Sealant wait times

M

M K J

New member
Now. I gather that it is a good idea to wait a while for a sealant to dry before buffing off and even longer before top waxing.

So. let's say I wait 2 hours for the sealant to dry before buffing off. Then I want to wait 8-12 hours before a top wax. Can I cover the car outside and top wax the next day? If I don't cover it it will have all kinds of stuff landing on the surface.

Is there any problem with covering? It's a breathable cover.
 
One read the label of the sealant some are a wipe on wipe off so follows the directions per manufacturer.

Most curing time between a coats of another sealant layer or wax is 12
Hours. After that time you can do whatever you please

A car cover would be fine. If you feel there is dust or small debris you can use a quick detailer to remove those items then proceed with either topping with a wax or another layer of a sealant then your wax.
 
I'm glad you asked because I wondered this as well. I don't have the answer? I wondered about all the fallout from the air that settles on the car, and then you buff on it?? Seems like dirt / debris not visible to you in the air would grind in when you buff sealant off. What I do is put a car cover on it and then before buffing it use a swifter sheet lightly over the area surface to buff to pick up dust / light fallout. I don't know if this does anything but it's what I do.
 
If you apply DG105 (or 111 or 101 or 501) mixed 4 to 1 with DG601, let it dry to a haze (if you put it on very thin as it should be) you can buff off in 30 minutes more or less (depends on the temp/humidity) allow to cure for 2 hours then top with your wax of choice.
 
It easy guys, one, you dont leave the product to site there for hours. At most 30 min for various products, you apply, let i haze for half an hour then remove.

If you want to apply a wax, wait the recommended cure time. And if you car has debris, light dust etc, a quick QD or waterless wash before your layer of wax will be fine.

Enjoy :)
 
cleanmycorolla said:
It easy guys, one, you dont leave the product to site there for hours. At most 30 min for various products, you apply, let i haze for half an hour then remove.

If you want to apply a wax, wait the recommended cure time. And if you car has debris, light dust etc, a quick QD or waterless wash before your layer of wax will be fine.

Enjoy :)
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Yeah, but the recommended time is 8-12 hours for to apply a different product. Why would you want to QD or WW and remove some of the previous coating. And I don't believe for a minute that QD wont remove some coating. I can see and feel the difference after QD on the substrate.
 
M K J said:
Now. I gather that it is a good idea to wait a while for a sealant to dry before buffing off and even longer before top waxing.

So. let's say I wait 2 hours for the sealant to dry before buffing off. Then I want to wait 8-12 hours before a top wax. Can I cover the car outside and top wax the next day? If I don't cover it it will have all kinds of stuff landing on the surface.

Is there any problem with covering? It's a breathable cover.
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As long as it doesn't rain or get moisture (dew) trapped under the cover I see no reason why you should have a problem

I personally think you could wipe the sealant after 30 minutes or so, then apply your wax and be finished
 
M K J said:
Yeah, but the recommended time is 8-12 hours for to apply a different product. Why would you want to QD or WW and remove some of the previous coating. And I don't believe for a minute that QD wont remove some coating. I can see and feel the difference after QD on the substrate.
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Well I just came to give you some advice, proper advice but it's cool. You seem to have your own rhythm, rock on I suppose.

Btw most people would say QD or using a waterless is fine, you're not removing the sealant you put on by using a little QD before putting wax on.
 
cleanmycorolla said:
Well I just came to give you some advice, proper advice but it's cool. You seem to have your own rhythm, rock on I suppose.

Btw most people would say QD or using a waterless is fine, you're not removing the sealant you put on by using a little QD before putting wax on.
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No problem. I appreciate the input.

But else where on the forum, someone said it takes 8-12 hours for a sealant to "cure". As opposed to two hours to wait before removing. Product specific or not, I do not know.

Now, I have observed on a sealant fully cured vehicle, when I went and QD a little spot of something, that the spot I cleaned shone and beaded differently. To me, that says qd is doing something to the previously applied sealant.

So to me it just seems sensible, if you wait for a cure, and you can't garage it...to cover it in the hopes of not having to qd the sealant you just busted your hump to apply?
 
Wait time for most sealants to haze is about 30 minutes (as stated above) if it's applied appropriately thin. Cure time can be anywhere from immediately to 12 hours depending on the sealnt. The 601 I mentioned above is a product for DG sealants that will allow them to cure in 2 hours so you could apply the sealant and top with a wax all in one day.

