Enhanced Version Of Zaino Application Tips

1. Because Zaino Show Car Polish is optically perfect (99.9%) The optimum results are achieved by using over wax free paint.
2. If you are looking for the ultimate paint surface preparation, use Zaino Z-18 Clay Bar first, or skip to Step 3.
Z-18 Clay Bar was designed to remove airborne contaminants, paint overspray, water spots, rail dust, industrial fallout, diesel fuel and catalytic converter residue and other bonded surface containments from paint. All cars even brand new factory paint has airborne contaminants… The non-abrasive Z-18 Clay Bar will remove surface contaminants from the paint finish and not hurt the clear-coat. Clay will get that paint finish smooth as glass. Now remember waterspots, bird droppings, and bugs, if left on the finish for any length of time will etch the finish. The Clay Bar will also remove any store bought waxes. I recommend using Z-7 Car Wash as a lubricant for the Clay Bar. Just make sure to keep the surface area lubricated while using the Clay Bar. Use 1 capful of Z-7 Car Wash to 12 ounces of water. I use a spray bottle for the mix. Shake it up and spray the area to be clayed. Make sure you keep the surface being clayed wet with the mix.

EXTRA TIP - Clay Bars are dirt magnets. They will pick up stones or grit and scratch the paint if dropped on pavement.

Put newspapers or a plastic drop cloth around the car. If you drop the Clay bar on the paper or plastic, you can pick it up and keep going. If you drop it on the driveway or garage floor, you will have to throw it away.

If the clay bar gets dirty from removing residue, fold it over, knead and flatten the clay bar until it is a flat pattie. Keep folding and kneading as the surface gets dirty.

DO NOT PUSH HARD ON THE BAR!! Let the weight of the clay bar do the work. While working on horizontal surfaces, hold the bar between your thumb and forefinger and move across the lubricated area. While doing the vertical surfaces, palm the clay bar and apply very light pressure to the bar.

Constantly monitor the clay bar for grit, fold it over and knead into a flat pattie when one side gets dirty looking.

3. I would definitely recommend you remove the wax buildup on your paint. Use Liquid Dawn, or a similar liquid hand dishwashing soap as a car wash. Dawn has a high alkaline content that cuts through carnauba wax, paraffin, silicon oils, etc. This will get your finish squeaky-clean and wax free.

I don't advise making a habit of washing your car with Dawn, but for this scenario it is fine. High alkaline products like Dawn are tough on polishes. It will never harm the paint finish. A car wash is made specifically to clean without removing durable polishes.

EXTRA TIP – After washing inspect the finish thoroughly, any watermarks or surface marks/contaminants will be slightly magnified when the polish is applied. Look closely at the areas behind the wheels for tar or grease still remaining after the wash. Remove anything you find. The Z-18 Clay Bar is perfect for cleaning anything left on the surface.

4. The basic products you will need are Z1 or ZFX, Z2(Clearcoat) or Z-3(Regular paint), Z-5(optional, but highly recommended), Z-6 and Z-7. Use only 100% cotton towels made in the USA or High Quality Microfiber towels(See note below). Other towels contain synthetic fibers that will cause swirl marks.

5. Microfiber towels should be at least an 80% polyester/20% polyamide combination or better. The lower the polyester and higher the polyamide number the better the towel is. Be leary of low cost towels from the local warehouse, or local auto parts store. There are many cheap imitations out there and they will cause swirl marks.

6. Start with Z-1 Polish Lok or ZFX mixed with Z2, Z3, or Z5 as per the directions. It can be applied in circles and finished off with a front to back on the horizontal surfaces, and top to bottom on the vertical surfaces. Z-1 does not need to dry. DO NOT WIPE OFF Z-1.
   The remaining instruction apply whether you are using ZFX or straight Z-2, Z-3, or Z-5.
   Apply Z-5, if you have swirl marks, or Z-2, or Z-3, directly over the Z-1. Z-5 is the ticket for a swirl free, flawless paint finish. Usually one to three coats of Z-5 will accomplish that.

I have seen cars with an incredible shine to them, but the look was ruined because the car was so badly swirled it looked like it was washed with a broom.

NOTE: These coats should be VERY THIN. Much thinner than normal wax. If you have to ask yourself whether you actually covered a spot when looking at it, you have it thin enough.

EXTRA TIP: When applying Z2, or Z5 always go front to back or back to front on horizontal surfaces and top to bottom on vertical surfaces. Light is reflected back to the eye much better following these patterns and gives a better shine and look to the car.

