How humid is too humid for spray painting?

Question

Here in NY, I can only count on the weather to get more and more humid in the coming weeks and I've got some painting to do. From different sources, I've read that spray painting shouldn't be done when humidity is greater than 50% according to one source, 60% according to another and 70% according to yet another. Lately the humidity has been averaging around 55%, so I'm wondering if I should just go ahead. I should note that I plan on painting with aerosol acrylic enamel and a two-component aerosol clear coat. Thanks!

Answer 1

Florida.

Answer 2

I would recomend the humidity to be below 100%...

Answer 3

How about if you're painting on plastics using acrylic airbrush paints?

Answer 4

I am from Michigan and it gets real humid in this part of the country at this time of the also.  We are told that nothing more than 50%.  Anything over that will cause a problem in drying.

Answer 5

At 55% humidity, acrylic paint will do well.

The idea is to make sure that the paint bonds with the surface, and the higher the humidity, the more likely there will be moisture on the surface.

Go ahead with the paint job, and post us a pic when you finish it up!

-Stuart

Answer 6

It is not the humidity of the air that's important. It is the moisture content of the wood that you're painting. You may want to invest in a wood moisture meter. If the moisture content is over 50%, rent an industrial size heater and dry the wood. When the moisture content is 45% or less you can paint in virtually any humidity but you must paint immediately after drying. You want your wood to be like a sponge and absorb the paint. Do it at a section at a time.

Answer 7

Your fine by using Acrylic!! If it was alkyd/oil the drying may take alittle bit longer.    You should be dry in an hour or two

Answer 8

I was a painting contractor for many years, and i forget the exact numbers but I never had a problem spraying on humid day's. If it was clearly very humid I would not spray say about 70% and up. The best way to find out is to ask the manufacturer of the paint, (Ben Moore, California, Sherwin Williams etc;) they will know what there exact recommendations would be. But they will be on the safe side to protect themselves so to speak, meaning if they say 50% your probably ok at 60%. Hope this helped you out, good luck and spray on!!!