Opti-Coating in the winter

[Richard Grasa]

Does the cold affect the curing of OC? Are there any reasons you should not OC a car in the winter time?

[IHA Mark]

Haven`t personally experienced any problems, but maybe some of the more experienced opti-coaters can chime in on this one.

[hamza7]

Best curing range is between 50~90 F. It can be applied it a little bit colder environment but it takes longer to flash. Compressed air can be used to make it cure faster, I suggest investing in a infrared heater if you would like to apply OG/OC in the winter.

[Scottwax]

Seems to be easier to apply (in that it doesn`t cure too quickly) in cooler temperatures vs warmer. Haven`t tried to apply it when its close to the freezing mark though.

[C. Charles Hahn]

Being that you`re mobile it`s probably harder to get a heated working environment, but it definitely helps. It was in the upper 30s outside today, but I got it up into the mid 70s inside my garage to work.

[pwaug]

Being that you`re mobile it`s probably harder to get a heated working environment, but it definitely helps. It was in the upper 30s outside today, but I got it up into the mid 70s inside my garage to work.



If I may ask, what are you using for a heater in the garage??

[C. Charles Hahn]

If I may ask, what are you using for a heater in the garage??



I`ve got one of these units mounted on my wall:



Garage / Workshop Heater Dimplex DGWH4031 13648 BTU`s Electric (http://www.heater-store.com/garage_workshop_heater_dimplex_5384_prd1.htm)



Perfect for my single bay; they have larger/higher output models if you have a larger garage to heat.



http://hahn-on-the.net/pictures/garage/lights2.JPG

[pwaug]

Thanks Charlie!!! Seems about right for my space. How is the impact on your electric bill??

[RaskyR1]

Best curing range is between 50~90 F. It can be applied it a little bit colder environment but it takes longer to flash. Compressed air can be used to make it cure faster, I suggest investing in a infrared heater if you would like to apply OG/OC in the winter.



^^^^This!




Seems to be easier to apply (in that it doesn`t cure too quickly) in cooler temperatures vs warmer. Haven`t tried to apply it when its close to the freezing mark though.





^^^^and this!



I actually like applying OG when it`s 55-70 degrees as it is easier to apply. I try to keep my shop around 60 in the winter time.



http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i288/Raskyr1/740LI/20121104-DSC_2229.jpg





I picked up a IR lamp to accelerate curing in the winter.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i288/Raskyr1/740LI/20121104-DSC_2231.jpg

[C. Charles Hahn]

Thanks Charlie!!! Seems about right for my space. How is the impact on your electric bill??



It`s not bad at all; doesn`t take much power to run (note that it is a 220v unit, much more efficient than 110v), and I don`t usually run it more than a couple hours at a time anyway. I have insulation blown in to the attic above the garage, an insulated door, and the exterior walls are brick so generally once I get it up to temp, I`m fine for most of the day. I do use a regular fan mounted on the wall to circulate the air though (pointed toward the ceiling to push heat back at the ground).

[pwaug]

Thanks again!! Sounds like this might work out well for me--3 sides of my garage are insulated and not exposed to the outside and I have 9" of loose fill in the attic. The door is insulated as well and sealed on all sides with weather stripping. Even during extreme cold snaps I`ve never seen it lower than 42 in the garage, but if I want to polish or wax it`s a little too cold.