Fourthmeal
05-05-2008, 12:52 PM
For this how-to, I'll be documenting the very thorough process of using a full Zaino kit on a vehicle inside and out. This will be a stepped tutorial, with 2-3 cars used as examples (with pics), as I have at least that many cars that I will be doing from head to toe in the very near future. I ordered my new Zaino materials on the website last Friday, and they should be here on the 7th or 8th of May.
My order includes:
Z-APP-OZ6 6" Tri-foam Oval Zaino Applicator
314 Zaino Custom Polish Applicator (qty. 2)
ZKIT-1 Zaino Total Protection Show Car Kit
Z-6 Ultra Clean Gloss Enhancer Spray (qty. 2)
Z-AIO All-in-one
Z-CS Clear Seal
Z-PC Fusion Dual Action Paint Cleaner Swirl Remover
Z-12 Clear-View Glass Polish
It ran me about $194 including shipping. This is my 2nd major order of Zaino via the website, I've also purchased the product from a local rep when I was in Overland Park, KS living there. If that seems like a lot of money, consider that when I spend money like this, I usually end up having friends and family pay me ~$100 bucks a car to do it so I pay for my supplies in no time at all. This time around, I decided to order some of the newer things out and available, like the All-in-One, the Clear Seal, and the Fusion swirl remover (for the cars I run into that are pretty bad off already.) I am by no means an expert, but like all things I do I like to do it right and show others how to do it as well, which is good for the community as a whole.
I ran into Zaino products during a car show one day, where I was just a spectator. I ran across a car that looked like no other in the show, it was truly amazing. It was an all-stock Pontiac Grand Prix GPX with some of the most beautiful paint I've ever seen...it was that pearl-effect blue that Pontiac makes, but the layer of reflectivity and depth made it look like an all-out custom job. The owner turned out to be a dealer-distributor for the product, and was happy to make me a customer. I said I'd be by his house to purchase later on, and that's what I did...I picked just about one of everything available (at that time) and a few extra bottles of the commonly used stuff. He also included a printout of his own formulation of instructions to help me out...which is good because there are some rules to Zaino to remember.
I won't go into great detail for now about how I did my car that first time because this how-to will illustrate exactly what to do (now that I have a few years experience with the product) in due time, complete with pics as I go. For now, let me just say that with about 2/3rds day's worth of work, I completed the multi-step process with stunning results. You can too!
Next post...the arrival and detail of each product as it comes in the mail.
Fourthmeal
05-05-2008, 12:52 PM
OK, so yesterday after work my Zaino was on the porch-step, so I did the only responsible thing to do and ripped right into it all, and started on the car late in the afternoon!
First, let me tell you that Zaino smells good! All of it. Each product has a different scent, but none of them are offensive or "strong" compared with solvents or something like that. For instance, the glass polish smells like mint, and the car wash smells like "tropical rain" Febreeze. Its addicting, honestly, and it makes working on the car much more fun. And no, I don't mean because you can get high off the fumes...lol.
Second, its important to note that Zaino doesn't make a product that does interiors very well, unless you have a leather interior (which at that point Zaino makes excellent products.) This is mainly an exterior-only brand, IMO.
Third, pay close attention to how much (or really how little) you use. You don't need much at all, to do a coat of the car. What you think is too little is probably just right, and what you think is just right is probably waaaay too much. A 1/2 ounce is almost ideal, even for a small SUV.
Fourth(meal), make sure you get enough applicators and towels to handle the car. I recommend the little cheap applicators Zaino offers because they are very soft and safe, and relatively durable. This time around I used micro-fiber towels for the whole car, which breaks my trend of using Fieldcrest or Cannondale bath towels with the ends cut off. I broke my trend because I found a huge pack of Microfiber towels at Sam's Club, which were actually made in the USA! I was so excited I bought a package of 20, which is a bit much but hey, its Sam's, right? Anyway, you want to use a something that is absolutely not going to scratch your paint, so no nylon, polyester, or other synthetics here. After using them, although they were convenient, I think I liked the feel of my Fieldcrests better. The Microfiber towels seem to "drag" too much on the surface, and it takes more effort.
Fifth, You can do Zaino work in the sun or in the shade, but make sure to do it in warmer weather. Not a problem in Vegas, but your mileage may vary. Zaino is one of the few products that actually needs a cure time, which is accelerated by sunshine, and lack of moisture in the air. A low humidity, high heat day is actually better for Zaino, provided its not 100+ degrees or something wild like that.
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So, starting around 4:00PM, I drove to the local DIY carwash place, which is a requirement for me since I'm in a shitty apartment. If you can do it at home, by all means do so.
