Has anyone used a radiant heater for painting in the cold weather?

My current options are a wood stove or a salamander heater.
Those both have open flames, so I think that might be a bad thing.

Any suggestions aside from waiting?

I need to repair and paint a car prior to Hershey and it won't be a stable temp until may in my area....

Rich

Oh, I might have access to a heated paint booth.

So one more question.
With a typical 2 stage paint job...how long before I can safely trailer the car back to my place?

Polyurethane clears are no longer sticky after 2-3 hours at room temperature, but still quite soft. If I were you I would give it overnight before trying to move it, and then be very careful getting it onto a trailer.

paint + cold = runs

I will throw this up for you to read until Scotty and the other experts wake up and chime in. The hardeners or catalyst for your paint can be tailored to the temperature. So you should ask the supplier what ranges they can provide. I'm guessing high 60's in your garage would be the minimum.

Missed your call last night. I was setting up at the World of Wheels car show. Use the booth. Even if you have to pay for it. Yes you can get solvents of cool weather but unless your a seasoned painter you will not know how to adjust your painting technic for the temp. I painted dozens of cars in a garage when I was a young guy with a oil furnace sitting in the corner running full blast. Dumb? Lucky? you decide..

The paints I use, 65F is about a low as you can go and be in the recommended range of the reducers and activators. Going much below that you run into problems with the paints not flashing quick enough between coats. When painting a car you want as many things going in your favor as possible, and try to control the variables. IMO with the high prices for good paints now days you don't want to take any more risk then you have to.

those salamander burners throw a lot of fumes and unburned kerosene
I once had fish eye on a garage job attempt, that I am certain came from the heater

dude,

Forget about my issue, what are you doing at World of Wheels?
Pic of the booth....

rich

It's a proven fact that fish eye has never been the result of any painters action. Hi Brant.

Unless you have been doing this for a while and know how to manipulate the hardeners, thinners etc. cold weather painting can be just as much a PITA as hot weather. As far as dumb luck, I have never had a heated booth, and when I did have a shop with good heat, as soon as the booth is turned on, that 70 deg room goes to 50deg QUICKLY. I currently put a salamander about 3 feet from the doors when I paint now, and have in the past had a small one right in the booth with me. Granted, I did have a booth, so airflow was constant, and the fumes got pulled away from the heater,not just stagnant in the room, but I never saw the heater flame up a bit.

Temp wise, 70-80 with as low humidity as possible is ideal, but I have RARELY had ideal conditions, and I doubt most outside of So-Cal have

Found a new painter to do it for me
Best solution for me and my limited time right now.

I am happy.

rich