Flash Time?

InkedXombie

InkedXombie

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Sorry if this is answered somewhere else, but I've been searching for a while (here and on Google).

But can someone explain to me the difference between "flash time" and "dry time" as it relates to waxes and/or sealants?

What exactly is flash time?

Edit, Found it! Always happens right after you post.

“Flash time” the time you allow the solvents to evaporate out of the film you have applied.
 
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Flash time is usually related to Opti Coat and wipe on walk away sealants. They don't need to be wiped off so they will flash. Dry time is for your traditional sealants and waxes. Most sealants have a recommended dry time of about 30-40 minutes before wiping off. But some waxes are wipe on wipe off. No need to let dry. Just look at the manufacturers directions.
 
It's a paint term; here's the definition from a painting site:

"The time needed to allow solvents to evaporate from a freshly painted surface before applying another coat or heat"

So even though the context is different, it's kind of the same thing flash vs. drying. In the paint context, the paint is dry enough to be recoated or heat application (without trapping solvents), but it's not totally dry or cured.

In a WOWA sealant context, it's flashed when the solvent carrier has evaporated, but it still has to cure/crosslink before it's ready for the weather. I'm really only familiar with "flashing" being applied to LSP's in the context of WOWA's, KSG, or spray products which have a high solvent content (relatively speaking). Other products "haze" rather than "flash", but it's really semantics.

Not sure if that answered your question.
 
Thanks guys, I found the definition right after I posted (of course) , but as Setec said it was regarding the paint terminology, thanks for the clarification as it applies to waxes and sealants.

Much appreciated!
 
HMMM I thought it had to do with how quickly a flasher could run across a football field. :laughing:
 
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