New paint - When to wax?

[KrisMas]

The general rule is to wait around 1 month for the paint to cure before waxing.

Different paint would have different curing time so how would you really know when the paint has cured and ready or safe for waxing?

[yalerd]

Re: New paint - When to wax?

You really have to find out the brand and system the shop used.
DuPont, PPG and so on they have different cure time.

Basically you could let the paint outgas for 2 or 3 months and then it should be fine.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: New paint - When to wax?

I agre. 2-3 months of outgassing. Rather be safe then sorry.

[KrisMas]

Re: New paint - When to wax?

Yeah, agreed. But how would you know the paint HAS cured?

I mean, hypothetically speaking, there could be situations where the paint would take longer than normal to cure or maybe quicker. What are the signs that I need to look for? How can I be sure?

[the other pc]

Re: New paint - When to wax?

You don’t know. You can’t be sure.

Maybe there’s some kind of laboratory test or something the chemists can do, but you and I just have to wait it out or take our chances.

I’m sure temperature has the most significant effect on cure times. But there’s no way to know what effect your particular environment is having.

Some people go years without waxing their cars or doing anything to them at all. A few extra weeks of just washing, glazing and QD’ing without wax isn’t going to hurt anyone or their paint.

Me, I’m the conservative type and would want to give a finish the best possible start in life. If I didn’t know who made the paint or what their recommended cure time was I’d go with the longest just to be sure.

Dupont recommends waiting 120 days.


PC.

[KrisMas]

Re: New paint - When to wax?

hmm....guess the best way is to go for the safest route...which is 3 months? Right?

[KrisMas]

Re: New paint - When to wax?

OK. Since we've establish that there's no definite method for people like us with limited resources to know whether the new paint had cured or not, what's the best way of maintaining the new paintwork before normal rules applies?

[Murr1525]

Re: New paint - When to wax?

Theres not a lot that can be done, other than keeping it clean.

The only option would be using #80 since it has a bit of a protective polymer for new paint in it. Its not like a wax, and would probably wash off in rain, etc, but at least it is something.

[KrisMas]

Re: New paint - When to wax?

So to say, nothing can be done in term of protection, just frequent washing?

[PorscheGuy997]

Re: New paint - When to wax?

As Murr said, #80 contains a protectant that works with fresh paints.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: New paint - When to wax?

Read this in the Hot Topics forum.

Paint Needs to Breathe

It's not as big a deal as some might think, the main idea is to allow some time to go by before you seal the paint.


Couple questions...

What exactly did your painter tell you when you picked up your car?

Did you have you're entire car painted or just a panel?

[KrisMas]

Re: New paint - When to wax?

Actually it's a friend's car and the whole car was re-sprayed with Dupont Belgium (that's all he was able to tell me), the painter told him not to worry in putting wax on it since he always put some on and nobody had ever come back with a complaint before.

Thanks for the link Mike, I've read through them and that's why the question in the first post here.

[Black Bart]

Re: New paint - When to wax?

You can use all of the following on a fresh BB CC finish.

#80
#66
#3
#7
I would use #7 on it but if you do nothing it will be fine just polish at the end of 3 months and then apply your favorite LSP

[KrisMas]

Re: New paint - When to wax?

How long would #80 or #7 normally/in average last on a paintwork without LSP?

[Black Bart]

Re: New paint - When to wax?

How long would #80 or #7 normally/in average last on a paintwork without LSP?

*Hard to say depends on if it is garaged or sitting on the street.
How often it gets rained on. Far too many variable's to put a number on how many days but it is not very durable.

If you want you can just wash and keep it clean and wait 90 days then clay polish and apply LSP the clear coat will go for months without protection that is why it is used.
If you did nothing but washed it for a year you can polish it and make it look like new.

Don't get too hung up on needing to protect the CC for 90 days it Will be fine.

The only reason you would use #7 is to improve the gloss and make it look better for the 90 day gas-out period.