How Long After Painting a Car Can You Polish It?
2 Answers
It is recommended to wait 3-7 days after painting a car before polishing. Polishing involves the following steps: 1. Wash the entire vehicle with a strong decontaminating paint cleaner to avoid particles and dust causing new scratches during grinding. 2. For defects such as coarse particles, fine sandpaper marks, or flow marks on the paint surface, use 600#~1000# wet sandpaper wrapped around a small rubber block to gently sand the surface until smooth before polishing. 3. Perform coarse and fine grinding using a mechanical grinder (electric or pneumatic) with coarse grinding paste to remove sandpaper marks, followed by fine grinding with polishing paste. 4. Use a mechanical polisher with a mirror-finish treatment agent to remove swirl marks left by the coarse grinding paste, achieving a mirror-like polish on the paint film.
I remember when I got my car repainted, the technician repeatedly warned me not to rush into polishing—waiting at least two days was the safest bet. It was scorching hot that day, and my impatience got the better of me—I went ahead with polishing the very next day. The result? The paint was still soft, and the polishing machine left behind fine scratches all over, like a spiderweb. I ended up paying double to fix the mess. The reason is simple: fresh paint needs time to cure, just like how you shouldn’t walk on wet cement. The type of paint also matters—single-stage water-based paint might be ready after 24 hours, but two-stage clear coat or solvent-based paint requires at least 48 hours, or even three days if humidity is high. Polishing isn’t just about removing dust nibs; it can also smooth out minor orange peel texture. But never force it—use a low-speed machine and work gently without pressing too hard. Afterward, wax the paint promptly to protect its shine and prevent premature aging. With 30 years of driving experience, I’ve learned this lesson the hard way. Bottom line: waiting two days is non-negotiable.
