F150 Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 I know I can wash it with no problems... But, what can I do to protect the paint, and make it last as long as possible? I've got buttery and quick sealant, but i'm not sure what to use, while the paint off-gasses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Tim Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 Don't seal or wax. Just keep it clean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 GerryC Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 (edited) Ask the body shop who painted it how long you should wait until applying wax. It's usually around 60 days but can vary. Until then, especially if its a daily driver, I would just let it get dirty, and then foam the crap out of it when you're ready to clean it up Edited September 5, 2012 by GerryC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 F150 Posted September 5, 2012 Author Share Posted September 5, 2012 Haha alright, I haven't got a foam gun, but now that I can afford one, I guess i'll look into it, what are good brands? Gilmour? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 GerryC Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 Gilmour is what I and many others use, they're about $40 [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Gilmour-95QGFMR-Foamaster-Cleaning-Sprayer/dp/B000Y190WE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1346892675&sr=8-3&keywords=gilmour+foam+gun]Amazon.com: Gilmour 95QGFMR Foamaster II Cleaning Sprayer: Patio, Lawn & Garden[/ame] Really good for strip-washes too, using diluted APC instead of car shampoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 jimboman Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 Any pics of the repaint? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 F150 Posted September 6, 2012 Author Share Posted September 6, 2012 I'll be getting it back from... Friday to Monday. Pics will be posted! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Nezil Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 I've always found it to be a matter of some debate about when to wax a freshly painted panel. Some body shops say that you can wax it from day one, and some say to wait. Others still will actually wax the panel for you before they give it back! When you talk to different detailing product suppliers, you also end up getting different answers. I heard that Sal @ Zaino, who used to be a painter, said that it's safe to apply their sealants immediately. Some of the staff at Meguiars say to wait, some say it's fine. My personal opinion is that it probably depends on the paint that was used; hence the reason that it's best to ask the body shop, or better still the paint supplier if they'll let you know who that was. Obviously the safest solution is to wait for about 60 days, since even if it wasn't necessary, you won't have done any harm that can't be corrected with a very light finishing polish. Watch out for bird bombs though, because they can eat into even protected paint within hours, and you don't want that on your nice newly painted panel! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 THE Mook Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 The general rule of thumb around here is to wait a full 90 days for the paint to out-gas before sealing or waxing it. Feel free to polish after 60, however, waiting the full 90 is your best bet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 butchman Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 I had my car painted a few years ago. They told me not to wax it for at least 6 months. He said I could use 3M Hand Glaze to shine it up in that time. He also stressed not to use anyting with silicone in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 JBlack151 Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 The general rule of thumb around here is to wait a full 90 days for the paint to out-gas before sealing or waxing it. Feel free to polish after 60, however, waiting the full 90 is your best bet. Hmm this is interesting. I was asked this weekend by a body shop owner to possibly clean up a Bentley he has been working on from an accident. I was originally going to only compound and polish and avoid selants and waxes all together until 60-90 days. I'm not sure if I want to do anything besides a light wash on the paint now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 02Xtreme07ss Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 You can sand, compound, and polish to your hearts content almost immediately following a paint job. You just can't apply a sealant or wax for the period of time specified by the paint manufacturer as it will seal in the gasses from off gassing of the paint as it cures and could result in solvent pop or other finish failures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Nezil Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 Well let's not forget that body shops almost always use a rotary buffer and compound after painting anyway, so I don't see any logic at all in waiting before polishing. If the paint is not fully cured, it might be softer and more sensitive to polishing, but if you're careful, there shouldn't be any problems. Not sealing does have some logic to it, by letting the paint fully cure, but even this is questionable. Most paints these days (to my understanding) do not air dry, and cure by a chemical reaction process. There might be some gaseous by-products of the chemical reaction still taking place for a few weeks after it appears cured. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 JBlack151 Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 (edited) You can sand, compound, and polish to your hearts content almost immediately following a paint job. Thanks for confirming. I'll stick to my original plan then. Edited September 6, 2012 by JBlack151 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Reit38 Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 I just had my front end reprinted and shop owner said no wax for 3mo sent from my cellular device using tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Bababooey Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 Yeah I just had my front fender worked on, would Waterless Car Wash be ok to use or shall I stick to regular washing for the time being? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Question
F150
I know I can wash it with no problems...
But, what can I do to protect the paint, and make it last as long as possible?
I've got buttery and quick sealant, but i'm not sure what to use, while the paint off-gasses.
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