When is it too cold to spray paint...

enjoyvelvet

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So I really need to finish up my Gyruss and wanted to sand put a new coat of black spray paint on the marquee bracket, vent, etc. Its gonna be about 40-45 degrees this weekend...I assume the paint won't go on as smoothly and will take a much longer time to dry. My unfinished basement is probably about 60 degrees so I'm thinking I may just lay down some newspaper and spray in my basement. Any suggestions? Is spraying in cold weather a big no no? The can suggest the temp be above 50 degrees but I hate to wait for the weather to warm up!
 
be patient, grasshopper. I can't wait for spring because I will be buying a bigger compressor and a spray gun. I have more than a few paint projects to bang out in the gameroom and house.
 
be patient, grasshopper. I can't wait for spring because I will be buying a bigger compressor and a spray gun. I have more than a few paint projects to bang out in the gameroom and house.

trust me... that spray will go "everywhere" .. even w/ doors shut..

you will find it days later coating all over the house... windows, every surface..

Hell, 2 summers ago I sprayed outside near the garage.. with the doors shut.. and found it covered my motorcycle inside the closed up garage...

maybe you should just roll this last coat on in the basement... I know I run into the same temp problems, brought the game inside and rolled it for the same reasons... I normally roll and then spray when warm outside..
 
are you talking spray paint (cans) or spray gun?
Spray cans are easy. Take the can and the part inside. Let them warm up for a few hours, bring them outside, spray immediately and let dry in the garage.

Its the art of painting in the winter...
 
Last spring I got impatient with the weather and sprayed the marquee brackets on one of my cabs in my basement with a rattle can because it was down to about 35 degrees overnight. I covered everything within 10 feet of where I was spraying so it wouldn't get paint on it... and it didn't. The problem was the paint smell went through the house and basically took over. Woke my wife up out of a dead sleep. So I ended up taking the pieces out to the garage to finish spraying the 2nd and 3rd coats and as soon as that 3rd coat went on I brought the pieces back in the basement to dry. They still smelled but nothing near as bad as what it was like when I actually sprayed in the basement.
 
Same thing happened to me, the paint is easy to contain, its the paint smell, it will travel thru your house. My wife has me doing it in the garage now.


Last spring I got impatient with the weather and sprayed the marquee brackets on one of my cabs in my basement with a rattle can because it was down to about 35 degrees overnight. I covered everything within 10 feet of where I was spraying so it wouldn't get paint on it... and it didn't. The problem was the paint smell went through the house and basically took over. Woke my wife up out of a dead sleep. So I ended up taking the pieces out to the garage to finish spraying the 2nd and 3rd coats and as soon as that 3rd coat went on I brought the pieces back in the basement to dry. They still smelled but nothing near as bad as what it was like when I actually sprayed in the basement.
 
Although, I had problems trying to use warm paint and cold parts... the paint crinkled as it dried and was horrible..

just fyi...
 
I've painted in cold weather many times; sometimes the auction schedule and forecast don't align perfectly :)

Here are a few tips, if you *have* to paint this weekend:

1. Warm the paint can under warm water, shaking it every few seconds. Don't use hot water, that might end badly. What you want here is not to feel the ice cold paint against the side of the can when shaken, an alternate is to store the paint inside overnight before painting.

2. Warm the parts either by keeping them indoors overnight after prep work is done, or holding in front of a space heater.

3. It's okay to spray in colder temps, if you warm the parts and paint ahead of time. The paint will actually flow out smoother, but will dry slower as well.

FWIW, I use "Painter's Touch" brand paint from Home Depot under these conditions with great results.
 
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