Painting tips needed

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Larry Young

Master Member

• Jan 10, 2011

• #1

I have an odd question; see if anyone's had experience with this specific set of variables.

I need to paint ~5 cu ft of steel with rattle-can Rustoleum and I don't have a fume hood, so I'm stuck doing it outside. Trouble is, it's 45 degrees. If I try to paint (with both steel and paint at room temp (roughly 70 degrees), is that going to cure correctly in bright and dry conditions, but cold-ass cold for San Francisco?

Or am I going to have to wait a couple months?

 

Tetmatek

Well-Known Member

• Jan 10, 2011

• #2

I would let it get a little warmer. Paint does not cure properly below 55degrees.

 

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Larry Young

Master Member

• Jan 10, 2011

• #3

I was afraid of that. Thanks.

 

jasonw2112

Sr Member

RPF PREMIUM MEMBER

• Jan 10, 2011

• #4

Yeh, the paint will likely wrinkle ( if it's enamel ), and it's a mess. Better to wait for a warmer day

 

Ozymandius

Sr Member

RPF PREMIUM MEMBER

• Jan 10, 2011

• #5

I do it all the time with rustoleum primers at 45 degrees and even colder. Just make sure your paint and surface are warm when you start and bring it inside when it's dry to the touch.

Most rattle can primers and paints like Rustoleum are laquers and will cure before the cold can affect them.

I've even left my paint outside when it got cold overnight and just warmed it up in a bucket of hot water. After a half hour it sprayed and cured without a problem.