7. Let the Z-5 or Z-2 polish dry at least one hour.(I like 3-4 hours just to be safe)

   ZFX mixed polish will dry based on the number of drops and the amount of polish that was mixed in the bottle

   PLEASE NOTE: Zaino Show Car Polish works best at 60 degrees or higher. However, it can be applied down to temperatures of 45 degrees. It just takes much, much longer to dry, as much as two to three hours if the temperature is below 50 degrees, or the humidity is high. Humidity is a killer on the drying time of Z-2,Z-3, or Z-5. The moisture in the air hinders drying time up to four times longer than normal. When you try to remove Z-2, Z-3, or Z-5, when it is still wet, all you are doing is moving it around. Use a LARGE White 100% Cotton Bath Towel to remove Z-2 or Z-5. Smaller towels will not work as efficiently.

To test if Z-2 or Z-5 is dry and ready to be removed, wipe your finger on a hazed section. It should immediately come off and leave a crystal clear finish. If it smears, it is still wet. You can leave Z-2, or Z-5 on for hours or overnight if you desire. When it is not humid, Z-2 will take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes to dry, depending on how heavy you applied it. Be patient it is worth it. Different situations affect drying times. On the first coat remember you have Z-1 and Z-2, or Z-5 on the car, with two products it takes longer to dry. Z-2 and Z-5 do not contain any oils and once it's dry will never look smeary or feel greasy. If you remove Z-2 or Z-5 before it is thoroughly dry, you will get smears. Just wipe down the car with a damp cotton towel. This will remove any smears. Do not use Z-6 until all the smears are gone.

If you have smears, you either put it on too thick, or did not give it enough drying time.

BE PATIENT it is worth it.

8. For NON ZFX PolishAfter the removal of Z-2, or Z-5, you should wait 24 hours if the outside temp is below 70 degrees and 6 hours if the outside temp is over 70 degrees, before applying the next coat.

ZFX Mixed Polish: After the removal of the first coat you can apply up to 2 more coats in the next 6 hours. Do not apply more, ZFX needs time to cure.

9. Use Z-6 "Gloss Enhancer" spray as per directions, between each and every coat of Z-2 or Z-5. It really helps give a three dimensional look. Its antistatic properties will reduce dust and dirt pickup by 60%. Z-6 can be used immediately after removing Z-2, or Z-5 or right before applying Z-2, or Z-5. Most of my customers use Z-6 before and after Z-2, or Z-5 for an extra gloss boost.

10. You can switch to Z-2 as son as you are happy with the way the paint finish looks, no swirls or scratches. Z-2 has higher optical properties than Z-5. You can go from Z-2 to Z-5, back to Z-2 as often as you like. Z-2 and Z-5 are 100% compatible and interchangeable. You should always end on a Z-2 as the last coat because of its higher optics.

11. The number of coats is up to you. When you reach the level of enhancement you like, normal maintenance with Z-7 Car Wash and Z-6 Gloss Enhancer spray is all that is needed. Naturally apply a coat of Z-5 or Z-2 whenever you feel it is required.

Multiple coats will achieve an even deeper, wetter-looking, ultra high gloss, plus higher paint protection.

ALWAYS use 100% Cotton Towels. They must be made in the USA, by law these are pure cotton. Towels made outside the USA are not pure cotton and will scratch.

Cut the edges off, and trim the towel just above the decorative strip. I use the strip of material between the edge and trim as rags for wheels, etc. Cannon or Fieldcrest are the best.

To summarize for straight polish - Non ZFX

·        Wash the car with Dawn, or any liquid dishwashing soap

·        Clay with Z-18

·        Wash car with dishwashing soap to remove clay residue

·        Dry thoroughly

·        Apply Z-1 (Do not remove)

·        Apply Z-2 or Z-5

·        Remove after dry

·        Apply light coat of Z-6

·        Wait 8 to 24 hours

·        Reapply Z-2 or Z-5

·        Remove

·        Apply light coat of Z-6

To summarize for ZFX mixed polish

·        Wash the car with Dawn, or any liquid dishwashing soap

·        Clay with Z-18

·        Wash car with dishwashing soap to remove clay residue

·        Dry thoroughly

·        Mix ZFX with Z-2 or Z-5 1 oz or ˝ of a ZFX bottle will do generally do 2 coats

·        Apply Z-2 or Z-5 – 1st Coat or Z-5

·        Remove after dry

·        Apply light coat of Z-6

·        Reapply Z-2 or Z-5 - 2nd Coat

·        Remove

·        Apply light coat of Z-6

·        Apply Z-2 or Z-5 - 3rd Coat

·        Remove after dry

·        Apply light coat of Z-6

·        Clean your bottles - Fill with 1/4 inch of Dawn, shake well. Fill with water, shake well, squirt the soapy mix out the nozzle to clean it. Repeat the process to thoroughly clean the bottle.