Using Zaino to Protect Car Finish

 

Many moons ago, auto enthusiasts enlightened me on what products to use to maintain my car's exterior using the best products in terms of protection, durability, and producing a show car shine.

This process is centered around the Zaino family of products.  In a 2014 post, I described how to properly wash a car in this post.  That post also quickly described using Zaino.

But it didn't describe how to get started with Zaino on a car that hadn't been Zaino-ized before so I'm creating a new post today.

A. Preparing A Car For First Zaino Treatment

If the car does not have Zaino on it from a prior application,  washing the car will involve an extra step.  Wash the car with liquid Dawn dishwashing soap.  This will remove all prior waxes and polishes to give a solid base to start using Zaino.

Then thoroughly wash it a second time using the process described here (never use an automatic car wash!!!).

If this is the car's first Zaino treatment, use a clay bar and with water from a hose to remove sap and other impurities that may still be sticking to the paint.  Use of a clay bar is described here in Step 5.  Key note: NEVER rub the clay bar on the paint without water - it may scratch the paint if water is not used as a lubricant between the clay and the paint.  And remember to glide the clay over the paint gently - do not press down!

A clay bar can also be used in the future should the existing Zaino coat become contaminated with sap and other impurities again -  just start from scratch by using a Dawn wash, a regular wash, and then a clay bar.

Note I normally use Zaino's clay bar but any clay bar from the automotive section of a store should work just as well - this is good to know in cases where you don't have time to wait for a Zaino delivery.

With the surface of the car perfectly clean and dry from the above steps, it is time to apply the first Zaino product layer.

This initial layer will be Zaino Z-AIO (All In One).  If there is any residue still on the paint surface, Z-AIO will lift and remove it.  It will also smooth out minor paint flaws, restore dull and oxidized paint, and provide a excellent bonding surface for the Zaino coats to come in the steps below.

Use a cotton applicator as shown below to apply Z-AIO and remove it with a blonde towel once it has dried.  A little Z-AIO goes a long way!  An entire vehicle only needs about 1 ounce of Z-AIO.

NOTE:  Application of Z-AIO should be done in a shady area that is not windy such as a garage.  Temperature should be 6o to 90 degrees F - cooler temperatures will make the process take longer, hotter temperatures may make the product dry too fast.

This step is optional but if the car has fine scratches or swirl marks, a coat of Zaino Z-5 is recommended.

This provides an even smoother surface for the upcoming polish for additional shine, depth and clarity!

If the car's paint surface has quite a few imperfections,  multiple coats of Zaino Z-5 may be applied.

NOTE:  Application of Z-5 should be done in a shady area that is not windy such as a garage.  Temperature should be 6o to 90 degrees F - cooler temperatures will make the process take longer, hotter temperatures may make the product dry too fast.

B.  Applying The Zaino Polish

It is time!  The paint surface has been properly prepared in Step A above and is ready for Zaino Z-2!

I find that one bottle of Z-2 can be used to apply 2-3 coats to at least one vehicle and if used on small enough vehicles it may be enough for two vehicles.

NOTE:  Application of Z-2 should be done in a shady area that is not windy such as a garage.  Temperature should be 6o to 90 degrees F - cooler temperatures will make the process take longer, hotter temperatures may make the product dry too fast.

Use a cotton applicator such as the one shown here to apply the Zaino Z-2.  After thoroughly shaking the Z-2, squeeze a small bead of it on the paint of the vehicle.  Use the cotton applicator to spread the Z-2 out using swirling motions to cover all of the paint with a thin layer.

Now we wait!

Note Zaino sells white cotton applicators that work great.  But any cotton applicator made for vehicles will work.

Depending on the temperature, Z-2 may dry in 30 minutes (warmer temps) to 4 hours (cooler temps).  If running a finger over the Z-2 on the paint yields a white powder on your finger, the Z-2 is ready to be removed.

The Zaino Blonde Borderfree towels are my choice by far!  I keep many in my cabinet ready at all times - they are washable so they can be reused. 

Lightly run the towel over the Z-2 and remove all of the Z-2 residue - the paint should look fabulous after it is removed!  

I normally apply three coats of Z-2 to my cars to give very thorough protection to my paint.

If the car is garaged, these Z-2 layers should last at least 6 months and many times may last a complete year.  Cars that are kept outdoors overnight and during the day may require another coat in 3 to 6 months, depending on the severity of the outdoor conditions.

