Used Zaino Z-FX my Orient Blue baby today

More pictures here

Cut work early today and decided to give the Zaino Z-FX a roll.

I washed the car with distilled water in a spray bottle beforehand. Then I did 2 coats of Z5, 1 coat of Z2, putting a layer of Z6 on before and after each coat. You do the math... that's a lot of ground to cover, and frankly I'm exhausted.

Was Z-FX worth it? Honestly? No. It did cut drying and curing time immensely, so if you're racing against the clock, maybe it'll be worth it to you. But, the results were just as shiny as if I used Zaino without Z-FX.

I'll keep using what I have, but as far as getting it again... I'll save my money.

Originally posted by alee


More pictures here

Cut work early today and decided to give the Zaino Z-FX a roll.

I washed the car with distilled water in a spray bottle beforehand. Then I did 2 coats of Z5, 1 coat of Z2, putting a layer of Z6 on before and after each coat. You do the math... that's a lot of ground to cover, and frankly I'm exhausted.

Was Z-FX worth it? Honestly? No. It did cut drying and curing time immensely, so if you're racing against the clock, maybe it'll be worth it to you. But, the results were just as shiny as if I used Zaino without Z-FX.

I'll keep using what I have, but as far as getting it again... I'll save my money.

Al, as always your car looks amazing...I am stunned at how shiny you manage to make that car every time...

You have to fix your picture page though...if you click on any thumbnail it blows up the same picture, the one you are showing on this page...

Great looking car as usual... I love O-Blue :thumb:

Originally posted by alee

Cut work early today and decided to give the Zaino Z-FX a roll.

I washed the car with distilled water in a spray bottle beforehand. Then I did 2 coats of Z5, 1 coat of Z2, putting a layer of Z6 on before and after each coat. You do the math... that's a lot of ground to cover, and frankly I'm exhausted.

Was Z-FX worth it? Honestly? No. It did cut drying and curing time immensely, so if you're racing against the clock, maybe it'll be worth it to you. But, the results were just as shiny as if I used Zaino without Z-FX.

I'll keep using what I have, but as far as getting it again... I'll save my money.

I'm too busy to think of something clever
Car looks great but I'll stick with carnuba until I can ditch work early--not in this lifetime.

Originally posted by Mike 325xi
You have to fix your picture page though...if you click on any thumbnail it blows up the same picture, the one you are showing on this page...

Oops, Zaino fumes I guess.

It's fixed now.

Originally posted by alee

Oops, Zaino fumes I guess.

permanent marker

Originally posted by vexed


I'm too busy to think of something clever
Car looks great but I'll stick with carnuba until I can ditch work early--not in this lifetime.

Busy?? What happened did some thug beat up an old lady for her social security check and you have to think up a good "I had a horrible childhood defense??"

Originally posted by Alex Baumann
permanent marker

I was thining next week, I'd just get an Orient Blue marker and color all over my car. :thumb:

Originally posted by Alex Baumann


permanent marker

That's right...Al did say it smelled like permanent marker...did you get the lab results back yet??

Maybe we will be able to order Al an O-Blue Sharpie for touching up stone chips :thumb:

Originally posted by alee

I was thining next week, I'd just get an Orient Blue marker and color all over my car. :thumb:

Damn it You beat me to it

Originally posted by Mike 325xi

Busy?? What happened did some thug beat up an old lady for her social security check and you have to think up a good "I had a horrible childhood defense??"

Was here until 8:30 last night.

It's called why delegating does not work.
Big brief due tomorrow, 2 more next week, I feel like a cubicle monkey.

Originally posted by vexed


Was here until 8:30 last night.

It's called why delegating does not work.
Big brief due tomorrow, 2 more next week, I feel like a cubicle monkey.

I know the feeling, I have been here very late every night this week and getting here early too...

You know I was just bustin' your chops some..I know you're not a defense attorney.

But I did just post something for you in the off topic section...

Originally posted by Mike 325xi

I know the feeling, I have been here very late every night this week and getting here early too...

You know I was just bustin' your chops some..I know you're not a defense attorney.

But I did just post something for you in the off topic section...

Hehehe.

I had to vent, I feel better now.:thumb: But it looks like that will be normal hours for a while. Last night I distracted myself by changing my signature pic, I tried about 4 different ones, I am waiting for Clem to bust me.

