Back from Body Shop...when can I detail?

Quacker · 05-20-04, 10:21

So my car is back from the body shop. It was keyed rather heavily (every panel except the top) a few weeks ago, and it had to be scuffed and re-painted. Looks great now. I remember someone saying a while back (not necessarily here) that you're not supposed to detail your car for 30 days after its been painted. Is this true? Why? I asked the guy at the shop, and he just nodded and said, "30 days, yup" Can I at least wash it? The body-shop applied something to the car, because it's shiny and clean, but I want to use my Klasse...the stuff they put on is attracting dust and pollen like crazy.

Veri · 05-20-04, 10:24

Get a second opinion from here to make sure I'm right, but:

Yes, you can sure as hell wash it.

You can also apply glazes - No. 7, IHG - to get that awesome look. It's just the protection (waxes, sealants) that has to be left out for a month.

Quacker · 05-20-04, 10:28

Why does the protection have to be left off? Cure time?

dcswd · 05-20-04, 10:46

yeah it has to be able to cure properly....

ive heard some people say to wait 60 days even (if I remember correctly)

to add to the question... It would be bad to apply a caranuba based QD wouldnt it? That would almost be like waxing it. But would something like Megs #34 be safe?

du3ce · 05-21-04, 12:17

my bodyshop says 90 days

Veri · 05-21-04, 01:22

Interestingly enough, with my repaint, I was told that due to the different methods of the company that mfr'd the paint used on the 'Vette, that I didn't have to wait at all.

I believe the name was Sikkens or similar. But yeah, I usually went by 1-3 months, although I didn't on that thing.

Pats300zx · 05-21-04, 03:02

I was told 7 weeks by my body shop. I would wait just to be sure. You can always QD and use a glaze if you want to....

ALAN81 · 05-21-04, 06:20

I would WAIT at least 60 days.Then a wax with no cleaners,No polish for another 30 days BE SMART if your car was just repainted you must let the paint cure and not to rush.This is on the safe side(this I was told from my AUTOBODY COMPANY)and if you see the way my wife drives you know why im am there every month!

TOGWT · 05-21-04, 07:45

~One man’s opinion / observations ~

Newly re- painted vehicle- How long do you have to wait before you can polish or wax a newly painted
surface? A glaze (3M Perfect-It III Show Car Finishing Glaze contains a protective polymer that is paint able. It is completely safe for fresh paint, as it allows the solvents to evaporate. I do not know of a single paint manufacture that recommends applying wax, or any type of paint protectant (sealant) until a minimum of 30 days has passed and sometimes longer.

Dupont standard is to wait 90 days if the vehicle is out in the elements and to wait 120 days if it is kept in a garage most of the time. It can be argued that catalysed paints are cured chemically and there is no need to wait for 30 days, the manufacture knows their products best, seek their advice.

~Hope this helps~

Experience unshared; is knowledge wasted…/Jon
justadumbarchitect *so I question everything*

Accumulator · 05-21-04, 09:56

Yeah, you can wash it. You can even polish it (chances are the paint shop already did, they may have even wetsanded it), but note that the paint will be a little softer than normal while it's curing. After my S8 was repaired, the painter and I both wetsanded, compounded, and polished areas of its fresh paint shortly after he sprayed it- no problems, and it was easier to work before it was fully hardened. Watch that you don't use a polish that contains wax, though. During this time, the paint is "out-gassing", so you don't want to seal it up with wax or a sealant, but there are numerous products that you *can* use safely.

For protection, there are fresh-paint-safe polymers that give a little more protection than the 3M IHG. Meg's #80 is a good example- some mild abrasives, fresh-paint-safe polymers. Other Meg's "pure polishes" work OK too- #3, #5, #7, #81.

Don't use a carnauba-based QD, but yeah, Meg's #34 is perfectly safe, paint shops use it on fresh paint all the time, but it won't really leave anything beneficial. Best to use one of the glazes so you have *some* sacrificial layer over the sorta-fragile new paint.

FWIW, I use either the #80 or IHG on fresh paint. Never had a problem.

megs · 09-14-04, 06:35

Just had my bumper repainted because some jerk in a motorcycle hit it. Glad I found this thread. All of you are saying wait x number of weeks before waxing but safe to put glaze or pure polish. Glad I have IHG and #81. But I'm a bit confused. I've read somewhere (I'm sure it's a detailing website) that glaze or polish would be easily removed by sun or rain if not topped with wax or sealant. I haven't tried it so I can't tell.

Can somebody enlighten me? Many thanks.

Scottwax · 09-14-04, 09:51

Polish the car with Meguiars #80 like Accumulator mentioned and then QD weekly until the body shop says you can wax.