WAX or Polish, Don't get them confused

[milleron]

acdii, your comments about the ZFX are all I need to hear. If it makes the sealant last significantly longer, I don't care about half of it going bad. I'd gladly pay twice their asking price if it gets me out of doing that job for several more months. I love my car. I take good care of it. I don't love taking good care of it.

[acdii]

Your welcome :)

 

 

I washed the Flex today and it looks great, except for one spot, the right rear bumper, some asshole hit my car in a parking lot and put a deep scratch in the bumper! Happened either yesterday or Monday.

[hybridbear]

When waxing the car how do you wax around small areas like the Fusion badges, Ford logos, door handles, etc to keep wax from getting in the cracks where you can't get it out? Or how do you get the wax out of those small spaces?

[acdii]

Toothbrush to remove the wax. Another way I found is to get a shoe polish kit, the kind that has the brush and not the foam pad(if they are still made) for the polish and use that to apply the wax and the buffing brush to remove the wax.

[hybridbear]

Toothbrush to remove the wax. Another way I found is to get a shoe polish kit, the kind that has the brush and not the foam pad(if they are still made) for the polish and use that to apply the wax and the buffing brush to remove the wax.

Thanks. I tried a bit tonight with a small paint brush. When we got this car we bought a set of small paint brushes to use for dusting the small crevices in the interior. They work well to dust the air vents, doors and other small cracks in the car. The paint brush served to get some of the wax out of the cracks but not all. I will try with a toothbrush next time I wash the car

[milleron]

I received the Zaino products a few weeks ago, but I procrastinated in getting the job done because it seemed to be a process that required a much more meticulous approach with more attention to detail (pun definitely not intended) than anything I'd done to automobile paint before. It looked like something I could readily screw up. So I watched all the videos on YouTube and read their instructions several times.

 

The clay-bar was very easy to use. I found the bar moving smoothly over the surface from the start. I sense that were was essentially no particulate matter on the paint, not even rail dust. That went fairly fast.

 

I washed the clay-bar residue off with Zaino soap and dried the car.

 

I applied the AIO, and it went on very easily, especially after the clay-bar had assured a smooth surface. But this is what struck me and why I made this post. The videos, especially those from Zaino, would have you believe that you could treat an entire car with one ounce of AIO. That's a mere two tablespoons. I couldn't imagine any way that I could spread one ounce of any substance on the planet over an entire car. And, indeed, I could not. I sure didn't use much AIO, and I'll have plenty to use next spring when I anticipate doing this again, but I found that it took at least 3-4 times as much of the stuff as they claim. I'd worry that I used too much, but it was spread very thinly, came off easily, and with great results.

 

I wonder what experience others have had. I believe that Zaino stuff is not overpriced. You use so little that in the long run it's inexpensive, but I could not possibly apply it the way the Zaino guy on Youtube said to do it -- it just takes significantly more.

 

I still have to apply a couple of coats of ZFX-enhanced Z5 in a few days. I'll keep track of how much of that it takes to apply over the AIO

Edited June 12, 2013 by milleron

[hybridbear]

But this is what struck me and why I made this post. The videos, especially those from Zaino, would have you believe that you could treat an entire car with one ounce of AIO. That's a mere two tablespoons. I couldn't imagine any way that I could spread one ounce of any substance on the planet over an entire car. And, indeed, I could not. I sure didn't use much AIO, and I'll have plenty to use next spring when I anticipate doing this again, but I found that it took at least 3-4 times as much of the stuff as they claim. I'd worry that I used too much, but it was spread very thinly, came off easily, and with great results.

 

I wonder what experience others have had. I believe that Zaino stuff is not overpriced. You use so little that in the long run it's inexpensive, but I could not possibly apply it the way the Zaino guy on Youtube said to do it -- it just takes significantly more.

 

I still have to apply a couple of coats of ZFH-enhanced Z5 in a few days. I'll keep track of how much of that it takes to apply over the AIO

Interesting. I am also skeptical about being able to treat the entire car with so little product, not because I think it cannot be done if you know how, but because I think that I won't be able to use so little because I don't know how... Please let us know how it goes with the ZFX-Z5. Thanks

[acdii]

If you SEE it, you put too much on. Go look at my how to for Zaino, I posted a pic of how much AIO to apply to the pad for one section. One section is half the hood, or half the roof, or one full door, or fender. The bottle I pictured is a 2 ounce bottle, I only put in one ounce for 2 coats, and you can see there was still some left over when I was done.

 

 

Just keep in mind it is not a wax, so dont apply it like one! A little does go a long way.

[milleron]

I actually finished the job a couple of weeks ago, but I'm just now getting around to posting.

