Ideal Temperatuture Conditions To Paint

[deeboy]

I am embarking on my first refinishing project soon. I plan on priming and using either duplicolor or plasti-kote spray cans to finish the body in my garage. I live in NY and the temperature is dropping day by day. The good thing (I think) is that as the winter approaches, there will be less humidity in the air. Is it safe to prime, paint, clear, and allow to dry in my garage? Am I better off spraying in my garage and bringing it indoors to dry or should I wait till the Spring to avoid potential laquer cracking issues?

[syxxstring]

Read the tech sheets or can labels, but probably not safe in the garage this time of year for the paint to cure well.

You can always try spraying a test piece.

[ihocky2]

Usually 70 degrees is a good minimum cure temperture. But I am in the same kind of pinch right now. I don't have anywhere inside my house to spray, so I have to spray outside, but in Pa. we have been running in the low 50's or lower lately. So I have a spare bedroom that is in shambles right now, so I use that as my drying room. It stays warm in there and I added two oil filled radiators to keep the temp up, and then run a fan on low to draw the fumes out. I've been taking the body outside for the minute or two it takes to lay down the coat and then run it inside. Th fan draws the fumes out well enough that you don't even smell anything right outside that room.

[carlosnelson]

I live in Pa. also & know 1st hand what u are experiencing. However what u mentioned is the same thing I do, spray outside no matter what temp as long as no precipitation & run it in the house for drying & curing.

[westhemann]

That is za good way to get bubbles and cracked finishes.The wood needs to be warm,so does the paint,and changing temps during the curing/spraying process just invites problems.

The actual "best temp" depends on the paint being used.I don't paint unless it is at least 80 outside.

[~davie]

what about the temperature of a garage with the door closed?

I've been doing that for a while. And paint with like garage door 2 feet open.

We need some ideas!

and yes, i'm also in the northeastern region.

[erikbojerik]

I live in MD where it rarely gets below 40 during the day in the winter, and my garage usually checks in in the 50s. I still won't finish in the garage that cold, I wait until the temperature is above 70F.

Best thing you can do.....concentrate on the woodworking during the winter, and finish like a madman the rest of the time.

On the other hand, oil finsihes like Tru Oil can be done in the house among the wife and kids, any time of year, and no one will choke from the fumes (there are none).

Edited November 30, 2007 by erikbojerik

[Drak]

I will absolutely agree with Wes and Erik, and that is, unless you're professionally prepared, the answer is that you DON'T apply spray finishes in the winter, unless you like to strip and refinish guitars a lot.

Wes is 100% correct, if you shoot it cold and move it indoors, you will sadly regret the day you did that, because you will one day be stripping and refinishing it ALL OVER AGAIN.

So sorry the answer is not the one you wanted, but it is the correct one, especially for your first project.

[sirenguitars05]

i recently read an article in american woodworker of a guy who built a curing cabinet out of plywood and used incandescent bulbs to heat. He also installed a thermostat like the one you would put in your car to regulate. it apparently heated the box to around 125 F. I don't know much more about this but i plan on researching this for finishing in my garage. i don't know if this will solve any of the problems of finishing in the winter but i figure it is a start. Please correct me if you know anything beyond this. good luck.