Low temperature sealants, glues and paints

[Greenheart]

I hadn't quite realised that the best weather for working on boats is also the best weather to be out sailing in them.

Everything I want to do at home and on the boat, requires stable fairly warm temperatures. I won't go into detail, except to ask...

...are there any sealants, glues, paints and epoxies which can be successfully applied at well under 10 degrees Celsius? I get the feeling there are none.

Product information invariably states ideal application temperatures. Most unlikely in UK midwinter.

 

[asteven221]

I just bought some 3M4200 which I (might be wrong) states an ideal temp and a minimum temp. Minimum was I think 4 degrees C. It's about 9 degrees C in Glasgow right now. On that basis it could be used ok.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Assuming it's exterior work, it might help to erect some kind of shelter or tent around the work area,taping down the edges, if it's on deck, and heat it with a space heater.

 

[Aurai]

We managed many coats of Jotun epoxy primer last year, many days did not meet 10 degrees and most only 12tops. However, the epoxy primer is fine below ten degrees and you can add a low temperature additive which lets you operate at two degrees. The cooler days tended to be drier days and better for painting the many coats of epoxy on the hull. You do need to watch the hull temp, after a very cold night. Cheers

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I ought to know, but not having been involved in practical projects at low temperatures, I'm afraid I don't! However, as major engineering projects do take place in Antarctica (e.g. drilling), I'm pretty sure that there are adhesives etc. that work at low temperatures. People have also used "flubbers" to store fuel; there must be a way of repairing leaks in them. Coatings are less likely; bare or anodized metal tends to be the surface finish of choice! However, any such materials will probably only suitable for small patches; no-one is going to paint a large area in Antarctic temperatures.

3M tend to be the people to talk to for unusual requirements; might be worth talking to their customer services.

However, if it works in Antarctica, it will certainly work in a UK winter!

 

[doug748]

I have used Danboline bilge paint at 5deg C, and probably well below, dried overnight, excellent stuff.

 

[Ruffles]

One advantage of antifouling in Winter is the paint is so thick you don't need as many coats.
On the other hand you get tennis elbow using the roller.

 

[prv]

...are there any sealants, glues, paints and epoxies which can be successfully applied at well under 10 degrees Celsius? I get the feeling there are none.

I'd pay attention with polyester and epoxy, but otherwise I haven't run into any temperature issues in practice with the normal boatyard products through several winters of refit.

I rebuilt Kindred Spirit's aft deck in the snow using epoxy, polyester resin, and polyester gelcoat at different stages - each time I needed something to cure I knocked up a shelter from cardboard and plastic sheeting and warmed it up with an ordinary domestic fan heater powered from a generator. I did a smaller bit of work on Ariam's mast step on deck, and again taped an open-fronted cardboard box around it and aimed a hot-air gun into the box. Distance chosen so that inside the box felt summer-day warm, not hot enough to cause the resin to behave weirdly at the other end of the range.

Pete

 

[eilerts]

There many products that can be used below 10C, but curing time gets very long. The risk of water condensation must also be considered. It is especially bad is condensation on the substrate.
I have used polyurethane paint down to -5C, but I would not recommend to paint the topsides at this condition, unless you are fascinated by textured surfaces.
Sealants tend to be very to thick when cold, but you can put the cartridge in a bucket of warm water until you are ready to use it. Keep the bucket on a distance - don´t build a tarp tent and bring the a bucket of warm water inside.

 

[Greenheart]

Thanks for helpful suggestions, I'll refer back here.

Today I actually did set up a camping stove under the piece I wanted to work on, with screens. Not a very exact science, but the extreme heat of the butane flame dissipates rapidly and the effect was as you say Pete, much like summer day temperature. I suppose a certain amount of moisture is created by burning butane, and it mightn't help much in a tent, but it did what I needed it to.