If you wanna know what I do in terms of waxing my car, check out this post from the appearence section:

http://web.camaross.com/bb/Forum26/HTML/008299.html

My car really shines and it's black also. Believe me, I know how hard life is with black paint....


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~Will
96 Z28
"fastanuff!"

 

I believe the reason there are so many Zaino users is because we DID do the research and Zaino is clearly superior. I've been through the "proper" wax process with Meguiar's many many times, so that's nothing new for me. In fact, your processes sound almost exactly how I used carnauba-based products. I've probably got nearly every wax or cleaner Meguiar's makes over the years, and to tell you the truth I'm sick of all the elbow grease and multistep crap that goes along with it. That being said, I found that doing all that hard work with Meguiar's yeilded good results at best, but not great, and certainly nowhere near the results I get with Zaino. Meguiar's is good for people who want to walk into AutoZone or WalMart or wherever and just pick up an average off the shelf product. I've used Gold Class, Mediallion, and many others, but the hard work just isn't worth it anymore.

I dont really think that because someone is curious about or wants to start using Zaino that that makes them a "lemming." After all, there are greener pastures, and easier wasy to achieve them.

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**Mike's 1992 RS 25th**
'92 Camaro RS 25th Anniv. Dark Red Metallic (Brillant Red)/ Flame Red
Flowmaster Crossflow, K&N
JL Audio 3 10", PPI PC2100, Kenwood eXcelon KRC-953 H/U, Kenwood 4x6 Dash, Pioneer 4 way 6x9's
20% 3M Panther Black Tint
Zaino, Zaino, Zaino!

I also love pickin' guitar! My Guitar Site!

[This message has been edited by MikeLS (edited October 31, 2001).]

 

FYI, if you've read a couple of my other posts you'll see "***DO NOT EVER buy waxes and car care products from autozone or walmart. Only use professional grade products." I get my stuff from the local paint supliers here. Also, if you read my last post I don't use all meguiar's products. I use what works, some of that happens to be megiuars, I also use one grand and klasse. I also doubt that this takes as much "elbow grease" as you claim and the results, with these professional grade products, is, I'm sure, superior to what you were seeing with that autozone/pep boys crap. Don't get me wrong though, you make several good points, I do think zaino is far superior to anything you'll find in autozone, but it's certainly no "night and day" difference between zaino and *quality* wax products applied correctly.



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~Will
96 Z28
"fastanuff!"

 

I used "wax" for almost 30 years. Before I ordered my 99 SS I tried several things to find what seemed to be the best. Some gave a nice shine, but only lasted a short time or until it rained. I skeptically tried Zaino and it definitely had a good shine. After I had applied a few coats, I had to go on a trip and when I got back it was bug guts everywhere. Like always, I "knew" I was in for a long scrubbing process. I hosed off the area, let it soak while I gathered up my supplies, hosed it again and turned and picked up my scrubbing supplies and turned back and NO bug guts. I was sold. I drove that car every day all winter and didn't get to wash it for months. When I did get to wash it I was amazed that the water was STILL beading up on it. I couldn't believe that anything would be that durable. I used nothing but Zaino on my 99 SS and it will be the only product EVER used on my 2002 SS.

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Kevin Villier, 2002 SS #186 - 6M with Hurst and "short-stick", TT, navy blue, chrome SS wheels, Bilstein suspension, SS grill, STB, SLP loudmouth, Direct-Flo lid with Holley filter and Mallory polished MAF ends.

Louisville, KY

 

Mike...what do you mean all the elbow grease?? i have never used that much crap on any of my cars to make them reflective like a mirror...and i use meguair's..if i had to put that much effort into it i wouldn't even bother...i understanding wanting a beautiful car, but i mean...6 different steps to achieve what one can with say, two different products...i'll get some pics of my white car and you can compare them with any of the other white car pics and tell me which one shines better...for the first time i can see myself in my car's reflection, and that's under artificial light in my garage...now imagine that under sunlight...damn, i'm looking good..

don't get me wrong, zaino may be good stuff...but don't go spouting off about all the elbow grease needed when if done right "conventional" wax comes off just as easy if not easier than when first done...you need to find out what works best and keep doing it...if you like zaino so be it, but don't discount and discredit those who do not believe zaino is the end all to be all.

