HighPSI

i was reading the directions and i understand it like this:

dawn wash (if needed), clay, Z7 wash, dry

mix ZFX with z2pro, apply (says circular motion? then side to side for top, up/down for sides), wait atleast an hour, check for dryness, remove

wait 6 hours (?!?!?) before the next coat of z2pro or Z5, apply/remove Z6, then repeat above step with Z2pro or Z5 according to need, wait another 6 hours, apply/remove Z6, Z2pro/Z5..so on and so forth, always end with Z2pro then Z6...

okay, so that seems to be it, the basics, so basically, to do multiple coats of z2pro/z5 it will take multiple days?

do you guys do any additional/discretionary things in the process?

follow the directions exactly as described by zaino on website? circular motion?
after clay, if i have some decent swirls and whatnot, should i use GEPC and perhaps more aggressive swirl remover/polish then go through zaino process?

thoughts on using orbital for application? worthwhile or not needed?

TIA, i've been a polish/klasse/blitz guy, but im just not getting the results id like, which i know is more of my technique with the orbital than anything else (i suck), but i gotta get back to that like new, deep, shiney, wet, swirl/scratch free black!!

Jiggsy

you dont have to wait 6 hours in between coats- after you buff away the Z2-PRO w/ ZFX, and apply Z6, you can immediately add another coat of Z2-PRO w/ ZFX- no waiting necessary. From Zaino's website:
<i>
After buffing, spray the car with a light mist of Z-6â„¢ Gloss Enhancer detailing spray. Z-6â„¢ will help buff away any remaining residue and enhances the brightness of the finish. Using Z-6â„¢, the next coat of Zaino Show Car Polish will apply even easier.


You're now ready to apply your next coat of Zaino Show Car Polish enabled with ZFXâ„¢. There's no need to wait. Simply repeat steps 4-7 above one more time. Apply no more than three coats of ZFXâ„¢ in a 24 hour period. For optimum results, use ZFXâ„¢ within 6 hours of mixing. Use a fresh cotton buffing towel for removal of each coat. </i>

I apply Zaino not in circular motions, but in horizontal and vertical motions, following the contours of the car. (up/down on the sides...back to front on hood, roof, etc). I suppose you could do a combination of both, as you state.

Also, I've found that by the time I'm finished applying a coat of Z2 to the entire car- I can immediately begin buffing it off from where I first started. It doesnt take much time to dry- especially if it's warm out.

Good luck!~

Tundraman

And, even with Zaino, prep is where it's all at!

RKA

It takes very little product to work up the paint. If you use an orbital...you'll need to load up the pad with adequate product, and most of that will get washed down the drain when you wash the pad. Waste of money really.

Secondly, once you start working with Zaino, you'll see how easy it is to apply, and you'll understand why it's a waste to break out on orbital for this task.

myfirstimport

I have been washing with dawn for about 2 weeks. On saturday, I washed with dawn, and pulled car into garage without drying it.

Used zaino clay bar and squirt bottle of saopy dawn water.

Washed car again with dawn, pulled car into garage and dried.

wait about 1 hour.

mix zfx with Z5...apply...waited 30 mins...removed by hand.

spray with Z6

had a beer.

mix zfx with Z2...apply...waited 30 mins...removed by hand.

Spray with Z6

mix zfx with Z2...apply...waited 30 mins...removed by hand.

Spray with Z6

Took pictures.

HighPSI

it says

"7. After removal of Zaino Z-2 PRO or Z-5. You should wait 24 hours if the outside temperature is under 70 degrees and 6 hours if over 70 degrees, before applying the next coat of Z-5 or Z-2 PRO."

muzzy996

to reduce the wait time.

I'm not sure why folks are waiting so long to remove Zaino. As Jiggsy pointed out, I apply to the whole car and by the time I've done that I grab a fresh MF and start removing where I first applied.

If you have to wait for it then you're putting it on too thick. I would think that temperature and humidity obviously plays a part BUT it is very humid here in Hawaii so unless it's cold where you're at I don't see the need for 30 minute wait times between coats.

I do 3 coats of Z5 with about 1.5 oz of product. It's a little more difficult to do that with Z2Pro since it sticks to the sides of the bottle making it hard to stretch the product out. .

The whole "Zaino is a PITA to apply" thing that some folks mention strikes me as odd too sometimes. My last Zaino application on my A6 was back on January 8th. The car still beads well today though bead height has diminished somewhat and I do plan to do a full detail to clean up some marring that got introduced during a month long assignment near a quarry. I must say that the durability I see with Zaino generally equalizes the effort spent over time. Were I still using Klasse topped with Carnuba I would surely have spent equal if not more effort to get the same performance. Not that that combination is a bad one, I liked the look of it too. I think the key to getting Z to last is sticking within the system and doing good preparation. I've tried Z on my wife's van without polishing and the durability was horrible. It also helps to wash with Z7 and follow up with Z6 or Z8 to keep the slickness up.

Jester7677

For an A4, one ounce will cover one A4.

Even when using ZFX on a dry day, try to wait 45 min before wiping the car off.

April

Following the correct steps no matter what you are using and regular detailings are paramount to long term success. It's fine to shine up the car once in a while, but when you need to do it regularly (or have 8 cars like me), you need to streamline. I use clay as little as possible, and all application and removal is done by hand. If you keep it up regularly, it's not that much work.

Here's original 257,000 mile 1987 paint. It has lived outside now and then, but is usually covered by a quality car cover.

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/ella-wax.jpg">

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/wax-ella.jpg">

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Shiny-Alfa/alfa-2.jpg">

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Shiny-Alfa/alfa-3.jpg">

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Shiny-Alfa/alfa-4.jpg">

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Shiny-Alfa/alfa-5.jpg"><ul><li><a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a3/msgs/49917.phtml">what I do</a></li></ul>

HighPSI

doing another coat...it says ~30mins between putting on and taking off, but anywhere from 24 to 6 hours before putting another coat on