Working in Direct Sun

[foilr]

My driveway only gets a couple of hours shade during the summer. I wanted to wash and wax two new vehicles this weekend to start building up some protection - treat them well straight off the lot. But I only had a couple of hours each night without the sun baking down on them. I got one car washed and a coat of NXT 2.0 on it, the other one only got washed - to dark to wax even with the outside flood lights on.

Are there any portions of the 5-step care program that can be done in direct sun without creating new problems?

I can't even get the windows wiped before the cleaner evaporates.

TIA for your help. This forum is fantastic!
It's my first post so I hope I got it in the right place.

Cheers!
Richard

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Working in Direct Sun

Working in the warm sun is always going to make everything harder, it's okay to work in the sun as long as the surface temperature is not hot, so theoretically you can work in full sun during the early morning hours and sometimes after the sun starts to get low in the sky.

Once when I lived in an apartment with no garage I washed my car at the apartment complex but then drove to a business that was closed on the weekends and borrowed the shade created by their building. Don't know if that's an option for you but maybe? (Kind of only works if you don't need power).

How about borrowing the garage for a Saturday from a family member or friend?

Related thread,

Working in the sun? How HOT does your car's paint get?


One tip that might help you for the claying, cleaning, polishing and waxing steps is that if you must work on a warm surface, then shrink the size of your work area down to a smaller size.

Work smaller areas, they are more manageable. Also remember only waxes need to dry, so all the other paint care products should be applied, work in and over the paint and then immediately wiped off.

Which products need to dry before removing?


Sorry there's no simple solution...

[wyseilmykkar]

Re: Working in Direct Sun

If it's something you will be doing more than once or twice I would invest in a small quick-up canopy that picnickers use. Even if it only covered half the car at a time, I'm sure the personal comfort provided would be worth it, and you could easily move it to do the other half.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Working in Direct Sun

Costco usually has a good deal on the EZ-Up Canopies which are quality canopies.

I've used these for shade when detailing cars and they work pretty well if the vehicle is not to big, otherwise you may have to turn the car around and position it in a way to tackle one side or the other or the front or back.

If' it's windy outside, fill some 5-gallon buckets of water and attach them to the support rods of the canopy using bungee cords.

Usually 4-5 buckets of water will anchor down a canopy in fairly strong winds. (I live in the desert and it gets pretty windy up here and this is what I've used and it works pretty well)

Plus, when I bought my canopy form Costco it came with 3 side curtains which can also be used if you like.

[Krzemienr]

Re: Working in Direct Sun

I got my 10x10 EZup from walmart (they come in a blue bag) for $90 which isn't a bad deal and it's a square, true 10x10... I picked up a couple

[Maserati Mario]

Re: Working in Direct Sun

Start at the break of dawn and work as fast as you can
10x10 canopies are dangerous. there just to small and might end up dinging the car, imo.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Working in Direct Sun

I got my 10x10 EZup from walmart (they come in a blue bag) for $90 which isn't a bad deal and it's a square, true 10x10... I picked up a couple

That's a good price, think mine from Costco was a little over $100.00 but that was a few years ago.

Did yours come with the extra side curtains?

[Krzemienr]

Re: Working in Direct Sun

That's a good price, think mine from Costco was a little over $100.00 but that was a few years ago.

Did yours come with the extra side curtains?

no that's the bad thing about them, they only come with a bag and no sides, had to order mine separately along with some weights

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Working in Direct Sun

Costco usually has a good deal on the EZ-Up Canopies which are quality canopies.

I've used these for shade when detailing cars and they work pretty well if the vehicle is not to big, otherwise you may have to turn the car around and position it in a way to tackle one side or the other or the front or back.

If' it's windy outside, fill some 5-gallon buckets of water and attach them to the support rods of the canopy using bungee cords.

Usually 4-5 buckets of water will anchor down a canopy in fairly strong winds. (I live in the desert and it gets pretty windy up here and this is what I've used and it works pretty well)

Plus, when I bought my canopy form Costco it came with 3 side curtains which can also be used if you like.

I got my 10x10 EZup from walmart (they come in a blue bag) for $90 which isn't a bad deal and it's a square, true 10x10... I picked up a couple

Start at the break of dawn and work as fast as you can
10x10 canopies are dangerous. there just to small and might end up dinging the car, imo.

I just posted this thread yesterday: Sierra II 12'x12' Slanted leg canopy on sale ($99.99) at Big 5 Sporting Goods

Pep Boys (my favorite store of late) sells weighted plates specifically manufactured to anchor canopy legs to hard surfaces. Set of four runs $25.

Addressing Mario's concerns about the legs of the canopy possibly damaging a car's finish, I saw a child's toy selling at a local 99 cent store called a water wand. The water wand is a thick styrofoam tube with a hollow core, and is about 4-5 feet in length. The tube could easily be split open with a box cutter and fitted around the canopy leg, then secured with duct tape or maybe velcro straps.

[Krzemienr]

Re: Working in Direct Sun

I just posted this thread yesterday: Sierra II 12'x12' Slanted leg canopy on sale ($99.99) at Big 5 Sporting Goods

Pep Boys (my favorite store of late) sells weighted plates specifically manufactured to anchor canopy legs to hard surfaces. Set of four runs $25.

Addressing Mario's concerns about the legs of the canopy possibly damaging a car's finish, I saw a child's toy selling at a local 99 cent store called a water wand. The water wand is a thick styrofoam tube with a hollow core, and is about 4-5 feet in length. The tube could easily be split open with a box cutter and fitted around the canopy leg, then secured with duct tape or maybe velcro straps.

like the pool noodles you see everywhere, just make a slit down the center and put it on, plus the good thing is you can get them in a bunch of different colors, good point here!!!

rafal

[foilr]

Re: Working in Direct Sun

WOW! I am impressed with the quick, quality responses to this post.

The canopy is a great idea. It will probably only cover half to three quaters of my Odyssey, but perfect for the Civic. I'll gladly spend the hundred bucks to protect my 50k investment in cars and already $300 in Meg. products.

I don't have a 'spiffy' RayTek thermometer like you guys used at Meguiare's, but the cars are Charcoal and Slate greys. Since it has been almost 90F the last few days I'm sure the surfaces were well over 150F.

So, any thoughts on how long it would take for the vehicle skin to cool down in this artificial shade?. The nice cool 'Gold Class' bath should help, right?

Thanks to all for the ideas. Just don't want these cars to rust up like the 'Tinman' has.

Cheers!
Richard

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Working in Direct Sun

There is a 12'x20' available:

Although a 10'x10' canopy will cover most of your Fit, if you're going to spend that kind of money, Pep Boys has their ShelterLogic 10'x20' canopies on sale through the end of the month. The 6 leg version is on sale for $90 through the end of April. 10'x20' will cover most full-sized vehicles and trucks which are usually about 16'-18' in length. I would suggest buying the leg anchor plates and foam rubber to wrap around the legs.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Working in Direct Sun

So, any thoughts on how long it would take for the vehicle skin to cool down in this artificial shade?. The nice cool 'Gold Class' bath should help, right?

Hard to say but not long... at some point you're just going to have to work on whatever you get temperature-wise...

Remember, anytime you start running into difficulty applying, working-in, or removing a product due to temperatures, shrink the size of your work area down.

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Working in Direct Sun

like the pool noodles you see everywhere, just make a slit down the center and put it on, plus the good thing is you can get them in a bunch of different colors, good point here!!!

rafal

Yep, the same thing! Finally found some pics to post after I searched using "pool noodles"

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Working in Direct Sun

There is a 12'x20' available:

Thanks for sharing this, didn't know about it...