Recommendations on wait time for fresh paint

**nrengle** · 10-01-2008, 11:59 AM

Ok here's my dilemma I'm about to finish polishing my car that I just got back from the body shop. Had to have a door repaired, and a fender replaced. They told me 90 days before I do any work on the paint.

I was told on here that as long as I use body shop safe products I can buff out their screw ups (holograms and swirls).

I don't want to be driving my car around for 90 days which ends in the middle of the winter with no protection on my car.

My car will however be in a garage under a car cover for the next month since I will be in Europe for work.

So my question is. Should I apply DGPS to everywhere but the door and fender, or could I apply Max Wax to the entire car including the door and fender?

What is everyone's opinion?

**wytstang** · 10-01-2008, 12:20 PM

I would leave it unprotected for now (maybe just qd it). The paint needs time to "out gas" and finish curing. It's not going to hurt a thing right now to stay unwaxed/sealed. Fresh paint has enough surface tension for water and crap to not stick (at least not much).

**Jimmie** · 10-01-2008, 12:27 PM

Originally Posted by wytstang

I would leave it unprotected for now (maybe just qd it). The paint needs time to "out gas" and finish curing. It's not going to hurt a thing right now to stay unwaxed/sealed. Fresh paint has enough surface tension for water and crap to not stick (at least not much).

**nrengle** · 10-01-2008, 12:58 PM

Ok. Thanks guys...

So 90 days then, or do you when I get a back at the beginning of November I would be ok to put on a sealant or wax since at that point it'll be about 6 weeks since the paint job on those two panels.

On a side note, this car had almost no overspray on it. I clayed the roof and the hood, and barely pulled up any fallout. The rest of the car was clean. Surprised me.

**spamlova** · 10-01-2008, 03:08 PM

yeah, the fresh paint will bead like crazy. Wait at LEAST 30 days. Just use QD until then.

**RaskyR1** · 10-01-2008, 03:12 PM

Do you know if they baked the paint?

**wytstang** · 10-01-2008, 10:41 PM

I'd wait the 90 days but thats just me

**nrengle** · 10-01-2008, 10:43 PM

Yeah the parts were baked. Painted off the car baked and installed.

I had to fix the door lock tonight. They assembled it backwards, and my door wouldn't lock.

**RaskyR1** · 10-02-2008, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by nrengle

Yeah the parts were baked. Painted off the car baked and installed.

I had to fix the door lock tonight. They assembled it backwards, and my door wouldn't lock.

Since they were baked then 90 days may be a little long but there are a lot of variables that will determine the curring time. I'd just remove the swirls now as the paint is only going to get harder over time. I'd wait maybe 45 days before applying a protective coat but if your worried about it then go the whole 90.

Rasky

**Emile** · 10-02-2008, 03:00 PM

Dude just do whatever you want to do to correct and protect the paint. I know that if I were in your shoes, I wouldn't have even consulted with the body shop regarding the issue. They delivered the new fender or whatever with tons of scratches and swirl marks so I have a hard time believing they are paint experts.