Painting enclosures - it's still bloody cold in the UK

[bisonkills]

Hey guys, new around these parts!

Just finished off my first BYOC build (a 250+) and am moving onto a Script phaser. I'm looking at painting the enclosure of my second build, I've got some Rust-oleum spray paints, primer, clear coat, etc. The thing is it's still a bit on the cold side here in the UK, about 14-15 degrees C out in the day. Our garage is currently full of stuff, so I have to paint outside.

So, I've read the Beavisaudio tutorial 'box in a day' and that looks good. One question though, do you let the box dry a bit after a coat before popping it into the toaster oven? If not, how the hell do you get it into the oven without messing with the paint job you've just done? Two bits of wood? Spray on the grill tray?

Is it worth me investing in a toaster over? You can get them at Argos for around £20.00, not too expensive but we don't seem to have the super cheap one you can get in the USA over here.

Any advice appreciated.

[davent]

I use a  scrap piece of wood, four long drywall screws and double sided foam tape to set up for painting and handling a box.

click image to enlarge

dave

[frequencycentral]

The thing is it's still a bit on the cold side here in the UK..........

Tell me about it! I spent all yesterday afternoon drilling out enclosure (one for you)! 

[invalidcd]

A trick that I learned the hard way is to keep the paint inside not in the garage, this allows the paint to stay at room temp then when you are ready to paint take it into the garage do a lite coat them take it inside to dry or place it in a toaster oven at 150f for 15 minuates to bake. Painting in cold weather is pain staking, hopefully this helps.

--Carlos 

[bisonkills]

Thanks for the tips guys... really helpful.

Rick,

Nice one! Thanks... suffering for your art!

[Jarno]

It's pretty cold in NL as well :-)
I usually put the paint cans in very hot water, so the paint can heat up, and the pressure in the can is high. Don't overdo it though, 30-50 deg. C is fine.
The box that needs paint i sit on top of the central heating radiator so it is nice and warm as well.

I then run to the shed, spraypaint the thing, run back in and put it on the radiator again, put the can back in the hot water. Wait 15 minutes, and put on another coat of paint.
Works, but there wil be a paint smell indoors, not too bad though, but I'm using alkyd spraycans, I can imagine the odour being a lot worse if you're using nitro cans.

[forestcaver]

For stand offs for the enclosure - I just put an old egg carton inside - you can cut it so that it is an interference fit and they are deep enough to act as a stand for the enclosure...

Cheers,
Andy

[StephenGiles]

The thing is it's still a bit on the cold side here in the UK, about 14-15 degrees C out in the day.

Not in Surrey, no more than 3C today although very sunny!

[davent]

The thing is it's still a bit on the cold side here in the UK, about 14-15 degrees C out in the day.

Not in Surrey, no more than 3C today although very sunny!

13 - 15ºC is my basement workshop temperature through much of the winter, wish it would stay like that through the summer.

dave