Over the years, Vanguard has refurbished and upgraded aspects of its original washer and oven. Its five-stage washer starts with an alkaline cleaner to remove soils (oil, dirt and contaminants) from the surface. This is followed by a water rinse and then an iron phosphate application, which creates a good paint grip surface as well as offers extra corrosion resistance. Steps four and five are two more water rinses.
The dry-off/curing oven operates at 275°F for drying and up to 415 to 420°F for curing. Typical cure range is 10 to 15 min at 400°F.