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Other Stuff => Workbench => Topic started by: Bravo Six on July 27, 2020, 04:10:07 AM

Title: Paint and hot weather
Post by: Bravo Six on July 27, 2020, 04:10:07 AM
We're going through a heat wave here where I am, and there's even a weather advisory because of it. I'm sure a lot of you guys are experiencing the same.

I sat down to do some painting today and the paint dried faster on my palette than I had a chance to finish with it. Bit frustrating. I know somewhere I have some Vallejo extender/retarder medium, but have never used it. Has anyone used this? And how well did it work? I'm hoping it doesn't affect the paint in terms of giving it a sheen or anything.

Title: Re: Paint and hot weather
Post by: syrinx0 on July 27, 2020, 05:29:58 AM
My painting table is in my basement which is generally cool. I don't always use a wet palette but that can help your drying time. 
Title: Re: Paint and hot weather
Post by: Keith on July 27, 2020, 08:52:14 AM
You might already be using one but I'd highly recommend a wet-pallette for hot weather. Both essential in Malta and now Southern Germany for a good chunk of the year.
I sometimes use a little retarder or 'technical' thinner but typically less keen on how this affects paint flow and consistency. I've not had it change the final finish of paint too much with perhaps only a slight sheen if you over-do it.
Title: Re: Paint and hot weather
Post by: snitcythedog on July 27, 2020, 09:52:43 AM
Spent most of my life in Arizona.  I just added a small drop of paint on the pallet to use instead of a small puddle.  You opened the bottle more but waisted less.  What I do miss is the drying time.  I was able to paint so much faster there. 
Title: Re: Paint and hot weather
Post by: fastolfrus on July 27, 2020, 08:55:19 PM
Hot weather here is over 20C so we don't have much of an issue
Title: Re: Paint and hot weather
Post by: ErikB on July 28, 2020, 02:57:43 PM
Hot weather here is over 20C so we don't have much of an issue
Sounds like heaven to me.  I live in California and I hate the sun and heat.  It's actually painful sometimes.

As for paint, use a wet pallet, mix with water, drying retarder, GW lahmian (?) medium, all of those help.
Title: Re: Paint and hot weather
Post by: Bravo Six on July 28, 2020, 06:08:54 PM
Thanks guys. I gave the retarder a whirl and it ended up extending the paint past when I needed it, so that worked.

Quote
Sounds like heaven to me.  I live in California and I hate the sun and heat.  It's actually painful sometimes.

Sounds like heaven to me as well. Like you ErikB I'm not a fan of the heat and certainly not the humidity. I moved here from back east to get away from it.
Title: Re: Paint and hot weather
Post by: ErikB on July 28, 2020, 06:19:35 PM
Where's "here?"
Title: Re: Paint and hot weather
Post by: Mindenbrush on July 28, 2020, 07:03:59 PM
Here in Montreal we have been in the upper 20's for the last month and then you can add another 10C for the humidity  :-[

I have the basement for my painting and gaming area so run a dehumidifier most days - makes matt varnishing tricky.

I have not noticed any change in the drying time for my paints - I use a ceramic 28 compartment pallete - but I always use W&N extender and fluid retarder with water mix.
Title: Re: Paint and hot weather
Post by: Bravo Six on July 28, 2020, 08:11:59 PM
Vancouver Canada. Grew up back east (like Mindenbrush) and don't miss the humidex in summer and wind chill in winter ONE BIT!

Title: Re: Paint and hot weather
Post by: Teardrop World on July 29, 2020, 09:54:21 PM
You can add a very tiny amount of Vallejo airbrush flow improver, one or two drops for ten drop of paint. It's basically a retarder, with no sheen effect - very liquid.
Title: Re: Paint and hot weather
Post by: fastolfrus on July 30, 2020, 08:39:55 PM
I'm in sunny Scarborough, North Yorkshire.

We've actually got hot weather forecast for tomorrow (23C), but just the one day.

Besides. if it gets too hot, we have ice-cream parlours by the beach.

Title: Re: Paint and hot weather
Post by: Bravo Six on July 30, 2020, 08:45:25 PM
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Besides. if it gets too hot, we have ice-cream parlours by the beach.

Lucky duck!

We're on day 4 of super hot weather, but I think there's a change coming. I can feel it in my bones.
Title: Re: Paint and hot weather
Post by: carlos marighela on July 31, 2020, 03:32:52 AM
Hot? Hot is 40C + here. Thankfully not too many days over 40 each year and at present we’re blessed with a nice sunny day topping out at around 15-16C. Hot days, I choose not to paint. As I mostly paint outside, damp days are the bother if spraying or varnishing.
Title: Re: Paint and hot weather
Post by: Teardrop World on July 31, 2020, 05:22:55 PM
Only 28° here  :D
Tried to use the airbrush flow improver and thinner. Results are with no sheen, and airbrush thinner is more like water than the standard thinner. One quarter of flow improver, one quarter of thinner and the paint was usable for about 40 minutes.  Will continue with this method.

Cheers, and don't melt on your workbench  ;D
Title: Re: Paint and hot weather
Post by: Jacksarge on August 01, 2020, 03:56:34 AM
I've found a wet palette to be essential. My painting area gets a lot of sun & stuff dries out fast. Other solution would be to paint only in the evening - I can't do that as painting miniatures is my "day job" as well as hobby  :)
Title: Re: Paint and hot weather
Post by: FifteensAway on August 01, 2020, 05:41:05 AM
Can't comment on the paint because I paint in a space with Central Heat and Air but outdoors around here we've been 36C or above almost everyday for a few weeks - and more to come.  Yeah, paint dries fast here when priming with spray primer outside this time of year - like minutes versus an hour or more.  I guess my version of the problem is an incandescent lamp I use on my paint table as one source of light - it will dry paint a bit fast on my paint holding surface if I leave it directly under the lamp.

Thankfully, so far, we've had decently cool nights to counter the hot days - gets pretty bad when it stays real warm over night.
Title: Re: Paint and hot weather
Post by: Atheling on August 01, 2020, 07:37:58 AM
I've found a wet palette to be essential. My painting area gets a lot of sun & stuff dries out fast. Other solution would be to paint only in the evening - I can't do that as painting miniatures is my "day job" as well as hobby  :)

A wet Palette is the way to go with all painting IMHO, even under the infamous grey British skies. I'm reminded of Ponting's comment during the Ashes 2009, "Do you guys get a summer?". Mixed paint batches last longer which is invaluable if painting in batches.

As for 34 degrees.... I wish!  :D