My experience with Zaino

[prelude2perfect]

So I finally went over to Track Time and bought some Zaino products. Todd over at Track Time answered all my questions and gave me a good price on the products I bought.

I stripped the old was off with some dawn dish washing soap. Didn't clay since I just did that last fall. I did some polishing with my PC7424 and Optimum polish that I already had (very good stuff) on some areas that needed it. Then I did an application of the All in One, one coat of the Z5, and a coat of the CS. The CS did leave some streaks here in there so I later buffed the car with some Z6.

Before:

























After polishing:














After Z5





















After CS and Z6



















A couple night shots, looking like ice!





This was a huge help:




Overall I am pleased with Zaino. It is definately the best stuff I have used although I was expecting a bit more from all the hype I've heard. But don't get me wrong, my car looks amazing and I will continue to use Zaino from now on. I'm anxious to try a few more coats of the Z5

[hamman_25]

Looks good. I was also wondering about the Zaino products..

[xmodmatt]

this looks like a dam mirror, i want some, but my car has little defects that i think would make it pointless

[prelude2perfect]

Sorry for the crappy Iphone pics. These pictures don't really do it justice but you get the idea

[prelude2perfect]

These were taken the next day at Elite's spring opener by someone else

[HAULNSS]

Wow. Looks good. I like the Elite pictures.

The Z-CS is a little tricky because it is applied really, really thin. It works great for the trim and textured parts because it is clear and won't stain them.

Just about any product will look good on a properly polished surface. The Zaino will really stand out when it comes to durability, though. Next time you wash, apply another coat and you'll be amazed at how easy and fast it goes on and off. With no staining or dusting and spreading it pretty thin, it should only take about 30-45 minutes for the each coat. My Impala takes about an hour (apply and buff off) and that includes applying Z5 to all the glass and wheels.

I usually go for about 3 initial coats and then just apply once or twice over the summer.

Please let us know if you have any questions and thanks for trying Zaino.

Randy

[darkdan]

Once you go Zaino you don't go back.

I just pulled the Vic out of storage and after a year the water still beads up on the sides (not on the horizontal surfaces though).

Granted it was stored for 4 months, but two coats lasted almost a year.

[jimy]

Hey, those are my pictures.... hehehehehe....
I wished I had a polar filter... It would of really made that color on your car stand out.

In the second picture there when I was snapping away where I caught your womans foot. You two were smooching. hehehehehe. Should of tooken that.

[prelude2perfect]

Originally Posted by xmodmatt

this looks like a dam mirror, i want some, but my car has little defects that i think would make it pointless

Preperation and correction is everything to making a car look like this. A lot more time needs to go into preparing the car (stripping it down and clay barring) and paint correction (Porter Cable 7424 and some good polish). If your paint is real bad then you will need a few different levels of polish to really smooth things back out. Last resort would be wet sand and then polish but thats only if a strong polish isn't doing anything.

Originally Posted by HAULNSS

Wow. Looks good. I like the Elite pictures.

The Z-CS is a little tricky because it is applied really, really thin. It works great for the trim and textured parts because it is clear and won't stain them.

Just about any product will look good on a properly polished surface. The Zaino will really stand out when it comes to durability, though. Next time you wash, apply another coat and you'll be amazed at how easy and fast it goes on and off. With no staining or dusting and spreading it pretty thin, it should only take about 30-45 minutes for the each coat. My Impala takes about an hour (apply and buff off) and that includes applying Z5 to all the glass and wheels.

I usually go for about 3 initial coats and then just apply once or twice over the summer.

Please let us know if you have any questions and thanks for trying Zaino.

Randy

Thanks Randy. Yeah, I did a lot of research on the Zaino products before going over to Todd and purchasing them. I have read about a lot of people having the same trouble with the ZCS so I made sure to go very light with it. It is pretty dificult to apply so lightly. I didn't have streaks everywhere, just in a few spots that I went a little to heavy.

I didn't have time to do more than one coat of the Z5 so I will after my next wash. I'll probably add two more coats.

