question

[569DEAN]

does wax / polish need time to set / dry after you finish the car



so i sent the full day on the car 2 step hs cut/foam then finished by hand so should i keep it in the garage for a day or two so the wax can harden or dry???????

[Anthony O.]

does wax / polish need time to set / dry after you finish the car



so i sent the full day on the car 2 step hs cut/foam then finished by hand so should i keep it in the garage for a day or two so the wax can harden or dry???????

It needs no time to set or dry.



Years ago, and I mean years ago, many thought that if they waxed their cars then waited a day or more, or just drove around town with wax on their cars, that it would then bond and harden better thus giving them more protection/shine/luster. Baloney.



Look at it this way. The wax that you buff off, that part that hazes up, is removed and basically is wasted product. Only a very thin layer of wax remains on top of your paint after buffing the residue off.



With most waxes the longer you leave them to dry the more difficult they are to remove. They are designed to be applied, given a short time to dry or set up then promptly removed.



Or, just read the directions.



Anthony

[stiffdogg06]

Rule of thumb with some waxes:



Let it dry/haze over, when you can take a finger and swipe it across the haze and if it comes off clean its time to remove. If it smears, it needs some more time.

[569DEAN]

sorry i did not make my self clear



the car is done finished wax is buffed off the looks mint



so my question is should it sit in the garage for the day looking good and all till the wax drys/hardens

[Anthony O.]

sorry i did not make my self clear



the car is done finished wax is buffed off the looks mint



so my question is should it sit in the garage for the day looking good and all till the wax drys/hardens

There is no hardening of the wax. It`s ready to go after you`re done. Now some lsp`s may, after some time, darken paints or may increase in gloss.



Anthony

[BIOLINK]

Some sealants need time to cure before topping with wax or adding a layer. But if you`re done, drive the car. Your wax should be fine.



Anthony, your dancing Hobbes is making me dizzy.

[Accumulator]

Yeah, I`ve had freshly-LSPed vehicles get rained/etc. on right after I finished them and much to my initial surprise it didn`t hurt the LSP at all.