Direct Sunlight
Discussion
Morning!
I'm quite new to detailing and what with summer coming up I'd like to know what products (especially polishers, cleaners and waxes) are safe/easy to apply in direct sunlight/to warm bodywork?
I've just bought a Mk1 Seat Leon Cupra R in Ebony Black and although the previous owner had the car professionally detailed I want to have a go myself.
I've read Poorboys stuff is safe in sunlight but that the Natty's wax isn't very durable.
Any thoughts?
Cheers!
I'm quite new to detailing and what with summer coming up I'd like to know what products (especially polishers, cleaners and waxes) are safe/easy to apply in direct sunlight/to warm bodywork?
I've just bought a Mk1 Seat Leon Cupra R in Ebony Black and although the previous owner had the car professionally detailed I want to have a go myself.
I've read Poorboys stuff is safe in sunlight but that the Natty's wax isn't very durable.
Any thoughts?
Cheers!
There are minor swirls present which is why I was thinking of products along the lines of Poorboys Black Hole, Lime Prime/Lite, AG SRP then sealant and/or wax but am scared of these products damaging the paint because I'm doing it outside in the sun.
The car doesn't need claying as far as I can tell, paint is like glass already and I don't think I'd need to apply anything by machine (although I've just bought a DAS-6 so I might have a go
)
The main thing I'd like is to get some decent wax on the car but I know prep is everything and I'd like to prep the car safely as the car lives on the drive in the sun.
The car doesn't need claying as far as I can tell, paint is like glass already and I don't think I'd need to apply anything by machine (although I've just bought a DAS-6 so I might have a go
)The main thing I'd like is to get some decent wax on the car but I know prep is everything and I'd like to prep the car safely as the car lives on the drive in the sun.
If there are slight swirl marks etc then I can assure you it will need claying, it could have been 3 maybe 4 months when it was detailed last and the contamination build up in that time will be quite sufficient to have adverse affects on the surfaces ability to reflect light....contamination can build up from a very short space of time and with the swirling taken into account it may have had a fair few washes after its initial detail....
Reflectology said:
most products should be fine in the sun, especially as we very rarely get above 20c over here anyway....just be a little patient follow the instructions on what ever product you have in mind and you should be fine mate....
In the shade then correct , but in direct sun light no . lets put it another way ,
when a car has re-painted panel or panels the oven bake cycle at the end to speed up the curing catalyst will be around 40 minutes at 60 deg c , the oven may and could take 10 minutes to reach full temp and then the metal panels may just hit 60 deg c before the bake cycle stops , so only at max temp for a short period.
the above will vary from type of paint material repair and type of oven etc , but this is an average.
Done many tests on cars and panels a few years back to see how quick water etching happens on different colours and temps , and also how long LSP's last on different colours due to temperature differences.
It was near the end on summer 3 years back , that i had noticed strange unsual etching going on , a bit like whats been happening the last few weeks for KDS's customers
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/04/2...
the above is covered across the cars in our car park , but its only the darker colours that its really biting into the paint structure.
Heat and moisture form a good catalyst to damage paint .
The test was
23 deg c day air temp in the shade and was not that hot a day really , no where as hot as its been the last few days either or as hot as mid summer .
the temps on different coloured cars were
white / light silver 27-28
light blues/greens 35-40
reds mid blues 50
dark blues and dark metallic colours 60
and black 82
So no where near 23 deg c air temp .
Waxes and sealents contain solvents some stronger than others , also contain oils (moisture) which will etch into the panels in direct sun light , at those temps for dark and black coloured cars i would not apply anything to the paint surface has cooled down.
Its is possible to wash cars in such heat IF enough constant water flow over the panel to take away the high temps due to large volume of cold water and quickly wash and dry the panels .
but a cutting compound / glaze / wax / sealent then no way unless its designed to do so which there are not many on the market .
Bird lime always attacks dark coloured cars on hot sunny days much quicker than very light coloured cars just down to panel temps .
I have had to rectify some of my customers cars in the past when the owner has decide to give their car a quick wax top up before going out to show of their new freshly detailed car .
One came back to me with a thick film fraying fat all over the top serfaces of his car (and it was light blue)its was like glue and did not want to come off, he applied it in the midday sun and then could not get it off himself .
I now try my best NOT to sell waxes after a detail but bring the car back to us for a small fee its just safer in the long run , or give them a good quick detail spray to top up the paintwork .
in summary just try your best to work on panels that are in the shade or plan as the sun moves around the car where to start etc .
HTH Kelly
My bad didnt see the warm bodywork bit....hi Kelly, i wasnt saying go out in blistering high sun/temperatures i was saying be cautious and patient, i wouldnt try applying anything in direct sunlight if it was any where near what we have had at the minute, the 20c i mentioned was my general ambient air temperature not panel temp etc, all i was saying is that, if common sense is used where heat and temperature is concerned then it should be ok to go ahead, obviously cool shaded areas or a lot better but sometimes unnavailable....and i am with you on the basis of not selling products afterwards, but what can you do other than advise if the client/customer wants to have a go at upkeep themselves....
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