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  #1  
Old 11-04-2001, 10:04 AM
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Question My little Zaino experiment

Anyone still interested in another opinion about Zaino? I 've read recent threads on it with interest. Frankly, though, I'm more interested in durability than achieving a mirror finish (though anything that helps reduce swirls on my black pearl finish would be very nice!)

So here's what I did: I prepped my car as directed by Sal Zaino (Dawn, Z1) then applied 3 coats of Z5, and will today put on a coat of Z2. Applied the above to every part of the car EXCEPT THE RIGHT HALF OF THE TOP OF THE TRUNK LID. There, I put a coat of my old favorite, Griot's Best of Show wax. (I've had good luck with Best of Show but it only seems to last about a month in summer, my car sitting out all day.)

I figure that this way I can keep track of how well each of them bead over the next few months, and no one but me will ever notice.

Here in the midwest I admit I use a "soft touch" automatic car wash in the winter so will be interesting to see how the Zaino holds up. Sal says (and I believe him) that Zaino will outlast other products.

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  #2  
Old 11-04-2001, 05:14 PM
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Let us know what you find. I have never used Zaino. I use Meguires and find I have to re wax every three to four weeks.
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  #3  
Old 11-04-2001, 08:59 PM
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Will do.

I now understand the zeal some folks have for Zaino. It goes on and comes off easier than anything I've ever used, and it does seem to have a cumulative effect, so I can now see why Zaino users apply many coats. If it weren't for the 24-hour waiting period between coats, my car would have so many coats it wouldn't fit in my garage. . .
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  #4  
Old 11-06-2001, 11:40 PM
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Hi I'm new to car waxes. I have a 500E pearl black,as your 400E.
I don't really wax my car. Tell ya the truth I'm afraid. I dont want to screw it up. You sem pretty confident. I spend alot of $ to have it detail once a month. I was think about doing it on my own. You think it takes a craft to do it. I dont really know how to read paint or anything like that let me know what ya think.




Thanks Guido.





http://earthlink.clubphoto.com/anthony468268/Guidos__Pics/icon4.jpg?6521
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  #5  
Old 11-07-2001, 10:57 AM
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Guido- big compliments on the gloss and shine on your car!

...are you aware of the products your detail shop uses?

(have any definite plans been made to caravan to Eurotuner Fest at Willow Springs?)

-fad
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  #6  
Old 11-07-2001, 07:36 PM
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Hi Guido,
My philosophy about paint care is that we concerned (dare I say obsessive?) owners are MUCH less likely to do any permanent damage to our paint than some professional detailers. For example, if you read and follow Lee's advice, you can't go wrong. Little things, like not using a wash sponge or wax applicator if you happen to drop it on the ground, but I'd be willing to bet big money that that happens every day in some detail shops.

Also, I've read that many pros use pretty aggressive (i.e. abrasive) paint cleaners, then cover the resulting swirls with fillers (i.e., "glazes"). The result is that your car LOOKS good right back from the detailer, but after a wash or two the glaze comes off and lo and behold you've "suddenly" got a whole bunch of swirls. . .

I have NO problem trusting my car to a good tech for mechanical repairs, but I am VERY paranoid about having anyone else do any detailing.

I bet if you follow Lee's advice carefully (e.g., make sure you use 100% cotton towels, etc.) and a good product (Zaino, Maguiers, Griot's, Zymol, etc. etc.) you'll be very happy with the results, and save a pretty penny too. As long as you don't add scratches to the paint (and if you follow Lee's advice, you won't) you can't really do any permanent damage.
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  #7  
Old 11-10-2001, 12:13 AM
Johnson Chan
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Megiars sucks. Ok Ok, i am exaggerating, its not that bad, but you can get better shine, reflection, gloss, etc. with zaino. Meguiars is good for removing swirl marks, oxidization, etc. so everything has a place, u know?

400e,

with reguards to professional detailers, I have to disagree with you, it depends on the detailer. If you are talking about these car washes, with so called "professional detailers" that slap on a coat of turtle wax and charge you $15 bucks or whatever, then yes, I would have to agree with EVERYTHING you said.

But if you are talking about the "real" professional detailers that charge $300.00 or more dollars to detail your car, then the results are totally differnt. These guys do show car results, and the car is sharp and protected.
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Old 11-10-2001, 03:40 AM
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Does anyone use Mother's California Gold.? It is a carnuba based wax as are many of the products talked about here. It may not be the trend but I have used it since the old days. Some old geezer once told me that carnuba was the best thing for auto finishes. Maybe he had done too many drugs in his lifetime but he was driving one hell of a '73 Dodge Challenger, fully restored, last year.
Other than the polymer finishes carnuba seems to be the key ingedient.
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  #9  
Old 11-10-2001, 09:09 AM
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Johnson,
I agree, most professional detailers, like most professional technicians, are just that, professionals, and do a fine job. On the other hand, if you think about what they have in their armamentarium to remove swirls, which are the bane of those of us who use this list, they have 2 tools: abrasives to buff out the swirls, and glazes to temporarily fill them in. I have used abrasives, and own a Porter-Cable random orbit buffer. It makes a very nice looking finish. The problem is, of course, that each time you use a polishing compound, you're removing a little of your clear coat or paint. Seems to me that if you're thinking of keeping a car for 15 or 20 years, you want to keep the paint or clear coat as thick as possible, so I choose to try to avoid rubbing away that critical layer.

