kdurg

Getting the front end resprayed and want to have the 3M bra applied afterwards. I've been told conflicting time frames on the how long to wait before applying.

90 days ?
30 days ?
Doesn't matter...as soon as it's dry...it can go on ?


Advice on this ? Thank you for any repsonses !!

Mark in Baltimore

Keith,

I was told to wait thirty days.

Terry Adams

Three weeks on mine.

GreggT

I trust my body shop.......they maintain a correctly painted-baked panel can get a clear-bra almost right away........personally, I'd give it a week or 2 & try to point her into the sun on hot days , but that's just me.

BTW.......you may have you may have a source & installer for your clear picked out (and decided on 3m) but here's some additional info & ideas.


**3M 8mil Scotchcal polyurathane film (updated version 2004).......used by.....Ultrashield, Invinca-shield, Stongard, Xpel, Armourfend.

**Venture Tape/Shield/Film.........used by independents........can stretch more, toupher than 3M, more expensive than 3M

**Llumar.........clear, smooth finish....definately best for darker cars.......more flexible/formable than 3M, similer material window tinters use, more expensive than 3M or Venture.

All of the above have sites.....most show their patterns.....here are some, not all.

http://www.xpel.com/products/paint.asp
http://www.ultrashieldusa.com/
http://www.stongard.com/shop.asp
http://www.llumar.com/int-eng/auto.html
http://www.invinca-shield.com/main.htm
http://www.armourfend.com/
http://www.armourfendamerica.com/

Often pros only get the electronic file of the 'pattern'........and then have equipment in-house to cut the material from bulk that they buy much cheaper.........on-line sources for kits & pieces are actually "Retail".......pro installer should be less.

mike cap

Keith,

My body shop and the Dupont paint shop said four weeks on mine.

amfp

As reference, one high end respected concours shop I know said you cannot "bake" the bumper as the plastic will melt. They wait at least 30 days and during that time let the car sit in sun to further have paint cure before applying any film.

CP

I waited 30 days the last time I did mine. Now that the RUF is in a top-notch shop being fixed-up. they inspected and saw tiny bubbles under the clear bra. They now advise me to wait 60-90 days just to be sure.

They are also looking at baking the paint twice and see if that will reduce the waiting time. Now reading that the bumper is plastic, and the fact that I had a heck of a time getting the correct bumper, I'd prefer the wait than risk messing up the whole job. Lucky I have other cars to drive so I'm not hurting for my RUF, yet.

Enjoy the wait.

CP

David in LA

I'd wait as long as possible...30-45 days at least...and make sure the car gets lots of sun.

CP

Wow, David,

Please repond to this post. I love to see your post-count hit 3,000.

CP

Air Kuul TT

My shop here in L.A. is telling 90 days.

901aero

If it's a basecoat/clearcoat system - as long as you can wait. Don't confuse dry time and cure time. The new polyurethanes have a very long cure time. I had to repaint a Harley tank once because I didn't wait long enough to apply the factory logo decal. The paint pimpled right up after a few weeks - only under the decal.

Rick Lee

Just had a respray in April. Shop said 30 days. Took me about 70 days before I got around to DIY'ing it.

Adrienne

My paintwork documentation states 90 days for full curing. But on the side, the shop told me it was probably far less in this Texas heat. Just to be sure, I'm waiting a full 90.

Joe S.

I was told 3 months.

901aero

90 days in the sun is probably how long I'd wait.