Minimum tempature to paint?

911Etarga · 10-11-2008, 08:12 AM

What is the Minimum temp to paint you car? I have a heater in the garage, but it is still a little cold.

Fritz Peyerl · 10-11-2008, 08:49 AM

At that point, it's to cold outside and it takes to long to get the whole car warm enough to turn of your furnace and pilot flame. wait a few days, the forecast is for warmer weather.
Keep sanding the primer.

Fritz

jwernquist · 10-11-2008, 09:13 AM

I thought most paint manufacturers like 72+ the body should be warm as well, you might get some more answers in the Paint and Body work forum.

JW

luckydynes · 10-11-2008, 09:24 AM

It's been a while since I've bought automotive paint but I use to buy the catalyst/hardener/reducer based on the temperature you were going to be spraying at. I've heard it's getting hard to buy good paint in some places with the EPA too.

Mitch Leland · Mitch Leland's Garage

Humidity also plays a part in the drying process of painting... However in the winter months the humidity is usually lower so it's not the factor that it can be in the summer months. Here's a link that might give you some information on both temps and humidity...

http://blog.raiderpainting.com/2008/07/how-humidity-and-temperature-affect.html

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 10-11-2008, 10:40 AM

I just yesterday afternoon painted a fender with Glasurit System 22 and it was 60 F., probably went down to low 50s that night while it dried. Came out fine, except for a couple of damn bugs that I have to sand out and spot-repaint...

LakeCleElum · 10-11-2008, 11:57 AM

I've painted 9 cars - Always waited until it was at least 65 degree F.

Mitch Leland · Mitch Leland's Garage

Why take a chance on screwing up a paint job with $100 plus a gallon material, wait for better temps to insure a good job without runs. If you're doing a flat surface that's one thing, but a fender where you have vertical surfaces you're taking a chance. Certainly you can use heat lamps to preheat the room and the part to be painted to make the temperature more favorable. The amount of paint you spray on, which reducer you use all can compensate for weather conditions. But for the DIY spray painter a good warm day is your friend...

Zeke · 10-11-2008, 03:43 PM

A lot depends on the type of paint. 65 deg for most. I might try acrylic enamel down to 60. A lot of urethanes would never dry at that temp. Ask me how I know.

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 10-11-2008, 04:06 PM

60 worked fine for me, whadoo I know. Dried hard as a...Glasurit, which is rock-like. Guess I screwed up, right?

Phat Euro Cab · 10-11-2008, 07:30 PM

I've done acrylic enamel as low as 55 degrees with no probs. Just made sure I had the correct low temp thinner.

jwernquist · 10-11-2008, 07:35 PM

So ambient temperature really doesn't matter as long as the proper temp materials are used? Is it just an old painters paranoia, just curious, I was talking with a local painter and he was really giving me a hard time about shooting in lower temps even with proper temp reducers.

Just curious.

Buckterrier · 10-12-2008, 04:33 AM

I've said this before... the chemists do know what thay are doing. Yes there is a bit of 'fudge factor' built in. Mostly because if a mfg. says 65F someone will take it down to 55F etc.
Best piece of advice from a guy that has worked with all sorts paints for the past 30 years... If all else falls read the directions.