firehawk933

I got my zaino kit last friday, I washed with Dawn, clay barred the whole thing, did 2 coats of Z5,using the gloss enhancer spray in between coats. Today I did one more coat of Z5,sprayed with enhancer, then one coat of Z2. I will wait to make judgement on this stuff until I put another coat of Z2. How many coats does it typically take to get that "wet" look?

PFDarkside

Three coats should pretty much do it. What condition is your paint in? Maybe it needs more prep than just Dawn and clay? Do you have any high quality pics you can post?

Tailwind

You probably won't get a "wet" look with Zaino.

It'll shine better than most anything out there, and it'll make dark colors look like a mirror from certain angles, but it just doesn't have depth or wetness. That's the way it is.

I agree on the coats, 3-5 at most. Anything past that is probably just wasted product.

JackZ28

You couldn't be more wrong, Tailwind! If this doesn't look wet, I must not know what wet looks like!

http://www.jackz28.com/j&j/p1010036.jpg

Mike02Z

iTrader: (13)

Did you start off with ZFX or Z1? I thought you needed to start with one of these followed by Z5 or Z2? I spent 5 days doing mine and it looks amazing. Z1 followed by Z5 followed by 5 coats of Z2 one coat per day for 5 days. It looks so good I don't want to even take it out of the garage

JackZ28

Mike I know what you mean, but I want everyone else to see what it looks like too!

1BadMoFo

iTrader: (1)

I know what wet looks like!

Nice car by the way.

And I am going to have to go read what the Z1 is, because I didn't even get it with my kit, and as I re-reading the directions last night, it too was staying start with Z1 of the new ZFX...

1BadMoFo

iTrader: (1)

aaaaaah, now I understand....my kit did come with the little blue drops (ZFX) and I did put it in with each of my 4 coats of Z5, and my first coat of Z2...

JackZ28

That just lessens the waiting time required to buff it out!

And thanks for the compliment!

Tailwind

Uh, yeah. It looks like it's shiny and wrapped in plastic, which is the exact look Zaino gives, not a "deep" or "wet" shine.

I only used the stuff for a year on a black car, not like I'd know or anything. As said, it'll shine as well as anything and make a mirror-like effect, but it does not offer glossy and wet looks.

JackZ28

Whatever man! You just do your thing, and I'll do mine! I don't need you to tell me it looks wet, when everyone else who sees it tells me it does!

ZaneO

I'm glad that Zaino is working great for you and you get lots of compliments, but don't turn into a Zaino Zealot. Those are the people that make others HATE Zaino, without even using it.

People have different preferences on depth, shine, wetness, and gloss. You say wet, he says plastic. The argument will never end.

JackZ28

I don't want everyone to use it, so maybe it's intentional!

firehawk933

Yes, I started with the zrx. I'm not sure that Navy blue metallic is the best color for zaino, but like I said, I think it need 2 more coats of the Z2.

ulySSes

So what exactly do you use to give a car the "wet" look?

SSactionLs1

I always used meguars gold class (cold glass?) on my last red car. It was DEEP and wet and shinny. In fact thats all i use. Im going to try NXT soon on the z though.

PFDarkside

NXT, being a synthetic sealant will give a similar "shiny" look like Zaino.

UlySSes, generally sealants (like Zaino) give an incredible gloss, reflectivity and durability. Premium carnuaba waxes (Pinnacle Souveran, Meguiars #16, P21S) give that "deep", "wet" look. They can be durable, but I think most people that will pay $50 for a can of wax (Souveran) wax often and care less about durability and more about the perfect finish.

ZaneO

You guys don't understand that shine and depth come primarily from prep work, not products.

Tailwind

^ combine what the two last guys said.

You want depth? Do a quality prep job (depending on the starting condition of your paint,) and top with a quality caranuba wax. For most cars, clay & polish (with an orbital or rotary) should be enough for prep, but for ones with neglected paint or bad swirls, compounding may be necessary.

As said, most synthetic sealants shine like no other and provide excellent durability, but they won't provide a deep, warm, and wet look like a pure caranuba wax on a properly prepped surface will. When making a decision on what to use, you need to consider several factors (looks, cost, ease of use, and durability are the main ones.)

DarkLordFtT

I just did my red ta this past weekend. I did the wash with dawn, the claybar, the wash with the zaino car wash. Then 2 coats of z5 and 1 coat of z2 with z6 being sprayed on inbewteen all coats. It looks awesome.

DL