The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop painting in cold weather

with winter coming on i'm planning ahead since i dont have much time now a days to work on my truck. But in December i'l have a few weeks off school and would like to take the time to get some work done one the truck. I live in Northern MN so it gets quite cold but with the occasional day above 30. My question is what exactly would happen if i sprayed my truck with primer in weather around 40 degrees? I've read many places that its not recommended but all i'm really trying to accomplish is to get it in primer then in the spring sand re primer and paint. I sprayed my dash with just a quick coat of spray can primer last year in around 40 degree weather to just cover up the bare metal and their doesn't seem to be much evidence there that i sprayed in cold weather.

Since your expectations are simply to cover then sand and re-prime in the spring, I say go for it. I've done the same thing myself and have not noticed any harmful effects, just that the drying times are vastly skewed.

If you can get the temp up to at least 50F, do it. Rent a contruction heater, or a propane heater (open a window!).

You can't see it, but adhesion can be affected and flow is definitely affected by low temps.

Warm up the shop with a propane heater, maybe, but shut it off before you start spraying. A turbo-type flame heater and a shop full of flammable vapors sounds like a prescription for a hobby-ending explosion to me!
Jerry

An old type primer surfacer you can spray in the cold just be aware that the drying time will be quite long but that doesn't seem to be an issue here. Having said that I also agree with Jerry and EtekRstos in the you want to warm it as much as you can to aid adhesion. Get the surface rough and clean first. If you're going to spray a catalyzed primer I would recommend contacting the manufacturer to get their guidelines for spraying at low temps.

Yea ive got a decent size torpedo kerosene heater that could heat up the garage even not being insulated to around 50.And i usually wait around an hour or more to spray another coat because i easily get distracted by fishing or even this website for more than a hour so drying time wont be a big deal.

How about putting a heating blanket over your panel to get the metal temp up and then heat your paint up to 80 degrees or better and then shooting your panel? You should have better adheasion and flow and the air temp will be less critical.

Thats a good idea! and when the time comes to paint and my heater cant keep the garage warm enough i will do that