Cold weather painting

[GJD]

Have a big Fall/Winter project underway from my duty-roster. Am painting the inside of all cabinets and floor hatches throughout the boat - heads, galley, etc. Have all sanding done (did a real nice job too!). Question is now that it's getting cold here in the Midwest am I ok to go ahead and paint as long as I keep a space heater running till the paint dries nicely? I've got a lot of hours in on this so far and wanna make sure i don't screw the pooch by painting if it's too cold.

Any pointers much appreciated!

 

[yachtsmanbill]

I paint stuff (and varnish) all winter. Ambient temp is part of it but you need to warm up the parts to be painted, referred as "heat soak".
70 degree air wont help if the parts are 40 ish. I heat the boat with with a 150,000 btu propane torpedo heater and after about 4 hours of work, your down to a T shirt and ready to paint. Go for it !! ws

 

[Brian Degulis]

Single part paints and varnishes can be put on in cold weather as long as it's dry. So inside I don't think your going to have any problems of course drying time will be longer. You also need to be carfull about heating the interior. First remember that the interior of outside walls may sweat if you put heat on the inside most of the stuff on our boats is double wall so it shouldn't be to much of a concern. The other concern is that certain paints and especially varnishes will dry flat if there is an un vented kerosene heater running some brands do and some don't so test a piece first. When I was a kid I worked for yards in the northeast that would paint wood boats in un heated or sheds heated with un vented heaters. We used to paint in 30 degree weather.

Brian

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

after about 4 hours of work, your down to a T shirt and ready to paint. Go for it !! ws

Am having a visual of Bill in just a t shirt ready to paint himself...


Just wondering how many gals. of paint he needs....

 

[chris]

I paint stuff (and varnish) all winter. Ambient temp is part of it but you need to warm up the parts to be painted, referred as "heat soak".
70 degree air wont help if the parts are 40 ish. I heat the boat with with a 150,000 btu propane torpedo heater and after about 4 hours of work, your down to a T shirt and ready to paint. Go for it !! ws

Bill
Is there any oxygen left inside the boat when you run the propane heater. I was thinking about using one myself this winter instead of elect. heat. Must be ok, your still alive right.

Chris

 

[aquacraig@shaw.ca]

I belirve that the bigest issue with heating cold air is the increase in humidity within the confined area. Any condensation in bilges, walls, windows etc. will evaporate into the air and cause long drying times for "anything" trying to evaporate. Add a dehumidifier to the mix and you can create a temperate environment......Want to do my painting?

 

[rrrestorer]

Do not use a kerosene heater as that will leave a oily residue, doesnt mix with paint, could cause problems. And if you blast a 150,000 btu propane heater for a while, you do not have to worry about humidity, it'll dry the air out in a hurry!

 

[GJD]

AquaC - Sure I'll do your painting, I've become a damn good sander.

Willie - I can only imagine you having at it in your skivvies with a blast furnace at your backside. Bam Magerra Jackass Party Boy Redux! Passers by would see you and think, well hell - he's just an eccentric yachtsman.

Thanks all for your comments - will proceed with the Furnace/Skivvy Technique and be sure to continually test-sniff for singed hairs.

 

[krush]

Do not use a kerosene heater as that will leave a oily residue, doesnt mix with paint, could cause problems. And if you blast a 150,000 btu propane heater for a while, you do not have to worry about humidity, it'll dry the air out in a hurry!

Hot air holds more water.....