New Paint

[mis3]

I started a new thread on "New Paint" 2-3 months ago about new paint but I cannot find it now.

First off, I should not wax a new painted panel. I recalled someone replied that I should wait 3 months before wax to let some of the paint diluting agents and other chemicals to come out.

Do I have to wait 3 months to clay, clean and polish as well? Anything I can do to protect the paint for the road salts and nasty weather?

[ramphonic]

Re: New Paint

I know on a repaint you need to wait at least 30 days to wax. As far as meguiars pure Polishes(#80 I know for a fact) can be done right away.

Factory paint can be clayed polished and waxed as soon as you buy the vehicle. Usually the vehicle has been around for at least a month and the finish is baked on.

[Murr1525]

Re: New Paint

#80 has some protective polymers in it, so that will be about the best you can do until the paint is cured. It wont be durable like a wax or anything, so you may want to apply it more often.

[yalerd]

Re: New Paint

I've used #80 on fresh paint and it works great.

But that was just one time that I wanted to try, I usually leave the car alone, only washing it from time to time and when the time comes, 2 o 3 months of waiting I give it a full detail removing all those holograms and swirls the paint shop installs.

[mis3]

Re: New Paint

How about DC-2? I believe it's pure polish as well. Don't need to clean (DC-1) because it's a new repainted panel. How about clay?

#80 is in the professional line and it's not available in my local stores.

[roushstage2]

Re: New Paint

You shouldn't really need to clay new paint, not that I would risk it until it cured anyways.

DC2 can be used as well. All of Meguiar's pure polishes can be used because there is nothing else in them. You just don't want a wax/sealant on there because it will seal the paint so to speak.

[mis3]

Re: New Paint

Is it any point to apply pure polish at all?

It's just scary that the new painted panel would have no protection at all.

[Murr1525]

Re: New Paint

As I said, #80 has some protective polymers in it. The pure polishes have none...

[Mike Phillips]

Re: New Paint

I started a new thread on "New Paint" 2-3 months ago about new paint but I cannot find it now.

First off, I should not wax a new painted panel. I recalled someone replied that I should wait 3 months before wax to let some of the paint diluting agents and other chemicals to come out.

Do I have to wait 3 months to clay, clean and polish as well? Anything I can do to protect the paint for the road salts and nasty weather?

Here's the thread on the old CS forum

http://forumarchive.meguiars.com/forums/thread/41842.aspx

http://forumarchive.meguiars.com/forums/thread/40636.aspx

And here's the link to all your posts on the CS forum

http://forumarchive.meguiars.com/search/SearchResults.aspx?u=4120&o=DateDescending

Here's an article that explains in detail about your paint "breathing"

Paint Needs to Breathe

Words mean things, just ask any Lawyer. Floating around on the Internet, and discussed for decades among car enthusiasts is the myth that paint needs to breathe.

Or is it a myth?

How about DC-2? I believe it's pure polish as well. Don't need to clean (DC-1) because it's a new repainted panel. How about clay?

#80 is in the professional line and it's not available in my local stores.

Deep Crystal Polish would be a great product to apply and maintain your new paint until you're ready to apply wax.

How about clay?

You shouldn't really need to clay new paint, not that I would risk it until it cured anyways.

New paint tends to be soft, at least for a day or three, after that it gets pretty hard if everything is normal. While you shouldn't have to clay, because you're car was in a body shop and in body shops they spray paint, thus the odds of there being "Overspray" in the air is higher at a body shop than say just about anywhere else, there's actually a good chance that a car that's been re-painted could have overspray.

Best thing to do is to "feel" the paint with your clean hand, does it feel smooth and glassy? Or does it feel like there's a texture to the surface.

If you do clay, be careful and use lots of lube and you should be okay, then apply the pure polish, wipe it off and move on with enjoying your car and your day.

Is it any point to apply pure polish at all?

It's just scary that the new painted panel would have no protection at all.

The pure polish will make the paint look good, it's not really a 'protection' product. Car paint is pretty tough to start with but keep in mind...

ANYTHING strong enough to damage paint is strong enough to damage the micron thin coating of whatever wax or paint protectant you apply to protect it.

But... something is better than nothing... keep in mind, the body shop probably already applied some type of polish or glaze.

As I said, #80 has some protective polymers in it. The pure polishes have none...

This is true. M80 contains a paintable, protective polymer that is safe for fresh paint.

[roushstage2]

Re: New Paint

New paint tends to be soft, at least for a day or three, after that it gets pretty hard if everything is normal. While you shouldn't have to clay, because you're car was in a body shop and in body shops they spray paint, thus the odds of there being "Overspray" in the air is higher at a body shop than say just about anywhere else, there's actually a good chance that a car that's been re-painted could have overspray.

Best thing to do is to "feel" the paint with your clean hand, does it feel smooth and glassy? Or does it feel like there's a texture to the surface.

If you do clay, be careful and use lots of lube and you should be okay, then apply the pure polish, wipe it off and move on with enjoying your car and your day.

I didn't think about the overspray. I had that happen everytime my car was in the shop.

I was also thinking new, new paint, but now it has been a little while anyways...

Thanks Mike!

[mis3]

Re: New Paint

Are there any ways to speed up the "cure" process of new paint?

Wash often, turn up the heat, direct a fan to the panel, anything I can do?

[the other pc]

Re: New Paint

The best thing you can do is to park it in a sunny, warm spot as often and as long as you can.


PC.

[mis3]

Re: New Paint

There is no heater in my garage (closed double-car garage). If the weather is not cold, how about keeping a fan blowing on the new surface? At the same time, I can keep the garage well-ventilated.

[the other pc]

Re: New Paint

It wouldn’t hurt. But it won’t really help.

Modern paints don’t cure by solvent evaporation. Solvents are used as carriers for spraying but they flash off early in the cure cycle.

The hardening comes from the molecules of the paint attaching to one another in long, tightly linked chains. It takes time for those structures to form. When the temperature rises they form faster.


PC.

[mis3]

Re: New Paint

Just my luck, my car has to be painted in the winter. 3 month of no waxing is really too long.

Also, how long do I have to wait to put on the 3M plastic (Clear bra)?