After a ton of lurking around here I bought my Ti 6spd/black leather GT last week. I just got my packed box o' Zaino products today and can't wait to get to cleaning tomorrow. My question for the forum is, are there tips and tricks to using this product that you wish that you had known the first time around when you used it? The directions with the package are VERY comprehensive, however, I want to get the very most from my first useage. If there are tips above and beyond what is listed there, I would love to hear them.

(thanks guys, you have provided a wealth of quality info and discussion that pushed me to buy this car. Searching these forums never once failed to answer a question. Great forum, great discussion, great members)

Just do a very good and careful job with the clay bar. It sets the stage for a great shine.

Don't use too much. I mixed up a little over 1 ounce (half+ the bottle) and got 2 coats out of it.

And DO get several nice new white 100% cotton bath size towels.

Crank the stereo and have fun :)

Like stated above...spend the most detail on the DAWN wash and CLOSE ATTENTION TO CLAY BARRING....

as for the polish this is the case where a little goes a LONG way...

have fun...the first time always takes the longest till you get a routine down...then it's a breeze after that....

I want to get the very most from my first useage

After applying my first coats of Zaino, I washed her religiously every weekend. With no re-application the polish lasted ~ 5 months.

I was told the Z-6 Gloss Enhancer Spray should be applied after each washing to extend the life of the polish. Currently I am testing that theory with my second application.....

Anyone wash/wax at night? Or should I just do it during day?

I found bath size towels hard to work with, I cut mine in half and it's a much more reasonable size.

Actully, I now use Microfiber cloths - I used to use 100% cotton towels, and I still have them, but I find the microfiber works really well. Now I know Sal tells you to use Cotton, but the Microfiber seems okay. I also use the Meguiers foam applicator pads, not the cotton ones from Zaino. The cotton ones absorb alot of the Zaino.

One trick I discovered accidentally: just before yoy are ready to remove the Z2 (or Z5) heat your cloths (towels of MF) in the dryer and use them hot - Man, the Zaino comes off like butta.

Originally posted by rxeightr
After applying my first coats of Zaino, I washed her religiously every weekend. With no re-application the polish lasted ~ 5 months.



When you say "lasted ~ 5 months," how did you know it needed re-polishing? I assume water quit beading?

Mine was Zaino'd nearly 6 months ago, and it's still beading like crazy. I'm unsure whether that's the best indicator of when I need to Zaino again.

Thanks.

Not only did it stop beading, the slickness was gone.

Pre wet the applicator with Z-6 before you put the Z2 or Z5 on it.

Thanks to all for the feed back and discussion. Great ideas 6speed8 and red_rx8_red_int, I will be all over both of those.

It's addictive. Once you've got that Zaino shine you'll want to keep on trying to make it even shinier.

If you're used to a conventional wax then you'll feel like you're hardly using any Z2/Z5 at all, but it really works best when you apply multiple thin costs. Also let it dry, really dry before you try to remove it. Removing it before it has dried is a waste of time. I've found that the Z6 really maintains the finish. I always Z6 after washing the car and you can feel as well as see the increase in shine.

Before long you'll be Zaino'ing everything is sight. I even Zaino'd the plastic "crystal" on my watch ;)

"Before long you'll be Zaino'ing everything is sight. I even Zaino'd the plastic "crystal" on my watch "

LOL

I've been waiting all damn weekend for the temperature to warm up so I can use my zaino for the first time. It's still running about 48 to 50°F. A little cold for dances-with-waterhoses and probably going to slow the zaino down a bit. I bought the AFX or whatever that accelerator is. Anyone have any experience with that? In cooler weather?

One thing I don't see enough on the forum is the recommendation to e-mail or call Zaino with questions.

They reply quickly (usually Sal Zaino himself) and know a lot about their product (really?) Congrats, I bought it myself...

So I'd check there if any issues come up, and enjoy reflecting!

Originally posted by Jeff_pap31s
"Before long you'll be Zaino'ing everything is sight. I even Zaino'd the plastic "crystal" on my watch "

LOL

LOL! Man, that's nuts! Um, but how'd it work? I'll go get my watch... :D

Ummm...well it worked really well! But first I used metal polish to get the scratches out.

I know, I know, but check out that shine!

Metal polish! Cool... my Palm is titanium gray.:D

Metal polish + Zaino= let you know. (but I'm not posting pics, like "here's my pda with 5 coats of z5, z4, z6...) :D

I am going to order the following for the first Zaino application on my one month old 8:

ZFX -- ZFX Flash Cure Accelerator Additive
Z-2 -- Show Car Polish for Clear Coated Car Finishes
Z-6 -- Ultra Clean Gloss Enhancer Spray
Z-18 -- ClayBar


Q1: Since my car is almost new with new scratches? I understand that you have a choice of using Z2, Z3 or Z5. I pick Z2 for clear coat finishes. Don't want to use Z-5 since I dont have any scratches. Is that okay?

Q2: Do I really need Z-7 (show car wash) for working with clay bar? According to Zaino website you should wash it with Z-7 to remove the lubricant film after claying. Is this a necessary or has anyone tried an alternative method?

Edit: anyone tried using Z2 and Z6 without claying as a first time application?


Regards,
Max.

Max

Yup, I did the z2, z6 without claying when my car was hmmm about 2 weeks old. For me, (although people here that have not seen my car would say that I am wrong) I did not have any nicks, scratches, embedded dirt, foreign particles etc in the paint of my car. It was totally smooth and clean. If this is the case for you as well, then I would skip the claybar OR you could just claybar the areas that you know have problems and save yourself a lot of time. Just run your hand over the car and you will be able to tell.

So, I started with the Dawn wash, then did a very very thorough rinse to make sure the car had no soap on it and then dried it. I would recommend that you dry every nook cranny and crevice (hood, trunk, doors, seams) so that you don’t have drops of water that run down the car as you are polishing. I then did two coats of z2 using the z6 after each coat of z2 – four hours later I was done. Remember that the coats will go on very thin. Good luck and report back on what your thoughts are when you are done.

Costco sells a bag of micro fiber towels for about 10 bucs. They work great with the spray shine. Also great for the inside stuff like leather in a bottle. The residue on the towel really shines up the black plastic by the exhausts! Anyone else discover this?

I'm going to assume that with all the Zaino products, you must wash them in the shade?

Sunlight = bad?

similar question: does it (Z2 or Z5) like direct sun while being applied?

It is not the sunlight that is bad - it is heat. Always apply on a cool surface. You can do it in direct sunlight, just make sure it is a cool day.

Whats the best thing to use when you initially wash the car (the dawn step).... wet cotton towel, microfiber, sheepskin hand thing, or nothing at all ?

I am sure that everyone has their prefs. - the main thing that whatever you use to wash should be soft. I use microfiber for everything on my car because I know that it will not scratch.

If you have a black car, don't forget to throw some z5 on there every now and then in between coats of z2. I had forgotten how sweet that stuff was. Makes it like butta.

One more

Wet shine