Zaino

[302 LX Eric]

Who here has used Zaino products and what are your impressions of their products? I plan on ordering their kit of waxes/clay bar/wash/etc in the next couple weeks.

I want to get all 3 of our vehicles cleaned up and waxed early this spring.

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks,
E

[Stang_Crazy]

Zaino is not a wax. It is a polymer sealant. I used Zaino for over 3 years before moving on to something different. The zaino clay bars are great and I highly recommend them, the wash is also pretty good. The Z1/2/3 and ZFX are good but they don't have any fillers in them....therefore the surface has to be perfect before applying the sealant. If it's not perfect, don't expect the Z3/5 to remove any swirls or hairline scratches. I know they claim Z5 is for swirl removal but my old 91 GT had over 60 coats of Z3/5 on it and I didn't see any hairline marks being removed or covered up. I also recommend their quick detailer (Z6 is I remember correctly). It smells wonderful and leaves the paint incredibly slick.

As far as the shine goes: I think the Zaino shine looks better on light colored cars (white, grey, etc.). On dark colored cars, the Zaino provides a very 'plasticy' or hard shine. It doesn't give the depth or richness that a traditional carnuba provides.

Ease of application is a big plus for zaino since it's so simple to apply and remove. If you've decided on Zaino, just make sure you get all of the swirls and hairline scratches out before applying Z3/5 etc since they don't have any fillers.

If there are any questions, just ask away. My Zaino product abbreviations might be a little bit off (Z1/2/3/4/etc) because I haven't used their products in a year and a half. Whatever you decide, I recommend using microfiber towels.

There was alot of good info here: http://forums.mustangworks.com/showt...threadid=40875

[302 LX Eric]

Thanks for the informative post.

What do you use now? And, why did you switch from Zaino?

I've used Liquid Glass (also not a wax) for the last 7 years or so with great results, but I've heard so much about Zaino that I thought I would look into them a little further. Also, I just had my new F-150 back at the dealer for a small paint touch-up blemish and the f u c k e r s got overspray all over the hood and top surfaces. I was extremely pissed, but decided to take care of it myself with a clay bar and Zanio kept coming up on my internet searches.

Z5 is supposed to be their 'filler' for hairline scratches/swrill marks and it sounds great on their website...looks like you had a different experience. It's good to hear from real world folks like you.

Thanks again,
E

[Stang_Crazy]

Z5 may be advertised as having fillers but I really don't think it does.

What I use now is a psychotic list of products but they seem to work well. First, if I have deep scratches/swirls that a normal filler can't cover, I'll use some 3M fine cut compound. If the swirls are minor, I'll use 3M swirl mark remover for dark colored cars. Here's my whole process:

1. 3M fine cut (if necessary)
2. 3M swirl mark remover
3. 3M hand glaze (a filler that hides the marks left from the SMR in step #2. I use 2 or 3 coats)
4. S100 carnuba wax (I use S100 as a topper over the hand glaze, 2 coats)
5. Pinnacle Crystal Mist quick detailer (smells great and has carnuba in it which helps the S100 to last longer between applicaitons)

The hand glaze is not durable at all which is why I use the S100 over it. The S100 isn't durable like Zaino but it lasts long enough. I usually re-apply the S100 every 3 weeks. I use crystal mist after I go for a cruise or for weeks when I don't wax after a wash.

I switched because I was using Zaino exclusively for so long and wanted to experience different products. I wanted to see what else was out there. Zaino worked fine but I really love the products I'm using now.

Edit: The claybar should do a number on that overspray. Good thing those retards didn't wash it and detail it for you!

[302 LX Eric]

Thanks again Dan for your advice.

I read through the post that you linked above and found some good info. Also, I checked out autopia.org and can't believe the amount of information that is out there. Wow!

You mentioned that the 3M swirl mark remover is for dark colored cars...will it work for white colored cars too? Also, is the product an abrasive? Abrasives scare me!

I can't wait to get the clay bar stuff from Zaino. My truck is like a month old and I almost went bananas when I felt the overspray.

E

[mustardjohn]

DO NOT overlook the comment about micro fiber (MF) towels. They will make all the other detailing proceedures discussed a lot easier. You may think they are expensive but I will testify that they are worth it.

Stang_Crazy knows what he is talking about. I have used his advice and it works. Take a look at his avitar. That's him in a reflection off his car.

I am using up my meguiar's products and then I will try the S100.

I can also highly recommend the clay bars. You can hear the dirt coming off. Use them on your windows too. They took a lot of crap off my 2003 Mustang windshield and rear window. Talk about clear windows now!!!

[Stang_Crazy]

Originally posted by 302 LX Eric
I read through the post that you linked above and found some good info. Also, I checked out autopia.org and can't believe the amount of information that is out there. Wow!

Yea there is alot of info on Autopia. It will give you such a headache reading through everything. They even have a list of abbreviations and what they mean so you don't get corn-fused (ie. SMR = swirl mark remover). It takes a few weeks to make sense of everything but there is a ton of good information crammed into that site, it's amazing.

Originally posted by 302 LX Eric
You mentioned that the 3M swirl mark remover is for dark colored cars...will it work for white colored cars too? Also, is the product an abrasive? Abrasives scare me!

3M makes a SMR for light colored cars too. http://www.properautocare.com/3mperpolforl.html And yes, it is an abrasive but a very mild one. It's one of the most mild abbrasives made but still has enough 'cut' to it to remove swirls and scratches. It can be applied by hand with success but alot of people prefer to use a machine polisher/buffer.


If you're thinking about the Microfiber towels, pm me and I'll tell ya about where and who to buy from.

[Orange97GTVert]

I have been using Zaino products for about 3 years on my 97 GT, it has a glow to the finish that no other product has produced. When we bought the 98 GT in October I spent a weekend on this already clean car and the guy I bought it from said "Wow, how did you get it to shine like that?"

I have had great results on my black cars also. I use the Z7 Shine Enhancer as a detail spray between washes and the more I use the deeper the glow gets. I thought it was just the Autumn Orange paint on my 97, but the Laser Red on the 98 has that rich glow also.

We did a friend's silver 99 GT Vert and he couldnt believe the difference. Half the guys in my Mustang Club use Zaino products on all their Mustangs, old and new.

Harold Phillips

[xxxBlakexxx]

Stang Crazy:
Where did you find the Crystal Mist?

302 LX:
Stang Crazy's Avatar Photo is a picture of him taking a picture of the reflection off of his car!

[Stang_Crazy]

Originally posted by xxxBlakexxx
Where did you find the Crystal Mist?

http://www.properautocare.com/pin-320.html


I buy alot of my automotive products from Proper Auto Care. They carry a wide range of items plus they carry alot of the products that you can't find in stores. http://www.properautocare.com/index.html

[Stang_Crazy]

Originally posted by xxxBlakexxx
Stang Crazy's Avatar Photo is a picture of him taking a picture of the reflection off of his car!

This is an old reflection pic from a few years ago. You can see how cloudy the paint was and how it doesn't give a very crisp reflection. Also, you can see swirls where the flash went off. What a difference between then and now!