 

playaz28,

I am just speaking from experience. Nearly every Meguiar's product and many other carnauba-based products are simply much harder to remove, and much more time consuming than Zaino in my experience. Try this, when you remove your next coat of Meguiar's,lightly swipe your towel down the length of the hood or wherever with hardly any pressure. Did it come off? I didn't think so... That's my point. I had to literally scrub that crap off my paint and my arms were sore usually after doing one panel much less the whole car. Needless to say, I was completely worn out after ONE coat of Meguiar's. That's what I mean about elbow grease. Too much effort for too few results. Now I can Zaino my entire car in less than 15 minutes, wait about 30 to an hour, and remove the whole car in about 5 minutes. And best of all, it doesn't tire me at all. I'd certainly say it's like a night and day difference between the two. But, that's from MY experience.

Hey, use what ya like. I'm not discrediting those who use Meguiar's or any carnauba product. I've come from using those products myself for many years. It's a been there, done that situation. Hopefully, I'll never have to go back to carnauba though. And noone is saying Zaino is the cure for everything. It simply works beautifully to those of us that had to put up with carnauba all those years. If you're getting good results with Meguiar's or whatever and are happy, then fine that's all that counts.

------------------
**Mike's 1992 RS 25th**
'92 Camaro RS 25th Anniv. Dark Red Metallic (Brillant Red)/ Flame Red
Flowmaster Crossflow, K&N
JL Audio 3 10", PPI PC2100, Kenwood eXcelon KRC-953 H/U, Kenwood 4x6 Dash, Pioneer 4 way 6x9's
20% 3M Panther Black Tint
Zaino, Zaino, Zaino!

I also love pickin' guitar! My Guitar Site!

[This message has been edited by MikeLS (edited November 01, 2001).]

 

Actually, you should use just about the same steps with Meguiar's or any other protectant, as the cleaner the surface is when you start, the better. You only use the beginning steps with Zaino the first time you use it. After that it's a breeze, and you don't have to reapply it every 3 weeks or so like with the carnauba products. Carnauba simply has no staying power. It melts off. I've used Meguiar's, Mother's, and others, and was a skeptic about Zaino until I tried it, and it blows the others I tried away. Have I tried everything out there, no, and I doubt anyone else has, but use what you like.

 

Again, I agree with you zaino guys about carnuba having no staying power. BUT, acrylics do, they stay on the car for well beyond six months. They'll stay just as well as your zaino does. I just add a coat or two of carnuba at the end for more protection and an even better shine. I'd say my process isn't all that different from yours. You put on your base coat and the just keep reapplying your top coat every so often. I do the same with the acrylic polymers and the carnuba. It works incredibly well and lasts a long long time. I just think people discredit traditional waxes in the name of zaino because they were never realling "waxing" their car in the first place.


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~Will
96 Z28
"fastanuff!"

 

I understand that you only have to put Z1 on every 6 months or so, but how long do you have to reapply z2 and z5.

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93' Z28
K&N Cold Air Induction
Ed Wright Fast Chip
ASP Underdrive Pulleys
Throttle Body Airfoil
Flowmaster Muffler
Borla Exhaust Tips
Hi-Flo Catalytic Converter
GM 3.73 Rear End Gears
Eibach Sportline Springs
Bilstein Shocks
99 Z28 Wheels
SLP Adj. Fuel Pressure Regulator
MSD Blaster Coil
Free Mods
Eclipse in dash CD Player

 

One application of either Z2 or Z5 will last for several months before another coat is needed. But, you can reapply either whenever you think your paint needs it or just to further enhance the shine and protection. As you probably know, unlike carnauba, Zaino builds layers after each polish. The more the better. I generally apply Z2/Z5 about once or twice a month with Z6 in between. Some people apply more often and some less. It just depends on how slick and how shiny you want your car. There is no set rule for Z2/Z5.

I just applied another coat of Z5 this afternoon and it took me about 10 minutes to coat the entire car. And about 5 to remove it all. I'm trying to prepare my car for the winter moinths when it's usually not the easiest time to detail. Technically, I shouldn't need another coat until next spring or even summer.

 

Since the shine and protection gets better with each layer of Zaino it kind of gets addicting or is that the smell????

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Kevin Villier, 2002 SS #186 - 6M with Hurst and "short-stick", TT, navy blue, chrome SS wheels, Bilstein suspension, SS grill, STB, SLP loudmouth, Direct-Flo lid with Holley filter and Mallory polished MAF ends.

Louisville, KY