#80 still the best for new paint?

GlossyTundra

GlossyTundra

Tractor Detailer
After getting my truck back from the body shop next week, I am going to want to detail it or rub on it of some sort. I dont want to leave the new paint unprotected for the 2months I have to wait for paint to cure. Is #80 still the best for this application or is there another "breathable" new paint product that lasts longer?



Brandon
 
Why risk putting anything at all on it until its cured ,, I have had numerous repaints and partials and never yet has the paint fallen off or did weird things because it was "unprotected" for a month or 2.



You risk more by rubbing anything on soft paint than you might think you gain by putting something on it.
 
Remember that fresh repaints often take up to a month to harden up to the point that they'll polish out nicely. No, not always, but sometimes. Unless there's something that I just can't live with, I don't abrade them for the first few weeks. I've had 3-week-old paint that'd micromar if you looked at it hard ;) but it was fine after a month or so.



#80 is an OK choice *if* you need its abrasives. If you don't need the corrective ability, or if the fresh paint is too soft for the initial cut of the #80 (I've had it happen, big time, and what a PIA *that* is to fix!), then I'd use one of the "pure polishes" without any cut: #3/#5/#7/#81/Deep Crystal #2.



FWIW I prefer the #5, it's what I *always* use on fresh repaints. Just reapply it after every wash, it's about the most user-friendly detailing product there's ever been. Can't say enough about how much I like this product for this application, been using it for 30 years and it still blows away the competition (e.g., 3M IHG) IMO.
 
Well, I just hate to have the new paint exposed to the elements for 2months. I have DC#2 that I may try instead of 80, maybe that will keep things looking good untill I can properly wax.
 
The DC#2 will provide *some* protection, that oughta work fine.



One-two months to attain "normal" hardness has been my general experience. But I wait an additional month or two (usually four months total) before I wax. Yeah, it really does take that long for the curing/outgassing to happen, that's direct from the paint manufacturers.
 
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