Just got my car painted, now what??

[Mydnyghte]

Wrecked my car about 6 months ago, and got the exterior of it totally redone while it was being rebuilt. The entire car is now a spectacular mirror finish. What can I do to help keep the paint looking spectacular? I have some Wolfgang paint sealer that I bought and never had the chance to use before my incident. Would it be worth it to use it now after I give it a good bath? On a sidenote, I bought a Foamaster gun to wash it with, I can't hardly wait:righton:

Two shots before: (click to make big)
http://thumb13.webshots.net/t/16/16/6/35/80/2282635800028828893eCJNUj_th.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2282635800028828893eCJNUj)
http://thumb13.webshots.net/t/59/759/7/16/4/2421716040028828893pEWZWD_th.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2421716040028828893pEWZWD)

And two cellphone pictures of it now:
http://thumb13.webshots.net/t/53/553/6/91/23/2471691230028828893IGvhGB_th.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2471691230028828893IGvhGB)
http://thumb13.webshots.net/t/59/759/5/56/60/2396556600028828893OriRXy_th.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2396556600028828893OriRXy)

[sparkie]

Nice car. Check with the paniter before putting sealant or wax on it.
Some say you can and some say wait 30 days.
When you detail it posts some pics.

[wytstang]

What I would do:
*Wash
*AIO or Alcohol mixed 50/50 with water and wipe down the car. This will reveal the paints true condition, most body shops use 3m and some of there products have fillers.
*WG DGS x3 12-24 hrs between coats.
*Drive it Like you stole it.

[Mydnyghte]

Wytstang, love the avatar:applause:

No 3M paint on this car, Dupont all the way! I know to at least wait a week before putting anything on the car, thats what I did the first time. Though he did not paint the ENTIRE car then either. I'll check with him and see what he suggests. Still open to options though!

[2KLS1]

Might want to wait two or three months after its been painted for the paint to fully cure. Otherwise you could end up scratching the hell out of it because the paint might still be too soft. Then you could seal it.

[Al-53]

Check with the painter...DuPont reccomends 90 to 120 days for curing


Dupont Corp., Lionville, PA.
Dupont standard is to wait 90 days if the vehicle is out in the elements and to wait 120 days if it is kept in a garage most of the time. Dupont standard of waiting 90 to 120 days includes all of their automotive paint lines.
Email: Gary.R.Holder@USA.dupont.com

you can use a glaze during that time period to keep it looking good....

meg's #5 or #7 work good for this...

if wax or sealant is applied it can reduce out gassing and keep the paint soft..

Hope this helps you

Al

[DS Detailer]

Paintjob is sick, wait a while before touching it tho, ... 30-90 days should be safe, longer the better... then.. detail it.

[supercharged]

you can wax it with a pure carnauba wax (DP max wax, Pinnacle SSII, Souveran) after letting it cure for 30 days. I would not seal paint for 60 days (Wolfgang DGPS).

[wytstang]

Wytstang, love the avatar:applause:

No 3M paint on this car, Dupont all the way! I know to at least wait a week before putting anything on the car, thats what I did the first time. Though he did not paint the ENTIRE car then either. I'll check with him and see what he suggests. Still open to options though!
Thank you :cheers: and I was actually talking about 3m polishes, swirl removers not the paint used. Body shops buy bulk and fairly cheap so most of them tend to use 3M polishes and waxes.

[P1et]

Was the paint baked? And if so, for how long? I know that bodyshops don't bake their paint quite as hot as the factory does, so you will need to be careful. I would just suck it up and wait for a good 3 months so that your paint can harden. I've read about a lot of people just letting their car sit outside in the baking sun as long as possible.

[abrcrombe]

Yeah, definitely wait... amazing car and by the time you finish waiting, it will be close to summer and you can show it off!!

[blitzed310]

I have had 4 cars repainted all with high end paints. I had them done at 2 different shops, and both painters told me to NOT wax or apply anything to the paint other than soap for 90 days to allow the paint to breath and cure. I follow what they said.

The fact that the cars were all taken down to bare metal and applied with 3-stage might be why the 90 days was said. Its also the way they cure the paint...

[ltoman]

One HOT paint job! Take good care of it!

[ltoman]

Yeah, definitely wait... amazing car and by the time you finish waiting, it will be close to summer and you can show it off!!

It already looks Souveraned now (if that is not a word, it is now! lol)!

[Jdm]

Waxing when paint is still off gassing=BAD!!!