Because bucket washing is not allowed at this certain carwash, I simply brought with me two bottles filled with solution. One contained a mix of filtered water and Dawn, and one contained a mix of filtered water and the Zaino carwash. Both worked as well as bucket washing, although I think its far better to use the bucket when you need to scrub and add water on demand.
Given my disadvantage working here, I ran the spray gun for one cycle around the truck, until I had the whole thing sudsy with their soap. Then, I grabbed one of my microfiber towels and dowsed it in Dawn spray. Then I used the towel all over the truck, spraying additional mix on each surface before I rubbed. Dawn of course is used to remove any trace of previous wax or debris, as a surface prep.
After the stripping process of using Dawn, I rinsed the whole truck off using another cycle, then I repeated the spray-down again, this time using the Zaino carwash mix spray bottle. Same process as before, just with a new towel of course. After this, I rinsed the truck down completely, and towel dried it. From this clean point-of-view, I could then assess the condition of the paint. For this, I like to use my finger, once it has dried. Rubbing and touching the entire car, I felt no part of the paint that wasn't smooth as silk, so I disregarded doing the clay bar treatment. At this point I should probably point out that I clayed the entire truck when I first bought it, using a left-over clay bar I bought years ago from Zaino. Looks like the work held up.
If during your finger-touch session with the paint you find any roughness or inconsistencies at all, it is a good idea to clay the paint. When doing that with Zaino, ideally the best lubricant to use is a mix of the Zaino carwash and filtered water. Just do it in small sections, and occasionally stretch and reform the bar into itself, to make a new surface. Just don't drop the bar under any circumstance, because it goes in the trash if you do (or you could possibly put a piece of cardboard or something similar under you, to catch it...that might work.) Once you've clayed the whole vehicle, its best to re-wash it entirely in Dawn, then the Zaino carwash, in the same order you started with.
So, starting with a smooth surface, I decided to also skip the Zaino Fusion product as well. This is the relatively new product they came up with that is an abrasive, designed to remove swirls and minor scratches, to create a solid starting layer. My paint showed no signs of spider-webs, or any other damages, so I skipped it. Of course, a bright blue car is much different compared with a deep black or red, so do what you need to on your own vehicle. I think the Fusion product will work great for my clients that have those spider-webs and swirls.
Continuing on, I started with the Z-AIO product. As with most Zaino products, you can mix a little ZFX accelerator with the product (in a separate small bottle, not the original one!) if you are after a little additional speed in curing. Sensing the temperature was 85 or so, I opted for just one drop of ZFX with my 1/2 ounce of Z-AIO in a small included bottle. This turned out perfect BTW. Using my Zaino foam applicator made for the Z-AIO, I applied a thin layer to the entire vehicle, as a solid basecoat. I put this on the entire vehicle, including the wheels, and plastic, since it works great there too. Once I went over the whole thing, it was time to wipe off. In this case, I like using the Z-6 spray detail product in super-tiny portions as I wipe off, to help remove the product excess. So, I dribbled a few drops of the detail spray and wiped off one panel at a time, until the whole car was completely clean. The nice thing about Zaino is there is no residue that is chalky or clumpy, it just disappears when you wipe it.
After the Z-AIO wipedown, I checked the paint again closely for swirls or any strangeness, and I found none. So I decided to skip another process, which is to use Z-5pro, the swirl reducer (that doesn't have abrasives, simple but effective.) Instead, I jumped right to what most consider the top coat, the Z-2pro. This is the most common product in the Z line BTW. I used one of the included ZFX bottles and filled it with a 1/2 ounce, and 2 drops of ZFX accelerator. Then I repeated the process of coating the whole car with a thin coat, which by now was much more slick and easy to work on compared with the initial Z-AIO process. Its good that it was easier, because by now I've gone through the truck with my hands 5 times by my count! Anyway, the Z-2 went quick, then came the wipedown with the Z-6 dribbles and MF towel.
With the Dawn, Z car wash, Z-AIO, and Z-2 coats done, I decided to top off my work with the Z-CS clear seal. This stuff is new to me, so I had to carefully follow instructions. They say to spray just one shot on a clean applicator, and then spray 4" away from the surface, about 1 shot per body panel. Resisting the urge to shoot two or three, I'm glad I paid attention. This stuff is very concentrated, and spreads well. I did cheat and use two shots on the expansive hood however. Anyway, Z-CS makes a great top coat, and requires no buffing or wiping off...you just rub on, then you're done. You can watch it shift from a filmy, prismatic spread into a glossy shell...which is just too damn cool IMO.
