what do i need to be fully prepared for waxing/washing?

Is this a good buy?

http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=ZKIT-1&Category_Code=Zaino

I would recommend the following:
- ZFX Flash Cure Accelerator
- Z2 Show Car Polish for Clear Coats
- Z5 Show Car Polish for Swirl Marks and Fine Scratches (Probably don't need to use right now, but always good to have handy)
- Z6 Gloss Enhancer Spray, this is your Quick Detailer and you need to use between each coat of Zaino (Z2/ZFX or Z5/ZFX)
- Z7 Car Wash, the smell will make you addicted to washing your car :D
- Z18 Clay Bar - Even though your car is new, the paint may not be completely clean.

Be sure to start by washing the entire car with Dawn (basic Blue stuff). And be sure to get some good Micro-Fiber towels.

Hope this helps,
Juan

This is exactly the kit I bought 2 weeks ago. Has everthing you need except:

Dawn Dishwashing Detergent
A Good Spray Bottle (for clay bar)
A Good Microfiber Cloth (for Z6)

Be really careful with the clay bar. They get very slippery and it is easy to drop them.....

I now have 3 coats of z6 and 3 coats of z2 on the car. It looks and feels absolutely terrific! I did not use the z5, but like having it for down the road....

Here is a nice guide from autopia.org. I hope the author does not mind. I usually post the url, but you can' see it w/o logging in.

Nick’s unsolicited Zaino Tips & Tricks


Part One


Disclaimer: I am not a professional detailer nor an expert on paint care. I’m just a charter member of the ARZOA who has a little experience with Zaino, and one of my cars is Jet Black and shows all of my mistakes!

Intro to Zaino:
The Zaino system is made up of a group of synthetic sealant products which replace carnauba as a protectant for your paint. As a general rule the synthetic sealants have longer durability, higher reflectivity, and less depth than carnauba. The Zaino polymers form a cross-linked bond with the underlying surface and this provides excellent durability.

Zaino is more reflective, has more clarity, and gives a harder surface than the other synthetics, but it also does very little to hide underlying paint defects and is very susceptible to marring.

Many detailers seem to be afraid of using Zaino … it’s too complicated, it’s too expensive, it’s too difficult to apply/buff, it’s prone to smearing, it can’t be topped with carnauba, etc. After you have read this and applied a coat or two of Zaino you’ll find that none of these worries are justified!

Paint preparation:
Due to Zaino’s outstanding clarity and it’s lack of oils, fillers, or waxes it will not hide any underlying paint defect. In fact, Zaino will in many cases make them more noticeable! First, and most importantly, properly and thoroughly prepare your paint. Do a dish detergent wash, then a claying, and follow with whatever polishing is needed to remove (not fill) any micro-marring. Finish with a very mild cleaner/polish to obtain the most reflective surface possible. It is desirable, but not necessary, to use a random orbital buffer for the polishing phase. I recommend P21S GEPC, S100 SEC, or Platinum UPP-C. All of these products leave oils on the paint, and the polymers in Zaino will not bond to the paint properly if you do not remove the oils. Do a very careful wash (you don’t want to add any micro-marring to your carefully prepared paint) with Z-7 and carefully dry. Now you’re ready for the Zaino treatment!

A few facts that you should know before starting with Zaino:
Unlike carnauba, Zaino can be applied in direct sunlight. The only problem that I’ve encountered doing it in the sun is that the Z-6 Gloss Enhancer (Zaino’s quick detailer) dries very quickly, so you need to work on smaller areas. If it does dry just apply a little more Z-6 and the stains will come right off with little effort.

Z-1 Polish Lok and ZFX Accelerator perform similar tasks, and one or the other must be used when applying Zaino the first time. They prepare the underlying surface for molecular cross-linking (bonding) with Zaino’s polymers. Since Z-1 is applied first and then topped by Z-2 or Z-5 it takes a little longer to dry than when using ZFX which is mixed with the Z-2 or Z-5. ZFX has the added benefit of greatly reducing the curing (hardening) time, and it also allows you to apply up to three back-to-back layers of Zaino instead of waiting 24 hours before adding another layer.

It is not necessary to use Z-1 or ZFX every time that you apply Zaino. Mr. Z says to use it the first time and every tenth coat thereafter. I use it for the first 3-4 coats and then every fourth or fifth coat. Although I recommend using ZFX primarily, Z-1 is very handy to have when you are doing a spot repair since it’s very difficult to mix a tiny amount of Z-2 or Z-5 and ZFX.

Drying time (bonding) depends on temperature, humidity, and the thickness of your application. On a hot and dry day Zaino can be ready in under ten minutes. On a cold and humid day, or if you didn’t do a thin enough application, it may take as long as an hour or more. In very cold weather you can wait overnight between product application and buffing. I’ve waited as long as 36 hours and had no problems.

Do not wipe of the residue until it can pass the “finger test” or you will be wiping off product that has not yet bonded to the paint. The finger test: make sure that your finger is clean, dry, and oil free. Wipe a one inch long area with your finger. If the product has properly bonded your finger will leave a clean and shiny line. If there is any smudging or smearing, then it’s not ready and you’ll have to wait longer. The cause of an excessively long wait time is most likely a too thick application of the product.

