Ideal temperature for curing airbrushed painted items

EXCELLENT!! Thank you Triarius, I owe you one :D

To keep the temperature from rising too high, and to allow solvent vapors to escape. Paints continue to release solvent until fully cured, and some (particularly if heavy coats have been applied) will continue to do so for a time after full cure. Venting will also prevent hot spots from  forming inside the box.

Cutting a number of small vent holes in sides at the top and bottom of the box will do it.

Also, allow the model to cool to room temperature before you handle it too much. Warm paint is soft paint. 

 

Okay, sounds good. But why do I need air-circulation in the box? Does that do something with curing?  and i'm racking my brain how I would do this now without drastically dropping the temperature. It's only being warmed up by a light bulb.

Mind you: that's with air circulation in the box!

"Tack-free" means when the surface of the paint is no longer sticky—you can touch it with a finger tip and the surface may deform, but it will not stick to your skin. A good way to test for this is to spray the last bit on a piece of scrap. When that is tack-free, so is your model. 

oh wow I thought 100dgsF would be way over kill. So you mean I can't just shoot the paint and then wait a few mins before I put it in the drying box? How long does one have to wait before they can kick up the curing to 80-100dgsf ?

 

Thanks

I assume that's 100° F, not C?

With good air circulation, 100 to 120° F is fine. IIRC, styrene softens aroung 212°, but paint can be adversely affected at much over 150°.

Remember to wait until the paint is tack-free before starting forced curing.