Spraying in the winter

[BoBzz]

Well winter is fast aproaching and living in Michigan means I can expect snow in the next few weeks!
The problem is that I do all my priming and sealing in the drive way, and we all know that the cold isnt exactly our ally when it comes to those things.
So I obviously need ideas for an alternative during colder months.
I currently dont have a spray hood/exhaust system nor do I have a heated shed.
I really need help on this one guy and gals!

Thanks,
Sam

 

[finn17]

Simple answer.....

It\'s the temperature of the models and paint that is important, they should both be at about room temp. Put your minis on a stand that can easily be picked up and turned, put this into a cardboard box to protecy from chill winds, make sure both minis and can have been indoors in the warm. Rush outside, quick spray, turn, spray, turn spray etc. dash back indoors again. Whole process should take less than a minute!
Remember, you don\'t have to cover the whole model with an even layer of undercoat a light dusting is all that is required. As far as undercoating is concerned, \'less is more\'

ps carry your minis carefully, I have dropped more than one model doing this and it is very frustrating. Only happens when I have been careless however

 

[Flashman14]

I have a rod of wood that is 2\"x2\"x18\" (Thank you ladies, but let\'s get on to the priming bit)

Along the top is a line of double stick tape to which I afix minis. I get about 13-14 either primed or sealed in a single shot and do a similar thing as Finn there - rush out prime away then bring them right back in - sometimes using a hair dryer to bring them up to the right temperature.

The bases prevent primer from covering the tape under where the mini itself was so the strip is re-useable all day basically. After a while it collects dust , lint, etc

The important thing I\'m communicating here is:

1) Using a thin strip of a paint shelf allows me to get primer underneath and between legs and in other hard to prime places. A flat table like surface doesn\'t do it because I can\'t get underneath them.

2) The double sided tape allows me to move at speed without dropping any and in addition allows me to hold the strip at weird angles to achieve step 1 above.

and 3) the hairdryer is a powerful ally and speeds up the process enough that I can remove minis from the strip and get another set on almost immediately. Plus it provides that base temperature required soon after.

On the margins of all this are two other things - First, I wash all my minis with a bit of dishwashing soap and a toothbrush prior to priming. Rinse and dry and the primer sticks much better. And second, despite the hairdryer, I allow the primer to to dry for at least 24 hours but I actually wait until the next week to paint on that batch.

There you go friends, my personal priming strategy...

 

[Flashman14]

oh! I also wear a small plastic shopping bag over the arm that is holding the strip itself - then I can prime boldly away without getting either my fingers blackened or a set of gloves ruined. The bag is reusable, free, and entirely effective.

 

[finn17]

Some very good ideas there Mr man14...

Or can I call you Flash? (2x2x18 eh!).

Great ideas! which I am going to shamelessly steal

The thin, sticky wood idea is so simple yet so clever. Likewise the carrier bag wrinkle.

I think I am going to cut myself a 19\" length howeverlol

 

[BoBzz]

Thanks guys!
Awesome idea Flash!

 

[Dr. Bob]

Originally posted by finn17
Or can I call you Flash? (2x2x18 eh!).

I think I am going to cut myself a 19\" length howeverlol

Watch out for \"shrinkage\" though! Cold weather can cause even the most impressive rod to shrivel up.

 

[MaestroOfMayhem]

UIt snowed here today and yesterday, I sprayed them outside in a sunroom, you couod use a Garage or spray them quickly outside if you have another. Then let them sit for a minute and then bring them insi to dryde. Last year I left them in my sun porch, came back in 2 hours brought them in and then found the primer defrosted and was still a bit wet.