I mentioned in a recent post that I had contacted the guy at BoatPaint UK where I now source all my painting products. He has been really helpful.
I asked him what he thought about having low relative humidity in the workshop, and how it would affect paint behaviour.
He said he had never heard of it causing problems, and didn't think it would matter too much.
Grateful as I am for this advice, I am sure that it would be a bad idea to ignore the very clear Epifanes instructions on this matter i.e. do not apply paint when the relative humidity is less then 50%
Knowing my luck, I would be the first to find out that it really does matter!
Here is the dilemma, shown by the readings on my thermometer/hygrometer.
It is now so cold here that I have to heat the workshop to make it habitable. The top screen shows that the working temperature is now 22°C, but it fell to 10°C overnight which is the lowest recommended for painting.
Heating the workshop causes the relative humidity to fall to 30% or less (lower screen), and this is where the problem lies. I can't risk a flawed finish. I really don't want to have to repaint the final coat!
We are going to the southern hemisphere for the whole of February, and the chances of the weather improving before we leave are very low.
So the final coat might have to wait until March, which is very frustrating. I really thought painting would be complete by Christmas, but not for the first time have I been over optimistic!
I will complete what other tasks I can in the next couple of weeks.
Onwards and upwards!
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