Originally posted by vexed


Hehehe.

I had to vent, I feel better now.:thumb: But it looks like that will be normal hours for a while. Last night I distracted myself by changing my signature pic, I tried about 4 different ones, I am waiting for Clem to bust me.

Your pic is fine...maybe a little large for someone with slow connection but not overly so...not much bigger than mine is

Originally posted by Mike 325xi

Your pic is fine...maybe a little large for someone with slow connection but not overly so...not much bigger than mine is

I still think I have the best sig pic... but then again I am biased :thumb:

Oh, but that's all ZFX is for, right? I mean, cut curing time... I don't expect it to improve shine (like you need help in that dept. anyways )

Originally posted by alee


More pictures here

Cut work early today and decided to give the Zaino Z-FX a roll.

I washed the car with distilled water in a spray bottle beforehand. Then I did 2 coats of Z5, 1 coat of Z2, putting a layer of Z6 on before and after each coat. You do the math... that's a lot of ground to cover, and frankly I'm exhausted.

Was Z-FX worth it? Honestly? No. It did cut drying and curing time immensely, so if you're racing against the clock, maybe it'll be worth it to you. But, the results were just as shiny as if I used Zaino without Z-FX.

I'll keep using what I have, but as far as getting it again... I'll save my money.

Originally posted by bol



I still think I have the best sig pic... but then again I am biased :thumb:

You did a great job in keeping it compact, I need to take lower res pictures next time.

Originally posted by ALEX325i
Oh, but that's all ZFX is for, right? I mean, cut curing time... I don't expect it to improve shine (like you need help in that dept. anyways )

If you read some of the BS on the autopia-carport.com forums, you'd walk away with the impression that Z-FX did more than cure faster.

Absolutely beautiful Al:thumb:

Originally posted by alee

If you read some of the BS on the autopia-carport.com forums, you'd walk away with the impression that Z-FX did more than cure faster.

Well, but if you read some of the BS on zainobros.com, you'll walk away with the right impression...

Al, now that I can see the pictures, one word: DAMN!!!

I'm all set now, this weekend should be fun...

Originally posted by ALEX325i

Alex, the paint you get at Home Depot shouldn't be used on cars.

Alee-

I thought that was the only point of ZFX-- to speed up drying time. I'd think that would be a really good reason to stick w/ it, no? ITs nice to be able to finish the whole car in 1 day i would think.

Originally posted by robg
I thought that was the only point of ZFX-- to speed up drying time. I'd think that would be a really good reason to stick w/ it, no? ITs nice to be able to finish the whole car in 1 day i would think.

Well, it depends on the marketing and hype you read... the autopia-carport.com forums are chock full of people saying stuff like it makes the finish harder, Z-FX makes it slicker, blah blah.

It makes a difference if you want to do 2 or 3 layers in the same day, but if you're just doing one, you don't need the the Z-FX. It's overkill, and it's way too expensive. Z5 alone dries in 45-1hr... with Z-FX, maybe 20-30min. Not a huge difference IMHO.

Originally posted by alee

Alex, the paint you get at Home Depot shouldn't be used on cars.

No, no, no, sir... Those are Griot's Boar's Hair Detail Brushes. See? :thumb:

Originally posted by alee

It makes a difference if you want to do 2 or 3 layers in the same day, but if you're just doing one, you don't need the the Z-FX. It's overkill, and it's way too expensive. Z5 alone dries in 45-1hr... with Z-FX, maybe 20-30min. Not a huge difference IMHO.

Well, yeah, but what about the curing time? To me, that's exactly what ZFX addresses... I'd say Z5/Z2 dries in 20 minutes regardless here in FL ...

Originally posted by ALEX325i
Well, yeah, but what about the curing time? To me, that's exactly what ZFX addresses... I'd say Z5/Z2 dries in 20 minutes regardless here in FL ...

Curing time is just the time it takes for the polymers to crosslink and do their thing after you buff it off. If you're just doing 1 layer, I think it's irrelevant. If you're doing multiple layers, Z-FX would certainly help since you don't have to wait before putting on a second coat.

Of course, after 3 coats, buffing it off 3 times and 4 applications of Z6, I'm going to be in pain tomorrow.