First off, I am somewhat new to the Zaino experience. I did my S2000 last month. It was a major pain in the neck, but the results were very nice.

This weekend I decided to Zaino the 3 series wagon. I washed with Dawn and then used the clay bar on some stubborn areas on the hood. I then re-washed with Z-7 car wash.

After the re-wash, I noticed that the 3 spots that I focused on with the clay bar appeared to be a little less glossy and almost faded looking. It's not a major problem, and the fade is going away a little bit with each application of Z-5 and (tomorrow) with Z-2. It's really only noticeable under fluorescent lights in my garage... and even then, only from certain angles. I wet down the area to be clayed with generous spray of Z-7 and water mix.

*** Has anyone experiencded problems with using or overusing the clay bar? Can use of a clay bar cause damage to the paint? ***


And -- since I'm posting -- how long does it take you to do an initial Zaino treatment on a car?

I washed (including wheels), clayed, and re-washed and dried last night (3 - 4 hours).

Today I did 4 coats of Z-2 on the car. It took me about 6 hours. Took some breaks while the Zaino dried.

Tomorrow I plan to add 2-3 coats of Z-5. So -- it's a full weekend project!

Granted, I'm doing a BMW Wagon with much more painted area (long roof, etc.), and this is the 1st ever Zaino application for this car. But I don't see how any car could be done thoroughly and carefully in one day.

Thanks for the expected replies re: the clay bar question.

 

Is it possible to damage paint using the clay bar. Yes it is possible. Did you damage it? I don't think so it. The only way clay can scratch enough to make the paint loose it's gloss was if you dropped the bar in sand and scrubbed back and forth. I am sure you didn't do that.There is no abrasives in clay, so clay by itself will not remove the clear to the point of lost gloss.
So what happened? I really cant tell you. Was the clay really loaded up with paint contamination?? Did you keep refolding it to expose new clay? Did you run the clay dry over some areas?(The Z5 should have removed the clay residue)If it disappearing after you apply the Z5 then keep working the Z5 in until the spots are removed. SOme pictures would help also.

 

A couple of times I've noticed a similar affect when claying. For me it has always been caused by not using enough detailing fluid with the clay bar. If I get too excuberant with the clay bar and get ahead of where I put the detailing fluid down it will leave some dull marks like you described. When that happens, I just re-do that portion of the car with the clay bar and enough detailing fluid.

Hopefully this is what you are experiencing since the solution is pretty easy!

John

 

great replies above...
the only thing i will add is to fix your problem, you need a paint cleaner or other mild polish (swirl remover should also do it).
wash the car, then polish the area that you are concerned about-
after you do that, re zaino at least that area (or if you are like me, its just an excuse to do the whole car again!)
that should make it so you dont see the spots any more.
post back your results!

 

On the question of how long it takes to apply Zaino - how long did you wait for it to cure? Did you use ZFX? On a car larger than the S, I would usually be able to start removal after finishing the application (if I use ZFX).

Also, I would recommend Z5 first. Z2 is a lot shinier, and you'll want that as the top layer.

Tony

 

Thanks for the tips. It's a learning process and I don't think I did any real damage with the clay bar. The car now looks pretty damn good -- even under unflattering fluorescent lights. I have never used any power equipment -- so I think it looks great for being hand-polished.

I think I got it backwards in my post -- I used the Z5 first. I'm about to go into the garage and put on two coats of Z2. By the time I put the stuff on the entire car, it is ready to start wiping it off. I do use the ZFX. The only problem is that I GET TIRED. So sometimes I'll take a 1/2 hour break.

Any way you look at it, the entire Zaino process is a pain in the neck. It takes a lot of time. I can see why few people know of Zaino. Only a total car freak would give up the time and have the interest needed to complete the process. But it's probably worth it because the car looks (and feels) so good ... and you have piece of mind knowing that the car is protected.

One more question: Is Zaino a polish or a wax? I know it's not a wax in the actual sense because it's not made of wax -- but is Zaino something that you use to "polish" up the paint? What product would you use for that purpose? Some products claim to remove oxidation, etc. Seems to me that Zaino is merely a glossy clear coat (99.9% pure). Clear coating over water spots or dull paint won't do all that much. And do you put anything over the last layer of Zaino? Should I put a Zymol wax on last or is enough enough?

Thanks.

 

A few comments about clay. Clay can effectively turn into sandpaper if not used correctly. When I buy clay I cut it into 4 or more pieces. Once I finish a body panel I throw it away and get another piece. Too many times I see people re-using clay they've had stored in a baggy for the past two years and it's full of crap, and it feels like sandpaper. It's cheap and disposable. Don't re-use it.

In the detailing business a polish usually contains abrasives on some level. Neither Z5 nor Z2 contain any abrasives. Z5 does contain some fillers so it has some scratch/swirl hiding abilities. Companies however are confusing the issue, even Zaino says "show car polish." It's more of a polymer sealant.

 

I don't like the sound of that sandpaper analogy. I hope I didn't dull the paint out by rubbing too hard with a dirty piece of clay. I used the same Zaino-supplied piece for the entire car. I did try to make sure that the piece touching the car was clean though. In retrospect, I probably rubbed too hard in the problem areas because I was trying to remove some spots on the paint.

Is there a remedy for what I might have done. The car is now covered in 3 coats of Z-5 and 2 coats of Z-2.

I don't think the situation is that bad .. but if the few spots bother me when I see the car in the daylight ... what do you suggest? Could a professional detail guy use a polisher at this point? A buffer? What do you think his plan of attack might be?

The spots are just on the hood .... so even if he had to remove the Zaino ... I guess he could just do that section.

I don't know -- it makes me sick to think that I may have actually damaged the paint by trying too hard to protect it. Makes me feel stupid because the average person who doesn't give a rat's ass about his car would not have this problem ... because they never touch their cars.

Just goes to show .... if you don't want to screw something up ... just don't mess with it.

I'll let you know how bad it looks in natural light ... but I'm the kind of person who would be bothered by it. So I'm open to suggestions on what to do. I guess a consultation with a professional is my next step.

What a great weekend. 2.5 days of washing and Zaino ... and now I need to take it to a pro.

 

The problem is repairable and you can do it with a little guidance. I'd try working just those spots with a light paint cleanser like S100 SEC. It has mild abrasives and you can't really mess it up. If that doesn't work then something a tad stronger like Vanilla Moose. If that doesn't work then Meguiar's professional line will do the trick. Start with DACP and move up the abrasive chain if that doesn't work. DACP does the trick on about 95% of swirls and scratches for me. Always start with the mildest polish you can use though. You'll be needing your clear coat. All of these polishes can be worked by hand if you know how but some of them are hard to break down as they require heat from friction.. Dacp is best used with either a PC or a rotary.

After you use a heavier abrasive polish you'll once again want to step down using the less abrasive polishes. This will take out any hazing that may have been caused the the heavier polishes.

 

[QUOTE=Honda 224 GTS,Aug 1 2004, 02:16 PM] One more question: