Posted: 6/2/2013 1:35:48 PM EDT
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Apply in cool, shaded garage to a cool, shaded metal table, or apply shaded on cool metal then let it bake in the sun???
What works best? |
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Steel actually absorbs a tiny bit of atmospheric moisture. I prefer to not paint it in, so I've had good metal-painting results heating the steel to 240 degrees F. or so with a torch or heatgun until you see the moisture form on the surface and then boil/ evaporate off leaving a hot dry steel surface.
Let it cool to 110F. or so and then hit it with a warmed-up can of primer, in very light coats. Let dry to label instructions and do the same with finish coats. I think rattle-cans work best when warmed up; they spray better when pressure is higher, than it is inside a cold can. I don't think it's a good idea to allow either primer or paint to dry too fast; but sunlight is probably fine as long as the air temp isn't 120F... Bugs can be an issue anytime you paint outdoors. |
| Ok, spray paint has no catalyst in it, it is just a simple enamel usually, sometimes a lacquer. The drying process is all about air movement, not a chemical reaction as with a catalized paint. You want to spray at about 70-75 degrees with a surface temp of the same. Warm/ hot air is better for drying than cool temps but mainly you want air movement over the piece. The air moving over it actually helps draw the solvent out of the paint . Air moving across the piece is better than air blowing directly onto the piece. Sun/ no sun wont matter as long as it is warm temp, 70 and up. |