Advice needed on detailing new paintwork

**BadgerRivFan** · 11-17-2017, 12:03 PM

So I just picked up my winter daily driver (`02 Park Avenue Ultra) from the body shop last night, after having both my front and rear bumpers repainted. I`d like to get some winter protection on the paint but recognize that I need to wait a period of time for the paintwork to fully cure. Is 30 days the recommended wait time before applying a fresh coat of sealant or ceramic coating? What is acceptable in the interim? This car receives rinseless washes every 1-2 weeks. I have ONR, D114, Uber Rinseless, Griots Rinseless Wash & Wax, IUDJ, ECH2O, and Trifecta to choose from. I know D114 would be fine, but would any of the others be okay to use in order to provide some minimal protection while the paint cures?

I`m leaning toward using ONR, but would be interested in your thoughts...

**nickclark08** · 11-17-2017, 12:08 PM

I remember seeing somewhere that Optimum car wax is "fresh paint safe" - don`t quote me on that. Might use that (or whatever the product I`m thinking of) in the short term.

**The Guz** · 11-17-2017, 12:30 PM

ONR would be fine to use as well. Optimum Spray Wax has been given the ok to work on fresh paint. Meguiar`s M305 as well. I used M305 after I had my car repainted a year ago. The paint is still on the car so no issues.

**Accumulator** · 11-17-2017, 12:39 PM

This topic comes up now and then, and it`s rare for everybody to agree. Heh heh, Fermani and I finally just agreed to disagree

That said..

Yeah, OCW was thoroughly tested by Ford, and they approved it for "post-production paintwork". Based on that, I tried using it on fresh paintwork instead of using my usual long-term fave (Meguiar`s New Car Glaze/M05, been loving that stuff for over 40 years but OK...M305 is probably better) or 3M Imperial Hand Glaze (which I liked better than many people did). Zero issues from the OCW, the fresh paint hardened up just fine. I`ve used it on fresh paint many times since then and it`s always been OK.

It always takes about 90 days for my repaints to fully harden up/cure/finish outgassing/whatever happens. Yeah, even when baked. Until then, some are pretty soft (and some are *VERY* soft, in that Stupid-Soft range that I hate) while some are pretty hard, and when it`s soft I`ll often wait until it`s hardened up before correcting it.

**Dan** · 11-17-2017, 01:04 PM

I`d think that almost any water based spray wax would be fine. I`ve used OCW on fresh re-sprays with no problems, but then I`ve read some horrific stories of other products that made paint permanently soft.

**Accumulator** · 11-17-2017, 01:35 PM

Originally Posted by Dan

..I`ve read some horrific stories of other products that made paint permanently soft.

Happened to a guy here who was certain such stuff was just an old wives` tale...until it happened to him.

No, I don`t know why it *stays* soft, but that`s (apparently) what can happen.

And no, it`s not about the clear "clouding" or the paint failing or anything like that....at least not that I`ve ever known of. It`s just about attaining max potential hardness.