Can I polish 3 week old paint

[Methodical]

Is it ok to polish (not wax or seal) new paint (3 weeks old)? I know not to wax the car to allow it to release some chemicals, but I just want to polish (no wax) it to remove some of the swirls in the paint. The polishes I have are Meguiars and Rupes.

Thanks for any input.

[acuRAS82]

I just got my tailgate repainted (partial base coat, full clear coat) and my body guy told me to wait 3-4 weeks preferred, but could polish immediately if I had to... The main risk was possibility that new hazing could occur after I polished, up until the 4 week mark.

I could see sanding/compound marks, so on day 3, I polished a small test spot with orange pad w/ swirl remover. The scratches came out immediately and there has yet to be any hazing in that spot, now 2.5 weeks later. My understanding from the body guy is that if hazing did come back, I would need to polish again after the 4 week point. He said there’s plenty of clearcoat so it would have only cost me my time, no danger of permanently screwing up the paint, to my understanding.

When in doubt, I recommend contacting the painter as paint types may differ? But I wanted to share my recent experience with you anyways. :)

[FUNX650]

Is it ok to polish (not wax or seal) new
paint (3 weeks old)? I know not to wax
the car to allow it to release some chemicals,
but I just want to polish (no wax) it to
remove some of the swirls in the paint.

The polishes I have are Meguiars and Rupes.

Thanks for any input.
Yes...It’ll be ok to polish out the swirls.

Additionally:
•Let me suggest that, once you’re satisfied
with the swirl removal, you can then apply
Meguiar’s M305.

-M305 will not only provide a layer of
Wax protection, but it will also allow
the new paint to continue its ‘outgassing’
process to completion.

Meguiars M305 Ultra Finishing Durable Glaze 16 oz. (https://www.autogeek.net/megiuars-m305-16.html)

Good stuff!



Bob

[Methodical]

Thanks for the feedback and suggestions.

[2black1s]

My experience as an old painter is that the longer you wait to polish new paint the more permanent your results will be.

Here's the reason... Paint continues to shrink during the curing/hardening process. This shrinkage results in a surface texture change and that surface texture change results in lower gloss.

Paint application and thickness play into how long the curing/hardening process drags out and how much shrinkage occurs, but it does occur to some degree regardless of application/thickness.

So, the further down the road to full cure/hardness of the paint you are when you do your polishing the more permanent your results will be.

This does not mean that you can't polish fresh paint. Most paint can be polished as soon as the next day but in doing so, don't expect it to retain that "polished" look a month or two or three later. It will dull out to some extent. When that occurs just simply repeat your polishing process.

When I did custom paint jobs my preference for sanding and polishing was a minimum of 90 days out.

[Oz_TCH]

Nvm.

[mckobe]

Even single stage is ok to polish at 3 weeks?

[FUNX650]

Even single stage is ok to polish at 3 weeks?

Yes.
Sometimes even a lot sooner than 3 weeks.

•If it’s ‘modern day’ Single Stage urethane:
-then the amount of drying-time needed (for
when it can then be polished) usually ranges
between 8-16 hours.


Bob

[acuRAS82]

My experience as an old painter is that the longer you wait to polish new paint the more permanent your results will be.

Here's the reason... Paint continues to shrink during the curing/hardening process. This shrinkage results in a surface texture change and that surface texture change results in lower gloss.

Paint application and thickness play into how long the curing/hardening process drags out and how much shrinkage occurs, but it does occur to some degree regardless of application/thickness.

So, the further down the road to full cure/hardness of the paint you are when you do your polishing the more permanent your results will be.

This does not mean that you can't polish fresh paint. Most paint can be polished as soon as the next day but in doing so, don't expect it to retain that "polished" look a month or two or three later. It will dull out to some extent. When that occurs just simply repeat your polishing process.

When I did custom paint jobs my preference for sanding and polishing was a minimum of 90 days out.
Thanks for the fine info. This essentially lines up with what my body guy informed me... getting a consistent answer from another paint guy gives me the warm and fuzzies.

[Sleper]

Old school was 90 days but that was before paint was baked on during the drying process. If it is factory paint and you have just picked up your new vehicle yes for sure go agead. if you have had something repainted and the piece was baked during the drying process 30 days is good. If not baked i would wait 60 days My 0.02$ hope this helps

[2black1s]

Old school was 90 days but that was before paint was baked on during the drying process. If it is factory paint and you have just picked up your new vehicle yes for sure go agead. if you have had something repainted and the piece was baked during the drying process 30 days is good. If not baked i would wait 60 days My 0.02$ hope this helps

If you have had a part repainted on your car it is not "baked". That is a misconception by the general public and some painters alike. In reality, if your car was repainted and you were told that it was "baked", what really occurred is that the paint was "force dried".

There is a big difference between the two.

"Force drying", which is common in the refinish industry is achieved at temperatures around 140 deg F. The primary reason for force drying is to achieve higher production rates by accelerating the initial dry times. While force drying will have some influence on the overall cure time of the paint, it is not that significant. The paint still needs additional air dry time to reach full cure and hardness.

"Baking" on the other hand is achieved at temperatures around 365 deg F using paint formulations developed for such. At these temperatures the paint will be fully cured and hardened at the conclusion of the baking process. Additional air dry time is not required.

Baking is not possible on a fully assembled car as many materials and components would be damaged at such elevated temperatures. When the car is initially painted at the factory it is a bare shell at the time.

So rest assured, regardless of what you've been told by the shop, your repainted car has not been baked to the level of full cure and still needs time.

[TTQ B4U]

Is it ok to polish (not wax or seal) new paint (3 weeks old)? I know not to wax the car to allow it to release some chemicals, but I just want to polish (no wax) it to remove some of the swirls in the paint. The polishes I have are Meguiars and Rupes.

Thanks for any input.

Yes. Paint can be compounded and cured at home after bring it back. Just stay away from any silicon based products. 3D's 505 is great. It's a new paint safe version of HD Speed to get you through the curing phase. Once 30 goes by then you can have at it with whatever else there is and even coat it.

[Methodical]

Great info everyone. The painter told me not to "wax" the car for at least 30 days. So, I had no plans to wax it, but just wanted to polish it to get rid of the swirls left behind. I am nearing that 30 day mark.

[acuRAS82]

^^Me too (nearing 30 days), can’t wait!