Rambling Man

Nice cloudy day today; got the day off and was going to clay bar and Zaino away. But, my new 8 is FOB (fresh off the boat) so I’m thinking I’ll let the paint cure a bit more (for those of you who will offer that modern paints don’t need to cure...if I really wanted your opinion, I’d beat it out of you). Looks like rain later this week, so I’m good on excuses until next weekend.

Of course, before I take it to Dave at Mazdatrix I’ll put a coat of Zaino on; lest he not respect me.

Winning_BlueRX8

Actually, thanks to the advancement of technology, modern automobile paints do not require curing.

Sea Ray

But keep in mind it will be much easier to get it perfectly clean before you apply the Zanio if you do it now, before you get butgs and road dirt on it.

red_rx8_red_int

Yes claying will be much easier and quicker now than a week from now. Just make sure you have enough time to clay and Zaino together. You don't want to Zaino 1-2 day later.

Booster MPS

Question:

If the car is new and clean without any roadgrime, bugs etc etched into the paint, what is there possibly to clay??? I just did the Dawn wash and went right at it. Am I missing something?

Sea Ray

If you run your fingers over the paint you will still feel very small 'bumps' in the paint. The claybar removes these imperfections, imbedded dirt, etc. After doing the claybar on what you think is a clean car, the clay will be suprisingly full of dirt. It onnly takes a few minutes but really helps.

XeRo

and you'll love yourself afterwards..it makes a world of difference...

and there is NO EXCUSE to denying your car such a thing!...shame on you!...lol

mikeb

why are you bringing it to mazdatrix

what are you getting?

Rambling Man

i have sinned. I Have Sinned. I HAVE SINNED. My dear brethren, my dear co-cultists, these are not cyber-tears I am crying. On my immortal Renesis soul, I shall reform, I shall repent, I shall recant, I shall walk the true path.

As penitence, I shall drive my Saab to work all week; the odometer of my titanium garaged-8 will not budge past the 200 miles mark; I will take Friday off work and cast off the of non-Zainoed Devil grime. I shall Claybar until the rotary stigmata appear on my palm. I have seen the light.


And mikeb, regarding mazdatrix: Nothing and everything. I knew Dave from when my buddy took his ride there. And since I first learned of the RX-8 about 4 years ago from a Mazda design engineer who was my seat opponent on a x-country flight, I’ve been in touch with Dave a bit over the phone. In fact, although from these Boards I know that I could have beat out the dealer for some free oil changes, I’d rather build a relationship with that shop; which is jogging distance from my house. So, in the short term, I just want to drop by Mazdatrix and get reacquainted; in the long term probably Borla, Canzoomer, etc.

Maximus

I bought mine last month (Jan) and build date is Oct ... so it already got approximately 3 months of paint curing... isn't that enough curing already?

Maximus

What the h... is claybar. Can someone pls post a picture? I read about it all the time...never seen one! Does it really take 10-15 minutes to claybar the whole car?

MadMacz

Here's a link to a site that carries Mother's Clay Bar:
http://www.autogeek.net/motcalgolcla.html

You can also check out Meguiars.com (my personal fav) and check out their clay bar system.

willhave8

I am a recent Claybar convert and now, zealot. Since it was my first time and I was practicing on my 8, it took me about 45 minutes. Now I think 20-30 minutes may be a better target. I spent more time making sure the car was barea$$ clean. I used the meguiar's kit http://www.meguiars.com/store_meguiars/index.cfm and then a 3M product as the wax/polish. (I haven't made the Zaino leap yet) I may try it once I use up the 3M products I have. They are super easy to put on and take off so I have no motivatio not to use them up.

Go ahead with the claybar, you won't be disappointed with the results. I'm going to do all my cars now.

Craig

Maximus

MadMacz,
Thanks. This is exactly what i was looking for:

"Even though it sounds tough, and it is, Mothers™ Clay Bar is completely paint friendly. Presenting no hazards, whatsoever, to your delicate finish. You can use it with confidence no matter what your level of detailing experience."


Also from Zaino website:

"Z-18 ClayBar™ is non-abrasive and works like no cleaner, compound or chemical can. When used as directed, it is safe for use on all paint finishes."

Rambling Man

Hooboy, this pride of ownership thang is a lotta work:

1. Clean with Dawn
2. Claybar using Zaino 7 car wash spay to lubricate
3. Remove claybar with cotton towel as you go
4. Wash with Z7
5. Chami dry
6. Z5 with ZFX accelerant
7. Mircofiber off glaze
8. Throw towels, etc. in the washer/dryer
9. Repeat steps 7 & 8
10. Z2 without accelerant
11. Zaino tire prep
12. Zaino leather prep
13. Vacuum interior
14. Too tired to drive, take a nap

Some thoughts from a guy who hasn’t waxed/detailed a car in 25 years:

Although you resent claybaring a new car, the bar does pick up all kind of stuff that you just can’t imagine is there. Glad I did it.

Takes about an ounce of polish each applicaton. The polish doesn’t have the satisfying glaze of, say, Tutlewax, so it’s hard to see where you’ve been.

I think that this Zaino stuff is pretty foolproof, and the order doesn’t make all that much difference unless you are really in the show car biz. And although Sal Zaino could undoubtedly write a dissertation extolling the differenced between Z2 and Z5, the nuisance is pretty much lost on me. Moreover, there is not a great deal of marginal gain between the first and the second coat; and between the second and the third coat. But take that this with a grain of salt, I’m not really an aficionado, I just want the car to look nice, and that it does.

All told, I’m guessing 6 hours of work. All told, my wife thinks I’ve gone nuts (for you married guys I got—and you may recognize--the “6 hours to wax your car; yet only two minutes of foreplay” look.)

The ***** in the car’s armor continues to be worrying about flooding it. Therefore, to wash it I have push it out of the garage and then push it back in to clay and wax it out of the sun. The contradiction is that I don’t want to clay bar or wax a hot car; and I don’t want to turn off a cold one.

In the final analysis, this is a nice, satisfying, deep glossy finish. However, it’s not the unworldly afterglow that some claim. That said, an eager half-naked cheerleader looks better than my 8, but just.

6speed8

The paint was 'cured' by the time you got you car. Mazda did not finish just your car and then ship it right to you. It sat for some time waiting for others to be completed, then it was trucked or railroaded to the port where it was put on a slow moving boat, then it was trucked or railroaded to your local dealer. All this transport took time (enought for 'curing'), it also allowed particles to land on the paint and become attached to it, especially 'rail dust'.

If you really want to protect your car, claybar it as soon as you can, and then protect it with whatever you choose, of course I prefer Zaino.

Lufa

I did the full zaino ordeal on Saturday took a little over 6 hours... Man my car is shiney. 2 coats of Z5 and one of Z2 later, I drank some beers and took a nap.


If my wife hadnt helped it probably would have taken longer.