Using a rattle can in colder weather?

[Sulla]

Other than using spray paint inside the heated house, is there any way to get good results from spray painting props in weather that is around 60 degrees (Fahrenheit) at the highest? I have a couple projects I really want to get done before winter, but the temp is dropping locally.

Spray it light and bring it in to dry maybe?

Alas, heating the garage/workshop is a project for next summer.

 

[fettster]

Other than using spray paint inside the heated house, is there any way to get good results from spray painting props in weather that is around 60 degrees (Fahrenheit) at the highest? I have a couple projects I really want to get done before winter, but the temp is dropping locally.

Spray it light and bring it in to dry maybe?

Alas, heating the garage/workshop is a project for next summer.

put the can in a bucket of hot water, works a treat.

 

[Sulla]

Ok, I have put cans on my heater unit near an exhaust duct to warm it up.

But after the spraying, the finish tends to crap-up, no?

I have had mixed results keeping the can warm, spraying in the chillyness of the garage, and bringing the piece in to a well vented hobby room. Mostly craptastic results.

 

[KnightAsylum]

I have not had an issue keeping everything inside, then just going out to spray and bringing everything back in.
Unless you are in the Arctic the material you are paining does not get cold enough to change anything in the short amount of time you spray. At least that is what I do. I have done that both when it is cold enough to snow, and when it is over 105 outside (when I lived in Alabama) and it works fine each time - unless my paint prep is bad, or i do a poor job with the can - then it is not the weather, just me:rolleyes

 

[silverskyes402]

What about using a hair dryer to warm the piece up before or during painting or before you bring it in to dry, just a thought

 

[Sulla]

All good ideas everyone, thanks.

We'll see how well it works when I give it a go this week.

 

[Robiwon]

I have built models for over 30 years. I have also spray painted in just about every weather condition.:cool
The problem most experience when spraying in cold temps is not necessarily the temp but the humidity. Cold air tends to have more moisture in it. As the paint is flying thru the air it picks up this moisture before it lands on your model. You can warm your rattle can to help. Do this in a pan of warm water! Do not put it by a single heat source like a heater or radiator. This creates a hot spot on the side of the can. Heating in a pan of warm (not hot) water will warm the can from all sides, evenly. What this does is to help break down the paint particles into a finer mist when sprayed. The smaller the particle ttraveling thru the air, the less moisture it will attract.

Watch the weather, pick the warmest time of day you can paint. Warm your paint and do the deed. Bring it all in as soon as possible and set it asside.

Hope this helps.

 

[Sulla]

Fantastic thanks.

I was leaving the rattle cans on a shelf in the utility room just inside the house from the garage. Between the H.E. clothes drier and the heater in that tinny clset, er, room, I was getting a pretty evenly heated can.

 

[Funky]

Yup, what Robiwan said. I too have painted outside from 105 degrees to 10 degrees. I haven't had much of a problem. Now humidity...whoo boy! I've had problems when it's humid from slagging (when it makes the paint ultra runny) to cracking, even orange peel. So long as the can itself is at room temperature and make sure you rattle for a full minute I think you'll be okay. I'm sure you already know this but warmer temps make it cure faster as well. Good luck with your project.

 

[sycor]

Cold air tends to have more moisture in it.

Unless you live in the south.

 

[Robiwon]

Then it's hot and humid.:lol If your on LV426 then it's a dry heat!

Unless you live in the south.

 

[zorg]

i spray in the cold all the time (north of scotland) as fettster says put the can in warm to hottish water for 5-10 mins

MAKE SURE YOU SHAKE IT WELL BEFORE SPRAYING

whatever you are spraying run a heatgun over it for 2 - 3 mins making sure its nice and toasty then hit it with the warmed up paint . thin coats work best.

then hit it again with the heatgun for a few mins then take it inside.

just done this tonight infact on an ns-4 head and it turned out great.

z

 

[Darth Lars]

I use a large cardboard box on the balcony with a couple of small heating candles in it that I keep the part to be painted between coats and for a few hours after painting. When the candles have burned out, it is time to move the box indoors - if I can handle the fumes, but then the paint should have been cured enough.
The box has holes in the sides as handles, and these provide all ventilation.
I keep the rattle can indoors between coats, in a jug filled with hot water.

I currently have two helmets that need to be painted (and dry!) by November 1st, that I used the heat-box for. The temperature outdoors this week has been around 5° C, with a humidity around 50% when I have used it (mornings and evenings, i.e. before and after work).
I have not checked the temperature inside the box, but it does feel like slightly higher than room temperature.

 

[Gigatron]

Your biggest problems are going to be temperature and condensation.

The cold air will freeze the water in the spray cans so you'll get a rough finish when you paint, then when you bring the piece indoors, the little ice crystals melt and interact with the paint. Then you end up with orange peel.

Bringing pieces and paints in and out of the warm house to the cold air will cause water vapor to condense on the piece and cause the same problem.

I've gotten the best results from keeping the pieces and paints indoors. When I'm ready, I shake the paint and then run out, spray a thin layer or two and then come right back in. Ive done this in temps below freezing with no ill effects.

The ultimate way to deal with this is to set up a cardboard box between the house and the garage (if they're attached). Get a large box, open both ends. Have a small box fan on the garage/outside side, blowing away from you (sucking the fumes out of the box to outdoors). It'll also draw in the warm, inside air. This will allow you to pait indoors, not stink up the house, not have to deal with the cold and shouldn't cost more than $15 to make.

-Fred

 

[ArtisanProps]

Yup, usually what you get when you paint in cold weather is from
the moisture.. It causes the paint to "Blush" you can remedy this
sometimes by hitting the painted surface with a hair dryer using a
back and forth sweaping motion so the surface gets an even blast
of heat, but you still my have curing problems depending on how
heavy the coat of paint was..

 

[gunnerk19]

One thing I use that seems to yield favorable results is using an electric coffee cup warmer; for models, I normally use the Testor's 3 oz. rattle cans, and the warmer does just that, warming the can evenly due to it's small size, and not an extreme direct heat designed for warming a large room...

I've tried the pan of warm water thing, but usually it was in the same cold area I needed to paint in, and the water got cold too quickly...

 

[Jumpin Jax]

I spray the item outdoors, then IMMEDIATELY put it in my shop oven. Turn it to 250 degrees for about 30 seconds(at 30 seconds it probably doesn't matter how high you turn it, but that's what I do).
Leave it in there a couple hours. Works so well it's almost criminal.
I had that idea when I lived in a small apartment and had to paint my armor FAST before a con. I stuck my items in the bathroom with the heat turned up, made a great curing booth.