Most QDs leave something behind for slickness etc and that's what you're seeing--not removal of the sealant. Megs M34 is a QD that leaves little to nothing behind but the sealant could still feel more slick but it doesn't remove sealant.

IMO there's too much risk of causing marring with a cover than any problems a QD or waterless wash would cause.
 
ski2 said:
Wait time for most sealants to haze is about 30 minutes (as stated above) if it's applied appropriately thin. Cure time can be anywhere from immediately to 12 hours depending on the sealnt. The 601 I mentioned above is a product for DG sealants that will allow them to cure in 2 hours so you could apply the sealant and top with a wax all in one day.

Most QDs leave something behind for slickness etc and that's what you're seeing--not removal of the sealant. Megs M34 is a QD that leaves little to nothing behind but the sealant could still feel more slick but it doesn't remove sealant.

IMO there's too much risk of causing marring with a cover than any problems a QD or waterless wash would cause.
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Thank you. Sounds logical
 
ski2 said:
Wait time for most sealants to haze is about 30 minutes (as stated above) if it's applied appropriately thin. Cure time can be anywhere from immediately to 12 hours depending on the sealnt. The 601 I mentioned above is a product for DG sealants that will allow them to cure in 2 hours so you could apply the sealant and top with a wax all in one day.

Most QDs leave something behind for slickness etc and that's what you're seeing--not removal of the sealant. Megs M34 is a QD that leaves little to nothing behind but the sealant could still feel more slick but it doesn't remove sealant.

IMO there's too much risk of causing marring with a cover than any problems a QD or waterless wash would cause.
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thanks again.

the reason I started hunting around here is that my paint sealants don't seem to last like they say they should. Or protect.

I have used Griot's and Optimum Poly Seal and they don't seem to bead past a month or so. Then I had a spot of bird sheet land on my new car, 3 days after I had washed it and sealed it with GG and the little sheet left a mark in my clear coat right through the GG Sealant. It looked like a cigar burn. It had to be wet sanded and buffed to correct.

So then I noticed that GG has conflicting advice on the Sealant. The bottle says one area at a time and wipe off. But Richard Griot's vid with the DA says to leave it on a couple of hours. So I was thinking I am not getting full effect of the sealant by wiping to soon. Especially after most here say 2 hours before wipe off and 12 h ours before next product.

So, a QD after 12 hours is what I have been doing. It just seems like a shame to do that but, also don't want to be waxing on top of 12 hours of fall out.
 
If sealant durability is your issue IMO you're using the wrong sealants. While I've never used either the Griots or PolySeal--they don't have a reputation of being long term durable.

There are tons of durable sealants out there-- DG105, Megs Ulitimate Liquid Wax (but it's a sealant), M21, Collinite 845 and 476 (I believe they are hybrids) and many others.
 
M K J said:
thanks again.

the reason I started hunting around here is that my paint sealants don't seem to last like they say they should. Or protect.
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Typically, 2 months is what you can expect out of a sealant/wax before it starts losing it's luster
 
ski2 said:
If sealant durability is your issue IMO you're using the wrong sealants. While I've never used either the Griots or PolySeal--they don't have a reputation of being long term durable.

There are tons of durable sealants out there-- DG105, Megs Ulitimate Liquid Wax (but it's a sealant), M21, Collinite 845 and 476 (I believe they are hybrids) and many others.
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I have Collinite 845 on it now...two coats, 12 hours apart. Having scrupulously followed directions...we'll see.
 
Thanks for the vote of confidence!! I routinely get 4-6 months durability from DG 105 on a properly prepared surface and know of others who get 4-6 months from Collinite 476and FK1000 who are well respected professional detailers.
 
M K J said:
No problem. I appreciate the input.

But else where on the forum, someone said it takes 8-12 hours for a sealant to "cure". As opposed to two hours to wait before removing. Product specific or not, I do not know.

Now, I have observed on a sealant fully cured vehicle, when I went and QD a little spot of something, that the spot I cleaned shone and beaded differently. To me, that says qd is doing something to the previously applied sealant.

So to me it just seems sensible, if you wait for a cure, and you can't garage it...to cover it in the hopes of not having to qd the sealant you just busted your hump to apply?
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Doesn't that depend on the QD that you use? For example, some include a glosser which should change the shine and some have carnauba in them which should affect beading and shine. Not knowing which QD you were using, it is hard to say whether this might be the reason for your observation...

<TED>
 
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