Car paint

11th August 2010, 09:06

My car is have a few bits painted today. I want to clay my car. How long should I leave it before I wash, clay polish etc

11th August 2010, 10:22

Personally Id leave it a week, but then I like to let paint settle.

Ask the guy spraying it what he thinks best. Just thinking the claying and acids in the shampoo, etc with affect the curing of the paint.

11th August 2010, 10:40

At least a week mate. Some people will argue to leave it longer, 3-4 weeks to allow the paint to fully cure.

11th August 2010, 14:27

Cheers guys

11th August 2010, 14:40

ask the lad whos doing it and if hes baking the parts or not all depends had a full repray on sunday i have been told to leave it a nearly 2 weeks

11th August 2010, 15:33

I've only had the rear bumper and a wheel arch

11th August 2010, 16:05

a week should do it, why have you had it resprayed, had a bump?

11th August 2010, 16:28

you can wash the car pretty much within a week but thats just water and abit of shampoo, don't go using wax's/clay bars on fresh paint for atleast a month

11th August 2010, 17:01

Just picked it up and it looks smart, I had it done as a neighbour scratched the bumper and I had a replacement vt arch that was only primed

11th August 2010, 17:02

He said I could wash it straight away

11th August 2010, 17:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveg1

He said I could wash it straight away

you can wash it with just water etc, but don't wax/clay it, waxing puts down a layer over the paint that will stop the paint from fully curing/hardening and the chemicals may react with the uncured paint, the paint needs around a month to fully cure/harden

i know this for a fact because as part of my motor vehicle body repair and refinishing course at college there was a qualification on valeting and how long to leave fresh paint etc

11th August 2010, 17:34

Gay I'm off work for a few more weeks and really wanted to get the claying done while I have nothing to do

11th August 2010, 17:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveg1

Gay I'm off work for a few more weeks and really wanted to get the claying done while I have nothing to do

can clay the parts that haven't been painted, lol

11th August 2010, 18:52

you can clay it as soon as you get them. it actually WORKS BETTER if you clay parts ASAP after painting aslong as they have been oven cured then no problem.

I spray for a living and we clay some cars right out of the paintbooth for extra shineyness.

11th August 2010, 20:06

man im confused!

11th August 2010, 20:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveg1

man im confused!

You can Clay it WITH WATER you cant use dry clays on fresh paint only the ones you use with water and wash it with water.

Just don't use any shampoo or polish on it for a week or so.

new paint is waterbased it dries in like 5 mins when in an oven. its the clear coat that takes longer.

If the parts have been ovened then should be ok to Clay.

11th August 2010, 20:38

ok cool so go easy on products but i can used clay and some born slippy or something like that

11th August 2010, 22:00

personally i wouldn't use any clay for about 4 weeks but do whatever you want

11th August 2010, 22:03

I wouldnt touch it for 6 weeks personally.

11th August 2010, 22:09

Well i've bene spraying for 3 years in a garage using dupont Water Based paint, done some pretty wacky stuff too lol. And never had any probs with claying fresh paint to be honest.

Somtimes we even polish it like 5 minutes after it's come out of the oven.

When the paint is fresh its easier to get rid of orange peal if you clay it strait after, we also wet sand runs and then clay and polish somtimes the paint is still warm to touch too.

If you have any problem's claying your paint mate i will personally respray them for you thats how sure i am of this.

oh and no products just water for at least a week. you might get away with some verry light soap but i wouldnt push further.

11th August 2010, 22:12

i've been painting for close to 10 years and was taught by someone whos been doing it for close to 55 years now, so i'm going to listen to his advice

wet flatting and buffing can be done quite soon after painting to remove orange peel/runs etc but no other products go near any cars or parts i've painted for atleast 4 weeks

11th August 2010, 22:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by mirrorblanks

i've been painting for close to 10 years and was taught by someone whos been doing it for close to 55 years now, so i'm going to listen to his advice

wet flatting and buffing can be done quite soon after painting to remove orange peel/runs etc but no other products go near any cars or parts i've painted for atleast 4 weeks

Wouldnt call clay a cleaning product to be honest mate. i did say not to use other products on the car. claying is a less abrasive form of wet flatting really so its not harmfull if you use it with water and not some shitty spray.

11th August 2010, 22:19

thats why i've said personally i don't use any products, i don't use clay, others may do, you do

as most things in bodyshops all places have different techniques

11th August 2010, 22:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by mirrorblanks

thats why i've said personally i don't use any products, i don't use clay, others may do, you do

as most things in bodyshops all places have different techniques

ah ok miss understanding me thinks then eh. I dont use cleaning products either but do tend to clay the more expensive cars lol gives em a nice woop arse shine for when the owner comes to collect em

gets the wow factor going

11th August 2010, 22:30

a decent clean over with some water and tiny bit of shampoo is survice enough of a clean

11th August 2010, 22:40

So if I do decide to clay just use water not quick detailer or anything and I'll wash it in a few weeks

12th August 2010, 00:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveg1

So if I do decide to clay just use water not quick detailer or anything and I'll wash it in a few weeks

yup no products at all. Only liquid you should put on it is WATER.