Fresh Paint?

**aarolar** · 05-05-2008, 03:06 PM

How long should I wait before I wax/seal fresh paint?

**9D4E420** · 05-05-2008, 03:19 PM

I have always been told to wait 3 months before you wax or seal. That doesn`t mean that you cannot apply any products. Body shop safe silicone free glazes like 3M Imperial Hand Glaze or Menzerna Finishing Glaze will give your new paint a boost in shine until you can wax. I`m not sure if the PB glazes are silicone free they work nicely as well.

**jaybs02** · 05-05-2008, 05:26 PM

This question has come up many times.
The best person to ask before you apply any waxes or sealants would be the body shop where it was done.
How long ago was the car resprayed?

"J"

**RANDAL** · 05-05-2008, 05:37 PM

I was just told 6-8 weeks to let the paint breathe.

**GearHead_1** · 05-05-2008, 06:06 PM

Not that this is the greatest reference source but I was watching PowerBlock on Spike this past week end and one of the guys from Trucks was addressing this very question (It wasn`t Stacey David, I like him). His comment was that if it was a typical base coat, top coat system to allow three months. He also mentioned that some paints were baked in the booth and they cured more quickly and required less time. I don`t really know why I`m telling you this. I don`t put a lot of stock in what these guys say. It would be nice to have access to all of the neat tools and components these guys get to use.

**Stephan** · 05-05-2008, 06:56 PM

I have heard anywhere from 1 to 3 months...

**aarolar** · 05-05-2008, 06:57 PM

Originally Posted by jaybs02

This question has come up many times.
The best person to ask before you apply any waxes or sealants would be the body shop where it was done.
How long ago was the car resprayed?

"J"

It was sprayed ~2.5 weeks ago, I just can`t get over the feeling that I am neglecting it by not protecting it somehow.

**jaybs02** · 05-05-2008, 07:11 PM

a member here Joyriide had similar concerns when he had his car repaired.
If I remember right he used something from FK1 with no ill effects. I don`t remember exactly what it was but you could try to PM him to ask.

"J"

**Bigs** · 05-06-2008, 06:52 AM

When I got my ride redone a while back, the body shop told me to wait a good 2 to 3 months to be safe.

**Poorboy** · 05-06-2008, 08:22 AM

It really depends on the paint and the method used to paint it ... I had a discussion a while back with a body shop manager from a Cadillac dealer and he swore that with the new system they used you could wax it the day it came out of their booth

... technology with the new water-based clearcoats is much different than the old enamels, laquers, and other single stage paints, so it would be a hard call to give an up to date assessment ... either way I`d go with the shop that painted it as they are the ones who would be giving the warranty

**jayjacque** · 05-07-2008, 08:49 AM

Someone correct me if I`m wrong, but I think the warmer climates and higher humidity also play a part in how long to wait for full solvent escape. I think most of the recommendations are "to be safe" wait the longer time. And technically you can apply other stuff a little sooner, but if it were me I would also want to wait longer just "to be safe". Paint jobs aren`t cheap!