Although Ireland is far from a hot spot this summer, we do still have the odd day when the temperature rises sharply. This can catch painters unaware and cause paint finish problems. Leading paint supplier Standox has issued some timely advice for when the thermometer creeps up.

Tip 1: Choose the right combination of hardener and thinner.

When clearcoats are applied at high temperatures, choosing the right hardener and thinner is critical. To avoid drying problems and to ensure an impeccable result in terms of gloss and flow, refinishers should choose slower drying products. The temperature guidelines on the Standox hardener and thinner tins already offer some help in narrowing down the choice

Tip 2: Don’t forget the humidity.

High humidity can affect the application of the Standohyd Plus Waterborne Basecoat, with less Standox deionised water required to prepare the paint for spraying. When it is hot and dry, however, waterborne basecoats dry very quickly. That represents a challenge for refinishers as the spray mist is not absorbed properly and clouding can occur. The correct product setting will keep the paint flowing long enough during application under difficult conditions to achieve good surface wetting. For Standohyd Plus Basecoat the deionised water can be increased slightly. Application advice for different additives can be found on the technical datasheets.

Tip 3: Paint in the morning.

As the temperature tends to rise during the day in the summer, and the drying cycles make it almost impossible to lower the temperature, particularly in combination spray booths, it is advisable to carry out larger or more demanding refinish jobs in the morning when it is still a little cooler. Plan your spray booth usage sequence of vehicles carefully when the weather forecast predicts extreme temperatures.

Tip 4: Wear a sweatband.

If you work with a respirator mask instead of a full protective hood, wear a headband when the weather is likely to make you perspire. This is a simple and effective way of preventing beads of sweat from falling onto the fresh paintwork and ruining an almost finished job.