Paint Wax Options

[Liam_c]

I have recently been to get my car tidyed up by a panel beater. After a month of having it back, it has already started peeling, and has fish eyes and contaminents in the paint. I've since taken it back and they said they will repair it, but i've been told that its happened because of the type of wax i've been using They have told me not to wash the car with wash n wax products or wax my car after washing it for a few weeks before bringing it in to respray.

Just for future reference, is there any wax products that easily wash off when the car is washed? Or would be less likely to do this?

Cheers

[Galcobar]

The enamels used on cars need to breathe in order to cure -- the solvents which make the paint liquid need to evaporate. Waxes and sealants prevent the paint from curing.

While the paint is curing, it's still soft. You want to avoid, as much as possible, anything which could damage it. This includes washing it, preferably.

What can give your new paint job a level of protection without sealing it would be pure polishes. Normally, these polishes are meant to condition existing paint, maintaining a proper chemical balance. On new paint they're not necessary, but do give contaminants something to stick to other than the fresh paint. Look for ones labelled body-shop safe, as these will not prevent new paint from adhering correctly. I'm not sure what other brands have available, but Meguiar's Professional line has several body-shop safe polishes. Look for the tan bottles on the shelf rather than their black or maroon consumer lines.

That said, if you've waxed your vehicle you need to remove that wax before it is repainted, or your newest layer of paint will not properly adhere. The right way to strip wax or sealant from the car is with a clay bar. This avoids leaving any contaminants behind. I prefer Mother's clay bar kit -- aside from offering more clay than Meguiar's kit, the clay is much stickier.