Nice paint work. Any tips for preventing blush while painting in the humid summer heat?
All painting, on this one,was done right on the concrete deck you see in picture, either in the sun or partial shade from tree.
I just put some newspaper down, and a cinder block over them to put rocket parts on, or get bottom of rocket high enough off the ground.
I have to deal with this all the time. [high humidity] What I do:
Paint late morning 10-12 or late afternoon 4-6.
The haze has burned off by then, or it's starting to cool down a bit. Stay out of the heat of the day. Parts are just to hot to paint.
In high humidity locations, it's at its worst early morning & evenings.
Put parts to be painted and the paint outside 15-20 minutes before starting to bring to ambient temp.
Putting rocket or paint that's been inside air conditioning is where some trouble can happen. The humidity wants to condense on the cool rocket or as you spray the cooler paint particles will transfer moisture in the air onto your finish. You can't see it but it's happening.
I would rather paint outside, in the sun, where it will cure and dry faster, than in a garage or building where moisture from high humidity [typically 85-95 where I live] has time to blush. Due to longer drying time in the shade.
Sometimes when temps reach 90-100, I'll paint in the shade, then move rocket into the sun to dry. But never move from inside to out during cure. [unless your in a garage or shed that's same ambient temp, no air conditioning] Moisture is always attracted to the cooler object.
I have had blushing begin, stopped painting, moved it into full sun and the sun burn it right out.
The only other major thing I do is:
After all my priming and prep.... I do 1 last light coat of primer. As soon as it's dry to touch [10-15] I hit it full on with finish coat. I have never had any blush on the 1st coat over primer, always when painting finish over finish.
Since you got to wait 24-48 hrs now with these re-formulated paints or re-coat in 1 hr. I'd rather save time and have some finish coat curing.
[If it's a 1 color job, you can get lucky and be finished first go round.]
THEN if it needs a little sanding you can see what you got and save a step or 2. I usually hit any rough spots with 600 wet and just clear coat it and be done.
If I do have any blush. STOP immediately and let it dry. Don't try to cover it up with more paint, only locks in more moisture making it worse.
Bite the bullet, put it in full sun. See what happens. If it disappears, continue on.
Worst case if you wait 45-50 minutes it's dry to touch, and you can still re-coat before deadline.
If the blush happens again. Just QUIT.
Some days you just ain't gonna win, pack it in and try later. No point in mucking it up.
This is for rattle cans.
If you doing automotive, chances are you got an inside setup and air conditioning so your good to go. I can't help you there.
