TIP: It’s worth it.

Funny how once you hear about a product, it begins to turn up in different places.

I first heard about Zaino Brothers Show Car Polish from my brother, who learned about it from a friend (translate: fellow car nut), who discovered it on one of the PT Cruiser chat rooms.

My brother’s wife admits whenever she sees this friend in his PT, she knows right away it’s his car just by the way it shines. "You can spot it in a crowd," she says.

Then, this August I was participating in my annual Convertible Classic Tour out of Wisconsin and low and behold, there’s a driver there in a black–and I mean black–Corvette. Naturally, I ask him what he uses to wax his car. "Zaino Brothers," he tells me. I chuckle, and he wonders why. SO, I tell him my story.

I looked up the web site and gave Sal a call, asking for some of this wonder wax to try. He graciously sent special products along to use, including Show Car Polish for clear-coated paint (Z2), Show Car Wash (Z7), ClayBar (Z18), Ultra Clean Gloss Enhancer (Z6) and a custom polish applicator (#314).

First off, you’ve GOT to find (here’s where WalMart comes in) a 100 percent cotton towel, made in the USA. I found mine at Target. This is important and I’ll tell you more later.

You begin with Zaino’s ClayBar, if you are looking for the "ultimate paint surface preparation." The ClayBar is designed to remove airborne contaminants from the paint finish, yet, not damage the clear-coat. It removes water spots, rail dust, industrial fallout and other residue. The ClayBar leaves the paint finish as smooth as glass. Other waxes are also removed using ClayBar.

Sal recommends using the Z7 car wash as a lubricant for the ClayBar, as the surface needs to be lubricated while using the Clay.

It’s recommended that all wax buildup be removed. You can wash the car with Liquid Dawn (or Zaino’s Car Wash). Because Dawn has a light alkaline content, it cuts through carnauba wax, paraffin, silicone oils, etc. It isn’t recommended that you use Dawn all the time to wash your car, just when preparing it for Zaino’s products.

Basic Products Needed

The basic products needed, say Zaino, are Z1, Z2, Z5, Z6 and Z7. Start with Z1. It doesn’t need to dry and you don’t wipe it off. Apply Z5 (polish for swirl marks) over Z1. One to three coats of Z5 should get rid of swirl marks.

Let Z5 and Z2 polish dry for at least an hour (Editor;s Note: On the advice of my brother. I waxed my car one night and wiped it the following day. Temps were about 60 degrees).

Ideal weather for waxing is above 60 degrees, however, you can apply Zaino down to temps of 45 degrees; it just takes longer to dry. Two-to-three hours of drying time are required if the temp is 50 degrees or below. If humidity is high, drying time may be longer.

If you try drying the car before the polish is dry, you’ll just be moving it around. Smaller towels will not work efficiently as large bath towels.

To test for drying, wipe your finger on a hazed section. It should come off right away and leave a crystal clear finish. If it smears, it’s still wet. There are no oils in this product so it won’t appear greasy.

After removing Z2 and Z5, wait 24 hours if the outside temperature is under 70 degrees; if over 70, six hours will suffice.

Use Z6 (gloss enhancer), spray between each coat of Z5 or Z2. It adds a three dimensional look. Z6 contains anti-static properties to reduce dust and dirt pickup. Some car guys use Z6 before and after applying Z2 and Z5.

You can go back and forth using Z2 and Z5, but should always end up with Z2 as the last coat. The number of coats of Z2 or Z5 is up to you, say Zaino Brothers. When the car has reached the level of enhancement that appears to you, you can maintain the finish with Z7 Car Wash and Z6 Gloss Enhancer.

The nicest feature of Zaino Brothers products is that they are so darn easy to use. Secondly, the shine they promise does appear. A paint protectant system, Zaino’s one application will outlast any product.

I used Zaino on my 1995 Pearl White Dodge Stealth R/T. I purchased the Stealth with 30,000 miles and five years on it, so I’m not sure what the previous owner used to protect the paint.

A friend applied Zaino wax to her two-year-old black Buick Centry. She called to tell me it was the brightest it’s ever been.