1. I see NO reason not to use ZFX. It's easy to make a single ounce of ZFX-enhanced Z5, and, indeed, one single ounce will actually provide one coat for a Fusion, almost exactly with just a little left over.
2. Zaino states explicitly to discard the ZFX-enhanced product before 14 days because it will bond to that cute little bottle, rendering it useless if you leave it in there longer. Fortunately, this leads to no waste if you simply prepare enough Z5 for the number of coats you're going to use. That means that there's no need to worry about losing it as it decomposes with storage -- there should never be a reason to have any left over, and Zaino tells you not to try to store it in the first place.
3. The entire Zaino process is more labor-intensive than the videos led me to believe it would be. Even though applying the correct amount of Z5, as evidenced by completing a coat with one ounce, I found that it could be difficult to remove completely. I may look into an orbital polisher for that job in the future.
4. The process of washing, drying, clay-barring, washing, drying, applying AIO, Z6, ZFX-enhanced Z5, Z6, a final coat of ZFX-enhanced Z5, and a last treatment with Z6 took me at least 6-7 hours over two days. I finished the process rather exhausted. I'd gladly pay someone to do it, but I know I'd never find anyone I could trust to follow Zaino instructions to the letter.
5. ZFX is INexpensive. For $19.95, I got enough to prepare at least 20 ounces of Z5, maybe more. If it prolongs the effect by even a few months each time, it's the best money I ever spent, and it surely does allow you to apply a second coat of Z5 right after the first one.
6. I found that a garden "kneeler" is the best tool for exterior detailing. For someone my age, it's absolutely essential.
7. The results are stupefying. I never got a finish like this with waxes. My son was astonished by rubbing his fingers over the car; he thought it might be the smoothest thing he's ever felt. It's like a mirror, smoother than silk, although it has a silky feeling to it. This is water beading after a light steady rain; I've never seen anything just like it. It's so smooth that there's so much surface tension that water is able to form huge beads and almost will not roll off a level surface

 

I guess I'd heard of Zaino, but I'd like to extend heartfelt thanks to acdii for turning us all on to it again. I spent about $110, but I think I have enough product to last for several years. The exception is Z6. One will go through that bottle much faster than any of the others. As Zaino has a goofy policy of charging $10 S&H, regardless of how much or how little you order, you're sort of forced to buy this stuff 2-3 bottles at a time, OR settle for the Meguiar's Quick Detailer, Meguiar's Ultimate Quick Detailer, or Mother's Instant Detailer (a bottle of this came with my Mother's yellow clay bar that I bought several years ago). I'm tempted to try the Meguiar's UQD, however, I'm not positive that it's chemically compatible with Z2 and Z5. (I'd ask Zaino over the phone, but their bias in answering would be pretty obvious.) Does anyone have any knowledge or experience using it?

 

I'm thinking of changing my user name to "ZainoMan." :worship:

Edited July 5, 2013 by milleron

[acdii]

Looks nice! However, if you used one ounce and got only one coat, and it sounds like you did, you put too much on! From what you described on getting it off the paint, too much was used. That is the one thing I was hoping to stress in the How To, you use very little to do the car, a dime size spot will do half the hood. One ounce should do 2 coats with some left over. It will get easier the next time you do it.

 

As for the detailer spray, go for it, works just fine over the Z. I use Meguiars and Turtle Wax detailer spray. They all work fine over Z.

[clummus]

So, is there any negative effect to using too much Z5 other than waste? I did use too much, and not sure I really got all of it off. going to work some more on my car tomorrow.

[milleron]

Looks nice! However, if you used one ounce and got only one coat, and it sounds like you did, you put too much on! From what you described on getting it off the paint, too much was used. That is the one thing I was hoping to stress in the How To, you use very little to do the car, a dime size spot will do half the hood. One ounce should do 2 coats with some left over. It will get easier the next time you do it.

 

As for the detailer spray, go for it, works just fine over the Z. I use Meguiars and Turtle Wax detailer spray. They all work fine over Z.

I hope it does get a little easier, but I also hope I won't have to do it again very soon. I found it difficult to use less than an ounce because the applicator (that I got from Zaino) soaks up so much of it at the beginning. I tried to spread it very, very thin and to use only as much as was necessary to allow me to see it going on. I know that Zaino claims that "8 ounces will do a Corvette 20 times," but I just couldn't spread it that thin. Perhaps practice makes perfect. Regardless, the results were very good, so I don't really mind wasting an ounce if that's what I did.

Great tip on the Meguiar's Quick Detail. That stuff is readily available . . . with no shipping charge. I know that Meguiar's is "good stuff," but they're a wax company for the most part, so I wanted to be sure that it doesn't dissolve Z5.

[acdii]

I hope it does get a little easier, but I also hope I won't have to do it again very soon. I found it difficult to use less than an ounce because the applicator (that I got from Zaino) soaks up so much of it at the beginning. I tried to spread it very, very thin and to use only as much as was necessary to allow me to see it going on. I know that Zaino claims that "8 ounces will do a Corvette 20 times," but I just couldn't spread it that thin. Perhaps practice makes perfect. Regardless, the results were very good, so I don't really mind wasting an ounce if that's what I did.

Great tip on the Meguiar's Quick Detail. That stuff is readily available . . . with no shipping charge. I know that Meguiar's is "good stuff," but they're a wax company for the most part, so I wanted to be sure that it doesn't dissolve Z5.

Did you get the Z6 spray? What they recommend doing is spray the pad with Z6 before applying the AIO or Z5, that way it wont adsorb so much of the Z.

 

The Turtle Wax black Detailer(for those with Tuxedo Black) is also good on Zaino.

[milleron]

Thanks, Mr. Moderator (congrats on the new title). I certainly did get the Z6 (see above). I did not see, or else neglected to remember, the tip about soaking the applicator pad with it. That would definitely have saved some Z5. Even if it takes me an ounce of Z5 for each coat, though, I don't really consider it expensive. So I'd have the same question as clummus: other than waste, is there any disadvantage to using more than ½ ounce per application?

[acdii]

No disadvantage, other than it takes longer to remove. Take a look at my HowTo on applying Zaino, I believe I mentioned it, if not, I will certainly add it.