chopsticker

I'm about to join the 'Zaino club' but I have a few unanswered questions I hope you guys can help me with.

1) How long will the zaino wax last before I have put on another layer of Z2 + Z6? I think I'm doing the first waxing with dawn, Z7, Claybar, Z1, Z5, Z6, Z2, Z6. I've heard mix reports of the Zaino lasting anywhere between 3 weeks to 3 months...

2) When I clean my car after a few weeks, what procedure should I follow? Z7, Z2, Z6? Or can I just use the Z7 and wait a few more weeks and then go through #1 again?

3) Can I use these yellow microfiber towels I bought at Costco with Zaino? I know the guy only recommends white 100% cotton...

4) How many coats will one bottle of Z2 or Z5 last? What about the Z6?

PUR NRG

1. Zaino lasts a long time. Reapply when desired or when beading is not as good.
2. Don't need to rezaino after car washes. You can wipe down with Z-6 to keep shine at its best however.
3. I use microfiber to buff coats. Works great.
4. You'll go through Z-6 faster than anything else.

Sal recommends using the catalyst stuff for at least one coat. I'd recommend catalyst Z2-Z5-Z5 one day (three coats of catalyst stuff per day max) and Z2-Z5-Z2 the second day.
________
Paxil Injury Lawyer

AcuraEL

Quick follow up questions.

I just jumped on the Zaino bandwagon as well, but have to wait for warmer weather way up north in Canada to apply.

1. You mention using microfiber cloths to buff coats, does that mean only buffing off? What did you use to put the stuff on?

2. Could you explain briefly "catalyst"?

Sorry if these are basic questions, I just want my first Zaino experience to be perfect =) Especially when these bottles are much more pricey compared to the Mothers and Meguires that I normally use. I don't want to waste it by using it wrong.
I have started to call these things Liquid Gold (b/c of the price and quality).

Thanks.

Speed-ER doc

They give you a free applicator with a purchase over $25. Buy one or two more.

The catalyst is called ZFX. Add a few drops to the Z2 and it dries faster, and you don't have to wait as long between coats. I don't seem to need it with z5.

The z2 and z5 last a long time. Only 1/2 ounce does my whole car. I fill the llittle bottle that comes with it halfway (one ounce) to do two coats. It is not expensive considering how little of it you need to use. z6 goes pretty quick though, but you can even stretch that out a bit by diluting it (some say). It smells like heaven too.

Get the leather cleaner too, if you have leather seats. Talk about a great smell, and lasts quite a while. Looks great too. I haven't tried the leather-in-a-bottle, but that is next.

The tire shine is the best I have used, blows everything else away. Don't waste money on the plastic shine.

Hope that helps!

FirstSpin

Can't comment on how long it lasts....for two reasons... One, I just started using it 3 weeks ago and two, I put on at least 2 coats every weekend. It is darn great stuff. My wife used it on her black transam for the first time this week and she's hooked too. Yep when you buy it, if you haven't already bought it by now, get two bottles (or 3) of the Z6 shine spray. I'll use that when I towel the car dry if I know I'm not going to have time to apply the Z2. I use the Z2 with the catalyst and yes, an ounce will cover the car about 2 times. I'd probably steer clear of the microfiber towels for applying the Z2 or Z5 -- because of their insanely high surface area, you're bound to waste a lot of zaino by having the towel suck it up. Never have buffed with them but I suspect they'd be great.

Dustin4u

Don't use Z1 Chopsticker. Its outdated.

Just need ZFX with Z2....ZFX replaces Z1/.

Pinhy

exactly. was going to say this when i got to end of thread.


also, Z2 should be the last polish used. you can use the Z5 + ZFX for first coat(s) then finish with a coat or two of Z2 while spraying and wiping with Z6 after each buff.

poolsidenaz

I am also joining the Zaino club. I've read the entire Zaino website, this thread, and other threads after doing a search for "Zaino". My Questions:

** Is the Zaino website the only place to buy it, and best source?

** Is the start up package the best way to go as a first timer? Here is the link and the contents of the newbie package: http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/...ory_Code=Zaino
$84.70 + shipping Contains:
1 ZFX Accelerator
1 Z-2 Clear coat polish
1 Z-5 Swirl polish
1 Z-6 (I saw the recommendation to pick up a couple of these instead of just 1)
1 Z-7 car wash
1-18 claybar (someone said they got 2 bars with their order)
2 applicators

** Can we get some more input on the Leather sof cleaner & Tire gloss from you experts? I'm assuming I need the FNG kit + another bottle of the Z-6 + the Leather soft + the tire gloss. And some new white 100% cotton towels.

I kindly thank you

emailists

question- what about cleaning properties of zaino vs. wax? I know when waxing I used to get alot of dirt off the paint that never came off while washing.

Would it be safe to say it makes sense to wax once a year just for cleaning then strip wax off with dawn for fresh coat(s) of Zaino?

poolsidenaz

I thought that's what the clay bar process was for. Check this text out from the Zaino site: http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/...C&Store_Code=Z

Experts? Please help us all out

Speed-ER doc

Sounds like you need to use more "elbow grease" when washing. Or wash, rinse, and repeat, like with shampoo. by the time you wax, the car should be CLEAN.

loco4rx8

I tried emailing Zaino using the address on their site, but never got a reply. Maybe someone on here knows the answer...

If my car has been a Zaino Only car, and I Dawn-washed, clayed, polished, etc, from the start, the next time I want to clay bar the car, do I need to do the Dawn wash step? Do you have to wash with Dawn to remove the Zaino?

Also, how often do most cars really need to be clay barred? Thanks!

Smoker

whoa, wait a minute.

You should only use Dawn on the car to strip out ALL the wax previously applied to the body. Then to use Clay bar to must sure the body is absolutely clean. You should only do this for the very first time you use Zaino !!! Afterwards, just layer as many coats of Zaino on the paint as you go for maximum protection.

If you Dawn and Clay it every year, you can undoing all the Zaino work from the year before.

Everyone this is a MUST READ.

Official Tips for Zaino

Arcane

i wouldn't think you would need to strip off the zaino to reclay. Claying removes the contaminants from the surface, so if zaino is your surface, i'd guess you'd be removing the contaminants from the zaino layers. then you just wash with Z-7. this is just speculation on my part.

whether the clay bar removes the Z-2/Z-5/Z-6, i don't know.

Sea Ray

I was going to try that myself this weekend. I don't see why it wouldn't work ok.

Arcane

Here's what I got from Sal (my text is in italics):

After the dawn wash, clay bar and initial Z-2/Z-5/Z-6 application, would I need to remove all these layers in order to reclay the car again? Or would I be able to clay over the Z-2/Z-5/Z-6?

A light or simple Claying will not remove Zaino.

Repeated Claying of the paint surface will eventually remove Zaino....

Zaino is very durable....




Thank you for your time.

--




Thank You,
Sal Zaino
(732)833-8800
http://www.zainobros.com

loco4rx8

Thanks Arcane and Smoker. Wonder why he didn't respond to me...

Anyway, I'm not interested in removing the Zaino. I'm interested in removing any contaminants that might get in the paint over the course of a year or two. So, that's why I'd want to clay the car again sometime. I was just curious whether the Dawn wash was necessary, but I guess not since that's for removing wax, not Zaino.

So, I will clay it again (without Dawn) maybe after a year or two. Until then, it's just Zaino layer upon Zaino layer.

Arcane

i plan on claying my car once a month and Z-2/Z-5 every weekend. Maybe 2 coats each with Z-6 in between.