How soon after paintjob can I clay, SMR, polish, seal, wax?

[2drtahoez71]

Just got some body panels painted, and I also just got 3 large boxes of detailing goodies in the mail....guess what im itching to do:naughty ;)

How soon after something gets painted can I clay, SMR, polish, seal, wax, etc, etc? Ive heard some people say "90 days", while others say "the next day"...anybody know the real answer?

[Beemerboy]

I`d check with your paint shop, but I`ve always been told 3 months for what you are looking ot do. 3M Imperial hand glaze is something that you can use right off, no real protetion but gives a good shine while it cures

[EBPcivicsi]

I would also check with the body shop. I know that until then you can use #80 speed glaze which provides at least some protection until the paint has fully cured.

[groebuck]

My body shop said 30 -45 days - it depends on the shop and if they baked the finish at all I think

[kimwallace]

:yeah
The best advise is to check with the people who did the painting.
Each manufacturer has their own recomendations and it also depends on baking.

[01GMC]

When I got mine painted I was told 90 days. You can wax it, but the wax and washes can not cotain silicone. Silicone will seal the paint and not allow it to "breath" and properly cure.

[brianjake99]

"baking" a paint job is not neccessary at all, the only reason body shops "bake" the car is to get more cars in and out faster. I rarely bake the cars i paint.

[JimS]

I clayed PP`d and Ex`d my truck the day after I got it home from the body shop. No problems. Try a spot....maybe on a rocker panel where you can`t see it, and you`ll find that there is no problem.

[dr_detail]

I`d have to be color-sanding, buffin and polishin cars the day they came out of the spray booth... Of course many of these were pre-production/prototype picture vehicles with strip paints that needed to be on location within 48 hours. Never had any problems once the paint was fully cured. Correct me if I`m wrong brianjake99, but with the correct amount of catalyst in paint, and the right temps combined with the the proper mix for the specific humidity, fresh paint can be fully cured in less than 4 hours?

[2drtahoez71]

The guy at the shop told me that even though 30 days is what most people will tell you....the fact that my car is black, and the weather is so nice/hot here right now, that it should be fine to play with in a week.