Is it possible and at what temperature to paint a car in winter, difficulties and rules
Body paint protects the car from rust. However, during the operation of the car, scratches and chips often appear on the body, contributing to the appearance of corrosion. In this regard, the question arises whether it is possible to paint the car yourself in winter, since at this time of year the presence of such defects significantly increases the likelihood of rust.
Difficulties of winter car painting
Car manufacturers set their own requirements for body paint conditions. Most often it is recommended to carry out this procedure at a temperature of + 18-20 degrees. Under such conditions, the paint settles and dries evenly. Failure to comply with these conditions may result in the following issues:
- the adhesion of the paint to the metal will be disturbed, which will lead to the formation of spots and streaks on the body, and the surface will become rough;
- paint drying time increases;
- the compositions used for degreasing the body flow at low temperatures and dry for a long time.
Some types of paints and varnishes can be applied to the body at a temperature of + 8-10 degrees. In other conditions, in colder weather, such a procedure is prohibited.
The disadvantages of painting a car in winter include the fact that the procedure will have to be carried out in a respirator and a protective suit. This is explained by the fact that the material has a toxic effect on the respiratory system. And in winter, you can not leave a garage or other room for airing during painting, since the temperature in the room will drop below the recommended values.
Use of a special paint booth
When choosing the option where to paint the car in the winter, in a special camera or in the garage, it is recommended to give preference to the first. This is explained by the fact that when carrying out this procedure it is necessary to take into account several factors, each of which has a direct impact on how the coating will be applied.
Thus, it is necessary to paint a bodywork in conditions of practically sterile cleanliness. Therefore, the garage must be completely cleaned before starting manipulations, removing dirt, dust and more. These particles, when released into the air, settle on the body, interfering with the even distribution of the paint.
Another important nuance is that dust is constantly present in the atmosphere. And so that these particles do not fall on the bodywork, each painted part must be hung vertically, which is not always possible in a garage. The third point is that at the end of the procedure, streaks appear on the body. To avoid such consequences, it is necessary to provide heating of the treated parts.
In addition, correct placement of lighting, which will not create shadows on the bodywork, helps to check the uniformity of the paint.And the last nuance is that the required temperature conditions are recreated in a special chamber. The air in the garage is heated unevenly. The temperature near the door is always lower than near the radiators. This factor negatively affects the condition of the paint.
In addition, in order to avoid poisoning with particles of matter, supply ventilation should be organized in the garage. All the described conditions are observed in a special chamber.
How to paint a car in the garage in winter
Complete painting of the car body in the garage is not possible. It is recommended to carry out this procedure in stages, applying the material to individual parts of the body. Painting starts with cleaning the garage. After that, polyethylene should be applied to the floor, walls and ceiling, which will create additional protection against contamination. If possible, the car should be washed outside the garage and then driven inside.
Painting the car is carried out in the following order:
- Disassembly and painting of doors and bumpers.
- Paint application on the bonnet and tailgate. When carrying out these manipulations, care should be taken to avoid contact with the elements of the engine compartment.
- Paint the rest of the body.
At the end of each of the above steps, a layer of varnish should be applied to the surface of the parts. In order for the coating to be easily even on the surface of the body, when performing this procedure, the following recommendations should be followed:
- Before starting work, install lighting fixtures so that there is no shadow on the body.
- In areas near heaters (i.e. higher temperature areas), a paint with a more fluid consistency should be used. For this, the original composition must be mixed with a solvent.
- If the temperature is below the specified values, it is recommended to use a thick paint. If you do not follow this recommendation, you will face stains in the future.
- The car body should be treated with quick-drying paints.
- If it is not possible to maintain a uniform temperature inside the room, a heat gun or other similar equipment should be installed in the garage. Unplug appliances once the paint is completely dry.
- To increase the temperature of the surface to be painted, it is recommended to mix the paint with a hardener before starting work, and then heat the composition with infrared radiation.
- The paint dries longer in winter. Therefore, the time intervals after applying the layers should be doubled (up to 15-30 minutes, depending on the type of paint). Infrared devices can be used to speed drying after painting.
- After coating the body, you need to wait at least a day.
After the paint layer has dried a little, it is recommended to substitute the treated part of the body under a stream of warm air. Heating not only speeds up drying, but also reduces the risk of staining.
Additional tips and tricks
The optimal and long-lasting protection of the body is ensured by the powder coatings. But it is impossible to use such materials when processing a car in a garage, since during this procedure it is necessary to ensure continuous heating of machine parts to a certain temperature.Therefore, for self-painting you need to use an epoxy primer.
When treating the body, the temperature should not exceed the established indicators. This shortens the life of the coating, and over time the paint begins to swell and peel.