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#1
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How long to wait after painting to wax?
Just like the title says, how long after painting something should I wait to wax it? I was told several months, is this true?
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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver 1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver 1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine |
#2
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There's too many variables to give a definitive answer.
Enamel? Single-stage? Clear-coated? Metallic? Hot weather? Humid? Was the paint properly mixed with a hardener? Sprayed with HVLP or standard gun? Urethane enamel? Baked finish? Done in a heated spray booth? You get the idea. I won't wax a fresh paint job until after I polish it. I won't polish until I can rub a hidden spot with polish and get NO paint transfer on a clean cloth. I won't do the polish step until I test a hidden area with a stiff plastic spatula for "hardness". The spatula should not leave a mark IN the paint but should transfer plastic to the hardened painted surface (any mark in the paint can be removed when you do the polishing stage). I usually figure a minimum of three weeks but that's here in Tucson in the summertime with the car kept in the shade. A little less if the car is driven, more if the weather is cold or rainy. Last edited by Mike D; 02-28-2009 at 11:28 AM. |
#3
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I wouldn't even run it through a car wash for a month.
The longer you wait to wax, the better. I do not wax my everyday runners. We always noticed that waxed test panels weathered quicker in Florida than their unwaxed counterparts. I'll wax my Benz because it looks nicer afterwards, but I do not run it every day or in the winter. Wax will get you some abrasion protection, but little else. One thing I learned about durability after 20 years making paint: beading off of a car hood or wood looks nice, but that effect gains you no durability. Products that promote water beading really have no benefit. It was amazing the tests they could run to imply improvement, but when you stuck them out for real world testing . . . .
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___________________________________________ 2010 Toyota matrix '93 500 SEL A bad addiction. Takes all of my cash. '12 Volvo S80 T6 Needed something that wasn't as hard to deal with as my bad addiction '18 Mazda Miata No more boring cars for everyday transport! |
#4
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I have not waxed my car yet that I finished painting back in October, nor have I polished it. If you can get the paint hot and still smell it, its too early. I got my paint hot (120 or so) about a month ago and I could still smell it.
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81 300SD daily driver/project 86 420SEL (sold) 85 380SE(in the graveyard) |
#5
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I will polish after I paint but I wait about a month to wax it.
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#6
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Smelling it does mean it is too early to wax, but not smelling does not mean it is time to wax.
The curing mechanism goes on long after the smell goes away. Don't be in a hurry to wax or polish. Time is your best friend.
__________________
___________________________________________ 2010 Toyota matrix '93 500 SEL A bad addiction. Takes all of my cash. '12 Volvo S80 T6 Needed something that wasn't as hard to deal with as my bad addiction '18 Mazda Miata No more boring cars for everyday transport! |
#7
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I haven't used wax in decades. I use a water-based sealant. Waiting time? Two months minimum before sealing.
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#8
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Quote:
John, If wax does not protect paint, is there any product that does? Or is a paint's inherent durability the best its going to get? Last edited by jt20; 04-20-2009 at 12:58 AM. |
#9
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Modern multi-stage paints and clear coats need at least a month to fully cure.
single stage paints are buffable after about a month. In the real world, you can apply carnuba wax after water stops beading on the surface.
__________________
RIP: 80 300SD RIP: 79 450SEL 2002 E430 4matic (212,000km) 2002 ML500 'sport' ____________________________ FACEBOOK: PANZER450 |
#10
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Not to my knowledge.
If you look at the end of this link http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/detailing-interior/250576-paint-jargon-defined-hopefully-post2184382.html?posted=1#post2184382 you will see some of my detailed comments. I really do not know of anything other than keeping the car clean that will work, but there may be something out there that works. I haven't kept up with car care products like paint, so my knowledge is dated.
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___________________________________________ 2010 Toyota matrix '93 500 SEL A bad addiction. Takes all of my cash. '12 Volvo S80 T6 Needed something that wasn't as hard to deal with as my bad addiction '18 Mazda Miata No more boring cars for everyday transport! |
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