[churchillps]

With new paint. How long so I have to wait till I can wax and polish? Any other products I have to avoid using on new paint?

[aarwilli]

I asked a similar question last week and Marc told me wait the 35-40 days until the paint is fully cured to polish or wax freshly painted bodywork.

[churchillps]

It's alright to put RMT on it, right?

[aarwilli]

Guess I don't know your abbreviation. Sorry I'm horrible with those. RMT?

[MuttGrunt]

Originally Posted by aarwilli

I asked a similar question last week and Marc told me wait the 35-40 days until the paint is fully cured to polish or wax freshly painted bodywork.

Originally Posted by churchillps

It's alright to put RMT on it, right?

Correct in waiting 30-45 days.

NO you can not use Red Mist Tropical. It's a solvent based spray sealant, and shouldn't be used until fully cure.

Drive carefully... not only is your paint softer right after being sprayed (and therefor much easily damaged), but acid based damage like bird crap and bugs can more easily etch the finish.


Unlike factory settings that produce fully cured vehicles, the "refinishing" industry can't produce the same thing. 90-95% of the paint is cured by the time you get it, but the last 5-10% takes an additional 30-45 days.

Imagine painting a wall in your house with latex based paint. Latex paint cures once it comes into contact with air. When you first apply it, the smell is very strong and the paint needs time to "dry." After a few hours or a day or so, the paint is dry to the touch and good to go.... but you can still smell the paint in the air. Even a week after, you can go close to the wall and smell the paint. As long as you can still smell it, it's not fully cured. So while the next day it's good to be used, it's not fully "set" until a few weeks afterwards. Automotive solvent based paint (primer surfacer, primer sealer, clear-coat) is the same way.

[churchillps]

So I can wash, soap, and dry, and that's about it?

[MuttGrunt]

Originally Posted by churchillps

So I can wash, soap, and dry, and that's about it?

Well... you can polish too, but I don't think that would be worth it without being able to seal/wax as well.