eHow launches Android app: Get the best of eHow on the go.

How To

How to Speed the Drying of Enamel Paint

Contributor
By Stevie Donald
eHow Contributing Writer
(0 Ratings)

Watching paint dry is every bit as boring as it sounds. You need to allow enough drying time for painted enamel surfaces, either between coats or before you start using the paint. Speed the drying time of enamel paint by understanding what factors affect it and why you can compromise the paint job by making it dry too fast. Humidity and temperature can be controlled inside; when working outside, you need to pay attention to the weather. Oil-based enamel dries more slowly than water-based enamels, but you can speed drying time with a paint additive.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Fan
  • Japan dryer
  1. Step 1

    Check the humidity level before you start painting. Ideal humidity for drying enamel or any other paint is between 60 percent and 70 percent. Paint might take an extremely long time to dry when the humidity is higher than 90 percent.

  2. Step 2

    Use a dehumidifier or turn on the heat or air conditioning to help speed enamel drying time. If you are using a lot of paint, the evaporating, drying paint will raise the humidity levels higher.

  3. Step 3

    Pay attention to the weather forecast, and don't paint outside if rain is expected within 12 hours.

  4. Step 4

    Paint when the temperature is above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid painting in direct sunlight or in dry temperatures higher than 85 degrees; this can make the paint dry too quickly and cause blisters in the paint.

  5. Step 5

    Open windows and use a fan to create air movement, which speeds paint drying time by evaporating the moisture from the paint film.

  6. Step 6

    Apply paint in two even coats instead of trying to paint one very heavy coat. A heavy film of enamel paint will dry much slower.

  7. Step 7

    Add 2 to 4 ounces of Japan Dryer (available at most paint and craft supply stores) to oil-based enamel. This can reduce normal drying time by half if the temperature and humidity is also conducive to speedy drying.

Tips & Warnings
  • Darker colors of enamel can take longer to dry because of the higher amount of slow-drying pigments.
  • Some paint companies have water-based paint that can be applied at temperatures as low as 35 degrees Fahrenheit or that set up quickly so they can be used if rain is expected.
  • Don't thin paint too much. Not only will this make a weaker coating, it will dry slower.
Subscribe

Post a Comment

Post a Comment

Related Ads

  • Have you done this? Click here to let us know.
I Did This
Get Free Arts & Entertainment Newsletters

Copyright © 1999-2009 eHow, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.   en-US Portions of this page are modifications based on work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License.

Demand Media
eHow_eHow Arts and Entertainment