My car is in the paint shop and the painter wants to know if he is going to wet sand and buff. The car is using new base clear and will be baked after painting. How long do I need to have him wait before wet sanding? I have heard the longer the better, but perhaps that was with older types of paints. He says that it can be done right away after baking with the newer paints and he wants to wait only three days.

Mine was done after 24 hours(the next day) and it was not baked. Still looks killer 8 years later.

Rule #1, don't argue with a pro.
Rule #2, if the pro is backing the work, don't worry.

I'd agree that with a modern catalyzed paint, it can be done very shortly after shooting.
Older laquers and enamels would benefit from waiting for the solvents to leave.

The newer paint is designed to last longer, look better and (biggie here) meet the needs of production shops in speeding up the process.
It also has to meet emissions standards, which are often at odds with the other requirements, but should not affect drying times.

If you wait too long, then expect it to take at least twice as long to do. I personally let it dry over night, then a second day and sand the next.

follow the paint manufacturers instruction on dry time in the tech sheets for the product.


as a general rule of thumb with the medium speed catalyst it's usually 1/2 hour after baking 40 min at 140.
generally you should buff the next day. if you wait much longer than that the clear gets really had making it difficult to buff.