Question for Zaino users

I did two coats on my 2006 Prius and the finish easily weathered a tough New England winter and is still looking good. I'll treat it to a fresh coat in the coming weeks to celebrate summer.

 

You don't really see the Z6 when you put it on, it's afterword when the car is so smooth and shiny that you know it did something. I think you're working too hard.

 

It's obvious from your post that you're applying the product way too heavily.

 

Results supposedly are cumulative with each coat, but I'm sure there's a point of diminishing returns. The most I've applied is three.

The most common mistake in application, from what both Zaino and forum reports suggest, is applying it too thick. I would think the un-buffed Z2 would be harder to see on white than on any other color, so I suggest not trying to apply any more than the instructions suggest just to see a noticeable haze.

IIRC, the instructions suggest the surface be cool, whether in direct sunlight or shade. As long as outside temp is above the minimum (50F?), you should be OK with either. But then, I don't know how the surface can stay too cool on a warm day in direct sunlight, so I generally do mine in the shade. That also keeps me from sweating quite as much.

It's not that you have the "wrong color" for Zaino. IMHO, the optical quality of any good polish or wax seems to stand out more on certain colors. For the Prius, based on pics I've seen here, Barcelona Red and black look especially good with a properly applied Zaino treatment. For other colors, including my Seaside Pearl, the effects seem a little more subtle. I would think white would be in the latter category. My fiancee has a gold-colored Corolla, very similar to the Prius Driftwood Pearl. A good Zaino treatment on that didn't seem to have much effect, though it was still pretty new when I gave it the treatment.

But as others have suggested, it's not only the optical quality Zaino provides; it's the durability. Six months after application, my finish still beads water.

 

couple tips from a long time zaino user...

water your Z6 down 1:1 or 2:1 Z6:water with distilled water. you accomplish 2 things: extend a pricey product, and make it much easier to apply without applying way too much.

next, spritz your applicator with the watered-down Z6 very lightly before each panel. not "wet", but damp. this will make even, thin coats far easier.

finally, let everything dry longer than reccomended. I dont use ZFX, but when I apply Z2pro, I generally dont remove it for 4-8 hours. Many times I've let it sit overnight in my garage. this makes streaks and haziness a non-issue since the zaino is entirely cured.

when you run out of ZFX or Z2, check out Z-CS. it is far superior from what I can tell thus far (used it on 2 cars).

 

I Zainoed both my Prius last week when the weather was nice (back to 65° F and rainy again now). I used Z2 and ZFX, filling the little bottle half full of Z2 and adding 4 drops of ZFX. With that amount I did two coats on one car. Then I mixed up the same amount and did the other car twice.

You need to really be sparing in the amount of Zaino you use, so you almost can't tell you've applied anything. Both my cars are silver, so like your white one, it's really hard to see it haze. I just put it on and cover all surfaces even though I can't see it. I wait as long as it says for the polish to dry and cure, then a little longer. When I wipe it down and use the finish spray, the cars gleam.

 

What they said brother. use it sparingly and it is better than using it too heavy. Lots of light coats are better than one thick one. You can give the car 3 coats before you need to wait 24 hours unless you use the ZFX. I think I have 6 or 8 coats of z5 and 3 or 4 of Z2 with the Z6 or the new one (cannot remember its name/number) in between each coat. look for my album on the site for pretty decent pics. I really got good lighting on the back of my red Prii and it shows the glossy plastic layer coating. really great stuff. addictive however. I expect to put another coat or two on it each and every friday or two.

You see, the zino gets into your blood stream thru your skin then you are hooked ! Sal Zaino knew what he was doing!