[rlc]

Originally Posted by zzzzzzzzzv

36 hours later.. untouched photos off canon sd600.

36 hours? What all did you do and how many coats were applied?

[Driv3r]

I DO!!! ITS MY 700th post!

[06E90Rostik]

zzzzzzzzzzzz what exactly did you used? Z*?

And its my 800th post

[OC Guy]

Originally Posted by rlc

I disagree. Zaino is the easiest car polish product to apply that I've ever used. The result are excellent, the finish lasts a long time, and it smells great.

WG, Poorboys, etc. there's a lot of easier products out there. Zaino is a pretty good product on Black though. I prefer Wolfgang's or Poorboy's EX-P. The best results I've seen on Black is Pinnacle Soverign but that stuff is too pricey.

http://www.autogeek.net/carnauba-wax.html

[picus]

People think Zaino is hard to apply because it comes with instructions that any sealant should be used with; or they apply it too thick. Zaino is not any more difficult to apply than any number of sealants, including ex, ex-p, wolfgang, aj, upp, hgsg, etc. I personally like other products better than Zaino, but not because of ease of use. In terms of usage Zaino is one of the easiest sealants to apply and remove.

[txusa03]

so it has a sealant product as well?

[TrailBraker]

I have used it for 5 years, and like it alot.

[picus]

Originally Posted by txusa03

so it has a sealant product as well?

Z2 and Z5 are sealants. People call them polishes because Zaino decides to market them as polishes, which is an incorrect use of that word. Why he did it, I don't know - probably because people understand the word polish but woulnd't understand synthetic polymer sealant. Regardless, they are sealants just like any other. The only real polish in the Zaino line is ZPC.

[txusa03]

I don't mind using the sealant on my paint surface. I am sure it helps alot to have a sealant layer on the paint surface.

[Jay_328]

Originally Posted by picus

People think Zaino is hard to apply because it comes with instructions that any sealant should be used with; or they apply it too thick. Zaino is not any more difficult to apply than any number of sealants, including ex, ex-p, wolfgang, aj, upp, hgsg, etc. I personally like other products better than Zaino, but not because of ease of use. In terms of usage Zaino is one of the easiest sealants to apply and remove.

Do you mind telling me the ones you like better? It seems as if Zaino takes a lot of time and energy to apply correctly and frankly I just don't have the time.

So what's a good polish for Sparkling Graphite these days?

[roki530i]

beautifulll

[picus]

Originally Posted by Jay_325Ci

Do you mind telling me the ones you like better? It seems as if Zaino takes a lot of time and energy to apply correctly and frankly I just don't have the time.

So what's a good polish for Sparkling Graphite these days?

My post mentioned quite clearly that Zaino doesn't take any more time or energy than almost any other sealant. If you don't have the time to apply it correclty then it is very likely you do not have the time to use any sealant. Zaino only "seems" to take longer because the Zaino "system" comes with instructions which include prep work, which you should do with ANY sealant. Zaino has you:

Wash the car
Clay it
re-wash
apply a layer of sealant
buff off

Repeat the two last steps 3x if layering. The clay + re-washing is what takes the time; thhing is you have never clayed your car, or it's been more than a year, you should do it with *any* sealant, so they will take the same amount of time and effort as Zaino.

On my sparkling graphite 335i I will be using Jeffs Werkstatt Acrylic Jett and will maintain it with Acrylic Jett Trigger. Interestingly, this product takes even longer than Zaino because it's recommended you use their paint cleaner/base sealant, Prime, before applying AJ or AJT, AJ is also a bit harder to remove than Zaino - but I personally like the results so live with the slightly added amount of work. I also like that unlike Zaino, it doesn't require a catalyst to layer.

If you want the easiest sealant to use all around, drive to the store and grab some Meguairs NXT, slap it on a clean car then remove. It won't take more than 30 minutes and it'll help fill in some marring, so it'll look fine. If you want to do it "right" you'll need to clay first anyway, so grab something like Zaino, Jeffs Werkstatt, Menzerna FMJ, Klasse HGSG, Poorboys EX-P, Wolfgang DGS, some clay, and get to it.

Oh, and last note: again, Zaino Z2/Z5 are not polishes. They are sealants. Every product I mentioned in this post is a sealant, not a polish.

[BK]

picus - how often do you clay? Every time you Zaino? My car is not garaged, so I am thinking of Zaino-ing slightly more often than every 6 months, maybe every 4 or 5 instead. Is it bad to clay that often?

[Nikki]

The question should be, who doesn't?

[Jay_328]

Originally Posted by picus

My post mentioned quite clearly that Zaino doesn't take any more time or energy than almost any other sealant. If you don't have the time to apply it correclty then it is very likely you do not have the time to use any sealant. Zaino only "seems" to take longer because the Zaino "system" comes with instructions which include prep work, which you should do with ANY sealant. Zaino has you:

Wash the car
Clay it
re-wash
apply a layer of sealant
buff off

Repeat the two last steps 3x if layering. The clay + re-washing is what takes the time; thhing is you have never clayed your car, or it's been more than a year, you should do it with *any* sealant, so they will take the same amount of time and effort as Zaino.