Micro-marring is a problem with polymer sealants; use only a light pressure when applying and buffing! Preferably use microfiber applicators and buffing cloths. Check them frequently for debris pickup! If you didn’t apply an even and thin layer, then you may have trouble wiping it off in some spots. Don’t rub harder! Spritz the problem area with distilled water, not Z-6, and continue wiping gently. It’s not necessary to buff off each and every slightly hazy spot, the finish coat of Z-6 will take care of that.

Zaino is so clear that you can add many layers without any yellowing or other color distortion. I know one person that had 70+ layers before deciding to experiment with other systems. I have had as many as 30+ on my roadster. Each coat added even more reflectivity and a very little depth, but with diminishing reflectivity returns after 6-8 layers. Be cautious; Zaino is addictive!

Contrary to their names, Z-1, Z-2, Z-3, and Z-5 contain no abrasives. They do not polish!

Many people think that Z-2 works best on light colored cars and Z-5 on dark colors. Others think that alternating layers of each product is better. On my black paint I think that a couple of layers of Z-5 topped with a layer of Z-2 gives the best results.

Z-5 takes many layers (maybe 6-8 or more) to hide even the smallest micro-marring.

Zaino can successfully be topped with a good quality carnauba paste to add depth without losing reflectivity. Use very thin layers of the carnauba to preserve the reflectivity. More layers, more depth! You cannot successfully top the carnauba with Zaino as it will not bond! If you want to add more Zaino, then all that needs to me done is to do a dish detergent wash to remove the wax. This will not remove the Zaino. Even a mild polish/cleaner or a QD with alcohol will damage and maybe remove the Zaino. Use Z-6 only.

There seems to be a synergistic effect between the Zaino paint care products. I strongly suggest that you wash with Z-7 Car Wash and use Z-6 as your quick detailer.

Sal Zaino is very friendly and helpful, and he prefers to talk on the phone instead of via email. His number is 732-883-8800.

In part two of Nick’s unsolicited Zaino Tips & Tricks we’ll take a look at the step-by-step procedure.

Nick’s unsolicited Zaino Tips & Tricks


Part Two


Before applying your first layer of Zaino it is very important that you properly and thoroughly prepare your paint. Do a dish detergent wash, then a claying, and follow with whatever polishing is needed to remove, not fill, any micro-marring. Finish with a very mild cleaner/polish to obtain the most reflective surface possible. It is desirable, but not necessary, to use a random orbital buffer for the polishing phase. I recommend P21S GEPC, S100 SEC, or Platinum UPP-C. All of these products leave oils on the paint, and the polymers in Zaino will not bond to the paint properly if you do not remove the oils. Do a very careful wash with Z-7 and carefully dry. If you are applying Zaino on top of previous coats of Zaino, then only the Z-7 wash and dry are needed. Now you’re ready for the Zaino treatment!

Step by Step:
Put one ounce of Z-5 (or Z-2) in a two ounce mixing bottle (several come with your ZFX) and add 4 drops of ZFX. This is enough Z-5/ZFX for two coats on a standard size car. Shake vigorously for 90 seconds. Wait for five minutes and shake the Z-5/ZFX again for 30 seconds.

Lightly spray your applicator with Z-6 before applying the sealant. It lets you get a thinner and more even coat, which in turn makes buffing require less pressure. Remoisten the applicator after each two or three areas as needed.

Especially important: Don’t put the Zaino on the applicator in a small circle as Mr. Z recommends on the Zaino web site, draw a “Z” on the applicator with the Zaino. This is even more important if you’re doing a Z3, Z4, Z8, Z28, or a Nissan Z-car (or if you’re related to Zorro)!

Instead of wiping the entire care with Z-6 before applying Zaino, wipe down each area (1/2 of the hood, a door, etc.) with Z-6 immediately before applying the sealant. It seems to give a slightly higher shine. Speculation: maybe the Z-6 loosens the cross-linking for a short while and aids in bonding.

Lightly spread the Zaino onto your paint very sparingly. Best results are obtained from a very thin and even coat! An excessively thick application wastes product and is difficult to remove. I first apply using a circular movement to ensure complete coverage, then follow with straight line wipes to achieve a thin and even application.

On light colored paint it should be so thin that it is hard to see in bright sunlight so you may want to work in the shade.

Check the applicator frequently for any debris that it may have picked up. You may find that there are some areas on your car that are hard to do using an applicator pad. I use a lightly dampened cotton ball and a small amount of Z-5/ZFX on these areas. After this do the “cotton ball” areas first since the product will likely be a little thicker and doing it first gives it more time to dry. If your application has been thin enough you will have used a little less than half of the product to apply one coat to the entire car. Do the entire car before wiping off the Zaino since it must be allowed to dry thoroughly to permit proper bonding.

Do not wipe of the residue until it can pass the finger test or you will be wiping off product that has not yet bonded. If you need to wait, then this is a good time to work on the interior, or the trunk, or the engine compartment. Do not wipe off the residue until the Zaino has bonded!

