"Spray Primer in Cold Weather" Topic

I've just written a post on my blog about using spray primer outside in cold weather. [ link ]

If, like me, you can't spray indoors then nipping out to the garden, shed or garage my be your only option. But when Temperatures dip below 0°c this may not be an option… or is it? The commonly held advice is not to use spray primers in extreme low temperatures. However I recently experimented with some old models and a can of GW Black spray and got good results outside at -5°c.

So what are your experiences and can you give any further advice on the subject?

BigLee
BLMA link

I was priming some 6mm Napoleonic French last night and did exactly as you describe in your blog. I took the figures outside first and arranged them on some newspaper. Only then did I bring the can out (Halfords black primer just as good as GW and lot cheaper) and spray away. I found that the result was fine, if a little shinier than usual, but I actually found that was helpful in picking out the detail!

I spray them outside and bring them in to dry. It works just fine.

Spraying inside seems a bad idea (unless you have a vented spray booth) all that paint that does not go on the model ends up as dust.

Having posted on your blog that I'd never risk using a matt varnish in the cold, I just stepped outside and sprayed a couple of coats of Testors on some minis; worked fine. I brought them straight in, afterwards, though…

Cheers, Simon

I think humidity has more of an impact. I have done it in cold weather and it did take a coons age to dry unless I took them inside asap.

VR
James Mattes

I store everything in an uninsulated basement. When it's time to prime, everything comes upstairs for a day or two to become "room temperature". On the nastiest of days, I step out, spray, bring 'em in, and hope to leave the smells outside.

Thanks for doing this applied research. I normally spray in the garden shed, and that is were the spray cans live. So I have brought them inside to warm up – might give spraying a go tomorrow if work is still frozen in.

Usually what I do is:
1) about an hour before hand, I take the spray can of primer inside to warm up to room temp.
2) After an hour, I give them a coat.
3) In the shed, I set up a desk lamp with a 150 watt flood light, and put the figs under that light about 6-10" away from the figs. This gives it good heat to 'cure' the primer and fight against the "humidity primer runs". BE CAREFUL! This light gets REALLY hot…
4) Keep under the light for about 15 min or longer.
5) After 15 min, bring figs inside to paint.

This works for me.
I also do this with my sealer when it is cold and rainy outside. I rarely get any clouding or 'shiny' applications of matte spray on lacquer.

I've sprayed outdoors as low as -12C and in the detached unheated garage (after moving the car out!) at -20C (garage seems warmer because of the shelter).

I usually use warm figures and a warm can (shaken in doors), rush out, spray and return in doors to dry. Seems to work okay.

It is very dry here; a more humid climate might yield different results, although how humid can it be at -20 unless it is snowing?

That said, I usual prime with black acrylic paint cut with 15% future and applied by brush during the winter.

"I usually use warm figures and a warm can (shaken in doors), rush out, spray and return in doors to dry. Seems to work okay."

Works every time for me and I live in a wet climate (Pacific NW). I warm the figures and the primer or Dullcoat can under a desk lamp. Just don't warm the can too much!

TRY GESSO!! I haven't tried it on metal figures, but I have used it on my plastic figures and IMO it is far superior to spray primers. I used Liquitex Acrylic Black Gesso. Gesso normally requires some touch-up after the first coat because it shrinks and leaves a few tiny bare spots on the figure, but it has much better coverage than spray primers. The great thing about Gesso is that it can be used indoors regardless of weather conditions outside.

Here's an article on it being used on plastic and metal figures: link

I step out, spray, bring 'em in, and hope to leave the smells outside.

…and the primer odor, as well!