:excited:and I have been told I am going to wash the paint off because i dust it and make sure it is pretty for the next day====jealous B...

does zaino make a similar product like meguiars?

You use the Z6 as a quick detailer between washes. I use the Z6 and the Z8 between washes...

watch the video Junkman put out on this forum-it is about using California duster before using a quick detail product. He actually quick details a vette w/o dusting it first-you can see the paint gets damaged-before and after video shots with a ?halogen light. It convinced me...

Which product of Meguiar's do you speak of?

I believe the Absorber is fine as long as you "dab" it on the car instead of using it like a towel. It actually absorbs water pretty well with just dabbing. :tup:

Maybe so, but why not just use the proper supplies? I mean, you could remove flat head screws with a butter knife but a flat head screwdriver would be a lot better and much more effective. ;)

I guess if I wanted to sit and dab with a absorber, I could dry the car with it. But I find what is more effective is attempting to sheet the water, then use a leaf blower. For any thing left over I simply wipe gently with a 100% soft cotton towel.

Maybe if you did not have access to electricity for a leaf blower, you could dab with the absorber. When I wrote it originally, I just assumed people would use the absorber like a towel and that's real bad.

And I have to agree with Junkman.

I would never use a leaf blower for the very simple reason that you are already kicking up crap and there is no filter on the back of a leaf blower. Therefor, some of that crap can get jettisoned at your paint at high speeds.

I agree with you on sheeting the water off the surface, if you can.

I think the worst thing that gets sucked up from the leaf blower is my shirt some times. Can never avoid it. But I do have to say this. One time my dad was using the leaf blower before me for actual leaf blowing. Some how he got a rock inside of it, no idea how. I turned that bad boy on and it shot that rock out like a bullet. Thankfully I was not pointing it at any thing fragile. Now I turn it on and shake it to make sure my dad didn't leave any projectiles in it.

Other then that I think it was a isolated incident but possible.

I don't know what kind of leaf blower would do that as the one I use is electric. It cost me $29 and it can't suck up anything off the ground because it never gets remotely close to the ground and it ain't no where near powerful enough. When I am drying off the bottom of the car, I am pointing the leaf blower down. The engine is at my waist level so there is no way that anything can be sucked into it. Most of the time, the unit is at my shoulder level.

I do dry my car in the garage so there is no debris on the ground to blow around either. Also, the floor is completely soaked with water so dust is the last thing I'm worried about. Outside in your driveway may create a dust issue but since you have just rinsed the car, the ground should be soaking wet too. Thus, the leaf blower is a quick and safe option.

Maybe a gas powered blower can suck up rocks but I wouldn't use one of those because the exhaust particles would be settling all over your car, as well as be spitting out the end.

I think I need to try the leaf blower method....

Home Depot had a battery operated B&D on offer for $55.
Well worth the ease of use....

Zaino is out of border free towels -- anyone have any other recommendations on towels to use that won't scratch?

I was getting ready to point you to the Adam's version of that towel but it looks like Adam's is out too. Those are some sweet towels!

Detailers domain uber no name towel. They are the best towel I have used. Detailers domain is a forum sponser use coupon code: 370 and get 10%

Thanks Forrest for this awesome write up. I am in the process of using Zaino and it is looking amazing already.

I'm installing the FI exhaust later this week, so I'll post pics probably next weekend.

+ Rep

followed your recommendations-bought everything you listed and did this today, and all i have to say is WOW! lol, it was awesome, I thought people stared at me before, now it's even more. Amazing guide this was, many thanks!

Also i know you apply Z-2 as blotches but Zaino has a youtube video on how to apply and I followed that and it worked w/ no issues, and this was my first time ever using the stuff.

Basically you apply product across the applicator pad diagonally then spread across the pad like a piece of toast w/ your finger... anyway here's the video, again thanks! *370z Brilliant Silver*

‪Zaino basics: How LITTLE Zaino to use.‬‏ - YouTube

Kudos to Forrest for showing the way. I wish I had had this writeup the first time I used Zaino. I was blowing Sal Zaino's phone and email up! lol!

