New Zaino Question.

[Tom McMenamin]

Zaino has taken out the bonding agent that was to be put on the car prior to Zaino 2 and Zaino 5. What do you use as a bonding agent for the old Mirror # 2 Show Car Polish.

I have two bottles of Show Car and love the stuff but I have no agent. Any help appreciated!

[johnathan1]

Bonding agent? I'm not sure what you're talking about...I've been using Zaino for several years now, and I've never heard of anything like that.

I just always buff with ZPC, then apply Z-2 Pro, let it sit for about an hour (depending on temp) and buff of by hand with a white bath towel. That's what Zaino says to use, anyway.

[Dee8go]

Boy, you guys are out of my league. I can see I've got a lot to learn about polishing and waxing cars.

[johnathan1]

Ohh, maybe he's talking about the "Flash cure accelerator" or whatever it's called. That stuff just makes the Z-2 dry faster, basically. I don't mind waiting an hour before wiping it off so I don't use it.

[redassag00]

I clay, then use zaino AIO, then Z5, Z2, Z5, and Z2 again, finish with the Z6 spray.

$BLING!$

[Cal Learner]

Originally Posted by Tom McMenamin

Zaino has taken out the bonding agent that was to be put on the car prior to Zaino 2 and Zaino 5. What do you use as a bonding agent for the old Mirror # 2 Show Car Polish.

I have two bottles of Show Car and love the stuff but I have no agent. Any help appreciated!

Everything's cool Tom. Zaino still makes the Flash Cure Accelerator. Specify product code ZFX ($19.95) on their website. But you can use Z-2 or Z-5 without the accelerator. Wipe it on, leave it 20 minutes to 1 hour (depending on temperature/humidity) and buff it off. The only difference is that if you plan to apply multiple coats of Z-2/Z-5, you need to let each coat cure for 24 hours before applying the next coat. With ZFX, curing is instantaneous, so additional coats can be applied in succession, without waiting. Otherwise, same stuff!

[Tom McMenamin]

I'm very familiar with the accelerator. I had close to 25 coats of Zaino 2 and 5 on my '88 560SL. Black Pearl.

Black Pearl is a metallic and it is very very hard to get it to have the deep shine that most other Mercedes colors can acheive. It is perceived to appear cloudy especially in photos.

I had to strip the car originally and clay and deep clean the paint. Once that was accomplished, I purchased a Griots Garage Buffer even though it is not required by Zaino. I buffed the cleaner off following clay and then applied about 25 coats of Zaino over time until I was satisfied with the shine.

Frankly it was almost to my satisfaction when my mechanic, (trying to be a good guy) waxed my car after he completed a valve job. I had a mild stroke when I found out , but he is such a nice guy and has such a good heart I said NOTHING. Now I believe that I'm gonna have to strip the car down again and start over. The cloudiness is back.

Cloudiness is what started all of this madness anyway.

This is the run down on Zaino but I can't determine what it takes to get the Black Pearl to shine????????????????

(Received from a Mercedes Shop subscriber some years ago)

Zaino doesn't say exactly what is in their products, but from some minor familiarity with BIS GMA polymers and bonded composite resins over many years, I am fairly sure they are long chain polymers that crosslink with an accelerator that is inhibited in the presence of water. The Z-1 would bond primarily vertically (to paint below and subsequent resins to be applied above). Z-5 would crosslink vertically (hence the swirl fill as it fills down into the micro-scatches) and horizontally (therefore the reflective "gloss" or shine). Z-2 would crosslink preferentally in the horizontal plane resulting in the more reflective high shine. Z-6 would be primarily horizontal links because it is high gloss and very very low static (no loose "vertical" electrons there!) Some typical reactions that are probably similar (though not the same) are free radical reactions where a series of side branches of a monomer molecule are +/- an electron and go looking for a similar branch to "hook up" with, thus polymerizing , say, into solid methacrylate (ie. plastic!). The longer chain at the beginning usually will polymerize into the longest chain at the end of the reaction(sort of; you get the idea), and usually longer is better. Silicones are relatively short chains and this is why we don't like them that much (ArmorAll?). The effect is, that after polymerization of long chain crosslinked resins you get a smooth flat finish over your car. The reaction is initiated typically by an accelerant (a catalyst, UV, high energy blue light, heat, etc.). This is why I believe H20 is an inhibitor for the reaction ("cure") since Zaino cures faster at low humidity and in sunlight (related on Zaino website). It's not just a matter of it "drying" it has to polymerize (or cure) without water. Zaino and First Finish are the only two products I know of that work this way, but smarter folks than I probably know of some others. Organic waxes are just polished mechanically flat. Polymers can chemically react "flat". And flat = reflective= shine(gloss

[johnathan1]

Oh wow...that really sucks. Usually mechanics don't do things like that...he must have really liked your car.

I would try washing it with dish soap, and reapplying the zaino.

[Cal Learner]

Heaven protect us from helpful mechanics. BT DT. Anymore, I never leave my car with my indy without explicitly reminding him (as he already knows) not to wash it. I think that garages and dealerships wash cars not as an added value service that their customers will appreciate, but because it's easier than keeping greasy fingerprints off the car. Anyway, I know the sinking feeling when you lay eyes on your car and think of the work that you put into it.

You're apparently talking about the old Z-1 "Polish Lok" product that Zaino has phased out. That product served as a bonding agent for Z-2, Z-3, and Z-5 polishes, primarily because it contained aliphatic hydrocarbons to break down any oils remaining on the surface of the vehicle and thereby ensured proper bonding between the paint and the polish. ZFX replaced Z-1 and accomplishes the same bonding purpose as Z-1. However, in addition, ZFX also contains a catalyzing agent that accelerates the curing of Z-2, Z-3 and Z-5. All of which adds up to this: ZFX does everything that Z-1 did, plus it allows multiple coats of polish, up to 3 per day, without waiting for a long curing process.

[Dee8go]

There was a time when I would say "waxing your car isn't rocket science," but you guys are making me rethink that . . .

[johnathan1]

Originally Posted by Dee8go

There was a time when I would say "waxing your car isn't rocket science," but you guys are making me rethink that . . .

Haha, nope, it's an art form. It's really not as complicated as it sounds, and as far as I'm concerned, Zaino is the best polish/wax you can buy. Check out their website: www.zainostore.com

[Tom McMenamin]

If you want a shine and you like Zaino get the Cleaner Polish in the bottle with the green writing.

I put this on last year and again this past Fall. followed with Z-5 and the Show Car Polish Z2? After the cleaner I almost said this looks so good i'll forget the other Zaino. Being who i am I kept on and added what i have mentioned. It is amazing the shine on this car right now even after this bad winter. I'm gonna do it again this Spring. Anyone who is a non Zaino Believer has gotto try this stuff. I've been using Zaino for 8 years and it cannot be beaten! MHO!!