How long should I wait before working new paint?| Grassroots Motorsports forum |

Mr_Asa UberDork
5/15/21 4:17 p.m.

Me and paint and body work do not get along. At all. I always berkeley something up and its usually because I move too quickly, so I'm going to let you guys decide when to move on this.

I need to do some sanding and such, but I don't know how long I need to wait. The parts I need to work on have been allowed to dry enough so they aren't tacky, then set in the Florida sun for two solid days and each day they get hot enough that you don't want to pick them up, is that enough? Wait a full week? Some other time frame?

I've heard that I should wait until I can't smell the solvents, but with allergy season that's not really a viable solution. Also heard that I can find an unobtrusive spot and try to make a permanent mark with my thumbnail and if I can't then its ready, but I can easily see that ending up with me having a dozen unobtrusive thumbnail marks in the paint.

So hive, tell me when to sand these parts.

Don49 (Forum Supporter) Dork
5/15/21 5:05 p.m.

Need more information. What paint system? Enamel, acrylic enamel, urethane, single stage or basecoat/clearcoat? Was it properly catalyzed? What are you trying to correct?

californiamilleghia SuperDork
5/15/21 5:08 p.m.

did you put hardener in the paint ?

if you have a lot of runs the paint in the middle of the run takes some time to dry ,

I used some Rustoleum without hardener and brushed it on pretty thick , it did not dry for weeks ! but that was 70F-75F temps and under a big tree so no direct sun !