When it passes the finger test, wipe off the Z-5/ZFX using only light pressure. Shake out the buffing cloth very frequently and also visually check for debris pickup. I usually use two or three 16”x16” towels wiping off each coat of Z-5/ZFX. If you drop the towel, then stop using it. I prefer white microfiber towels since they make it easier to spot any debris.

If there is an area where you put on too much product, and it doesn’t wipe off easily, don’t start rubbing! Wipe lightly a little more and use a light spritz of distilled water if needed. It’s not necessary to buff off each and every hazy spot, the next coat of Zaino or the finish coat of Z-6 will take care of that.

When you are finished wiping of the residual carries do another application of Z-5/ZFX, again pre-wiping each area with Z-6. This time doing the “cotton ball” areas first. Remember to wait for full bonding before wiping off the residue.

Use the remaining small amount of Zaino to do the bug prone areas including the front lamp covers.

After removing the residue wipe down the entire care with Z-6 and a clean microfiber towel to further enhance the shine!

Now stand back and admire your work! The next time will be easier because you will have learned how to apply thinner layers.

Additional info:
I recommend that in addition to Z-2, Z-5, Z-6, and Z-7 you get a bottle of Z-1. You may want to get two bottles of Z-6 since you will be using it frequently.

Here’s how I deal with the inevitable marring that sooner or later happen:
For scratches that go through the Zaino and into the clear-coat use your usual mar removal methods on that spot. It will remove the Zaino so it’s necessary to redo that area. This where it’s very handy to have a bottle of Z-1 since it’s really hard to mix a tiny amount of Z-5 and ZFX. To use Z-1 just wipe it on the area where you’ve been working and a little beyond and immediately wipe on the Z-2 or Z-5. Do not wait for the Z-1 to dry! The next day repeat the Z-1 and Z-2 or Z-5 application.
For very light scratches that are only in the Zaino I apply 3M Imperial Hand Glaze, which contains no abrasives, to the offending area. Add layers as needed. When you are satisfied with the appearance, then wipe very lightly with a mild Z-6 solution and again very lightly with Z-6. Top with a double layer of Z-1 and Z-2 or Z-5.

If you do top your Zaino with carnauba to gain added depth, remember to use very thin layers and that the wax must be removed before adding more Zaino. As well as adding depth, a topping of carnauba will protect the Zaino from micro-marring and will extend its life.

Some of my methods differ from what you will find on the Zaino web site,for example using microfiber instead of 100% cotton. I’ve done a lot of experimenting with Zaino and tried many methods and techniques, starting with Mr. Z’s recommendations. My hints and tips are the methods and techniques that have worked best for me on my black paint. YMMV!

Good luck and have fun!

I will welcome any corrections, suggestions, improvements, ideas, or differing experiences. If you are a spelling and/or a grammar nazi, then I would also like to hear from you, but please do it via PM or email so as to not clutter this thread. The same goes for flames, by PM or email please.

There is also a big difference in the Micro-Fiber towels that are available. The last time we got together in the SF Bay Area with our local Zaino Rep, we looked at different towels. You want to make sure that that the Micro-Fiber threads are looped, not cut. If you look closely, the cut ones look like the end of a thread. Looped have no exposed ends -- and therefore do not put micro-scratches back in finish.

Places like Kragen, etc have Micro-Fiber towels. They feel soft but thay are cut threads, not looped.

There is a difference (I figured this out the hard way). Zaino creates such a perfect shine, any scratch gets amplified.

I swear by Zaino, and would not put anything else on my car. The polish lasts. I have put 3 coats of Z5 on (generally recommended for darker paints) about 5-6 months ago, and still get a great reflective shine after a only a wash.

I will be giving the car a fresh start before the winter rains start.

Juan

You want to make sure that that the Micro-Fiber threads are looped, not cut.

So where can we get the good towels from?

Zaino is worth its weight in gold... I have tried everything out there, and nothing even comes close. Buy as much as you can afford from the website...get two of everything...you wont be disappointed.

when u get your car home,

wash with dawn
claybar
wash with z7
use z5
use z2 with zfx
use z6
use the leather cleaner and conditioner on the interior

Originally posted by Turbologist


So where can we get the good towels from?

www.pakshak.com

Cool info. This one thread I am saving. :)
Thanks guys.
Now if someone would just add similar guidelines for cleaning rims that would even be better.
That Zaino pack is one of the things I'm getting while I wait........

04 March production, April delivery or so my sales rep says

i know there's alot of Zaino fans out there,BUT.........
seems very tidious/labor intensive
what does this have to offer over and above
traditional good wax/detailing?
does it resist water spotting/staining ie bird sh#t, last longer
i'm not seeing the justification
thanks
joe

Zaino, Klasse and blackfire are synthetic polymers that bond to the paint. They can be layered over and over again to enhance the protection. Carnauba waxes are great as long as you apply them every 3-4 weeks. I did 3 coats of Zaino 3-4 months ago and it's still there protecting my car.

The procedure may sound tedious but you need to do the same steps for any other wax if you want a good result.

1. Wash
2. Clay bar
3. Wash
4. Wax

Originally posted by beowoulf


www.pakshak.com

Thnx...:thumbsup:

use griots ... very pimp