Spray Painting in the Cold

[BGKYK5]

Any tips on spray painting in the cold? I know the cans tell you not to paint below 70 or something. Saturday it may get up in the upper 50s or lower 60s, but that might be the warmest day we get here for several months. I want to spray paint my axle before it gets too much colder. I can't do it in the garage (too crowded to deal with overspray, and not heated anyway) so it looks like it will be in the back yard. I don't really have anything that would be effective as a heater outside either.

 

[Chevy305]

keep the paint warm inside. but really 10 degrees isn't going to effect it that much. I've painted when it was in the lower 40s before and it came out great. I just kept the paint inside until i needed it, then sprayed a coat and brought it back inside, then another coat. Just make sure you do light coats because it will tend to glob up if you do heavy coats. also it takes a lot longer to dry...

 

[garlicbreath]

Paint in the kitchen.

 

[dyeager535]

You might try warming the axle up as well, like with one of the halogen work lamps.

I didn't warm the can up or the surface just recently, about 55*, it just came out dull.

 

[chevysmithz71]

I always run it under warm water for a while then shake, warm water, shake, water shake... dont forget to turn upside down and clean out nozzle like it says.

 

[smalltowncowboy]

yah keep the paint warm and if you can heat up what your painting, that helps out also

 

[stockk5]

i painted my whole truck when it was like 45-50out.. came out great. just spray it and have fun.. keep ur paint inside till you use it tho.

 

[blazinzuk]

Alot depends on the paint if it takes a long time to dry (like alot of the "tractor paints") it will take way longer to dry like days when its colder. I tend to use Krylon when its cold it will dry pretty well down to about 40* if you keep the paint warm.

Like has been said put the paint in the house until you are ready to paint and see if you can warm the axle up I have used a propane torch before to do that.

 

[BGKYK5]

I was thinking of using my propane torch to keep it warm. I'll just try not to use the torch and paint at the same time so I don't blow myself up.

 

[stockk5]

ah yes krylon is key for cold weather, stuff dries real fast.

 

[vortec]

i find humidity is a much bigger problem than temp. if you have a heating pad or electic blanket to toss on the surface to be painted, that can help. hair drier works well, but it spot heats, so it can be inconsistent. plus, if you're like me, you don't own one.

 

[BGKYK5]

It turned out Ok IMHO. I kept the paint in doors until I needed it and used my propane torch just enough so it wasn't cold to the touch anymore. I was a bit hasty in moving it back into the garage and scratched the not quite dry paint up a little, but no biggy.

Edit: I used the torch on the axle, not the spray can. Me no likey BOOM! I did however use the torch to "help" the paint dry after it had set for a while.



Not the greatest pic, but it prolly looks better this way.

 

[roadnotca]

Looks great. I set the rattle-can in a sink of hot tap water. Not too hot though; if you can hold the can, it's good.