Slow Reducer/Hardner in 95 Degrees

P

pa2000xxxx

Newbie, so be easy! I can't get a good answer on this...here in Lousiiana it's 95 or warmer degrees most of the day. I've talked to several non-air conditioned shops spraying with slow reducers versus very slow/tropical reducers. Slow is up to 85 degrees in the Advanced brand reducer they used. How are they getting away with slow reducer in 95 degrees without having dry paint or finish issues? Should I be spraying with the high temperature/tropical reducers and hardeners (single stage)? If I'm reducing epoxy (SPI) or clear coat (Advanced Auto Euro Clear) should I use slow or extra slow reducer?

Thanks
 
At 95 you need to be using the absolute slowest reducer you can get (SPI 895, DT898) . Also would help if you were using a urethane retarder as well.
 
Recommendations also vary depending on the size of the job. At 95, you might get away with slow plus a splash of retarder for one or two panels or a bumper, but not anything much bigger.
 
Used SPI retarder once so far because I didn't have very slow reducer and it was 89 degrees.

Let me rephrase my question, to the painters using slow reducer or hardeners in 90+ degrees, why not use extra slow/tropical? I'm not saying it's wrong, I'm too inexperienced to say either way, just wondering what's up...maybe the flash/paint interaction is more predictable since you stay in one reducer range over 75 degrees? Maybe slight cost saving on fewer reducer ranges being bought in the shop?
 
Just because guys at a shop are using slow doesn't mean it's right. Chances are the quality of work at those places leaves something to be desired. No need to get hung up on it though. 95 degrees = the slowest reducer and activator you can get. Period. I paint for a living (actually painting one now in between coats) slow will flash way too quickly in 95 degree heat. Very slow (SPI895) is the only way to go. Like I said use the slowest reducers, and activators you can get when you are painting in that heat. Right now in my shop it's 98 degrees in the booth, Using SPI895 in everything and will use urethane retarder when I clear.
 
my shop is so humid I need to use slow when its 75 degrees. There are more factors than just temperature. If you have dry heat, reducers work different than wet humid heat.
 
That's a good point, I've never painted in a sauna bath like that, so for humid conditions, my advice is probably "all wet."
 
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