Paint and hot weather

[Bravo Six]

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.

[syrinx0]

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. 

[Keith]

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.

[snitcythedog]

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. 

[fastolfrus]

Hot weather here is over 20C so we don't have much of an issue

[ErikB]

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.

[Bravo Six]

Thanks guys. I gave the retarder a whirl and it ended up extending the paint past when I needed it, so that worked.

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.

[ErikB]

Where's "here?"

[Mindenbrush]

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.

[Bravo Six]

Vancouver Canada. Grew up back east (like Mindenbrush) and don't miss the humidex in summer and wind chill in winter ONE BIT!

[Teardrop World]

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.

[fastolfrus]

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.

[Bravo Six]

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.

[carlos marighela]

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.

[Teardrop World]

Only 28° here 
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