zaino vs adam's

[RedJewel2SS]

the shipping has more to do with how far it is being shipped than what you buy and who you buy it from.

i ordered stuff friday from Adam's the package on the tracking info says it is 25 lbs and it was $11.xx

[Junkman2008]

Originally Posted by RedJewel2SS

the shipping has more to do with how far it is being shipped than what you buy and who you buy it from.

i ordered stuff friday from Adam's the package on the tracking info says it is 25 lbs and it was $11.xx

That's why Adam moved the warehouse to Colorado from California. It gets the products to everyone faster and it centrally located the warehouse.

[Hylton]

Originally Posted by Moose

It all come's down to personal preference.

I've been a lifelong user of Zaino, and I've never tried Adam's, but I'm sure their products are very good as well.

For my money, nothing beats Zaino for shine and durability. But again, thats just my opinion..

Please let me know of your findings if you do try Adam's. There is nobody I trust more when it comes to detailing information then you.

[Viral]

I'm interested in hearing your results too. Just like you said, even as a happy Zaino user, I heard good things about Adams (and had great experiences using their pads and other products) and tried it for myself. My results were very good, just not quite on par with Zainos, but from what I've been told, it may be that I was recommended the wrong products. Let us know what you find.

[Junkman2008]

Originally Posted by Viral

I'm interested in hearing your results too. Just like you said, even as a happy Zaino user, I heard good things about Adams (and had great experiences using their pads and other products) and tried it for myself. My results were very good, just not quite on par with Zainos, but from what I've been told, it may be that I was recommended the wrong products. Let us know what you find.

Since I know everyone who you could have possibly spoken with at Adam's, I find it next to impossible to believe that someone recommended the wrong products to you. Anyone that you could have spoken with has been with the company for years and are extremely knowledgeable about the product line. It may have been that you were not clear in what you were looking for but here's an option. Ask me. I can get you all the information that you may need and I guarantee you that it will be accurate.

[Viral]

Originally Posted by Junkman2008

Since I know everyone who you could have possibly spoken with at Adam's, I find it next to impossible to believe that someone recommended the wrong products to you. Anyone that you could have spoken with has been with the company for years and are extremely knowledgeable about the product line. It may have been that you were not clear in what you were looking for but here's an option. Ask me. I can get you all the information that you may need and I guarantee you that it will be accurate.

This was back around late 2006, so I definitely don't remember who it was I spoke with, only that it was a guy and was not Adam. I'm not blaming Adams CS for the mix up. It could be that they simply didn't know Zaino products well or I didn't make myself clear.

For now, I'm not interested in the interior, wheel or accessory products. I mainly want something comparable to Z2Pro, Z6 and Z8. (Last time I ordered, I only mentioned the first two because I had not tried Z8 yet). Again, I was recommended Buttery Wax and Detail Spray. Someone in this thread told me that to Match Z2 and Z6, I'd also need Revive Polish.

However, I generally use my PC for polishing, so I'm guessing that I'd probably need Fine Machine Polish rather than Revive Polish, which appears to be for hand polishing, correct? Are these equal products in performance?

I used up the detail spray long ago claying my car, but I probably still have that bottle of buttery wax in storage, although I'm not sure I'd want to use 4 year old wax on my car

So was the other guy right? Fine Machine Polish + Buttery Wax = Z2Pro, Detail Spray = Z6, and possibly Brilliant Spray Glaze = Z8?

[Michael_Js]

Z8 is very tough to use and I rarely use it! You have to have the right temps and conditions - car temp as well. It streaks otherwise. I don't care for it...I mainly use the Z6.

[Junkman2008]

Originally Posted by Viral

This was back around late 2006, so I definitely don't remember who it was I spoke with, only that it was a guy and was not Adam. I'm not blaming Adams CS for the mix up. It could be that they simply didn't know Zaino products well or I didn't make myself clear.

For now, I'm not interested in the interior, wheel or accessory products. I mainly want something comparable to Z2Pro, Z6 and Z8. (Last time I ordered, I only mentioned the first two because I had not tried Z8 yet). Again, I was recommended Buttery Wax and Detail Spray. Someone in this thread told me that to Match Z2 and Z6, I'd also need Revive Polish.

However, I generally use my PC for polishing, so I'm guessing that I'd probably need Fine Machine Polish rather than Revive Polish, which appears to be for hand polishing, correct? Are these equal products in performance?

