When To Wax

[enduro]

How long should you wait after a fresh paint job to wash and wax. Should the paint cure for weeks? months? days?, thanks in advance.

 

[SWMO]

If you used alklyd enamel without hardner or with it you can wash it as soon as the surface is dry (hard to the touch, no finger prints or spongy feeling). You will want to wash it out of the sun and dry it so you don't get water spots which could require a redo.
Do not wax for at least 90 days. Paint cures from the bottom up.
If you want to bring the shine up after 90 days
I suggest you lightly sand with 1500 grit or finer and buff with a fine rubbing compound then use a good polish. Wax will seal
the paint and stop it from breathing/curing.
If you used an automotive bake oven to dry the
paint this process could be done in a matter of
hours. It all really depends on the type of paint used.

 

[enduro]

Thanks a lot the paint was modified alkyd enamel with hardener.

 

[CNKS]

To each his own, but -- the only time you need to sand is when there are runs or excessive orange peel, or some other defect. Otherwise use some hand rub compound if the paint is old and oxidized, then wax. New paint looks better left alone. You will never quite get the original finish back if you sand and try to buff it out. I sand and buff mine because I can't keep the "cooties" (lint, etc) out of the paint. Ignoring that my paint is always shinier before sanding and buffing, although if I didn't compare sanded and non-sanded pieces I probably wouldn't notice the difference.

 

[Wilks54]

I just got a truck back from the bodyshop. Had the hood and front quarters redone and painted. The body shop said to wait at least 60 days for wax.

 

[GordoSD]

CNKS Try buffing with a lambs wool pad and the finest glaze/swirl remover you can buy. Then don't wax. Wax just attracts dust, and is just a feel good money maker for the producers and can't protect paint a gainst UV. Some of tyhe liquid spray detailer waxes seem to provide a wet look gloss.

Gordo

 

[CNKS]

I don't wax -- with base clear I don't have many problems. My suggestion was only for old paint. As to dust, I don't wax my personal vehicles anymore, because wax attracts dust (as you indicated) on the unpaved road I live on.