Drying and curing automobile paint are two different concepts. Drying usually refers to a solvent or thinner evaporating from the paint whereas curing is about the paint's binder and how it polymerizes. In other words, curing is dependent on a chemical reaction versus the evaporative process of drying. Depending on the type of auto paint used on your car, the paint may either dry, cure or dry then cure. Enamel or acrylic enamel paint uses air to cure whereas urethanes and epoxies do not use air to cure. If you are using acrylic enamel paint, there is something you can do to help cure the auto paint.
Put the car outside away from falling debris. Also keep the car far away from anything that you don't want to get paint on, such as other cars and buildings.
Put on a respirator which can be obtained from the local hardware store. This protects you from harmful fumes emitted from the catalyst or hardener. Also put on protective eye goggles before beginning.
Use a catalyst or hardener when applying acrylic four to six weeks to cure, now cures in a matter of days. Mix in the catalyst or hardener into the paint before painting the car. Stir the paint and catalyst or hardener with a paint stirrer until completely mixed.
Spray the car with the paint, moving in a back and forth, side to side motion.
Allow the paint job to dry for four to six weeks if not planning to use a catalyst or hardener. Apply polish to the new paint job after it dries, but wait the full four to six weeks to add any wax.
