painting ?s

[noidea]

How cold can the air temperature be to still be able to paint a tractor nicely? I dont have a heated shop. Am I just going to have to wait to spring?

 

[glennster]

i dont like to paint below 70 degrees. you can get reducers for your paint that are designed for the 60 degree range. however they are a very fast evaporating product to get the paint to flash off in the colder temps to avoid sags and runs and to speed drying in colder temps.

 

[GlenIdaho]

Hi noidea; I'm in the same spot. Just too cold to paint, so I'm waiting for spring too.

 

[GlenIdaho]

Hello again; had an after thought. Whatever paint you use, get the spec sheet for it and it should tell you the temps recommended.

 

[Patsdeere]

I have used a low temp reducer and it turned out quite nice. I actually prefer it over the high temp since it dries a little faster. After I get done shooting I throw a space heater in the area for a little while and poof. It can be handled in a couple of hours (carefully). After a day or so it is hard enough to move, but watch the fingerprints.

I don't know if I just got lucky with the paint job or what, but had 1 run that after tilting the piece it went away. Just my $.02.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Warning! Warning! Beep! Beep!

Don't paint your tractor then light a space heater. You will get unexpected results. Like an explosion, only bigger.

 

[smdv806]

Just how cold can I paint with the reducer?

 

[Patsdeere]

I may have been born at night, but it wasn't last night.

I have an electric space heater. I usually allow an hour or two to pass before I even turn it on.

 

[glennster]

i wouldnt go below 65 degrees. after you are done with the last coat, you are going to need to maintain temperature for quite a while so the paint can flash off and start to dry, if its too cold, the paint will stay tacky and pick up all kinds of dust. then there is a lot of wet sanding and buffing. to get a nice finish and good shine to the paint, i like to put my last coat on very wet, almost to the verge of running it but not quite. i also like to use a hardener. heres a couple pics of an h grille and tank in napa's crossfire with hardener, very wet final coat.
<a href="http://s121.photobucket.com/albums/o234/glennster_01/?action=view&current=DCP02096.jpg" target="_blank">

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<a href="http://s121.photobucket.com/albums/o234/glennster_01/?action=view&current=DCP02095.jpg" target="_blank">

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and here is my cub, this one has good old farm and fleet alkyd enamel with hardener.
<a href="http://s121.photobucket.com/albums/o234/glennster_01/?action=view&current=tractorpics001.jpg" target="_blank">

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