Question about modeling and cold temps - Workspace in a garage

Thanks for all the responses. I think I may give it a go and just try leaving them out there when my collection is small. I've left some acrylic house paints out there and didn't have much luck, but could have had just as much to do with age/time rather than cold temps. All paint needs stirring if it sits for awhile. I don't imagine it being much of a problem in the beginning, but if the collection of paint were to grow lugging them in and out seems like a pain. Thanks again!

I was just out painting a model today in 28-degree weather in Northern Indiana. The cold really makes the drying time slower but so far I haven't had any issues with the paint. I use a rattle can for most of my painting so I am limited to painting out in the yard. I keep my paints inside until I need to apply each coat. When I am ready to put a coat on, I quickly run outside for a few minutes and spray a nice thin coat. Once I get done spraying a coat, I bring the model back into my unheated and uninsulated garage to dry. Temps have been in the teens the past few days but my garage has been about 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit and the model has dried just fine in it. I find it best to paint in the warmest part of the day and to not keep the model out in the extreme cold for more than a couple of minutes. I prefer to keep my paints inside so that they don't become too globby.

When we moved into our place here in Orlando, I immediately took over the garage.  I put down a carpet We broiught with us and made some shelves for the workbench that was in place.  I got some insulation and lined the storage space in the roof and then some heave foam sheets for the walls and the inside of the garage door.  For the cold sdeason I have a heater that looks like one of the old steam radiators I grew up with and when necessary plug it in close to where I will be working. It sometimes gets into the 30s during winter but I keep all my paints and other supplies in the garage, wether the heater is on or not.  Sometimes it gets into the 90s above but I have never had any trouble with my paints or kits.

When it gets cold in your area you might want to get two heaters and maybe leave one on to keep the chill under control.  The radiator types and safer that the heaters with the element exposed.

If you are still concerned about the paints, leave them in the house until you need them.  You can also try leaving some in the grage to see what happens, but unless it hets real cold there should be no paint disasters, especially with one heater going.

While i don't build in my shed, i do my spray painting out there and thats where i store most of my paints, enamels, lacquers and acrylic. Winters tend to be cold (-5c on occasions) and damp. Never had an issue with storing paints, but with some brands of acrylics it can take longer to dry when the air is damp. During winter, i try and spray acrylics on a morning, so usually sat and sun, to give it time to start drying before night.

I store my models out there as well and have not had any issues with the plastic.

Cold temperatures would make the plastic more fragile too.

A space heater is a great idea. It's hard to model when your hands are shaking.

 

Bill

I’ve been building out of my garages for the past 10 years or so, and painting in them for far longer. Although it really did not get that cold in my non insulated garages during winter when I was working. Yes, cold weather will affect paints and glues in their drying times, so a space heater will help a bit. Storing paints and glues in the cool weather should not be a problem as long as it does not get colder than you listed. But if you’re gonna pack up your paints and glues for inside/outside, fishing tackle boxes are a good option until you accumulate a large amount of paints.