I used up the detail spray long ago claying my car, but I probably still have that bottle of buttery wax in storage, although I'm not sure I'd want to use 4 year old wax on my car

So was the other guy right? Fine Machine Polish + Buttery Wax = Z2Pro, Detail Spray = Z6, and possibly Brilliant Spray Glaze = Z8?

Since Z8 did nothing for me visually, it is hard to say from a visual aspect what Adam's product would be equivalent. However, if you go by the product description, Adam's Brilliant Spray Glaze would be similar to Z8.

I would agree that Z6 is equivalent to Adam's Detail Spray.

Adam's Machine Superwax is similar to Z5.

Now Z2 is a bit confusing when you look at the description. It doesn't do any paint correction so it is not a polish as you would traditionally consider it. However, it is not a wax either. When you read the product description, it is applied as a traditional sealant would be applied, but the results remind me of what a carnuba paste wax would do. Thus, I would call the equivalent of Z2 to be the Adam's Americana Paste Wax. Z2 does not provide nearly the protection that Americana does but all of the other product description for Z2 match the closest with the Americana.

Revive and the Fine Machine Polishes are FSP's and have correction ability to them. They do finish down to a beautiful shine and give the illusion of the car having wax on it. The picture I posted earlier of my Vette only has been polished with FMP.

Originally Posted by Michael_Js

Z8 is very tough to use and I rarely use it! You have to have the right temps and conditions - car temp as well. It streaks otherwise. I don't care for it...I mainly use the Z6.

I still have a practically new bottle of Z8 that I bought years ago. I never really saw any difference after applying it. I thought Z6 was a much better product as far as actual results that I could see. In the end, that's the most important variable for me. Results that I can see.

[Viral]

Michael_J - I'm surprised to hear your results with Z8. In my experience, it's head and shoulders above Z6. The products aren't even comparable. All you have to do is VERY lightly mist a panel with Z8, wipe it all over with your MF towel, then flip the towel to the dry side for one more quick wipe. It never streaks and looks absolutely stunning in comparison to Z6. Sometimes you need more than one towel for the whole car though if it starts getting too damp.

Junkman - thanks for the info. To me, Z2Pro is the keystone to Zaino's shine, depth and durability. Everything else is just extra. Z5 doesn't even come close to comparing. Now that I no longer have a black car, I won't even bother with Z5 anymore. In my comparison, the Z2Pro is what made buttery wax seem so lifeless in comparison, side by side. You know their product inside and out and are STILL having a hard time recommending the equivalent products in Adams. Now do you see why the guy on the phone might have had the exact same issue 4 years ago?

Based on the videos I remember seeing from Adam, I can't imagine that Americana paste wax could possibly be the best analog to Z2Pro. You can use Z2 on clear coat, wheels, even vinyl graphics, everywhere, with great results, since it's a liquid polish that won't dry to a haze and isn't temperature sensitive.

[Junkman2008]

Originally Posted by Viral

... You know their product inside and out and are STILL having a hard time recommending the equivalent products in Adams. Now do you see why the guy on the phone might have had the exact same issue 4 years ago?

As Dylan accurately mentioned before, that's because Zaino has their own method of going about getting paint to shine. It is not the standard method that more traditional manufacturer's use. The folks you talked to at Adam's know Adam's products inside and out. It would have been up to you to accurately explain exactly what the Zaino product does is order for them to recommend the correct Adam's equivalent.

Originally Posted by Viral

Based on the videos I remember seeing from Adam, I can't imagine that Americana paste wax could possibly be the best analog to Z2Pro. You can use Z2 on clear coat, wheels, even vinyl graphics, everywhere, with great results, since it's a liquid polish that won't dry to a haze and isn't temperature sensitive.

Like you said, I know Adam's products inside and out and you just explained some of the many advantages of Americana. It does not dry to haze because you don't allow it to dry at all. You wipe it on and wipe it off. Because of its high carnuba content, it protects much better than Z2 and last a lot longer. It can be applied to anything. Americana is your Z2.

Since I have used both products extensively AND have documented that use through videos and pictures, anyone can see the results that I have achieved. Adam's offers a 110% money back guarantee. It cost you nothing but time to try any Adam's product, not a guarantee that you'll find anyone else in the industry giving.

Not even Zaino.

[Michael_Js]

Originally Posted by Viral

Michael_J - I'm surprised to hear your results with Z8. In my experience, it's head and shoulders above Z6. The products aren't even comparable. All you have to do is VERY lightly mist a panel with Z8, wipe it all over with your MF towel, then flip the towel to the dry side for one more quick wipe. It never streaks and looks absolutely stunning in comparison to Z6. Sometimes you need more than one towel for the whole car though if it starts getting too damp.

