Would you chance it? What would happen?

[Becky B.]

What would happen if I painted Por-15 when it's below the recommended 50 degree temp? It's supposed to be about 45 degrees tomorrow & I have the day off (won't have another full day off until April). You have to apply two coats within 5 hours of each other, or , if you don't, you have to sand before applying a second coat. Therefore, you need a whole day to get the job finished. Would you go for it, even with the 5 degree difference? I'm leaning toward doing it tomorrow, but if people here strongly suggest I shouldn't, then I won't. I'll just wait until April.... I want to get this blankety blank underbelly finished!!! I hate it!!

[Becky B.]

Never mind. Sorry to have posted this....Upon further searching (other than the can), the Por-15 website says you can apply down to 45 degrees. I'm golden!
Thanks anyhow! Have a good night!

[HowieE]

I do not know the product but the 5 hour limit between coat make me think it is an Exothermic curing , heat generating, and needs to be above the stated temperature to cure properly. This is a common limitation of epoxies, not too cold and not too hot when working with it.

[Xbob2]

perhaps you could run some heaters?

[Jim Foster]

I have used POR 15. Two things.

First - If you need that second coat, be sure to get it on in time. Don't even think about sanding that stuff after it gets hard. We use that on the frames of Street Rods and they remain chip free forever.

Second - Don't get it anywhere you don't want it to be forever. A drip on your driveway will be there for a very long time. (not that I have a few drips of black POR 15 on my driveway a couple of feet from the garage door)

Really great stuff.

[Wabbiteer]

I painted 2nd - 3rd - touch up coats until 2am - it was upper 30's as I finished and certainly got down to 33 overnight.

All-day paint-a-thon came down to a perfect finish. I did thin it 3-5% with their thinner, the fumes to watch out for appear when you return to apply the 2nd - 3rd coatings when the earlier ones are firing. 5 hours may be too long - its when there is only a slight 'grab' when you brush a fingertip across the first area you painted... then get right on it duplicating the 1st coat application pattern. Humidity is the variable - cool and dry air is longer cure time, the night I painted it was very humid.

Worked after dark with a 13w CFL (remote ballast) hand held work lamp and that made detail work sooo easy - never a shadow or compromised light source.

[Becky B.]

Thanks for the advise. I'm going to bed early so I get an early start! Have to do the metal prep early in the AM so it's good & dry. Have to do all the outriggers & rear frame. Already did the front. You're right about it never coming off. I wore some of it for a long time!