spray painting in cold weather

You can take it outside to spray then bring it back inside to dry. Be careful about painting inside with spare heaters. Don't paint if humidity is above 60%.

Rob

Mike,

Read the painting instructions on the can.  They should provide the minimum temperature and humidity levels.

It would be best for your models and your well-being if you purchased or built a quality paint booth and worked indoors.

Can you clarify are you using spray cans or an air brush / sprayer?

Thanks!

Dave

As far as I know 2 things prevent to pain dry. Humidity and cold weather.

Humidity because the water particles doesn't allow the paint vapors to evaporate and cold weather the particle move slow and if the humidity is high forget it.

So what you need is move the air to evaporate the pain fumes. pre heating the air will help you more.

AG.

As already said, check temp recs on can. Colder temps tend to thicken paint sprayed from cans, possibly resulting in spotting/blotching paint and clogging of nozzle while warmer temps thin it. Could also place can in very warm water just prior to taking it outside to paint but best overall rec is don't spray paint in temp extremes outside of manufacturer's recs.

Mike,

I sprayed a boxcar inside my garage with clear gloss a while back and it was cold outside.  When I brought it into the house, where it was warm, the clear gloss coat turned foggy in patches.

I would pre-heat the garage if possible and leave the piece out there until it dries, shouldn't take that long.  If you can heat a small portion of the garage that might be better, I have a small workshop that I can quickly heat with a oil-filled electric heater (see link below):

https://ogrforum.com/topic/garage-layout-heat

Most spray cans I've used say above 60-65 degrees I think.  If you're using an airbrush I think it's about the same.

I have a 15,000 BTU electric heater for my garage if I need it.

If you are going to use a space heater, electric is the way to go, preferably something like a Vornado with a built-in fan. Flames and paint fumes are not a good combination; that's why they also advise against using a gas oven to bake paint. Also, if your furnace or gas water heater is in the garage, that's also a consideration. Of course, that only matters with solvent-based paint; if you're spraying acrylics, they are water based.

If you have gas heat, it's not a bad idea to have an electric space heater anyway. I bought my Vornado after we had a three-day gas outage during a cold snap a couple of years ago. No gas, but we still had electricity. 

old goat     Some of my paintings will be segments of PRR catenary covering up to16 tracks and approximately 33" high.  Would need massive spray booth.

DPG          Eventually both depending on where I can find correct colors.

To All The Others         Good ideas and I probably will wait till outside temp is at least slightly warmer, then use electric space heater to area.  The storm you are getting just left here.  3 1/2 days of rain 2 1/2 " of rain and cold.

Mikeg

I warm up the spray can by standing it in mildly hot water for five minutes, keep the thing to be painted at room temp, then zip outside to set up and spray,and immediately bring it in to dry once painted.  I've gotten good results when the air temp outside is as low as 40 deg.

I guess I have to disagree with most of you. As some of you are aware I make many types of model train bridges and other structures. I custom paint most of these to the customers choice of colors using spray cans. I have a very large unheated garage where I do the bulk of my work including the painting. If the weather is decent meaning not raining or snowing I will paint outside. Living in the Buffalo NY area we do get some fairly hot (Up to 90 degrees) and humid days during the summer and some pretty cold weather( 10 to 20 degrees) during the winter. I have learned pretty much over the years that I can spray in most any temperature range that we have in our area. I store all of spray paint cans in the garage (my shelves looks like a Home Depot at times). I use most all of the various brands of spray paint including textured and hammered types. Some textured brands (not all) tend to clog at the nozzle in very cold weather, Storing these inside does not solve the problem.

Any how, these are my findings of using spray paint.

thanks.

jim r

I do it the way Lee Willis does and its a great way to paint. The thing many do not realize is HUMMIDITY is the big player in the game. If hummidity is high you will get the foggy looking paint and possibly the paint will never dry because of it. Go buy a cheap hummidity and temp guage and use it. Generally do not paint above 65% Hummidity. Some paint says under 75% is ok.

Rob

I bought a heat lamp bulb, put it into a reflector type hood and hang this over the work area.  I work in the garage with the door closed so the area under the lamp stays constant.  Not sure of the real temp. under the lamp, but certainly higher than the minimum temp of most spray cans.  I leave the model and paint indoors until ready to paint, bring everything to the work area, spray and then let the model sit for 5 minutes or so to allow the paint to somewhat dry.  Then I bring he model back indoors.  I repeat as needed to get the entire model painted.  I have done this with outdoor temps as low as 25 F with good results.

Dave

I have taken projects outside on cold days, painted them and brought them into the garage to dry.  I would really be careful about the inhalation hazard while painting in any enclosed room.....

I had no idea how many different opinions and ways of doing there were. I am impressed and will try outside for actual spraying and rapidly moving back inside. This is AZ and humidity is rarely a question, let alone a problem.

Mikeg