I'm getting my car back on Friday, and I'm going to a car show on Saturday. I'd like it to look it's very best. Is it safe, or a good idea to wash and wax it a day after it gets painted? If so, what's a good wax and method?? By the way, I'd post pics after the paint job, but my pics are too big to post on here. NE one have any ideas?? Thanks so much.

 

now im no painted but what ive heard is that your supposed to wait like two or three months for the paint to fully harden .

 

You are supposed to wait a while. The painter should have told you that.

 

Wait 30 days.

 

.....besides, wax can't make your paint look any better than it will when it first comes out of the paint booth!

 

3 weeks for a spray detailer and 6 weeks for turtle wax , also im almost certin that a newly painted car is shinier that any other waxed car ive ever seen, i got mine back last week and u could look in it to shave it was so shiney

 

aww *** turtle wax?

might as well grab soem dirt and rub it in.......


wait amonth or 2. you want the paint to fully harden and let the paint breathe away all the nasty ness.

 

yeah, all wax really does is act kinda like a micro-sander if you will to get out the tiny little scratches and that kinda thing. a brand new paint job shouldn't need to be waxed anyway. and like everyone else said, its best to wait a month or two before you go scratching your paint back off! ;-)

doc

 

Wax doesn't act like a micro-sander. Who told you that?

Wait 2 weeks.

 

Project Ruby just came out of the paint shop yesterday and I'm eagerly awaiting polishing her up with too!! I spoke with Sal over at ZainoBros and he said that 2-3 weeks would be plenty enough time to wait before applying Zaino (I'm not sure about any other conventional waxes/polishes, he was only speaking on behalf of his product).

I'm going to wait at least 2-3 weeks before putting any type of polish/wax on the new paint. I figure I'll end up sticking with Zaino anyhow. Later!

Joe.

 

The paint needs time to cure, that's why you must wait those 2 weeks.

 

Most wax is abrasive, just like most polishes.

 

Okay, I stand corrected. *most*

 

Very few arnt, such as zaino.

 

I waited 3 months on mine. Better safe then sorry. Its very, very bad if the paint is not ready. Bubbling, cracking, separating from the primer! Different paints require different curing times. My painter described different properties to me and why they have different curing times. Some painted are quick cures and are hard as a rock coming out of the booth and only need a week or 2. Others need longer. The finish and depth of teh paints shine has alot to do with it. I think for the richer deeper look, you have to use a base and clear that take longer to cure. With the system he used on my car we waited 3 months. So its best to find out what the painter used and what the paint manufacturer suggests.

Another thought! Do your self a favor. Go to Autozone or similar parts store...and invest in some microfiber towels. I used then from day one with my new paint. They DO NOT scratch. White cotton towels do. I don't care how pure they are! I wash with a microfiber towel. Have another for wax on. Another for wax off. Yet another for small detail stuff at shows. They are great! I even went to a show and the car got rained on while I drove up. I had to clean it at the show with a spray bottle of water and a microfiber towel. I actually used 2 different towels beacuse tehre was so much filth. But the car did not get scratched, even with all that mess on the fresh unwaxed paint.

 

Yes you clearly have to wait!!! Your finish is still giving off fumes while it cures,,,you dont want it to cloud or not harden properly causeing a shorter life on your paint if you wax it. I was lucky I had my painted then stored all winter so it was 4-6 months or so till I waxed mine. And on a new paint job youll think your wax is "broken" like cause it wont look much better after you wax it. The only thing your waxing is for protection,,,,its very hard to notice a difference in looks.

redraif - micro fiber eh???? sounds good i got to get me some of those! We dont got autozone here,,,,,what brand sells them,,, or is there another name for them?

 

after i got my car repaired, the painter told me 3-4 weeks.... so ................ 3-4 weeks~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

30 days to cure is what I have heard. And then it will need to be buffed (I am assuming the shop is not doing this for you) to get it smooth and shiny. Some Meguire's Fine Cut Cleaner with a variable speed buffer will do the job. An orbital will not spin fast enough. After that is done you can wax. And wax will not make the paint shiny. It will acutually dull the finish (only slightly, will still look shiny) but it is an excellent protectant.

 

See when I asked my shop how long to wait they said that i didn't have to wait at all, but I believe that I waited 2 months before I put anything on that paint

 

You should wait 6 months to wax your car! It needs time to cure. If you think about it......wax acts like a sealant, it proects your car from the rain and gives your car a nice shine. Weeks later when it rains you can still see the rain beading on your car, protecting the paint. Solvents are still trying to "evaporate" weeks after you paint and the wax traps everything trying to escape. In short......play it safe, wait 6 months and the paint should last you a long time. Providing it was done right!!!!!

 

Ok, thanks for all the posts. I got my car back today and it looked great!!! But i live down a dirt road, and new black with dirt and BUGS all over it??? When's the soonest I can hand wash it with just water?

 

i think you can wash it with water and car wash that does NOT contain any wax or teflon in it.....right away. two days after I had mine painted they were wetsanding and polishing it with buffers so they had to wash it off with water. Someone correct me if im wrong.
Also are they baking your finish on......if not you should wait a little extra if they did just ask them how long they recommend you wait.
With new paint I always make sure I rince the car real good before I put a mitt or sponge on it so im not diggin dirt into the paint. And I only wash with a soft mitt in a strait line.

 

Pep Boys, Advance...Wal-Mart, K-mart should have them as well! Man I think mine were made by turtle wax. Lord only knows!Small towels about the size of shop towels...2 in a pack for $5. Yes alot of $ but well worth it. They are very distinct feeling. Like a terry cloth towel, but they will grab your hand. It almost feels like static cling. But actually they are grabbing the burrs on your hands. Its wild stuff.

 

Or if you got a good real good paint job..no buffing. The Painter used a clear called Vario (sp) by Spies-hecker. It actually flows when you bake it. Illiminates 99% of orange peel. There was no buffing needed for me. I think they can buff paint out right away though...

 

never seen those towels. my micro fiber towels are from wizards; the same polishes i use and they run $12 a towel. if the ones your talking about are just as good that would be a blessing.

as far as the paint. obviously you can wet sand it and even use a fine polish, no waxes or any other chemicals though. basically because the paint is to soft to hold up to the abuses of such things.