How Does Temperature Affect STEEL F/X® Patinas & Dyes?

QUESTION:

Hi Bill,

Question regarding Temperature? . . . Does this affect STEEL F/X Patinas & Dyes?. . . I am in the process of designing and building a bench style paint booth to solve painting vs. outdoor conditions. . . temperature, humidity, etc. . . The indoor downdraft booth would take care of rattle can, 2-Part Automotive Clear-Coat & STEEL F/X Dyes . . .I had planned an outdoor wet area for doing STEEL F/X patinas . . .but curious if temperature would affect application?

Thanks,

Steve

ANSWER:

Use Patinas Year-Round!

Hi Steve,

If the STEEL F/X® Patinas become frozen it won’t hurt them at all. Just allow them to thaw and they can be used inside or outside, in temperatures from 25°F ~ 125°F. (-9°C ~ 52°C). Of course, extended use in temps below 32°F (0°C) will cause the liquid to become slushy & eventually freeze solid.

Often, you will see or hear mention made of ideal application temps when discussing finishes. It is fairly common knowledge that metal and ambient air temp should be at least 60°F (15.5°C) or above for most methods of finishing.

This is generally true for top-coats (another word for top-coat is clear-coat). The word, “finishing” may indeed apply to patinas, dyes, colorants, base-coats, powder-coating or 2-Stage (Two-Part) Top-Coats (Clear-Coating). And, as mentioned, 60°F (15.5°C) & Rising are recommended for solvent-based clears, as well as most primers and base-coats.

60°F (15.5°C) & Rising does NOT APPLY to Patina or Dye Application.

The Dyes will not freeze until temps drop to approx. -150°F (-101°C), so that’s not an issue either, unless you live in Antarctica.

All of my patinas go through many tests, e.g. shelf-life, UV exposure, pH stability and a multiple freeze/thaw test (among other tests) before making them available for sale. Every single one of the patinas made by STEEL F/X® can be frozen solid, subsequently thawed & used just the same as if they’d never been frozen, with no deleterious results.

All of the STEEL F/X™ Patinas are considered “cold-process” patinas, meaning the solution/s or the metal does NOT have to be heated before, during or after patina application. Many “hot-process” patinas exist, but are generally formulated and sold for use on non-ferrous metals, e.g. Cu (Copper) and Brass, which usually contains 80-90% Copper.

The few patinas that I offer on this site for Copper & Brass are also ‘Cold-Process” patinas, but my specialty and expertise is in Patinas & Coloring Agents for Mild Steel.

Thanks,