What do you recommend for bug removal? Should I just use a typical bug remover and then reapply the Z5 and ZCS over that spot?

Originally Posted by jimy

Hey, those are my pictures.... hehehehehe....
I wished I had a polar filter... It would of really made that color on your car stand out.

In the second picture there when I was snapping away where I caught your womans foot. You two were smooching. hehehehehe. Should of tooken that.

Haha cool. Thanks for letting me steal ur pics. Got any more?

[HAULNSS]

Originally Posted by prelude2perfect

Thanks Randy. Yeah, I did a lot of research on the Zaino products before going over to Todd and purchasing them. I have read about a lot of people having the same trouble with the ZCS so I made sure to go very light with it. It is pretty dificult to apply so lightly. I didn't have streaks everywhere, just in a few spots that I went a little to heavy.

I didn't have time to do more than one coat of the Z5 so I will after my next wash. I'll probably add two more coats.

What do you recommend for bug removal? Should I just use a typical bug remover and then reapply the Z5 and ZCS over that spot?

Some guys have better luck using a foam applicator for the ZCS. Usually, I get 'heavy' spots where I start and stop my applicator, so now I try to lift it a little after each swipe.

Zaino recommends no more than 3 coats in 24 hours and that is with the ZFX for quicker curing. For you, just apply another coat or two when you can, and it will be good for a long time. I usually mist a little Z6 on my drying towel to help glide the towel and also quick detail in one step.

The bugs shouldn't stick too well, so they should come off pretty easy during the wash (It might take a little pressure from the wash mitt). For the stubborn ones, I would try to clay them off before I use a chemical, as some bug and tar removers are pretty nasty stuff. If using the B&T remover just spot the area and don't let it dwell too long on the surface. Clean the area with isopropyl alcohol and reapply the Z5 and / or ZCS, too.

Good luck and let's see some more quality pics!

Randy

[AlexD]

Todd the results speak for themselves! The prelude looks as good as ever! if youve got some free time before the opener meet you should help me with my car! its been dying for a full detail on this level!

[jimy]

I probably have another one somewhere but there was another guy on mnsports that took a bunch too and he had some of your pictures.

[prelude2perfect]

Originally Posted by AlexD

Todd the results speak for themselves! The prelude looks as good as ever! if youve got some free time before the opener meet you should help me with my car! its been dying for a full detail on this level!

Just let me know when you want to come over

Originally Posted by jimy

I probably have another one somewhere but there was another guy on mnsports that took a bunch too and he had some of your pictures.

I hope he posts them up

[darkdan]

I just noticed your blue tape. Zaino doesn't leave a white residue on plastic or rubber and shines up chrome and glass real nice.

[travail]

looks like I need some for the evo

[HAULNSS]

Originally Posted by darkdan

I just noticed your blue tape. Zaino doesn't leave a white residue on plastic or rubber and shines up chrome and glass real nice.

I'm sure that is from the polishing stage (I think he used Optimum Polish). Zaino doesn't stain the trim, but some polishes may stain and the tape will also help from having the compounds cake up the cracks and seams. It is much easier to clean up if you tape before doing the polishing.

I use the tape when I compound and polish, then remove it when applying the Zaino.

Randy

[darkdan]

ah, I must have missed where he said he polished it. I fail at reading.

[prelude2perfect]

yep, I taped for the polish

[prelude2perfect]

UPDATE:

Washed the car with Optimun No Rinse, did some quick detailer, and then added another coat of the Z5. Looking even better now:

[byron]

damn this makes me wanna get this stuff for my car

[06Accord6spd]

Car looks great Todd!

We finally received our shipment from Zaino so we have plenty in stock now.

Todd

[EDU]

todd pm me a price of zaino shipped to Rochester.
thanks.

[06Accord6spd]

Originally Posted by EDU

todd pm me a price of zaino shipped to Rochester.
thanks.

Do you know which products you want? If so, let me know & I will put a quote together for you. If you aren't sure, we should probably talk about it sometime and determine what would be best for your situation.

Todd