[bandaid]

I've been doing a zaino new car prep - including dawn, claybar, z7, z-aio, z5xseveral .... with plans to finish off with a z-cs.

There is so much pollen in the air here, that all kinds of dust falls even during the time required for z5 to dry (without zfx activation).

I think on my last buff off of z5 I must have been grinding grit into my finish because now for the first time are very fine scratches, where before it was pristine.

My question is this: when I run my hand over my hood, for example, I feel all kinds of grit in the finish - where before, it was perfectly smooth....

Do I clay bar again now ---- and resume z5 layers, or what? How far back in the sequence do I need to go?

[sweetc6]

Clay bar again until paint surface is smooth,be very careful that you don't scratch the paint when claying(lots of lube) and after claying you will have to remove the fine scratches before you put on zaino.

[bandaid]

Shouldn't the z5 take care of the scratches?

[sweetc6]

You want to get the paint right first,then polish,seal,wax im not sure if zaino has fillers or not. I don't use products with fillers because it just camoflauges the problem.Then you wash the car and there back.Make sure you have a good wash mitt lots of lube(soap) and wash up and down,no circler motion thats what gives webs in the paint. Finish with a good chamois or waffle towel or micro fibre towel. GOOD LUCK

[BK]

Originally Posted by sweetc6

You want to get the paint right first,then polish,seal,wax im not sure if zaino has fillers or not. I don't use products with fillers because it just camoflauges the problem.Then you wash the car and there back.Make sure you have a good wash mitt lots of lube(soap) and wash up and down,no circler motion thats what gives webs in the paint. Finish with a good chamois or waffle towel or micro fibre towel. GOOD LUCK

This is good advice. I'm quoting just to address the first point -- Z-5 supposedly has some filling ability, but it certainly doesn't have much. Z-2 has no fillers. A lot of people use Z-5 as a base, then layer Z-2 on top of it, and I've been doing it the same way, but I can't really see that Z-5 has any fillers. They both seem about the same.

To the OP, apply and remove your sealant in a garage if you can. You're right that the surface should feel glass smooth after the claying and after putting on and buffing off the sealant. I can't imagine it's feeling gritty already. Sucks, but maybe you really do have to re-clay and try again.

[BimmerFan61]

Originally Posted by bandaid

Shouldn't the z5 take care of the scratches?

No you need to get rid of the scratches not cover them up. Get some polish, depending on how deep the scratches are, Menzerna 106 or SIP.

Clay, polish, then seal with Z5 & skip Z2 and go directly to jetseal

[bandaid]

Are there any products that I can apply by hand..... or does scratch removal = purchase a porter cable?

[BK]

Originally Posted by bandaid

Are there any products that I can apply by hand..... or does scratch removal = purchase a porter cable?

For the occasional scratch on the finish, try Scratch-X by Meguiars, applied by hand: http://www.meguiars.com/?auto-paint-cleaners/ScratchX

For scratches all over the car, buy a RO buffer or take it to a detailer to machine polish it for you. Ask here or at autopia.org for a recommended detailer if you don't want to do it yourself. Polishes can be applied by hand, too, but you'd drop dead of exhaustion trying to do the whole car.

I'm a bit amazed, though -- do you really have that many scratches on your car just from applying Zaino? Are you sure it's not just dried Zaino that has to be buffed off? Have you tried going over the car with some QD like Z-6 to get the "grit" off?

[bandaid]

No... the scratches aren't that extensive... but definitely new from the 'perfect' condition the finish was in earlier.

The surface, which used to be glass smooth, feels like it has scattered grit in it.

I can 'pop' them with my fingernail..... but honestly just walked away in disgust last night -- after putting labor into my car, and turning perfection into &*(%.

I didn't want to do any more harm and frankly got scared I was messing things up.

Today, I guess I will start with some very light z6 to see if that helps, but otherwise am prepared to lightly clay again.

Is there any bonding problems using these other branded products with the 'zaino system', or is that just an issue with applications of sealants?

[BK]

Originally Posted by bandaid

No... the scratches aren't that extensive... but definitely new from the 'perfect' condition the finish was in earlier.

The surface, which used to be glass smooth, feels like it has scattered grit in it.

I can 'pop' them with my fingernail..... but honestly just walked away in disgust last night -- after putting labor into my car, and turning perfection into &*(%.

I didn't want to do any more harm and frankly got scared I was messing things up.

Today, I guess I will start with some very light z6 to see if that helps, but otherwise am prepared to lightly clay again.

Is there any bonding problems using these other branded products with the 'zaino system', or is that just an issue with applications of sealants?

If it feels gritty, just wash the car and clay it again. Use lots of clay lube. Spray the panel with the clay lube, and also lightly spray the claybar itself before using it. After you clay, the finish should be glass smooth, even if there is minor scratching.

Supposedly, Zaino won't bond well over another wax or filler, but claying should take any of that off. Using Scratch-X (a mild polish) or any other polish should be fine, but honestly, I'm not sure you need that. Just try claying and then give the car a quick Z6 wipedown before applying Z2/Z5. It should bond just fine. If you want to be really OCD, you can use a 50/50 mix of isopropyl alcohol and distilled water in a spray bottle as your wipedown instead of the Z6. Maybe use the ZFX with your Zaino this time so it dries in minutes instead of hours.

[sweetc6]

Those scratches came from clay barring with not enough lube and folding off the claybar.