Operation
Fresh coating is subject to even the slightest impact during the period immediately after application and until complete crystallization. Although the varnish has cured on the outside on day 2, there is still a layer of paint underneath the top coat, which will fully cure to specifications in 3-5 weeks. exactly as long as the car dries after painting in the chamber. This parameter also depends on the manufacturer of the material, composition, thickness of the applied layer and drying methods used immediately after application to the surface.
On an average automotive paint sample, this should be allowed to crystallize for at least 2 weeks. During this time, even if the inner layers are not sufficiently cured, a film of the required thickness will already be formed, which will allow you to wash the car and perform other maintenance operations. Immediately after painting, it is better not to operate the car for at least 7 days. If this is not possible, then you should avoid traveling at least outside the city.
Additionally, you should follow other guidelines:
- Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and precipitation;
- Do not use dusty swabs.
It is also strictly prohibited to remove dirt from the surface.
When can you polish your car after painting?
Using polishing, imperfections that appeared during painting are removed and the new coating is protected. The procedure is carried out when the paint or varnish has completely crystallized. Most irregularities appear on a car after painting. In this case, the risk of damaging the fresh layer of enamel is reduced.
Polishing can be of 2 types:
In the first case, polish is rubbed in, which is a special composition for polishing. When defects appear after painting, abrasive treatment is carried out. This method allows you to remove imperfections by grinding with a polishing machine and using an abrasive substance. Work begins with small elements of the machine.
It is unlikely that any car master will be able to name the exact time during which the car will dry after painting. How can we, ordinary drivers, determine how long the paint takes to dry? There is no clear figure due to the fact that enamel and paints are from different manufacturers and dry differently. The method of painting the car also affects - drying may increase or decrease. To understand how this works, you need to understand the process of drying a car.
The evaporation of paints and varnishes that occurs during painting forms a film on the surface of a body part or plastic. To make drying faster, it is recommended to open the windows and doors in the garage or box, then circulating air will significantly speed up drying. Standing air, on the contrary, will slow down the process, which we do not need at all. Optimal drying after painting takes place at a temperature of 18-22 degrees Celsius.
Washing features
If the recommended period of 2 weeks has already passed, the car can be washed
, but taking into account a number of features. First of all, it is necessary to exclude the use of aggressive detergents, in particular those recipes that are not intended for caring for paint.
Before washing the car after painting, it is necessary to prepare special equipment and the place of work. The resulting dirt cannot be washed off using a non-contact method, but you should avoid using brushes even with soft bristles (they will still be aggressive towards the new paint). It is best to wash with a new sponge, rinsing it periodically with running water. At the same time, the use of chemicals, even those specifically designed for machines, is initially undesirable. If this is not possible, it is recommended to use special shampoos containing wax. It will create a protective film on the new paintwork and protect it from ultraviolet radiation, dirt and dust. In addition, wax will make the need for washing procedures less frequent.
There are several important factors to consider:
- Immediately after traveling under the scorching sun, the car should be cooled down naturally by waiting some time in the shade or in the garage. If washed immediately, the difference in temperature may cause the paint to become cloudy.
- The procedure itself should also be performed in the shade. If you do this in the sun, the droplets can become optical lenses, causing the paint to fade unevenly.
- Avoid windy areas as this will cause dust to abrade and cause new scratches.
Additionally, wind causes car care products to dry out very quickly, leaving white marks on the surface. Their removal is carried out by intense friction, which is also not very useful for paintwork.
Gentle wash
Car
must be cleaned with careful technology.
First, the coating is thoroughly moistened with a gentle stream of water, after which diluted shampoo and wax are applied. Then the surface is carefully washed with a sponge and washed thoroughly. After the machine
is completely washed and watered generously with clean water, it must be dried. Hard water should not be used as it leaves white streaks. As for polishing, it should be carried out no earlier than every month.
From this material you learned how long it takes to wash a car after painting. Following simple recommendations will allow you to preserve your new paint and varnish material forever, preventing its damage.
Source
Having spent a tidy sum of money on painting a car, the driver, of course, wants the paint to remain on the surface of the body for as long as possible. And here a reasonable question arises: how long can I paint the car without ruining the paint layer? Indeed, premature washing of a freshly painted car can lead to clouding of the surface and other unpleasant consequences.
Detergents and detergents after painting a car
After painting the car
hardens very quickly.
about 2 days, but this does not mean that your car
is dry. The inner layers are installed after 3-5 weeks. The drying process depends on the thickness of the paint layer, the materials used and the drying method. But in any case, two weeks after painting, a dried layer will form, sufficient for washing the car. And even if the paint inside is not completely dry, the outer dry layer will not allow water to do its dirty work. But the first two or three washes after painting the car should still be done with extreme caution.
Washing
Many car owners have a question: “Is it possible to wash the car after painting?” If yes, then after what period of time can I wash my car? A physical understanding of the paint drying process will help you answer. Varnish applied over paint hardens quickly. But the deeper layer is subject to a long process of crystallization.
