How long should I wait??

**ChiliCooperS** · 03-05-2006, 05:43 PM

How long should I wait before sealing/waxing fresh paint? My hood and front bumper got painted on the 26th of January. Am I okay to wax it now or should I wait longer?

**Accumulator** · 03-05-2006, 07:13 PM

Assuming it`s baked: minimum is one month, optimal is three months. After much :argue MirrorFinishMan contacted all the major autopaint manufacturers for the straight info- and yeah, you should wait.

I wait at least three months, sometimes a good bit longer. I use something like 3M IHG or Meg`s #3/#5/#7/#81/Deep Crystal Step #2 in the meantime after every wash. FWIW I prefer the Meg`s #5, very user-friendly.

If you wax too soon the paint won`t reach maximum hardness but it won`t cloud/peel off/suffer catastrophic failure.

**velobard** · 03-05-2006, 11:00 PM

What can you do with fresh paint, anything at all? What about QD, like #425?

**imported_Bence** · 03-06-2006, 07:33 AM

I`d use FK1 2180. It is fresh paint safe (as many other pure sealants).

**Accumulator** · 03-06-2006, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by velobard

What can you do with fresh paint, anything at all? What about QD, like #425?

Originally Posted by accumulator

I use something like 3M IHG or Meg`s #3/#5/#7/#81/Deep Crystal Step #2 in the meantime after every wash. FWIW I prefer the Meg`s #5, very user-friendly.

Nothing against using a known-to-be-OK sealant; this is just my approach, which as served me well for decades.

Nobody`s ever explained to me how a sealant can allow outgassing. Again, I`m not :argue I just haven`t been provided with an explanation that I can grasp conceptually.

**ChiliCooperS** · 03-06-2006, 09:53 AM

I used Meg`s NXT Spray Wax last night as a cheap way of providing at least some form of protection b4 the three months is up... I don`t know if it will do anything or not but semi improved gloss and water(melted snow :angry

) is beading on it now... I`m still trying to figure out a way to get all those swirls out though...