ScottB
04-21-2007, 07:51 PM
Well water restrictions are calmed at 5pm-7pm on Saturday for my area, and I was up for detailing both cars. Lately we have been using the SRX daily and the Vette sits in the garage and used once a week when mommy and Chris has Gym and other items and need truck.
I decided to do the SRX first, and the idea was to do a basic wash/dry and then move to the new Opti-seal (OS). **Now let me warn, I dont know if I have the final version of OS as mine was in a half used bottle with a label and pencil sent from Meghan on Friday morning. It leads me to believe it was a beta sample #2. ** I washed the truck with Duragloss wash, and dried with the leaf blower/Guzzler combo and a light spritz of Spray/Rinse every panel to remove any spots. I then moved onto the OS.
First of all it is easy to track where you have been since it looks incredibly wet on any area where gone. (think: acrylic floor wax) It took about 10 minutes total. Immediately upon finishing there were some very pronounced streaking and I immediately rewiped all allowed to dry for about 30 minutes. Some slickness was noted, and some streaking was still very prevalent. I was disappointed so I moved onto the Vette. I am sure I used about a 1/4 ounce maximum for entire truck and was outside direct sunlight and heat.
The Vette is currently still sitting with a coat of Polycharged UPP on it, and I decided to hit it with Zaino wash. I then proceeded to dry with leafblower/guzzler combo and used a light spritz of Z8 to avoid spots. I then decided to try the Zaino Clear Seal (CS) on the Vette. Immediately the holograming appeared and pad flowed/moved much easier showing more slickness immediately than OS. When car was done 7 minutes later it looked like one big hologram and areas where starting to disappear. Fifteen minutes later there were two areas on the rear flanks that needed a quick second wipe. (presuming too much used) again, at a max 1/4 ounce was used.
I then went back over to the SRX and had to wipe down at least 1/2 the truck to remove the left over streaking. Some additional slickness was now present, and quick wipe with damp towel removed final streaks with ease. My wife even commented on how present the markings were. Clearly not as bad as having to buff the entire truck, but still an extra step was needed.
So it is with a heavy heart that I gotta give Zaino the first round. While I need to assess each on same color cars, and also get a final release version of OS to make sure same product, it was the streaking that had me upset the most. Otherwise while both applied the same, looked different while being applied, were very similar as end result in looks and gloss. My eyes may decieve me but I would give the CS a nod in reflection (could be a black car) and OS a slight nod in gloss. Slickness appears dead even after dried. Durability is obviously unknown. OS seems a tad thicker but has a better sprayer and seems to use less product. Pricing and size are compelling, and both go to OS in that arena. No knockout ... but a big ticket fight needs to end in a clear winner.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/streaking.jpg
OS Streaking -- Look Closely at the Lines below reflection of tree
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Picture_006.jpg
CS -- Holograms, notice how center is disappearing quickly
http://www.photohost.org/gallery/data/500/167Hologram-med.jpg
I decided to do the SRX first, and the idea was to do a basic wash/dry and then move to the new Opti-seal (OS). **Now let me warn, I dont know if I have the final version of OS as mine was in a half used bottle with a label and pencil sent from Meghan on Friday morning. It leads me to believe it was a beta sample #2. ** I washed the truck with Duragloss wash, and dried with the leaf blower/Guzzler combo and a light spritz of Spray/Rinse every panel to remove any spots. I then moved onto the OS.
First of all it is easy to track where you have been since it looks incredibly wet on any area where gone. (think: acrylic floor wax) It took about 10 minutes total. Immediately upon finishing there were some very pronounced streaking and I immediately rewiped all allowed to dry for about 30 minutes. Some slickness was noted, and some streaking was still very prevalent. I was disappointed so I moved onto the Vette. I am sure I used about a 1/4 ounce maximum for entire truck and was outside direct sunlight and heat.
The Vette is currently still sitting with a coat of Polycharged UPP on it, and I decided to hit it with Zaino wash. I then proceeded to dry with leafblower/guzzler combo and used a light spritz of Z8 to avoid spots. I then decided to try the Zaino Clear Seal (CS) on the Vette. Immediately the holograming appeared and pad flowed/moved much easier showing more slickness immediately than OS. When car was done 7 minutes later it looked like one big hologram and areas where starting to disappear. Fifteen minutes later there were two areas on the rear flanks that needed a quick second wipe. (presuming too much used) again, at a max 1/4 ounce was used.
I then went back over to the SRX and had to wipe down at least 1/2 the truck to remove the left over streaking. Some additional slickness was now present, and quick wipe with damp towel removed final streaks with ease. My wife even commented on how present the markings were. Clearly not as bad as having to buff the entire truck, but still an extra step was needed.
So it is with a heavy heart that I gotta give Zaino the first round. While I need to assess each on same color cars, and also get a final release version of OS to make sure same product, it was the streaking that had me upset the most. Otherwise while both applied the same, looked different while being applied, were very similar as end result in looks and gloss. My eyes may decieve me but I would give the CS a nod in reflection (could be a black car) and OS a slight nod in gloss. Slickness appears dead even after dried. Durability is obviously unknown. OS seems a tad thicker but has a better sprayer and seems to use less product. Pricing and size are compelling, and both go to OS in that arena. No knockout ... but a big ticket fight needs to end in a clear winner.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/streaking.jpg
OS Streaking -- Look Closely at the Lines below reflection of tree
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/Picture_006.jpg
CS -- Holograms, notice how center is disappearing quickly
http://www.photohost.org/gallery/data/500/167Hologram-med.jpg