Well, as I'm coming to an end in my car painting project, I am eager to drive it. First I have to drive it to the suspension shop, then to the exhaust shop, but how long should I wait until I really take it out for a while? Like a road trip or something..
I have new paint starting last saturday, and I'm going to be done painting pieces and assembly by this coming weekend.
So, let's say I wanted to drive from MN to FL with my newly painted Fiero... How long to wait?
I used Acrylic Enamel auto paint. Thanks
------------------ '86 2.8L Bottle-Fed '86 2.5L turbo put to sleep Fiero Performance Mods Chris_Oslo_Nelson@hotmail.com
Did you use a hardener, if not it will take a long time to dry completely. I always use base coat clear coat. Last year I had a car at the Forest Grove concours that I painted the day before in fact I finished color sanding it at about midnight and left for the show at 6.00A.M. I took a third in class and would have done better if my engine compatment had been detailed I got 95.5 points.
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09:24 PM
Indiana_resto_guy Member
Posts: 7158 From: Shelbyville, IN USA Registered: Jul 2000
I would guess if you have the parts painted by Thursday (keep the parts at 70* or higher to cure the paint) and are assenbling it over the weekend you should be free to go anywhere you wish. Be careful puting the panels back on you don't scratch or chip the paint. If your using a riviting tool be careful when the rivit sets and the pin breaks off. The nose will leave a good chip, gash or scratch.
Well I am using a hardener. The parts are dry to the touch within 2 hours, but still seem to be a little soft. So, hopefully I have no bad luck running into any big bugs on the highway...
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10:13 PM
Firefox Member
Posts: 4307 From: New Berlin, Wisconsin Registered: Feb 2003
You should be able to find the ' service ' time on the paint can somewhere. With enamel, you should be ok after a couple of days. If there is no service time listed, there should be a polishing time. After that time, you should be fine to drive. If I remember correctly, you should be good after 48 hours....with the hardener.
Mark
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10:42 PM
Oct 12th, 2004
exoticse Member
Posts: 8655 From: Orlando, Fl Registered: Jun 2003
If it were me I would wait at least a week. Enamel paint + cool weather = slow set up, even with hardener. I take it you added the hardener so you could sand it out and buff like lacquer paint. I did that once on a Mustang and it looked good but paint ended up brittle and chipped too easy. Just remember that paint dries from the outside in so after it dries on the surface it seals the lower paint from drying as fast. Thats why they tell you to hand wash and not rub/sand/polish for about 30 days, to finish the cure.
I think you said before that you were just using single stage acrylic enamel with hardener. Its dry enough to drive in a few days if its warm enough (over 65). Gently wash any bugs off as soon as possible with clear water and dont rub dry. Driving in rain shouldnt do any harm. I would towell it off to get water spots off if the sun comes out while its wet from water, it could water spot in the sun. After that it should be fine. Dont rub it out or put any wax on it for a month or two. Dont set things like a towell on it and leave it there for any length of time, it will soften the paint. AND MOST OF ALL .... DONT put a bra or car cover on it for a couple of months.