Yeah that guy uses less product than even I do. My biggest mistake is using to much. Only reason why I blotch it on is in hopes that I can make it easier to spread on and not so much absorption into the pad.

Even I am not a pro in this sadly. Still just a novice which is why I claim its my method which may not be the best way.

anyone here used the Zaino borderfree Towels? Is it really scratch free?

Those are some very excellent towels. They won't scratch your paint if you are wiping on the car at the correct time. For example, if your car has a layer of dirt on it and you go wiping on it with a quick detailer, you are creating damage in your paint. But if your car is truly clean, those towels will not create damage (unlike those crappy, made in China towels that damage the paint no matter how clean it is).

Yep love them. AJ is right on. :tup:

thanks guys!!! :tiphat:

Are they good for drying also? If not what do you guys recommend? What do you guys think about the Cobra Guzzler HD Waffle Weave Drying Towels?

Now if you are considering something of the quality of the Zaino towel, then you also want something equal in quality of a drying towel. The zaino towel is NOT a drying towel. It's way too good for that. The only thing that you want to do with that towel is remove wax or polish. Period. If you want a drying towel, use something like these waterless wash towels. The are excellent for drying a car because they suck up water, wring out easily and one towel can do an entire car. They also come in a bigger size but I like the small ones for the reasons that I stated above.

Personally, I don't use a towel to dry my car. I use a Master Blaster. That way, it makes it impossible to scratch the car.

I'm going to just use it for the Polish and the Enhancer Spray. That master blaster is awesome but too much for me. I'm going to look into the waterless wash towels! Thanks bro!!

I would not use those towels for the enhancer spray either. Those towels are not made to be wet, they're made for polish and wax. They have other towels that are made for the enhancer spray. I would use the waterless wash towel for anything liquid, not the borderless blonds. Much too good of a towel for anything other than polish or wax.

Junkman, do you have any comments on the Zaino Snow White towels? Should they only be used for wax and polish as well?

so use the waterless wash towel for the Enhancer Spray? Thanks!!

I wasn't as impressed with those as I was with the borderless blonds. The blonds are the shizzle. The white seemed somewhat ordinary. I don't know what I would use them on.

YES. Save the blonds for the wax and polish removal. They will NOT scratch your paint.

OP you should try reviewing some adams products!!!

Uh, wow
 

I've used "over-the-counter" car care products for many years. I have been generally quite content with Meguiars products, but I've probably tried just about everything that the local mega-auto parts store carries. Some if it good, some not. Last year I discovered P2S (hanging around Audi forums...), and fell in love with their wash, carnauba wax, & tire dressing. Good stuff, but the wax never seems to last very long.

This year, I decided to pull the trigger and and try Zaino. I've read about it over the years on various forums, but this thread convinced me that I should give it a shot. Bought the "Total Protection Kit" and some new good towels and did my wife's dark blue Subaru Outback last weekend, with her help.

Dawned, claybarred, re-washed with Z7, then did two Z5's and one Z2 last Saturday. With my wife's help, it took about 6 hours, but that includes a "full" detail of wheels, tires, trim, glass, & interior. Then I put on another two coats of Z2 the following morning. Z6 between the coats.

I've got to say, at first I wasn't overly impressed. I put the first coat of Z5 on too thick, and it was a PITA to remove. Once removed, I actually wasn't all that impressed with the shine & "slickness" factor. It was ok, but not blow-me-away. Nowhere near what I'm used to with a coat of Meguiar's Gold Class or P2S carnauba, for instance. But I kept at it. After the second coat of Z5, it was looking better, but still not amazing. Easier though, because we applied it as thin as possible (almost to the point where it was hard to tell if we were putting anything on the paint). Then I put on the first coat of Z2. Uh, wow! Now it had the shine & slickness I was expecting. Really nice. After two more coats of Z2, the finish is astounding. The paint looks (and feels) absolutely incredible. Deep & rich with an amazing amount of metal-flake 'pop' in the paint. The light spider-web scratches completely gone. It looks better than it did when it rolled off the showroom floor, 50k miles ago. The only drawback is that my neighbors probably think we're nuts for 'waxing' the car 5 times last weekend. :bowrofl:

