Spraying 2-pack outdoors in this weather

[Avocet]

Well it's well and truly autumn now up here and I was hoping to get the boat painted this year. Even rigging a tent round it, I'll be lucky to see more than about 15-16 degrees C, and then only for about 6 - 8 hours of the day. Night time temperatures are below 10 degrees, but a few fan heaters in the tent might keep it a few degrees above that. The data sheets for the paint talk about 24 hours at 20 degrees C betwen each coat, and warn not to spray in humidity above about 85%. Humidity in the tent is always pretty high. I'd be lucky to get below 80% - and in the evenings that will rise to 90+%.

What happens to 2-pack under such circumstances? I could probably get a coat on by about 11.00AM, giving it about 6 hours before the temperature starts dropping again. Would that be enough, or should I wait until next summer?

 

[mickywillis]

Hope you've got access to breathing apparatus as well if you intend spraying 2 pack??
If you are spraying 2 pack, I take it you realise the health risk to you and anyone else in the vicinity?

 

[planteater]

Is it safe to spray two part outdoors?

I thought it required positive pressure breathing apparatus due to toxicity.

EDIT: Pipped to the post!

 

[Avocet]

Yes, I'm ok for breathing equipment and a long way from anything / anyone else, AND it's in a tent anyway. I was asking more from the "is it likely to work" point of view!

 

[Lakesailor]

No. Either control the environment or wait until it meets the requirements. Nothing more demoralising than a paint job that's gone wrong.

Later this week is supposed to be better, but don't put the housekeeping on it.

 

[oldsaltoz]

I would advise you to wait, if not applied in the right conditions it may never fully cure and it's far too expensive to risk.

When we hauled out to do repairs after Cyclone Yarsi did a job on us, another boat was in the spray shed, dehumidifiers running 23/7 and about 12 heaters around her all running all night before the spraying the spraying started.

6 days later they started stripping her back to do it all again with another 2 pack that was a little more tolerant to humidity and temperature fluctuations.

I have painted my own and others boats many times, but always in the open when conditions are right, not before 10 am and not after 2 PM and always a professional spray painter, he is only there for an hour so not expensive in the end. I do all the prep and clean up.

Bide your time, because you only get one chance of getting a good finish.

Good luck and fair winds.

 

[jwilson]

Well it's well and truly autumn now up here and I was hoping to get the boat painted this year. Even rigging a tent round it, I'll be lucky to see more than about 15-16 degrees C, and then only for about 6 - 8 hours of the day. Night time temperatures are below 10 degrees, but a few fan heaters in the tent might keep it a few degrees above that. The data sheets for the paint talk about 24 hours at 20 degrees C betwen each coat, and warn not to spray in humidity above about 85%. Humidity in the tent is always pretty high. I'd be lucky to get below 80% - and in the evenings that will rise to 90+%.

What happens to 2-pack under such circumstances? I could probably get a coat on by about 11.00AM, giving it about 6 hours before the temperature starts dropping again. Would that be enough, or should I wait until next summer?

I once International two-packed a hull in 25 degrees, but it got colder and damper within about 8 hours. Result was a dull sticky mess, which after a few days became a very dirty sticky mess. Took MONTHS for it to harden off enough to sand back and redo - with Awlgrip this time, which seemed more tolerant of real-life conditions. All this many years ago - maybe products have changed.

 

[Avocet]

OK, thanks everyone. Wise words - I just didn't want to hear them! I've just come in, absolutely soaking wet, frozen and utterly dispirited, having spent the afternoon trying to rig my "tent" in what has now become almost a gale. Result - lots of shredded plastic! I could probably have done it later in the week - (the weather is supposed to improve this week), but as I was working, I realised that although the plastic would keep the rain off the topsides, there were dozens of small leaks which would just contribute to the general humidity in there and I then came to the conclusion that I wouldn't ever be spraying anyway, in the sort of humidity that comes with rain - even if I COULD keep the actual wet stuff off the topsides.

Looks like next year then!