What are these less than 80F temps you speak of?

I wish I could have the cold be a problem. It hasn't dipped below 85F during the day here since February!

 

^^ move to a northern state.

 

I did my first round of Epic last weekend. I only got one coat on before I lost daylight, but it went on very well - very slick, and very wet-looking. I wanted to put another coat on today, but I got up and it had rained. But the good news is Epic held up great. So while it was still wet from the rain I gave it a quick wash/dry and covered it up in case it rains again today (looks like it might...if the sky clears up I'll go for another coat though!)

I reallllllly like this stuff...takes a very small amount, and I still probably used too much, but it came off like a dream, with almost zero effort.

How many coats of this can I do for the winter? I'm thinking I'd like to do 3 but whatever is best, I suppose.

 

Glad you like Epic so much!

2 layers of Epic will be plenty for even a harsh winter. Now I know there are some Zaino users out there who can't stand to do so few layers! For those, certainly it doesn't hurt to do more layers if it makes you feel better. However, 1 layer in most cases is plenty and 2 definitely has everyone covered.

1-2 layers of Epic will last on most cars for 5-6 months. 3-4 layers of Epic will last on most cars for 5-6 months. 5-6 layers of Epic will last on most cars for 5-6 months.

-Heather

 

and what about 7-8 layers?

 

Oh, well, for 7-8 layers you'll get at least 10 years out of it. (kidding people, kidding!)

-Heather

 

If the scary rainy-looking clouds would go away, I'd go put on another coat right now, it's so darn easy. But it needs to cure for 24 hours and I don't think I'm going to get the next 24 hours with no rain.

Blah. I need a tent.

 

I have 2 coats on my Civic, 2nd coat applied on 10/14/06.

i am hoping that it will last to March 2006 if i don't wash it as much in
the winter.

 

ML- it's okay to get rain water on it during the 24hour cure. just dont get
it wet in the initial 35-40min right after app.

 

I'll probably have to redo it in February anyway, just because it rains pretty much every day here from November - April.

What if I put the cover on it right after I do it? I wonder if that would work.

 

moisture lock will not help. you need to put your car in a garage and
run a dehumidifier and fan on rainy days.

 

It can rain, snow, or whatever during the 24 hours. You don't need to cover it. All you need to do during the 24 hour cure time is:

1) Avoid detergents, aka don't wash it (it's the soap you want to avoid, not the water)
2) Watch it get wetter and glossier by the hour!


**As a point of clarification for those who have not yet used Epic, the "cure" time of which we speak is not the "drying" time. In other words, here's how Epic is applied and removed:

Apply Epic
Wait 35-45 minutes (or a little longer if it's more convenient, up to 8 hours) while Epic dries
Buff off with a plush microfiber cloth
Avoid washing your car for 24 hours while Epic fully cures
That's it!

During the curing time, it can be rained on and driven, etc. You just want to avoid using any kind of detergents, like those found in soaps. So, just don't wash your car for the first 24 hours and watch it get better!

Also, if you are layering Epic, you should wait 24 hours between coats.

There has been some confusion about this so I wanted to clear it up. I'm getting bunches of questions about Epic having to sit for 24 hours before you buff it off, etc. This is not the case. You buff off Epic after 35-45 minutes.

I hope I explained that clearly. If not, someone please let me know!

-Heather

 

Update, anyone?

Im curious because Im switching from Meg carnubas to polymers, and have narrowed it down to Epic or Klasse AIO. So far the latter is winning because it can go on anywhere w/o harm--get it on the trim no big deal--but that Epic stuff sure sounds compelling!

 

yah, it didn't make it through the winter from 10/14/06 to 3/09/07, but
that's okay. it was a pretty severe winter anyway. the car washed up
pretty well and i put on some of my favorite Hydro for the time being.

car looks so great, might just spot clay and hydro from now on until
late fall. (cause im such a lazy ***).

i think next winter im going to have to wax it at least once between
fall and spring.

ps: Griot's best of show didn't make it either. both cars had no
wax left.

