Do you guys think it is a good idea to drive a freashly waxed car?

Thejoyofdriving

Thejoyofdriving

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What do you guys think about taking a freashly waxed car out for a drive, is it bad? Do most of you guys wait 12hr for all of the solvent to outgass?
 
Unless it is bad weather or you are going mudding or something, I don't see that anything could do any harm.
 
I tend to do my personal detailing when I know I can let it sit...

Inevitably something gets on the finish and comprimises my cure... Whether it be an unexpected shower, windshield wiper fluid from the car in front on me, bird dropping etc.

Obviously waiting for products to cure prior to driving is not always possible BUT in a perfect world I would wait
 
Don't worry about it. Just drive it. You will be hitting it with another coat or switching lsp before this coat of wax wears out anyway.:D
 
For wax, I just go drive the car. Now sealant, you have to let that cure of course, and make sure no water touches freshly sealed paint.
 
Thejoyofdriving said:
What do you guys think about taking a freashly waxed car out for a drive, is it bad? Do most of you guys wait 12hr for all of the solvent to outgass?
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the only reason I wouldnt drive it, is because I dont wanna detail it again or afraid its gonna rain.
 
Im cruzin after, flashing the car.......he he
 
Im just worried about contaminants getting on the car when the wax is not fully cured.
 
well you got a point there, in a perfect world i guess it should be fully cured before driving, but as said above, you probably put a coat of wax on your car before the other one is gone, i know i do...
 
Thejoyofdriving said:
Im just worried about contaminants getting on the car when the wax is not fully cured.
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How long you think it takes for wax to cure fully vs. how long till biggest part of curing is done?
 
ZoranC said:
How long you think it takes for wax to cure fully vs. how long till biggest part of curing is done?
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Well i assume most of the curing is done after you wipe off the wax. But the solvents that remain still need to evaporate, which i think happens linearly for the most part. But im not sure im just making hypothesis's.
 
Thejoyofdriving said:
Well i assume most of the curing is done after you wipe off the wax. But the solvents that remain still need to evaporate, which i think happens linearly for the most part. But im not sure im just making hypothesis's.
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It's not linear. Dalton's law of partial pressures is a little more complicated that the explanation below, but essentially, solvents evaporate in proportion to the concentation difference between the liquid phase (on the car) and the concentration in the air (which is normally zero, except in a closed garage with no ventilation). By the time the wax has gone hazy, most of the solvent is gone. You wipe that and any remaining excess product off. You are probably at a point where 80-90% of the solvent is gone and you are left with a very thin layer from which the solvent will evaporate fairly quickly. By the time you'r done with everything and cleaned up, probably all solvent is one except maybe the last 5% or so. Actually driving it ( the air flow) and the higher outside temp will help it cure faster than just letting it sit.

Short of worries about bird poop or road tar which might compromise a fresh wax, I would drive it, but usually by the time I'm done, I need a rest and a cold beer and am too tired to go anywhere so I just let it sit.

DAL
 
:)
DAL1955 said:
It's not linear. Dalton's law of partial pressures is a little more complicated that the explanation below, but essentially, solvents evaporate in proportion to the concentation difference between the liquid phase (on the car) and the concentration in the air (which is normally zero, except in a closed garage with no ventilation). By the time the wax has gone hazy, most of the solvent is gone. You wipe that and any remaining excess product off. You are probably at a point where 80-90% of the solvent is gone and you are left with a very thin layer from which the solvent will evaporate fairly quickly. By the time you'r done with everything and cleaned up, probably all solvent is one except maybe the last 5% or so. Actually driving it ( the air flow) and the higher outside temp will help it cure faster than just letting it sit.

Short of worries about bird poop or road tar which might compromise a fresh wax, I would drive it, but usually by the time I'm done, I need a rest and a cold beer and am too tired to go anywhere so I just let it sit.

DAL
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This is by far one of the best responses I've ever read on this board! :applause:
You go from Dalton's law to resting with a beer and don't skip a beat. Nice.
 
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DAL1955 said:
It's not linear. Dalton's law of partial pressures is a little more complicated that the explanation below, but essentially, solvents evaporate in proportion to the concentation difference between the liquid phase (on the car) and the concentration in the air (which is normally zero, except in a closed garage with no ventilation). By the time the wax has gone hazy, most of the solvent is gone. You wipe that and any remaining excess product off. You are probably at a point where 80-90% of the solvent is gone and you are left with a very thin layer from which the solvent will evaporate fairly quickly. By the time you'r done with everything and cleaned up, probably all solvent is one except maybe the last 5% or so. Actually driving it ( the air flow) and the higher outside temp will help it cure faster than just letting it sit.

Short of worries about bird poop or road tar which might compromise a fresh wax, I would drive it, but usually by the time I'm done, I need a rest and a cold beer and am too tired to go anywhere so I just let it sit.

DAL
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:applause:Oh, I would have never though about that one. I know of this principle, I left my mind though, I remembered it as soon as you started talking about it. Would i be correct in thinking that it would matter also how fast the vapors rise, if they stick around close to the paint where the air is already saturated or if the vapors rise it allows fresh air to take its place and thus more could be absorbed? Also the thing is that your not suppose to let SSII haze. You are just suppose to wipe on wipe off. Im sure that would effect the curing in some way?
 
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I like to let the air cure the wax.

I like to accelerate that air by driving the car.
 
Thejoyofdriving said:
:applause:Oh, I would have never though about that one. I know of this principle, I left my mind though, I remembered it as soon as you started talking about it. Would i be correct in thinking that it would matter also how fast the vapors rise, if they stick around close to the paint where the air is already saturated or if the vapors rise it allows fresh air to take its place and thus more could be absorbed? Also the thing is that your not suppose to let SSII haze. You are just suppose to wipe on wipe off. Im sure that would effect the curing in some way?
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The gas phase will rise in proportion to the density difference between the vaporized solvent and the surrounding air. In an absolutely quiet environment, yes, the rate of vapor rise will be a very small factor. Whether allowing the material to haze or not, the wipe off removes the vast majority of the product, leaving only those molecules that bond to the surface. Certainly there will be some solvent between bonded product particles, but again, that solvent will mostly be gone by the time you are cleaned up and ready to drive. The air flow from driving will assist in the evaporation of any remaining solvent and shorten the curing time.

I can appreciate the OCD nature of many detailers, but this is one factor I wouldn't have on my list of things to worry about.

DAL
 
DAL1955 said:
The gas phase will rise in proportion to the density difference between the vaporized solvent and the surrounding air. In an absolutely quiet environment, yes, the rate of vapor rise will be a very small factor. Whether allowing the material to haze or not, the wipe off removes the vast majority of the product, leaving only those molecules that bond to the surface. Certainly there will be some solvent between bonded product particles, but again, that solvent will mostly be gone by the time you are cleaned up and ready to drive. The air flow from driving will assist in the evaporation of any remaining solvent and shorten the curing time.

I can appreciate the OCD nature of many detailers, but this is one factor I wouldn't have on my list of things to worry about.

DAL
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cumon school dosent start till next week... haha just kiding. Great explinations. Its nice to hear a moore scinetific explination then casue it needs to...

i have a question.. if I may... by this "logic" (sorry lack of better term) how long would you wait between coats. If its fully cured within say an hour doesthat mean you can apply a seconed coat or do i need to let it si for the 24 hours that most recomend (this is for wax not sealent) and sorry to thread jack
 
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