Well, i've been spending a bit of time over at the Autopia carport detaling forum, and A LOT of guys are using foam pads to apply zaino by hand.
Many have noted better results than the cotton applicators.

Well, my WS6 has been my baby for 5 weeks now, and prior to this test had:

1) 2 X Dawn Wash with genuine austrailian sheepskin washmitt
2) Zaino Clay treatment, 1 bar
3) 2 X Z7 Wash with another genuine austrailian sheepskin washmitt
4) 1 coat of Z1
5) 2 coats of Z5 with Z6 in between
6) touchup of factory scratch marks with 3M Perfect-it II rubbing compound followed by touchup in same spots by 3M swirl mark remover for dark cars
7) 2 more applications of Z5 with ZFX fortification and Z6 in between
8) two applicatoins of Z6
9) 1 application of Z2 finally
10) two applications of Z6
11) wash with Z7, car has never seen the rain
12) Application of Z6

I use only the towels supplied here by Kevin Overall (KevinSS), great products.

After all this, the car looks outstanding in the sun AND in the garage under the "ultra ego dropping, swirl mark revealing" incandescent lights.

Now, I still note a few minor longitudinal marks, invisible in sunlight, and a few marks still in the spots touched up with the rubbing compound (factory marks were pretty deep, but still filled in good).

I came to the conclusion after comparing the car every week or so, that I think my applicator pads (Zaino provided) were producing some of the marks. They are great mind you, just a PITA to clean and they pick up dirt really easily, and USE A TON OF PRODUCT.

OK finally here is what I did yesterday.

After that last application of Z6, I'm ready for another coat of Z5 and probably two of Z2 for an upcoming show (possibly).

So I bought the bit and went out to crappy tire and bought two EAGLE 1 express it foam applicator pads, the kind with a contoured handle, easy to use.


First, I wet the foam pad good with water and then wrung it out, so it was only slightly damp.....I also spritzed it periodically with Z6 to make it slide easier

Observations applying 1 coat of Z5:

1) Put the Z5 on REALLY easily, using much less product than the terry applicator. i merely dragged the zaino top across the pad squeezing gently, and put maybe 5 rows of Z5 on the pad, but here wasn't much there in the ways of quantity I did the whole hood and the mirrors with that.

2) if I didn't periodically spray pad with Z6, it made me neverous, dragging too much.

3) the car was done maybe using half of what I would on a terry pad.

RESULTS

I'm going to be removing the Z5 when I get home from work, and I will be able to tell if any new minor scratches/spiderwebbing/swirls are present from the foam pad, because I know Kevin's towels don't scratch at all

Keep you updated, sorry for the long post, but I take great care in my paint

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Michael
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2002 Sunset Orange Metallic WS6 Coupe
GMMG Exhaust, MTI Clear Lid, BMR STB
2002 GMC Sierra 1500 Sportside, 4.8 with 5spd
Street Scenes Grille,
HID Stage II Xenon Kit, Kenwood Speakers w/
12" Sub and Amp

 

Not as good I as I had hoped, no real improvement in quality after removal and Z6'ing.

I noticed a few additional hairline scratches where the edge of the foam pad brushed against, particularly on the egdes of the WS6 hood bulges.

I'll stick with the Zaino applicators.

Mike