Paint Cure and Rain

[David Fermani]

David,



It's a puzzle, but my format is to tackle OEM vehicles right away (I've actually read from Ketch @ Mobileworks saying you don't need to wait since the paints are cured), and wait 90-120 days for Bodyshop vehicles.

Please don't feel I'm being confrontational here or singling you out SilvaBimma. I'm really trying to figure out what the difference is in an "OEM" finish and a "Body Shop" finish on Bumpers? Everyone seems to think they are painted totally different, but they're not. They both use the same paint, the same process and the same temps to flash, but there seems to be 2 schools of thinking for cure time in respect to LSP application? Who's really right? It doesn't make any sense? :nixweiss



I'm also a firm believer in sealing/protecting brand new vehicles. I'd just like more info on bumpers so I'm not second guessing doing the right thing in the past and future.

 

[imported_weekendwarrior]

I would guess that the vast majority of new cars that are purchased in this country are at least 60-90 days old by the time the customer buys them (special order vehicles excluded).

 

[Accumulator]

.. will any paint manufacturer endorse this? I know and have seen people mention that certain LSPs are fresh paint safe, but how certain are we?

I've heard that OCW is endorsed as fresh-repaint-OK by Ford (post production refinishing, etc.). I just stick with the Meg's #5 myself.



Oh, and as for the "go by what the bodyshop says" advice...I've been dealing with bodyshops since the mid-'70s. It's more common than not for their employees to *not* know a lot of stuff that one might assume that they *would* know. I've lost count of the times they've responded "huh, what do ya know! Never heard *that* before!" about info that's *straight* from the manufacturers. Sometimes they even *have* the info in the shop, but nobody read it carefully (if at all).



Just because somebody can *spray* paint well, that doesn't mean they know/care about stuff like how long you should wait before you wax it. Just as most bodyshops can't do a decent final polish or even *wash* a vehicle without messing it up. Most customers don't know/care about paint hardness, marring, or any of the other topics we discuss here and the shops cater to average customers (or worse yet, insurance companies- the Progressive agents in my area are pushing for two-day turnarounds, and that includes bodywork).

 

[Woob]

Please don't feel I'm being confrontational here or singling you out SilvaBimma. I'm really trying to figure out what the difference is in an "OEM" finish and a "Body Shop" finish on Bumpers? Everyone seems to think they are painted totally different, but they're not. They both use the same paint, the same process and the same temps to flash, but there seems to be 2 schools of thinking for cure time in respect to LSP application? Who's really right? It doesn't make any sense? :nixweiss



I'm also a firm believer in sealing/protecting brand new vehicles. I'd just like more info on bumpers so I'm not second guessing doing the right thing in the past and future.

Hmmm I hear what you mean. I'll have to dig down in research to figure that out.