Joined
·
1,531 Posts
My conquest began at about 10 am this morning. The sun was shining bright, winds out of the northeast at 15mph, birds chirping, and 55 degrees F. I readied the dawn and water mix, cracked open a new sponge, and away I went.
After twenty minutes or so of washing my car with dish detergent, I dried the surface and brought out the clay bar. It took a little getting used to, but after a couple square feet, I was able to find the perfect lubrication-to-clay ratio. I was excited that it removed the rust colored specs from the surface fairly easily. However, I was not excited about the four hours that it took me to rub out the entire car not to mention my arm almost falling off (and I'm no wimp either).
After the clay bar workout, I rewashed the car with the dawn mixture and set out to remove swirl marks with Z5/ZFX. I squirted a dab of the milky polish onto the applicator that came with my order. I tackled the hood, which is by far the worst section of my car. I was worried that I didn't put enough on because you could barely see the coat it left...probably because my car is white. I let it haze and dry for about 40 minutes and I buffed it out using some Fieldcrest cotton bath towels I picked up at Linens'n'Things. Swirl marks: still heavy.
I did the Z6 gloss spray as the website recommends before applying the second coat of Z5. Second coat dries, buff, Z6 ...still swirls. Third coats dries, buff, Z6 ...swirlmarkmania.
I said the hell with it and moved on to Z2/ZFX for all sections but the hood and roof which need desperate swirl mark attention. 2 coats later, the sun set, so I couldn't really grasp how shiny my car became, but I know it is improved...smooth to the touch.
I am excited to apply some more Zaino tomorrow. Maybe like 3 coats a night for two weeks?
I think my car has been through 10 years torture with limited protection from the elements. Those swirl marks need professional attention. I'm going to apply a few more coats of Z5 on the hood and roof and see what happens. So far, I am unimpressed yet pleased.
After twenty minutes or so of washing my car with dish detergent, I dried the surface and brought out the clay bar. It took a little getting used to, but after a couple square feet, I was able to find the perfect lubrication-to-clay ratio. I was excited that it removed the rust colored specs from the surface fairly easily. However, I was not excited about the four hours that it took me to rub out the entire car not to mention my arm almost falling off (and I'm no wimp either).
After the clay bar workout, I rewashed the car with the dawn mixture and set out to remove swirl marks with Z5/ZFX. I squirted a dab of the milky polish onto the applicator that came with my order. I tackled the hood, which is by far the worst section of my car. I was worried that I didn't put enough on because you could barely see the coat it left...probably because my car is white. I let it haze and dry for about 40 minutes and I buffed it out using some Fieldcrest cotton bath towels I picked up at Linens'n'Things. Swirl marks: still heavy.
I did the Z6 gloss spray as the website recommends before applying the second coat of Z5. Second coat dries, buff, Z6 ...still swirls. Third coats dries, buff, Z6 ...swirlmarkmania.
I said the hell with it and moved on to Z2/ZFX for all sections but the hood and roof which need desperate swirl mark attention. 2 coats later, the sun set, so I couldn't really grasp how shiny my car became, but I know it is improved...smooth to the touch.
I am excited to apply some more Zaino tomorrow. Maybe like 3 coats a night for two weeks?
I think my car has been through 10 years torture with limited protection from the elements. Those swirl marks need professional attention. I'm going to apply a few more coats of Z5 on the hood and roof and see what happens. So far, I am unimpressed yet pleased.
