Most of us arenÂ’t lucky enough to have access to any sort of proper spraybooth, and have to paint outside. Painting indoors is out of the question, as for some reason getting a light dusting of paint over everything in the room does not go down too well with spouses / partners / parents.

As the weather becomes increasingly autumnal & moves into winter, this becomes a real problem – at lest in regions where you have proper seasons.
However, I have been wearing my underwear on the outside for the last couple of days in order to research this article (that went down a storm at my last job interview I can tell you!), and have come up with a set of techniques that will let you spray right down to only a couple of degrees above freezing.

As long as itÂ’s not raining / snowing, and itÂ’s not windy.


Stage 1: Setting up your “Spraybooth”

Washing lines are ideal. If you have a particularly tall and grandiose bird table that can also be pressed into service.
If you have neither, you can build a lightweight gallows in your back garden.
If your neighbours have already tried to get you committed to an asylum, youÂ’ll just have to improvise, or use your arm.


Stage 2: Panel Warming

By “panel” I mean the bit you want to spray. Ideally it needs to be an even 25 degrees C or so – putting it on a radiator is no good as it’ll be too hot in places & not warm enough in others. An airing cupboard is a much better place, but you’ll need to wrap in something first to keep it lint free. Prior to putting it in to warm, find somewhere to tie a bit of wire on, ready to tie it to your “Spraybooth”.


Stage 3: Paint Warming

Shake your can of paint as normal – I think most manufacturers recommend shaking for 60 to 120 seconds after the agitator starts rattling. I tend to cha cha cha around the kitchen rather than using the usual rapid up & down “w*nking” motion usually favoured.

Run your hot tap until itÂ’s warm (rather than hot), then hold the can under the tap for 2 seconds, rotating it constantly. Shake the can again so the heat from the can is spread to the paint. Do this 2 or three more times until the paint feels warm (25 degrees C or so, cooler than body temperature) rather than cold.

You’ll notice that the can feels much stiffer & more pressurised than it did when it was cold – don’t push your luck & go too far!
I’ve never had a problem doing this, but you are playing with fire here – push the pressure too high & the end of the can will pop of _with hilarious consequences_.
Hilarious to me anyway

This may seem risky, but itÂ’s way better than leaving the can on top of a heater.


Stage 4: Spraying

Having agitated & warmed your paint, stash it in your slacks to keep it warm.
This is another good reason for not overheating the paint – if the can pops at this point, it’s going to be really hard to explain to the local accident and emergency department what happened. Off the top of my head, I can’t imagine any accidents that would account for your gajimbas being peppered with shrapnel _and_ and painted Ford Purple Velvet Metallic…

Run to your airing cupboard & collect the piece to be sprayed, run outside to your “spraybooth” and spray.
Bear in mind that depending on the size / material to be painted, and the ambient temperature, youÂ’ve only really got between 30 and 60 seconds to complete the task. Because of this, plan to make several light coats of paint Â… and if youÂ’re doing something like a side panel, you probably wonÂ’t be able to even complete a single coat in one hit.

Hang the painted piece in your shed or garage overnight to let the worst of the fumes evaporate, then bring it indoors to harden off for at least a day before rubbing down and/or spraying the next coat.

ItÂ’s a slow process, but itÂ’s got to be better than waiting for spring.

lol..I have a nice heated garage for that Jonny

Quote: Originally posted by hawklen lol..I have a nice heated garage for that Jonny

Well whoop-dee-frelling-doo for you

My garage is full of stuff - a washing machine, tumble drier, fridge freezer, rugs, a couple of thousand books, pot & pans, beds, cabinets, mattresses, tables, chairs, bookcases, ladders, boxes & boxes of miscellaneous stuff I didn;t have time to label when I had to move in a hurry, bicycles, loads of tools, bits that lok like they might be useful for modding, someday ... I think there's also a motorbike in there somewhere.

great article jonny

hilareous consequenses! hahaah I so wanna see that happend to somone!

hey, just cleaned the sucker out, was full, now empty, workbenches, tools, room to mod...

No problems with "blushing" Jonny?...I mean the paint, J, the paint!....

Quote: Originally posted by ZENNZZO No problems with "blushing" Jonny?...

Only when a neighbour spots me "shaking my paint"