Glazes, on the other hand, don't hurt the paint, but then don't really last that long either.

My hope is that something each of us can do, on our own (i.e., use a unique product like Zaino) will chemically conceal the swirls and also last longer than a glaze. Plus, we'll have the satisfaction of knowing for sure that we are treating our paint well and not doing anything to introduce more scratches/swirls.

Steve 019: Carnauba is a fine thing for automobile paint. The Griots Best of Show wax I'm testing is a carnauba-based product. My concern with it is longevity, so that's why I wanted to do a head-to-head comparison.
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  #10  
Old 11-10-2001, 12:35 PM
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Hey steve. What are you thoughts with Mothers calif gold. I read alot of good things on. With alot of satisfied customers.
Its saturday here in southern calif. A nice over cast day will be a great day to give my 500 a wax over. I dont know where I can find Zaino locally but I can find the Mothers series of waxes.
1. going to wash my car.
2. apply a cleaner
3. apply a glaze of something to bring out the luster
4. finally apply a coat of the Mothers Calif gold.

You saw my car its in great shape so there no harm no foul to use these dont you agree. Please email ASAP
I'll be waiting for your anwser.


Thanks guido.
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  #11  
Old 11-10-2001, 02:54 PM
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Hey Guido,
Go for it! If I were you, I'd just do the cleaner and go straight for the final wax, since your paint looked pretty darn nice to me. I think you'll be very happy with the results. I haven't personally used Mothers' products but they have a fine reputation.

I do like the Zaino so far, and for me, in the midwest, longevity is a big deal since it's pretty hard to wax your car in January here if you don't have a heated garage. On the other hand, if I lived in So. Cal., I might not care so much if my wax lasted 2 months instead of 4 or 5. If our weather here were better, I'd be out waxing every other month or so; it's a good way to get some exercise, fresh air, and pride of ownership.

Just be sure to use US-made 100% cotton towels as Lee S. says on the DIY page. I bought some at WalMart , 5 for $5. I like the hand towel size since bath-size towels tend to drag on the ground, and that's a BIG no-no as you can pick up sand that way and scratch your paint. If you drop a wax applicator or towel on the ground, DON'T try to shake it out and keep using it -- into the laundry it goes.

Have fun!!!
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  #12  
Old 11-10-2001, 06:38 PM
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First, Guido that is one incredible shine you have on your 500! It also doesn't hurt to have that shine on such a beautiful car!

Steve,

I live in Iowa, and am faced with the same mid-winter waxing crisis, but you will find that Zaino's will outlast Maquair's and Zymol, as these are the only others I've used head to head. You will also find Zaino's is exponentially easier to work with. I added a coat of sacrificial Maquair's wax to my daily driver that sits outside all year long, and had forgotten just how easy Zaino's is to remove relative to other waxes.

Great product that is quite easy to work with and will last.

Keep us posted as to your results.
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  #13  
Old 11-10-2001, 06:46 PM
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Thanks, Brian! Good to hear from another 'mid-wester' even if you are an Iowegian (actually I love Iowa. Know what the big red "N" on Nebraska football players' helmets stands for? A: "[k]Nowledge") (joke works better when spoken).

It's only been a week on this study. I just washed my car, and I've got to say I've never seen a wax or polish make water bead up like this . . . It really seems to be a horse of a different color.
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  #14  
Old 11-10-2001, 09:16 PM
Johnson Chan
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400e,

The rule of thumb is less agressive as possible to get the job done, so yes I would have to agree that too much abrasives used too often or lack of maintence does do harm to clear coat.

I like in the Midwest too, Missouri actually, and like today I just got all the cars done for the winter. The next time I am going to be able to detail my cars (due to weather) is probably early in the spring around march or so, after 3 months of not waxing I have to use abrasives to remove swirl marks, scratches, etc. I only use it once a year though.
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  #15  
Old 11-10-2001, 10:03 PM
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final results

I have to just say wow! For $32.00 and 4.5 hrs of TLC the cr looks kick ass. Here what I ended up doing.
1. I clayed the whole car with mothers calif gold prep kit. Boy does that work. 2. applied the carnuba finish. I ran out of light so, im going to take some pics,and post them tommorow. Thanks for all the inputs steve and the rest of the crew.



Guido out!

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