What would you consider optimum panel temperature........

MJM

MJM

Promoted Users
...... when painting solvent based paints with slow reducer...... 65, 70,75,80,85 degrees?

Thank you,
 
Complete to large panels, 70 degrees. Medium panels (fender, door, etc.), 75 degrees. Small panels (cowl, mirror), 80 degrees. JMO, below 65 medium reducer. Above 85, mostly 895 used on large to medium panels.
 
Minimum I want to paint at is 68 degrees or so. At that temp for an overall it's a touch cool to use 885 but not cool enough to use 870 IMO. So A blend of 885 and 870 works well. Once it gets above 72 885 only although at 72 it takes a bit longer for things for flash. I like 75 degrees and using 885. 85 degrees and up I will use 895. Above 95 degrees, straight 895 and retarder in clear is mandatory IMO
 
texasking said:
Complete to large panels, 70 degrees. Medium panels (fender, door, etc.), 75 degrees. Small panels (cowl, mirror), 80 degrees. JMO, below 65 medium reducer. Above 85, mostly 895 used on large to medium panels.
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That was a detailed answer. Thank you very much for going over and beyond with your reply. I'll be writing that information on the back page of my SPI manual.
 
RosharonRooster said:
Could it be argued that humidity is just as important as temperature?

85 degrees with 10%
85 with 85% feel totally different...
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Valid point about humidity. My standard rule for humidity at any temperature is 50% or lower. Every now and than, I'll go as high as 60% but, only with primers.
 
The Infratech Infrared Curing heaters showed up last night. Thanks for the heads up about the great sale price on these, texasking.

I've assembled one to try out. First impression, it is a well built unit. It heats up quickly, and cools down relatively quick. This puts out some serious heat as shown in one of the pictures. The owners manual list types of paint and their curing times, unfortunately, it didn't list epoxy. I don't have a clue how long to use on epoxy, and at what distance?

There is a warning in the manual about heating too long, or too close. "PAINT DAMAGE CAN OCCUR".
I can see why, these puts out some serious heat.

Stand fully assembled
20240918_085803.jpg


Stand heated up
20240918_085412.jpg


Temp reading after a few minutes at 6' away
20240918_085449.jpg


Manual cure times per paint material but no epoxy time shown? ....s.o.b
20240918_090215.jpg

20240918_090107.jpg


I want to cure the fresh epoxy sprayed on the interior mini tubs, trunk firewall, and roof so I can install the Kilmat sound deadner.

Any suggestions on how long to bake the epoxy to cure, and at what distance?

Thank you,
 
AAE said:
Call the tech line. They'll know how to handle epoxy.
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You must be a mind reader. I called about two hours ago. The telephone conversation went something like this......

Ring ring ring......hello, SPI here. How can I help you?

Me: hi, it's Mike from Missouri

SPI: click......

Ring ring ring.....hello, SPI here. How can I help you?

Me: it's Mike from Missouri again.

SPI: click!


Just kidding, their recommendation was two to three feet from panel, with a panel temp of 110 degrees for 30 minutes.

More about this on my next reply below.....
 
So I set up a test panel of 18 gauge.

IR lamp 3' away from panel. Starting panel temp 85.4
20240918_140733.jpg


After 30 minutes front of panel.
20240918_140831.jpg


Backside of panel
20240918_140907.jpg
 
That's what I was going to suggest, but you never know when things change. Did they say how many days that is equivalent to being in the Sun?
 
AAE said:
That's what I was going to suggest, but you never know when things change. Did they say how many days that is equivalent to being in the Sun?
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No they did not, and I didn't directly ask that question.

I had asked for my own edification what spi epoxy cure rate is for top coats without using IR.

In direct sun, 3 to 7 days.
Inside a shop or garage, 3 to 4 weeks.

I'm thinking one IR 30 minute 110 degree panel application, and two weeks open air in the garage before installing Kilmat peel and stick sound deadner.

Thoughts?
 
MJM said:
No they did not, and I didn't directly ask that question.

I had asked for my own edification what spi epoxy cure rate is for top coats without using IR.

In direct sun, 3 to 7 days.
Inside a shop or garage, 3 to 4 weeks.

I'm thinking one IR 30 minute 110 degree panel application, and two weeks open air in the garage before installing Kilmat peel and stick sound deadner.

Thoughts?
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I think that will work.
Another tip is to induce the epoxy a few hours and then heat up to 90-100 degrees before spraying. Makes it lay down nice and cure faster.
Barry has talked about this in the past.
 
Dean Jenkins said:
I think that will work.
Another tip is to induce the epoxy a few hours and then heat up to 90-100 degrees before spraying. Makes it lay down nice and cure faster.
Barry has talked about this in the past.
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Another good tech tip. Thanks for speaking up.
I think I've heard of this but, don't remember the specifics to implement it. What is being used to heat the epoxy, a hot plate or ?
 
Ive seen a painter from the UK on the y tube using a microwave to heat paint, But he Clearly states " this is not recommended".. In the video i saw, he was only heating a few ozs
 
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The IR light from the lamp is going to accelerate the epoxy cure quite a bit. I'm hesitant to give you times but I will contact the Godfather and see if he'll post some generalities and guidelines.
 
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