bare minimum temp for uv clear

S

Steves69LS3

what is the minimum temp to spray uv clear?
air/metal temps in my garage are mid 50's
i would spray epoxy full strength and used as a sealer when i have the heat on i can usually keep temps 65-70 for a few hours using a 240v electric heater but it costs too much money to run
 
I would advise not spraying any catalyzed product unless you can maintain a bare minimum of over 60° metal temp at all times. "Costs too much" is a relative term, if a redo costs less than the heat, then you are fine. If the redo costs more than the heat, which it always would in my case, then the heat gets paid for as a cost of the job.

Opinions may vary, but I've seen too many problems as a result of insufficient heat, so spending on heat just par for the course as far as I'm concerned.
 
My thing is i cant start the electric heater until all over spray is gone. During the process of the exhaust fans going i could drop temps 5-10 degrees at most. Then i can put heat on during flash times. Is it safer to extend flash times and to keep heat on for a couple of hours after last coat of clear?
 
I think the exact science of air flow, flash times, and heat times are something better discussed with Barry if you can. You must have an infrared thermometer, and be brutally honest about surface temps at all times, especially the ones down by the floor. He will probably give you some tips that might see you through the challenge, I have more of a pay or die philosophy because the stakes are high, nobody wants to be responsible for causing a failed job.
 
60 degree minimum for any 2k products I was always told... Some guys will heat the garage up to over 80, shut off heat, spray, vent gases, then turn heat back on. This usually allows the temps to not drop below acceptable levels, especially since metal temp will drop slower than ambient air temp.
 
For a couple hundred dollars, you can buy a short wave curing lamp. That will speed things up significantly. Also, use Polar. That will really help in cold temps.
 
I do have a kerosene heater that can get garage real hot but im so aftaid of the flames. I guess i can deal with it i just want to be sure that i’ll be ok with adhesion and all that jazz
 
From someone such as myself that hates warnings on everything, i wouldn't.
As if losing your entire project wasn't enough, you might lose more.
You'd pay $1000 in electric to have your project & garage back if time can be reversed.
Fumes you smell are particles all over everything.
My thoughts.
 
I would only use a torpedo type heater if your booth is closed off from where the heater will be, and if you have really good air movement. If you are spraying in one big area I wouldnt mix an open flame with the overspray.
 
I have used the Torpedo kerosene heater for years. I would heat up the shop until the metal temps are in the mid 70s (ambient temps in low 80s). Once the metal was to temperature, I would get everything ready to spray and then shut the heater down, open some large windows and turn on the fans, spray my first coat, let the cloud clear and the shut down the fans and turn the heater back on.

Now I have forced air gas heat in the main garage and a 240v portable electric heater in the booth. My booth fans draw air through the main garage from some large windows which helps keep the air from being frigid and then when the cloud clears (usually less than a minute) I shut the booth fans down, close the shop windows and let everything warm up again.

The electric heater will run all night keeping the booth temperature about 70 degrees. I turn the main shop furnace to the lowest setting overnight.
 
So my question
How long should i keep panels 60 and above after all spraying is complete?
 
I am not giving an "official" answer here but can say from experience that overnight is good.
Normally try to have my clear coat sprayed by 4 pm and then leave the heater on overnight to keep booth from falling below 60 degrees. (Temp. outside drops to freezing or below at this time of the year. Day time highs in low 70s during afternoon.)
The next day I am usually back in the garage with the heat on and have not had any issues with clear not curing.
 
thank you for all the advice. im gonna get a few gallons of kerosene and use my bullit heater.
 
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