Now let's seal everything with Zaino Z-CS Clear Seal!  This final layer is applied and that's it - no buffing, no removal with a blonde towel, nothing!  Apply it and it's done!

Use a SEPERATE, DIFFERENT cotton applicator to lightly cover the entire painted surface with Z-CS and discard the applicator afterward.

A quarter-ounce of this product covers the entire car so use it sparingly!

Use of Z-CS will yield an incredible shine and increase the amount of time the Z-2 coats will last, ensuring maximum time elapses before the next time the car needs paint protection applied.

Highly recommended!

NOTE:  Application of Z-CS should be done in a shady area that is not windy such as a garage.  Temperature should be 6o to 90 degrees F.

And finally,  after allowing the Z-2 and Z-CS to dry for a few hours, use the Z-8 Grand Finale Spray Seal to enhance the shine and protect the other Zaino layers are providing.

This will keep the paint displaying an incredible deep, rich shine that is ultra-slick to the touch and ensures the paint is protected as long as possible.

Spray it on and immediately wipe it off with a cotton cloth.  That's all that is required!  And it smells great too!

If the Z-8 dries on the paint before it is wiped off, simply apply another coat of Z-8 and wipe it off quickly.

NOTE:  Application of Z-8 should be done in a shady area that is not windy such as a garage.  Temperature should be 6o to 90 degrees F, the cooler side is better than the warmer side with Z-8.

C. Maintaining that Zaino Shine and Protection.

Use Z-8 after each car wash to maintain that fabulous Zaino shine!

Every 6 months (if car is kept outside) or one year (if the car is garaged) repeat Step B.   If the car paint becomes contaminated with sap or other debris, go all the way back to Step A.  Typically, I only need to go back to Step A every 3-5 years on my garaged vehicles and every 1-2 years on my outdoor vehicles.

My 1970 Journal - Introduction

 

In 1970, I was given an assignment to write a journal / diary for 30 days.  I don't recall if the assignment was given to me in my fourth grade class or in cub scouts.

The photo to the right was taken within a month or two of my writing the journal.  The photo appears to be from a photo booth that were commonly found in downtown areas at the time.  They are kind of extinct now with the advent of cell phones.

In early 1970 when I wrote my journal, my family was living on Grand Forks Air Force Base (GFAFB) in North Dakota.  We lived there from mid-1966 to mid-1970.  I lived with my father, mother and sister who was two years younger than me.  I was 9 years old in early 1970 and attending fourth grade.

The following posts show each page of the journal and give a glimpse as to what each entry meant.   Some days were rather boring, but hang with it as there is some good info in some of the posts!  If you just read one day, read February 7th.

Enjoy.

January 24, 1970 - Puppets, Bear Book, and Belts

 

"To town" meant traveling from GFAFB where we lived to the city of Grand Forks about 15 miles away.  Among the stores we shopped at in Grand Forks were Sears and K-Mart.

I have no recollection of a "Bear Book" or a Charlie Brown puppet.

The blue text was written by my mother.  My handwriting starts with the word "Work", also in blue text.

January 25, 1970 - Scout Book

 

Mom worked at the Family Store (Building 211) on GFAFB.  This is where I bought most of the plastic car model kits I assembled as a kid and where I was introduced to CARtoons magazine which I regularly purchased.

"Dad's shop" referred to the repair shop (Building 622) for the AGM-28 Hound Dog missile that my father managed.  The shop had extensive test consoles and a huge bay that could hold several missiles at the same time.  He managed a staff of between 5 and 10 people as I recall.

(my handwriting)

January 26, 1970 - Hockey and Library

 

In PE during fourth grade, we played hockey indoors in the school gymnasium which I enjoyed greatly.  One of the first real-event stories I would tell as a young boy was about the day two players hit the puck from opposite directions, sending the puck sailing skyward and hitting the ceiling of the gym.   My 9 year old brain saw that as an exciting story.  It was only after telling the story a few times did I realize that no one else found it exciting.  It gave me a data point as to what makes a great story.

I'm not sure if "went to the library" referred to the GFAFB library (Building 201) or the Twining school library.  It was likely the Twining library as we only went to Building 201 a few times in four years.  At the Twining library, I checked out books on Henry Ford, Walter Chrysler, and Thomas Edison.

(my handwriting)

January 27, 1970 - Hockey and Math

 

My handwriting.

January 28, 1970 - Social Studies and Art

 

My handwriting.