint. They have no protective ability so you've got to follow up with a carnauba-based wax.
Polishes are products designed to fill or remove scratches and swirls, remove oxidized paint and light stains, and basically bring back the paint from a neglected state. There are a huge variety of polishes on the market all designed to do a specific job.
In basic terms, polishes restore the shine and remove defects, glazes fill in minor swirls the polishes left behind, and wax is the final protective layer.
If you're not a Zaino user then skip Z5. It's not gonna do what you want it to.
Glazes are very mild products comprised mostly of fillers and oils. They're designed to hide and fill minor swirls and leave a very glossy finish to the paint. They have no protective ability so you've got to follow up with a carnauba-based wax.
Polishes are products designed to fill or remove scratches and swirls, remove oxidized paint and light stains, and basically bring back the paint from a neglected state. There are a huge variety of polishes on the market all designed to do a specific job.
In basic terms, polishes restore the shine and remove defects, glazes fill in minor swirls the polishes left behind, and wax is the final protective layer.
imported_Intermezzo
New member
E30 325i said:
Have you considered doing just 1 or 2 panels at a time? Perhaps do just the hood one weekend and then do the fenders the next weekend and so on? This method takes a lot of patience and a fair amount of planning, but IMO it’s the most practical way to tackle swirls if you’re limited to hand application. But then again, if you’re looking for just a temporary fix, Meguiar’s #7, #9 or 3M IHG will all do a decent job.
As for Z-5, I was able to notice some swirl-filling, but only after reaching ten coats. In fact, for the first few layers, it magnified my swirls. Although I love how durable Zaino is, I think it does a poor job of hiding swirls when compared to products like BF, carnauba & glazes.
I have some questions about the order of application of 3M SMR with Zaino. First, does 3M SMR really remove swirls or does it just fill them in? When starting out for this first time with Zaino on a car with a few swirls (nothing major) is this order of use correct?
1. Dawn wash
2. Clay
3. Z7 wash
4. 3M SMR or Z5?
5. Z2
If 3M SMR is used, should the car be washed again with Z7 prior to Z5 and/or Z2? I am under the impression that Zaino products only can bind to painted surfaces. If so, then I presume that any residual 3M SMR would need to be removed first by washing.
From what Intermezzo suggests, Z5 is more of a filler than a true swirl remover. If 3M SMR really removes swirls, then why bother with Z5?
1. Dawn wash
2. Clay
3. Z7 wash
4. 3M SMR or Z5?
5. Z2
If 3M SMR is used, should the car be washed again with Z7 prior to Z5 and/or Z2? I am under the impression that Zaino products only can bind to painted surfaces. If so, then I presume that any residual 3M SMR would need to be removed first by washing.
From what Intermezzo suggests, Z5 is more of a filler than a true swirl remover. If 3M SMR really removes swirls, then why bother with Z5?
chevyguy28
New member
If you use 3M SMR, I would use it right after clay and then wash. SMR should remove any clay residue that could have been left behind. Then you are washing to remove any oils.
ultrajim49
New member
Boongie said:
the right thing to do is:
1)wash with regular carwash
2)clay ,lube with Z7
3)wash if needed to remove clay residue
4)polish to remove swirls : this may be 3M SMR or any other swirl mark remover
5)now is the time to dawn wash : you should only dawn wash prior to Z'ing
6)Z :Z5 or Z2 is only a matter of personal preference : as mentioned before Z5 only fills MINOR swirls after a number of coats , Z2 should have greater shine.Again , its personal preference.Durability of Z5 or Z2 is the same.
hope this helps
Christiaan
Skarface32
New member
If I'm not mistaken, I thought the purpose of the Dawn wash was to remove all previous polishes and waxes so that the paint would be pure prior to Zaino'ing. I always thought that the correct Zaino procedure was...
1) Dawn Wash entire car
2) Clay w/ Z-7 mixture for lube
3) Wash w/ Z-7
4) optional-- Z-6 entire car
4) Z-5/ZFX until satisfaction (Z-6 in between coats)
5) Z-2/ZFX as many coats as desired (Z-6 in between coats)
1) Dawn Wash entire car
2) Clay w/ Z-7 mixture for lube
3) Wash w/ Z-7
4) optional-- Z-6 entire car
4) Z-5/ZFX until satisfaction (Z-6 in between coats)
5) Z-2/ZFX as many coats as desired (Z-6 in between coats)
ultrajim49
New member
Skarface : you're wright 'cause you do not polish ,maybe you've polished before your step 1)
else :my previous posted method was wright.
I've never used 3M SMR , but as far as I could trace the forum ,I 'm sure that it removes swirls .
Allso as far as I know every polish has fillers in them , it's kind of cheating to make the polish-job look better than it actualy is, therefore : dawn-wash after every polish-job prior to Z.
:wavey
else :my previous posted method was wright.
I've never used 3M SMR , but as far as I could trace the forum ,I 'm sure that it removes swirls .
Allso as far as I know every polish has fillers in them , it's kind of cheating to make the polish-job look better than it actualy is, therefore : dawn-wash after every polish-job prior to Z.
:wavey