[ChiefGReid]

My youngest daughter was messing around with the digital camcorder yesterday as I was finishing up putting 2 coats of Zaino on my dually.

I tried the Meguiar's NXT. It looked good and went on easy, but! It didn't shed water like Zaino.

Check this.

http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/PuddlePirate/?action=view&current=Zaino.flv

 

[shytbyrd]

Wow! That wax really repels the water! How long does an application of that stuff last?

I have tried many different types of waxes on my trucks and harleys... for quickness and ease of use I like Eagle 1 Nano wax - easy on, easy off - great look and repels quite nicely. For a longer lasting coat I go with 3M paste wax - good for several months, but takes more work on and off. I am about to try a bottle of Griot's paint sealant - they claim it's a once a year product - good for those vechicles that sit outside alot and you just don't have time to wax. I just want to see what kind of shine and how long it beads water.

 

[ACD2]

Remember, Zaino is not a wax, it is a polish! When you do the job right, start to finish with several coats, it lasts for at least a year or more depending on how often you wash it, the more you wash it the longer it lasts. You can overcoat a Zaino finish with wax for a deeper shine, but you have to remove it if you want to add any zaino. I have not had a chance to finish my truck or car yet, but what I have done, at least two years ago, will still bead after I wash it. I seldom wash the truck as it is too big for a regular car wash and have to take it to a do it yourself bay.

 

[ChiefGReid]

As with any wax or sealant, it's very important that you have prepped the surface prior to starting.

I washed the truck with Dawn dish soap to remove any wax from the surface. I then used soap in a spray bottle and a clay bar. Mothers, Meguiars - any quality clay bar will work. If you think that's a lot of work, it really isn't. Took me about 40 minutes to clay the truck completely.

The Zaino goes on quick and easy. You don't need much and you apply it to areas in straight lines. I prefer strait up and down motions. You won't see much but, it is being applied. Let it dry to a fine haze and wipe off. They say to use a 100% cotton towel, but, I find that a good quality micro-fiber towel works best.

The stuff is very easy to apply and take off and does not take long.

I have a fairly steep drive way and the truck was just over the crest so that the water would run off the Retrax cover quicker, so on level ground, the water will still run off the roof as it it, but may not be quite as fast.

On my 04 King Ranch, which I bought 9 Oct 03, there is not a single swirl mark or water etch. If you have those, you need to reduce or remove those first as Zaino sealant does not rub them out. They have products that will do that easily too.

For the price - and I don't recommend you spend a fortune - you don't need to, it's the best I have found and requires very little maintenance. And if you get quality results such as this (see pics below), it's worth a day playing in the sun.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/PuddlePirate/IM002096.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/PuddlePirate/.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/PuddlePirate/IM002094.jpg

 

[newbie_101]

Man, I hate to jump into a thread like this as it tends to hurt my head. I couldn't be more confused about a topic that seems so simple.
Perhaps you can shed some light.

I have swirls and am not sure about the process to remove and protect. From what I can gather you first have to wash, then clay bar to remove all fine particles. Next step is to apply a swirl remover? Any suggestions on brand there? Zaino any good? Next step is to apply the polish, in your case Zaino, any particular product within their lineup? The final step would be to wax, however, from what I understand this is not a step that you go through and it still lasts a few months?

Please, any clarity on this subject would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ChiefGReid]

[ QUOTE ]
Man, I hate to jump into a thread like this as it tends to hurt my head. I couldn't be more confused about a topic that seems so simple.
Perhaps you can shed some light.

I have swirls and am not sure about the process to remove and protect. From what I can gather you first have to wash, then clay bar to remove all fine particles. Next step is to apply a swirl remover? Any suggestions on brand there? Zaino any good? Next step is to apply the polish, in your case Zaino, any particular product within their lineup? The final step would be to wax, however, from what I understand this is not a step that you go through and it still lasts a few months?

Please, any clarity on this subject would be greatly appreciated.

[/ QUOTE ]

Zaino makes a swirl remover, but so does Meguiars and 3M. I used 3M on my 01 red PSD with good sucess and Zaino Z-PC swirl and paint cleaner (I thought it worked easier though). If the scratches are through to the paint itself, you can minimize them, but may not be able to remove all. Depends on how deep they are.

You don't really have to take swirl marks out, but it looks better (if you have them bad).

Two coats of Z-2 with the Accelerator and you don't do anything else to it other then wash it once and a while. Water runs off quick, does not stay long enough to etch and dirt and dust does not stick easy, so less washing.

I wind up clay barring maybe once a year (in the spring) and I apply two coats (in the spring) and 1 coat torwards fall. That's it.

This link describes the full process, but depending on your budget and how much work you need to do depends on you.

http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=Z&Category_Code=APPLICATION

I don't buy anything other then the Z-2 and the ZFX accelerator additive.

 

[ryaneverk2]

The truck looks great, Chief! That water bounces right off. I need to set about doing that to my truck soon, too. When you clay bar it... do you pretty much rub the whole truck down with it, or do you only go over any spots or specks on the truck?

 

[NCHornet]

The best stuff I have found is a product called Rejex. It is advertised in the RV magazine and claims bugs and road tar simply wash off with a hose. Well I finally tried a bottle and I am sold. Easy on and even easier off. I would not say the road tar just hoses off but just a light hit with me washing brush and it's gone. The bugs don't stick as much either. It is not a wax but a polymere coating. It is the slickest finish I have ever felt on a painted finish. My truck actually goes longer between washes. One bottle did my wifes Highlander, my entire truck twice and my 30ft TT all around once. This is all I use for the past year. I redid my truck after 6 months but it really didn't need it as the water was still beading just great!!! Try it you'll like it!!!

 

[navyldo]

Here's a great article on the Wax vs. Sealant issue. I have little free time and certainly not enough to spend more of it waxing. The Klasse High Gloss Paint Sealant is remarkably simple and less time consuming to do and results are great! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif Lasts a year too! Really /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Wax vs. Paint Sealant article

PuddlePirates suggestion about prepping your paint is sage advice. I use Griots Speed Shine and Clay bar to get the job done.

 

[ACD2]

No matter what your preference of sealer/wax. Always always always clay bar with Dawn!!! Get the old stuff off, and get the dirt off. You dont want to cover up dirt and old wax with fresh wax and you NEVER want to cover old wax with sealer, especially Zaino, once it goes on it stays on and is a bear to get off! I missed a spot of old wax, and thankfully it was a white truck, but you could see the swirl mark from where the wax was applied and it would not come out.

 

[PayToPlay]

Rejex or Collinite.
Collinite is the longest lasting beading / UV protective wax I have ever used.

 

[ChiefGReid]

That's why it's a debate. Clearly there are some good products out there.

This next picture is of my 1996 Thunderbird, which I did today. Soap small areas at a time, clay bar it, wipe it, move on.

My wife was very pleased as it's her daily driver. Almost 165,000 miles on it and it still runs strong.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/PuddlePirate/Thunderbird.jpg

 

[Smokim]

I've been using Zaino for about 4 years. I think the durability is unmatched. I even sell Zaino at my LINE-X shop.

I love this Zaino pic:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v413/123Gone/zaino1.jpg