Could you post pics? I'm curious what yours looks like after the layers you applied. Also I applied Z6 in between each layer finishing off with Z8.

 

Sal Zaino and his brother are painters by trade. His brother still owns a paint shop. He knows what he's doing.

Nobody professes to wash your car with Dawn every day. Dawn washing is just a method to strip the old carnaubas. And it's a lot less intrusive than using a polish to remove old carnaubas.

But as you say, to each his own.

 

Is this like that old Tootsie Pop commercial with the wise owl....-?

"How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Toosie Roll Pop?..
...The world may never know.."


3

 

Well, I was thinking of getting the Zaino products, until I heard that this is how you are to prep the car. If Sal says this if what needs to be done, then his products are not for me.

 

 

Sorry, man. At this point, I'm more into cars than cameras Believe it or not, I got no camera

 

this is a one time prep to using the zaino products...all you are doing this one time is removing all the previous solvents and wax from the body of the car....after this is done you then use zaino per the directions and wash with the zaino car wash after that.....super stuff ....zaino
oh by the way any questions call sal he usually answers the phone try this with any other wax companies:smile:

 

Yum, Tootsie Roll Pop!
Anyway I should be out driving more but my wife has the Mini!
Maybe I'm over reacting or expecting too much from the Zaino.
I'll post pics later of what the Mini looks like now.

 

What if the car has never been waxed? Is washing with Dawn still the first step?

I'm not trying to be an *** about this, but everthing I have been told about taking care of car paint seems to be in question.

 

you mean like this?

 

Obsiously you really want to take good care of your car's paint. Give Zaino a quick call and see what they say. Maybe it's not a requirement in your case. Or, maybe they can recommend an alternative. Or maybe they can provide information that will make you OK with it. Keep an open mind. And let us know what you find out.

 

Personally, I'd trust the wax man (Sal) a lot more than I'd trust a six year old Motor Trend article or a generic 'how to clean anything' article.

As was stated earlier, the reason people recommend against using dish soap to clean a car is that it'll strip your wax - which is exactly what you WANT to do before using Zaino. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER use any harsh soaps if you're not going to IMMEDIATELY follow up with some sort of protectant, be it Zaino, Meguiars, Blue Coral, or whatever you choose to protect with.

The sources you've quoted don't cater to an enthusiast crowd nearly as much as this site does, hence the recommendation NOT to use harsher soaps. Those articles assume that you'll wash with Dawn and then not wax or seal your paint surface for a year or three, which WILL ruin your paint. But as long as you follow a thorough wash with an equally thorough wax, you're good to go.

 

I too have used Zaino for two years. The first time I used it was the only time I used Dawn on my Casper. Since then, I use Zaino's car wash. Casper looks great after two years of Zaino care. I have no idea how many coats he has on, at least 12 to 15, BSK

 

Ok, I know this has nothing to do with Microfibers...but I have been using the ZFX in every (7 so far) coat of Zaino... I know it says its ok, but is there an advantage or should I not use it all the time?

 

The ZFX simply helps by providing a shorter cure time. It also allows you to put on more than 1 coat in a day. If I am just going to put on one layer for a quick top-up, I don't bother with the ZFX.

 

YIPPEE!!! MORE ZANIO FOR ME!!!

 

Ok I am on layer 7 and it's starting to look much better! Still no pictures yet. The Mini is going to have to hide in the garage a few days (weather report says rain ) I layed the 7th layer last night and let it sit until this morning. I then buffed it off but didn't follow up with Z6 or Z8. I forgot the reasoning, but what is the use of layering on Z6 or Z8 after putting down Z2? Would it make a difference to later put down some Z8 even though she's clean and it would've been hours since I buffed off the Z2?

 

Using Z6 or Z8 between layers adds a little pop to the gloss of the look. But mainly Z6 or Z8 is used as a QD/spray sealant respectively.

They keep the surface clean and very slick and boost the protection and shine. This isn't something you do just after an application but on a regular basis. Pamper your baby.

 

So, just to further my understanding, if I'm using ZFX to allow multiple layers same day, which of the followig approaches is better?

1. Z5, Z6, Z5, Z6, Z2, Z6, Z2, Z8
   
2. Z5, Z5, Z2, Z2, Z8
   

Many thanks for the benefit of your experience.

 

No, it doesn't. You just want a CLEAN, WAX FREE base to work with. If you are serious about using Zaino then I suggest you get the Z7 wash and wash the car a couple times, at least, with a heavy concentrate of the car wash before you start your first layer. This will help to ensure you have removed any carnauba traces left from any car washes that were used prior. (Even if the car has not been waxed, most shampoos have carnauba traces in them.) If the car was washed with a cheap carnauba a few washes with Zaino shampoo will likely remove it. Warm water will help. I would also clay the car to remove contamination and ensure a slick finish to start with.

You don't want to skimp here. If the paint surface is not as clean as possible you wont get a proper bond and will lose durability and sacrifice gloss.

I know you have been told a lot of things and heard a lot of things. And if using Dawn scares you then don't do it. But remember that not all painters understand detailing chemistry and not all detailers understand paint technology. Consider your sources and make educated decisions.

Cheers.

 

The 1st...... Z5, Z6, Z5, Z6, Z2, Z6, Z2, Z8

Or you can use Z8 in replacement of Z6 entirely if you want.

 

Thanks again. And thanks also for your advice to nolimit. Very cool of you.

 

Here's my zaino pic:


Also it'll look better after it cures overnight.

 

It's not a function of the Zaino. Overnight your eyes finally come into proper focus from watching your hands go 'round and 'round and 'round.....

Wax on wax off!

Beautiful pic, BTW!

 

Just curious about your take on my question about the ZFX, is it just reducing the drying time?

I have 7 layers on mine and it looked great after 3... I want 3 more layers before I take a break.....no good pix, but I will be taking a long road trip from Houston,TX-Orlando, FL-Key West, FL- back to Orlando then home... I am really worried about the bug carcasses... I was thinking of putting a coule extra layers on the front end and following the whole thing up with Z8... any thoughts... I was also going to bring a can of WD-40, Z-8 and ploishing cloths to wash when I get to the destinations.... any other suggestions?

BTW, I have:

Z5-Z6-Z5-Z6-Z2-Z6-Z5-Z6-Z5-Z6