Junkman - thanks for the info. To me, Z2Pro is the keystone to Zaino's shine, depth and durability. Everything else is just extra. Z5 doesn't even come close to comparing. Now that I no longer have a black car, I won't even bother with Z5 anymore. In my comparison, the Z2Pro is what made buttery wax seem so lifeless in comparison, side by side. You know their product inside and out and are STILL having a hard time recommending the equivalent products in Adams. Now do you see why the guy on the phone might have had the exact same issue 4 years ago?

Based on the videos I remember seeing from Adam, I can't imagine that Americana paste wax could possibly be the best analog to Z2Pro. You can use Z2 on clear coat, wheels, even vinyl graphics, everywhere, with great results, since it's a liquid polish that won't dry to a haze and isn't temperature sensitive.

I have found that Z8 streaks in most applications. The car can't be too warm, or too cool. it has to be JUST right, and I'm never sure what temp that it. For me, it almost always leaves streaks and is hard to get off cleanly. I prefer the Z6 since I can't figure out how to correctly use the Z8.

Thanks,
Michael J.

[Tecca]

Originally Posted by Michael_Js

I have found that Z8 streaks in most applications. The car can't be too warm, or too cool. it has to be JUST right, and I'm never sure what temp that it. For me, it almost always leaves streaks and is hard to get off cleanly. I prefer the Z6 since I can't figure out how to correctly use the Z8.

Thanks,
Michael J.

When I started using Zaino a couple years ago I had the same damn problem, it would even haze. Talking with Sal he thought I might have gotten a bad batch and he replaced it immediatly. Same thing, to find out I was putting too much on. When using Z8 I got some of those little 4os spray bottles and put only two to three squirts on and it solved my problem immediatly.

However since then I have stopped using Zaino except for thier leather conditioner, and occationally pull out my stuff of Adams, and just use it on my beater.

I have been in love with the stuff from Blackfire, Chemical Guys, and Optimum, and I'll be trying out some of the stuff from HD Car Care this weekend.

My problem currently is silver, although easy to take care of as it hides scratches well, you cannot get that pop like you can with a black or red car. So after talking with some other guys I am going to try Chemical Guys E-zyme Natura on top of blackfire to see how that works. Granted it is $275 for a 16oz of wax.

[2LTRS]

Originally Posted by Teccboxx

When I started using Zaino a couple years ago I had the same damn problem, it would even haze. Talking with Sal he thought I might have gotten a bad batch and he replaced it immediatly. Same thing, to find out I was putting too much on. When using Z8 I got some of those little 4os spray bottles and put only two to three squirts on and it solved my problem immediatly.

However since then I have stopped using Zaino except for thier leather conditioner, and occationally pull out my stuff of Adams, and just use it on my beater.

I have been in love with the stuff from Blackfire, Chemical Guys, and Optimum, and I'll be trying out some of the stuff from HD Car Care this weekend.

My problem currently is silver, although easy to take care of as it hides scratches well, you cannot get that pop like you can with a black or red car. So after talking with some other guys I am going to try Chemical Guys E-zyme Natura on top of blackfire to see how that works. Granted it is $275 for a 16oz of wax.

Good lord thats pricey... Just try their 50/50 or petes 53 before going all out on the e-zyme. IMHO there is no "wax" that outshines another. you'll never see a 50/50 hood with two different waxes, because no one can tell the difference. Wax difference would be durability. Shine comes from proper prep of the clear coat, its the clear coat that shines.. My .02, i bet AJ will back me up on this one.

[Viral]

Originally Posted by Junkman2008

Like you said, I know Adam's products inside and out and you just explained some of the many advantages of Americana. It does not dry to haze because you don't allow it to dry at all. You wipe it on and wipe it off. Because of its high carnuba content, it protects much better than Z2 and last a lot longer. It can be applied to anything. Americana is your Z2.

Ok then, the Junkman has spoken! As the foremost Adam's expert here, I'll trust your judgment that Americana is the Adams equal to Z2Pro and will perform equally. And I'm assuming by your comments, it's completely safe to use on my vinyl stripes? And that can be used directly after a wash, no fine machine polish needed to match Z2?

OK so looking at their site...

Americana Wax (10oz) @ $69.95 vs Zaino Z2Pro (8oz) @ $14.95 ????

WOW! Someone tell me again why I'm considering doing this??? LOL