How long should you wait to wash your car? The average time is 15 days. During this time, the top layers will harden well. For the first two weeks it is better not to ride at all. Even dust can damage the coating. It is not even recommended to brush it off with special devices. It is advisable to protect your car from the sun and precipitation during this time. Even if the car is dirty, it is better not to wash it, wait for the paint to completely harden.
Cleaning equipment
If you are going to wash your car after painting, remove all brushes immediately! Even soft-bristled brushes do not guarantee that the paintwork will not be damaged. Do not use aggressive detergents, especially if they do not include care for the painted surface. washing powders, soap solutions, vinegar or other household chemicals. What can I use? The sponge is new and should be rinsed with water as often as possible. You only need to take a new one, not the one you used, to wash your swallow before painting. For detergents, you can use car shampoo, which contains wax. A wax coating will help create a protective film on a freshly painted surface, which has three advantages: - protect the coating from ultraviolet radiation; — prevent the accumulation of dust and dirt; — Delays the need to wash
cars for a longer period. If you painted your car in the fall and winter, you can use a detergent that contains silicone. In this case, an invisible film is formed that protects the surface of the painted body from various damages.
What not to do when washing
To avoid ruining a fresh coat of paint when washing your car, keep in mind what you absolutely cannot do: - Never wash your car immediately after driving on a hot sunny day! The car must first cool naturally, otherwise the painted layer may become cloudy. — Do not wash your car in the sun, but only in the shade, as the paint will fade unevenly from water drops drying in the sun. — Don't wash your car in the wind. Dust particles and stains blown by the wind and left on the surface of the body will become abrasive and may cause scratches. In windy weather, the washing machine dries faster and white spots may appear on the surface of the used shampoo. They will need to be wiped down thoroughly and this will not help preserve the varnish layer. — Do not try to use a pressure washer to wash your car! Everything is done entirely by hand. How to wash
car We have already found out
how many days after painting you can finally wash the car.
at 14. Now you need to figure out how to perform this procedure so as not to harm your four-wheeled friend. At the same time, careful washing should be carried out not only the first time after painting, but also 2-3 times. The ideal weather for doing laundry is cloudy and cool. Use a soft sponge and a light stream of water to wash. Wet dirt can be removed with a soft cloth. If the dirt has already dried, first moisten it well with water and then remove it. A car wash should start from the roof. First, wet it with a gentle stream of water from a hose. If there is no running water, then use watering in the garden. After moistening the surface, dilute the shampoo in a partial bucket of water. Dip a sponge into this solution and rinse (sprinkler optional). Remember to submerge the sponge in water as often as possible! Then rinse the detergent with gentle water using a hose that can be fitted with an attachment. At the very end, you should dry your body by walking on it with a soft cloth.
To avoid the aqueous solution of shampoo from drying out on the surface of the body and causing white spots or drops to appear (they will need to be cleaned by wiping these places with a damp cloth, which in our case is undesirable), you cannot wet the entire car at once, but in half. After washing one part, apply shampoo to the other, then rinse.
Drying features depending on equipment
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If the enamel is dried without additional drying devices, then the drying of the main top layer lasts approximately 5-6 hours . All layers harden completely after just 24 hours. You can find out about this data by reading the instructions that come with the paint. Drying also depends on the drying method. Most often this process is carried out using special devices called “paint booths”. These car dryers directly affect the quality and speed of drying of the enamel. Almost every salon has such spray booths for painting cars. There are the following devices that act as paint booths, on which the drying time depends:
- Convection chambers provide the fastest drying time. Work happens faster due to the large amount of heat that goes to the car through heated air. This process is comparable to using a conventional fireplace with a fan. The difference here is that the air masses are evenly distributed over the surface and do not pass further. Despite the fact that drying of the car body enamel after painting occurs as quickly as possible, the paint does not suffer from this and is securely fixed.
- Infrared drying of a car is, of course, good, but how does paint or enamel behave and how long does it take to dry in a mixed-type chamber? Due to the rapid exchange of energy, the enamel dries 2-3 times faster than if drying took place passively (the car was parked in a ventilated area). This is a simple and safe method, but there is one important feature: you are unlikely to be able to properly dry parts that are fenced off by another plane. That is, internal parts may not dry to the desired level, so when drying such elements, infrared drying is most suitable.
- Thermal drying chambers would also be an excellent solution. Here, infrared drying does all the work. The air is accordingly heated by infrared radiation. Infrared drying of enamel does not require an active medium, because it is carried out by a large number of panels heated by gas, incandescent lamps and various other reflectors, which contain an infrared base. The infrared wave and its length directly depend on the temperature of the source. Probably the most effective device for this action will be a flameless gas burner equipped with ceramic nozzles. The gas-air mixture creates a reaction similar to a small explosion. In this case, the nozzle heats up to 900 degrees, and then an infrared wave with a length of 2 microns comes from it. When an infrared wave hits the enamel of a car, it causes the molecules to vibrate. In general, the metal of the body gets very hot.