A couple days ago, when my wife left work she discovered that the Outback had been severely bird-bombed all across the hood. Not sure what sort of bird it was, but it was something big. This had been in the sun all day + been blasted dry by a 45 mile commute at 70mph. I hit it with the hose and the mess lifted off the paint like an egg in a teflon pan. I've never seen anything like that before. Simply incredible. Hit it with some Z7 & Z6, and 5 minutes later it's perfect again. Impressive.

While the Zaino process is a bit of a workout (much Advil was consumed that evening), I can attest that the results are pretty amazing. If this level of shine & protection really lasts 6+ months, I'll be a Zaino convert for life.

We'll be doing the Z this weekend. ;)

Thanks goes to this thread for convincing me to try it! Thanks!! :happydance:

awesome review! i'm at the 5 month mark now and all i have been doing is Z-6/Grand Finale after washing with the two-bucket method using Zaino car wash. it's still going strong... it honestly looks like i detail it every weekend!

How long do all the supplies in the zaino kit last for? Basically how many total waxing sessions do you get out of it I guess I'm trying to ask.

i've done 1 full detail and about 4-5 "half" details since i purchased the show car kit. there are maintenance packs you can purchase containing the stuff you use most frequently. i use the gloss enhancing spray a lot, and am on my second bottle now. it's great stuff!

If you look at their product page, they list how many applications you get per bottle.

But in a nutshell, that kit should give you enough polish to do about 40 coats; 20 of Z2 and 20 of Z5. You get enough detailing spray (Z6) to do maybe 20 coats. You get two bars of clay; their longevity depends on how dirty the car is. I'd guess you'd get 2-3 clays/bar. You get enough car wash (Z7) to do maybe 15 washes.

So, you're getting quite a bit of polish. Most people seem to do like 3-6 coats per "treatment" (you can do more, of course), which is supposed to last 6 months. So 6-12 "sessions" a year? Like, 3+ years of polish. You're going to run out of Z6 & Z7 way before polish. Zaino has that Z6+Z7 "Maintenance Pack" just for that reason, I suspect.

I'm a Zaino newbie - I just did one car and it was 3 weeks ago. So I am hardly an expert. These numbers are just from what Zaino has on their website. But having done the one "treatment" on my Subaru Outback, I'd say their estimates are correct. I did 3 coats of Z2, and I would guess that the bottle is now about 85% full, which jives with ~20/bottle.

I used a bit more Z6 than I probably needed to, and I can tell that's already become a go-to product in my arsenal. Seems like it's a really awesome detail spray. Like sfearl1, I can see myself burning through it pretty quickly as I'll be using with normal washes on both the Outback and the soon-to-be-Zainoed Z. :cool:

Z6 is the stuff! Use their tire shine if you have not yet. It's the best I've ever used. It gives you the nice black look without the sling.

Here's a trick I learned on the tire shine. Put it on and let it dry for about an hour. Take a paper towel and wipe off any that's still wet. Then put another coat on. It will last forever. I probably do mine once a month this way.

:iagree: every time i wash my car it's Z7 car wash, Z6 gloss enhancer, Z16 tire shine. my car looks freshly detailed after every wash :tup:

Sorry a very late response. I don't like Z5. Not only is it harder for me to use than Z2 but I have never liked the results. Z2 is a home run but Z5 is a whole different story with my personal experience. I cant recommend it. I don't feel it claims what it says it does.

I just put on my first layer of Z2 with the ZFX additive but I forgot to do Z6 prior. Is this a big deal or can I just use Z6 before the next Z2 coat?

I should have double checked the steps...