 

I just did a complete strip this weekend. My Epic (10/13/06) was still beading. Mine is a daily driver and is parked outside all the time. Now I did wash a lot with Mystique this winter and I always used Hydro after the wash so maybe that help the Epic get through the winter more so than kenchan's Epic. Also maybe there is a difference between the harsh Chi-town winters and here in Denver, though it was crap for most of two months here.
I still have to say that the Prima line is my favorite and it has not let me down yet.

 

MiniMaybe----now that you've had experience with Epic for several months and Zaino before that, how about a long-term review of the differences and advantages of one over the other. I use the Zaino line and am very impressed with it, but as my Z2 has probably enough for 1 or two more applications (2-3 coats each) I am considering switching over to try the Prima line or just reordering somemore Z2

 

do you guys use salt out there? that might be the biggest difference
and the amount and the extent of exposure.

i need to find something stronger if im going to make it last from fall
to spring during the appliable temps outdoors. this is a car that is
parked outdoors all year long.

 

Our winter was so bad here local agencies ran out of magchloride and started throwing gravel and sand on the roads, thus creating another hazard. We generally dont have salt on the roads, although private parking lots will use it. i dont drive my MCS in the winter because the MagChlor is so pernicious and destructive if not washed off regularly.

And from what I've read Prima is like Zaino--except I can motor to DP and pick it up!

hey ken if you're wanting long-term durability maybe you're due to become a Zaino-head!! (waaaaay too much work for me, I like to think I have a life)

 

Just curious what scientific method you used to determine the wax didn't "make it"? Or are you simply saying it doesn't bead anymore?

Did you try the "squeak test"?

Just curious.

Richard

 

Here is my very unscientific "long-term" comparison between Zaino & Prima. I first put Zaino on in July '06 fresh from the dealer lot. Did the whole routine with clay, Z-6, Z-5 & 3 layers of Z-2/Z-6. I washed a lot between July and October with the Zaino shampoo and did copious QD with Z-6. When I stripped it last October it was still going strong and still very shiny despite the intense sun and hot summer temps here in Denver. Again, daily driver & no garage.
I switched to Prima mainly for the convenience of spending my money on product and not shipping and the ability to go spend a wad of cash on a whim versus ordering on-line and the inherent risk of talking myself out of a purchase.
The biggest difference I found is that the Prima products are much thicker than the Zaino products and therefore I tend to use less. Also as far as appearance, Prima's Epic gives a much more wet looking finish than the very shiny, but not much depth finish of Zaino's Z-2. I can't compare winter durability since Zaino was summer/fall and Prima was fall/winter.
As to salt; here the road departments almost exclusively use Magnesium Chloride rather than Sodium Chloride. I don't know if this is better or worse but I do know that the Mag Chloride leaves a greasy film on the car that is a bugger to remove.
So bottom-line is that I'm sticking with Prima for convenience, durability and cost (plus it is nice to support a vendor that supports our MINI club and NAM). Is it "better" than Zaino? Dunno, I guess it depends on the look you are after: Shiny, Shiny Zaino with little depth or Shiny, wet-looking Prima with lots of depth. Both are very easy to apply and despite the lore about how involved the Zaino system is, they are very similar in application/removal time. I think the Zaino products smell better, but they both smell the same after you buff them off.
One thing I will mention about Prima, often after soaping down the car during a wash (even with Mystique) the water does not seem to bead excessively. However it always returned to it's former beading glory after it dried - I don't know what that means but there it is.
How's that for unscientific.

 

thanks!!

 

i took the car up to 60mph and i can tell by the air drag.

duh, i think you're not the only one here that knows a little about waxes
and cars in general. mr.man.

 

i really dont care that much about my commuters.
being so dog gone lazy and literally not much time to spend on
the commuters, i think im seriously only going to Hydro this car
this spring/summer.

car's looking great out there. talk about lustorous
deeep wet look.

 

Haha, stop making me laugh Ken . No seriously, what did you do?

Cause I live in California where it hardly snows and I'd like to know how other people determine the longevity of their wax. Most of the time its judged by beading.

 

Ken puts his tongue on it when it is like -30 deg F. If it sticks - no wax.