On my sparkling graphite 335i I will be using Jeffs Werkstatt Acrylic Jett and will maintain it with Acrylic Jett Trigger. Interestingly, this product takes even longer than Zaino because it's recommended you use their paint cleaner/base sealant, Prime, before applying AJ or AJT, AJ is also a bit harder to remove than Zaino - but I personally like the results so live with the slightly added amount of work. I also like that unlike Zaino, it doesn't require a catalyst to layer.

If you want the easiest sealant to use all around, drive to the store and grab some Meguairs NXT, slap it on a clean car then remove. It won't take more than 30 minutes and it'll help fill in some marring, so it'll look fine. If you want to do it "right" you'll need to clay first anyway, so grab something like Zaino, Jeffs Werkstatt, Menzerna FMJ, Klasse HGSG, Poorboys EX-P, Wolfgang DGS, some clay, and get to it.

Oh, and last note: again, Zaino Z2/Z5 are not polishes. They are sealants. Every product I mentioned in this post is a sealant, not a polish.

Thanks for the reply. I suppose the thought of having several "steps" to apply wax is just a bit too much for me. That's what I meant by not having the time and energy. I enjoy having a clean car as much as the next guy but I refuse to spend many weekend hours doing so. I have nothing against others who choose to do so. I guess I'll have to grab Meguairs and call it a day.

[shimshimhada]

Originally Posted by picus

My post mentioned quite clearly that Zaino doesn't take any more time or energy than almost any other sealant. If you don't have the time to apply it correclty then it is very likely you do not have the time to use any sealant. Zaino only "seems" to take longer because the Zaino "system" comes with instructions which include prep work, which you should do with ANY sealant. Zaino has you:

Wash the car
Clay it
re-wash
apply a layer of sealant
buff off

Repeat the two last steps 3x if layering. The clay + re-washing is what takes the time; thhing is you have never clayed your car, or it's been more than a year, you should do it with *any* sealant, so they will take the same amount of time and effort as Zaino.

On my sparkling graphite 335i I will be using Jeffs Werkstatt Acrylic Jett and will maintain it with Acrylic Jett Trigger. Interestingly, this product takes even longer than Zaino because it's recommended you use their paint cleaner/base sealant, Prime, before applying AJ or AJT, AJ is also a bit harder to remove than Zaino - but I personally like the results so live with the slightly added amount of work. I also like that unlike Zaino, it doesn't require a catalyst to layer.

If you want the easiest sealant to use all around, drive to the store and grab some Meguairs NXT, slap it on a clean car then remove. It won't take more than 30 minutes and it'll help fill in some marring, so it'll look fine. If you want to do it "right" you'll need to clay first anyway, so grab something like Zaino, Jeffs Werkstatt, Menzerna FMJ, Klasse HGSG, Poorboys EX-P, Wolfgang DGS, some clay, and get to it.

Oh, and last note: again, Zaino Z2/Z5 are not polishes. They are sealants. Every product I mentioned in this post is a sealant, not a polish.

And some people Prime, Zaino, then AJT

[picus]

Originally Posted by BK

picus - how often do you clay? Every time you Zaino? My car is not garaged, so I am thinking of Zaino-ing slightly more often than every 6 months, maybe every 4 or 5 instead. Is it bad to clay that often?

Clay is abrasive in the sense that it will abrade surface contaminants, but not paint; so it isn't harmful to clay that often - however, as with any abrasion there is the risk of marring, so by claying more often you increase that risk. Realistically, unless you live near a railroad you should only need to clay once a year at most. I would clay in the spring, apply zaino, then re-apply in the fall without claying. Maybe one other application during the year, sans clay.

For what it's worth, I clay my car once every 12-18 months and live in a fairly industrial city. If you keep it clean and sealed the need for clay should be minimized.

Cheers.

[txusa03]

Originally Posted by Jay_325Ci

Thanks for the reply. I suppose the thought of having several "steps" to apply wax is just a bit too much for me. That's what I meant by not having the time and energy. I enjoy having a clean car as much as the next guy but I refuse to spend many weekend hours doing so. I have nothing against others who choose to do so. I guess I'll have to grab Meguairs and call it a day.

Me too . Nothing wrong with zaino

[ga-bmwdrvr]

Originally Posted by hunter399

I Detailed my car yesterday

Did some Z-5, then some Klasse AIO, and finished up with some P21S!

I could be wrong, but wouldn't AIO remove the Z5? AIO has a pretty strong cleaner, better order would be AIO/Z5/p21S assuming there are no bonding issues over AIO.

[picus]

AIO will remove Z2/Z5; as mentioned it would be better to do AIO/Z5/P21S, Zaino bonds over AIO no problem.

[txusa03]

Originally Posted by ga-bmwdrvr

I could be wrong, but wouldn't AIO remove the Z5? AIO has a pretty strong cleaner, better order would be AIO/Z5/p21S assuming there are no bonding issues over AIO.

so technically you can undo your good deed if you don't read directions and use the products in wrong order

[ga-bmwdrvr]

Definately, if you are going to layer, the product should have little or no cleaning ability. That's why "pure" carnaubas are such good toppers.