Results using Zaino Z-PC and Porter Cable 7336 DA

J

jbuch

Registered
Products used:
-Porter Cable 7336SP Dual Action Sander/Polisher (basically same as 7424 polisher that everyone on autopia.org uses)
-Zaino Z-PC Fusion Dual Action Paint Cleanser Swirl Remover
-Sonus SFX-2 Paint Polishing Pad

To be honest, the paint looked pretty damn good considering it's age. It would be pretty easy to take pictures making it look almost new. Regardless, 10 years and 150,000 miles worth of wear, washing, etc left my paint looking like this.
http://www.lincolnsclub.org/forum/user_files/1580.jpg

I had never used a mechanical polisher before, so I picked a combo that was for "minor swirlmarks" since it would be less aggressive and harder to do damage with. While it's not yet perfect, it's much improved.
http://www.lincolnsclub.org/forum/user_files/1581.jpg

Polished trunk vs. unpolished rear quarter.
http://www.lincolnsclub.org/forum/user_files/1582.jpg

The above pictures are fresh after polishing, pre-Z2 (I'm a Zaino whore, what can I say.) In the future, I may look to a more aggressive pad/polish combo. For now though, I'm happy.

Prices:
Porter Cable 7336SP ~$105 at Lowe's
Zaino Z-PC $12.95 +shipping
Sonus SFX-2 $10.99 +shipping
Sonus 6" DAS FlexPlate $18.99 +shipping (backing plate for pad)
 
RE: Results using Zaino Z-PC and Porter Cable 7336 DA

That looks pretty darn good. A great improvement.

I just don't understand one thing though, when you use a polisher doesn't it strip away a lot of the clearcoat?! I mean logically speaking you're not really applying anything new to the car, you're just rubbing off a top layer?! And any of the positive effects are just from waxing alone?! It seems to me that if you just did a good hand wash.../polish it would provide similar results but with less damage.

I could be completely wrong so please forgive my ignorance.
 
RE: Results using Zaino Z-PC and Porter Cable 7336 DA

[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
I just don't understand one thing though, when you use a polisher doesn't it strip away a lot of the clearcoat?! I mean logically speaking you're not really applying anything new to the car, you're just rubbing off a top layer?! [/div]

You are correct that it strips away some of the clearcoat. That was something I was concerned about, which is why I went with a minimally abrasive pad and polish. I would rather have to polish it multiple times while learning with a weak polish than use too abrasive of a polish and end up damaging the paint.

You can get the paint looking really nice without the polish, but standard waxes and sealants don't help much with those swirl marks you see under a bright summer sun.

Here is a 'pre-polishing' picture with half a dozen coats of Z2 and Z5. It didn't look bad, but now it looks better :) (As a side note, Zaino's 'polishes' are actually sealant/waxes and don't take off any clearcoat when you apply them. Z-PC being the one exception)
http://www.lincolnsclub.org/forum/user_files/1584.jpg
 
RE: Results using Zaino Z-PC and Porter Cable 7336 DA

[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
That looks pretty darn good. A great improvement. I just don't understand one thing though, when you use a polisher doesn't it strip away a lot of the clearcoat?! I mean logically speaking you're not really applying anything new to the car, you're just rubbing off a top layer?! And any of the positive effects are just from waxing alone?! It seems to me that if you just did a good hand wash.../polish it would provide similar results but with less damage. I could be completely wrong so please forgive my ignorance.
[/div]

It would take you a very, very long time, to strip the clear with a DA polisher, they are almost idiot prof. Also the first thing you need to do is clay bar first as well.
 
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