With the whole paint job and plastic trim fully done, I turned my attention to the glass, which was rather screwed up with what I thought may be scratches or other permanent problems. Turned out that with the Z glass polish, they came right out. Most people complain that glass is a total bitch to work on, so this product is a godsend to those who fight a dirty, or sand-blasted windshield/windows. Easy on, let haze, easy off...not much more to say, just a great product with few equals.
I also should mention that I like using the tire gloss, and clear plastic cleaner from Zaino as well. I've had old bottles of that stuff, so I didn't see a need to reorder. the tire gloss actually works well, but I prefer Meguiar's purple glossy stuff, but IMO nothing beats 3M's clear plastic polish and cleaner, so that's another option for plastic things like headlight lenses.
I'll put up pictures tonight of a before-after style, hopefully you can see what I see, which is a very bright, very high "pop" factored-blue. Typical Ford paint job means I can't fully get rid of some of the ripples in the finish, but I did manage to mask them and create a pretty clear reflection. I also will say that the feel of the finish is much more smooth and silky, your hand practically slides right off the paint, with a teflon-like feel. Sort of how it feels to touch a teflon pan, or maybe a piece of well polished stainless steel.
A little P.S., I found a few bugs smashed on the front end after I drove back home. To remove them, I did nothing more then flick them off with my finger. No residue, no trace. That's a sign of a good finish in my book. Also, for fun, I tested a small cupful of water on the hood and fender. I think it is fun to watch the water fly off the car, likes it is afraid of the Zaino coat. Hydrophobic products FTW!
Pics on the next post, if I can snap some when I get home.
Fourthmeal
05-05-2008, 12:53 PM
Picture time!
http://fc06.deviantart.com/fs29/i/2008/129/1/7/Zaino_by_Fourthmeal.jpg
I noticed the "Before" pics don't look too bad at all. It pays to keep your paint in shape, IMO.
http://fc07.deviantart.com/fs27/i/2008/129/4/9/Tribute_before_zaino4_by_Fourthmeal.jpg
http://fc03.deviantart.com/fs26/i/2008/129/9/c/Tribute_before_zaino2_by_Fourthmeal.jpg
http://fc02.deviantart.com/fs25/i/2008/129/5/b/Tribute_before_zaino3_by_Fourthmeal.jpg
http://fc08.deviantart.com/fs26/i/2008/129/0/2/Tribute_before_zaino5_by_Fourthmeal.jpg
After Zaino. LOL, they look the same! Its funny too, because the car now FEELS better, but I admit I did the job mainly for the protection. Well the total reflection I'd say is quite a bit higher, IMO.
http://fc06.deviantart.com/fs27/i/2008/129/b/c/Tribute_after_Zaino1_by_Fourthmeal.jpg
http://fc02.deviantart.com/fs25/i/2008/129/2/0/Tribute_after_Zaino2_by_Fourthmeal.jpg
http://fc05.deviantart.com/fs26/i/2008/129/d/1/Tribute_after_Zaino4_by_Fourthmeal.jpg
http://fc07.deviantart.com/fs29/i/2008/129/3/e/Tribute_after_Zaino6_by_Fourthmeal.jpg
http://fc08.deviantart.com/fs28/i/2008/129/2/c/Tribute_after_Zaino3_by_Fourthmeal.jpg
Impressive on the reflection shot, most of all.
I will update this thread with new pics as I layer on additionally. The shine is bound to get better, and better. While I'm in this thread, here is my old 97 Trans-Am, with tons-o-Zaino... This won some shows.
http://fc01.deviantart.com/fs15/i/2007/097/e/6/old_stuff_by_Fourthmeal.jpg
Fourthmeal
05-08-2008, 09:38 PM
Looks great! nice work! Road trip to FL to do my car?
LOL...nah, this stuff is easy, rock it out and show us what your results are.
Edit...its a total bitch on your body though, my thighs, feet, hands, arms, and elbows are sore as hell.
Raider
05-08-2008, 09:42 PM
Oh, I hear ya. I have 2 Mazdas that need clay and buffing done. I have a good friend with the tools and polishes, and it takes a long time for both cars. About a year since the last buffing, and I have spray paint overspray all over my car. Not looking to the pain!
Fourthmeal
05-09-2008, 11:39 AM
I have some "Dry wash" stuff, but to do a full DAWN process usually I need more water. I much prefer to keep my vehicle clean enough that I don't have to go to the car wash.
A note on the shine...I'm wondering if I should cut and buff the paint next time, to remove the ripples in the paint. I'm going to put two more layers of Z-2 on, and compare again.
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