Detailing questions answered here!

[racer778]

Thanks Will do

[Rocks RS]

How often can one use Zainos Z5?

Monthly, 3-4 times a year,etc?

[2LTRS]

Originally Posted by Rocks RS

How often can one use Zainos Z5?

Monthly, 3-4 times a year,etc?

Moose? Its been a long time for me...

[WhiteCrane]

What s the purpose of Terrycloth? IS it an applicator? It seems abrasive to me.

[MuttGrunt]

Originally Posted by Rocks RS

How often can one use Zainos Z5?

Monthly, 3-4 times a year,etc?

As often as you'd like? It shouldn't be too abrasive if at all which means you can use it fairly often depending on your application method. With somewhere between 40-60 microns of clear-coat, with normal polishing you shouldn't be taking off more than 2 microns of clear per use. You may be taking off even less which is a good thing. If I am correct, Z5 is more of an acrylic glaze made to hide imperfections temporarily.
Best bet (unless shes a show queen) is to only polish once or twice a year. The main focus should be preservation. If you're not keeping a high shine for long, you have bigger issues than how often to use Z5, so double check your towels, wash method, etc. Glazes surely have their place; they're great before shows/events, or to use for the couple of months prior to polishing so you don't drive yourself crazy, but in the long run you'll want to actually correct the paint to remove the defects rather than mask them.
Aside from that, I'm sure Sal Zaino will have no problem with you spending more and more money on Z5

(PS Hope there's no problem with me answering this question!)

[MuttGrunt]

Originally Posted by WhiteCrane

What s the purpose of Terrycloth? IS it an applicator? It seems abrasive to me.

It's just a style of weave. Prior to the invention of microfiber, cloth diapers were thought to be the softest thing available, which is why many guys have, and still do use them a wax/sealant removers, etc.
With microfiber technology being first developed for kitchen use, car buffs quickly jumped on board the benefits of a material more fine than silk, and more absorbent than cotton. Now a days, microfiber has been the way to go. Sure it can be pricey, but a collection of quality towels + the right technique can keep your finish looking much better for much longer than terry-style towels of the past.

Terry towels, terry-style applicators, terry rags, etc - they all still exist and they're not all bad: I find them my go to choice for working metal polish onto exhaust tips or metal engine bay pieces. They can also come in handy if you need to scrub something off hard interior surfaces but don't want to be too aggressive.

You can choose to use anything on your car; it's yours, but I'd only recommend using the best stuff available on delicate surfaces like paint and Nav screens/radio screens.

[garcmol]

Originally Posted by Rocks RS

How often can one use Zainos Z5?

Monthly, 3-4 times a year,etc?

Z5 has nothing abrasive in it. It's a polish designed to "fill" minor imperfections and swirls. My wife's car has 6 coats of Z5 and 2 coats of Z2. You won't shave any clearcoat off of the car with Z5. Zaino just says no more than 3 coats (used with ZFX, there additive) in one day.

Those 6 coats I put on were done in 2 days. Day 3 got the Z2.

[Moose]

Originally Posted by racer778

Would like your advice on using the California car duster. whether to use it or not. I have accomplished the whole zaino process so I am "maintaining" the shine at this time until the next round of polishing

Sorry for the delay in responding.

I bought a Cal. Duster last year, and have used it twice on my SS. It works OK IMO, but I prefer to use Zaino Z6 with a clean cotton towel to wipe down my car.

I will occassionally use the duster on my Jeep, but for my SS, which is black, I like to take the extra time and caution by using Z6.

Ed

[Moose]

Originally Posted by Rocks RS

How often can one use Zainos Z5?

Monthly, 3-4 times a year,etc?

Originally Posted by 2LTRS

Moose? Its been a long time for me...

Use it as often as you feel necessary. There's absolutely NO problem in using Z5 anytime you like. I follow up Z5 with Z2, once I'm happy with the results from using Z5.

Sorry I took so long to respond.
Ed

[Moose]

Originally Posted by WhiteCrane

What s the purpose of Terrycloth? IS it an applicator? It seems abrasive to me.

Personally, I would not use terrycloth for anything other than interior detailing.

For polish application, I prefer the cotton applicators provided by Zaino. I've also used microfiber applicators on cars I've detailed, where Zaino isn't requested.

Ed

[Fuze]

Moose, I scanned all 19 pages, don't think this question was asked. A bird decided to use my car as a toilet. When I washed the car I noticed the droppings stained my black vinyl stripes. Any suggestions to fix this?

[Moose]

Originally Posted by Fuze

Moose, I scanned all 19 pages, don't think this question was asked. A bird decided to use my car as a toilet. When I washed the car I noticed the droppings stained my black vinyl stripes. Any suggestions to fix this?

Unfortunately the only remedy may be new stripes. :(

Some stripes I've seen are clear coated, which would allow you to polish out the blemish...I do not believe the black stripes on the 5th gen. to be clear coated.

[Fuze]

Originally Posted by Moose

Unfortunately the only remedy may be new stripes. :(

Some stripes I've seen are clear coated, which would allow you to polish out the blemish...I do not believe the black stripes on the 5th gen. to be clear coated.

Well....that sucks.

[gofast908z]

Originally Posted by MuttGrunt

As often as you'd like? It shouldn't be too abrasive if at all which means you can use it fairly often depending on your application method. With somewhere between 40-60 microns of clear-coat, with normal polishing you shouldn't be taking off more than 2 microns of clear per use. You may be taking off even less which is a good thing. If I am correct, Z5 is more of an acrylic glaze made to hide imperfections temporarily.
Best bet (unless shes a show queen) is to only polish once or twice a year. The main focus should be preservation. If you're not keeping a high shine for long, you have bigger issues than how often to use Z5, so double check your towels, wash method, etc. Glazes surely have their place; they're great before shows/events, or to use for the couple of months prior to polishing so you don't drive yourself crazy, but in the long run you'll want to actually correct the paint to remove the defects rather than mask them.
Aside from that, I'm sure Sal Zaino will have no problem with you spending more and more money on Z5

(PS Hope there's no problem with me answering this question!)

Zaino Z5 does not contain any abrassives. Not sure why they label it a polish when it really is a sealant.