How long after paint can i polish and wax

[andy27168]

Hi,
I have just had an outer sill fitted and jacking points repaired on my C43 which involved removing of the front wing. As the wing had typical 202 rust round the wheel arch I took the opportunity to have a new MB wing refitted and sprayed upon reassembly.
My question is how long after spraying should i leave it before I can polish and wax it?
Any information or comments most welcome.

 

[Ant-toe-knee]

I would say eight weeks to gas off .

 

[MicB]

I would not go near it with polish for a couple of years.

Mic

 

[AJA]

Personally i'd leave the polishing for a good few months, but you can apply all the wax you want.

 

[Ant-toe-knee]

No don't apply any sealent or wax . It needs to gas .

 

[EDZ649]

I just spoke to a mate of mine who owns a bodyshop, he said if it's a new panel then you can polish/wax it straight away. If it's old panels that have been flatted and blown over you need to leave it for at least a week because the lacquer softens all the previous layers of paint right down to the metal.

 

[jaymanek]

Remember the bodyshop will have used all sorts of polishes and agents at the final stage so I wouldnt worry too much.

 

[Howard]

I've just waxed mine , it's been 3 weeks since it was painted.

Looks nice.

 

[del320]

.

 

[kth286]

.

Del

off topic.

please remind me - what is the finish of your wheels - is it just paint.

How did you get them refurbished ?

 

[del320]

Del

off topic.

please remind me - what is the finish of your wheels - is it just paint.

How did you get them refurbished ?

It's all here from post #111 onwards.

I was pretty ticked off but as other have commented, diamond cut really doesn't - err - cut it for longevity. The painted finish is exactly as it was 18 odd months ago.

 

[adam87]

Hi,
I have just had an outer sill fitted and jacking points repaired on my C43 which involved removing of the front wing. As the wing had typical 202 rust round the wheel arch I took the opportunity to have a new MB wing refitted and sprayed upon reassembly.
My question is how long after spraying should i leave it before I can polish and wax it?
Any information or comments most welcome.

Would depend on whether it was oven baked or not as would speed up the hardening process.


All these people who say don't Polish it for at least a year or two are bonkers. It is Polished as soon as it comes out of the oven after it has been ideally flatted. Polishing is 100% OK to do.

Wax on the other hand IIRC shouldn't be applied for up to a couple of months due to gases in the paint I believe is the reason.

So I'd wait till Febuary before getting out the Wax but feel free to give it a Polish if you feel the need to.

 

[andy27168]

I've just waxed mine , it's been 3 weeks since it was painted.

Looks nice.

Hi,
When you going to upload some pics Howard? Looking forward to seeing them.

Cheers for the comments guys, as others have said it must of been polished by the bodyshop when it was done, and as it was a new panel I think I,ll give it a wash and polish over the weekend if the weather stays dry long enough.

 

[ucr]

8 weeks is about right

Here is my car after after a wash and a HD wax

 

[DogWagen]

Good looking car and lovely colour

 

[ucr]

many thanks