New paint care questions...

[Skyhawk]

Ok so i got hit by a peice of wood on the interstate a couple weeks ago, and so i had to get the hood, front bumper, and one headlight cover repainted.



So what is the proper care for newly painted parts? I just got it back yesterday, is it ok to wash it today? Can i apply ANY protection to it? I kind of hate the idea of having nothing on it. Ive heard Zaino can be applied to new paint without harming the curing process, is this true? Or should i just hold off on that too?



Also ive got a stupid question...lets say i cant put anything on it for a while, will that harm the paint in any way by being exposed to the elements when im driving it? Im driving to the beach next week and i dont want to be ruining my paint by not having any protection on the newly painted peices.

 

[Accumulator]

Skyhawk- Welcome to Autopia!



I've heard that the Zaino is fresh-repaint friendly, and I've heard the same thing about some sealants from FinishKare and AutoInt. What I have *not* heard is a good explanation as to how they can allow the outgassing/curing to take place.



So while I'm not saying that those products aren't safe to use, I myself err on the side of caution and use a glaze that's *known* to be OK for this. I prefer Meguiar's #5, but their #3/#7/#81/Deep Crystal step #2, 3M Imperial Hand Glaze, and the Mother's glaze are all similar. They provide a modicum of protection but have to be reapplied after every wash.



I can't imagine any problems from washing it (gently). I wouldn't be surprised if the paintshop already washed it as part of their cleanup procedure.



Gotta admit that the thought of taking fresh paint near a beach (think of all that abrasive sand and its dust) sorta scares me though....