Found out spray paint dries way faster if you warm the cans in warm water first

I was getting ready for a rally last weekend and my sign letters were taking forever to dry. A guy at the hardware store told me to put my spray paint cans in a bucket of warm water for 10 minutes before using them. Tried it with a Rust-Oleum can and the paint dried in like half the time. The nozzle didn't clog either which usually happens to me after a few passes. I think it helps the paint atomize better or something. For anyone making signs outside in cold weather this could save you a ton of frustration. Has anyone else tried this trick or got other ways to speed up drying without ruining the paint?

3 comments

3 Comments

pat_moore1mo ago

40 degrees and windy here last fall and I was trying to finish some yard signs before a city council meeting. Tried the warm water trick after seeing it on some DIY channel it works way better than I expected. I leave the cans in a 5 gallon bucket with tap hot water not boiling just hot for about 15 minutes before I start shaking them. The paint goes on smoother and I can do a second coat in like 20 minutes instead of waiting an hour. Do you shake them while they're still in the water or take them out first?

shane_park921mo ago

I mean it's just spray paint. You're not diffusing a bomb or performing surgery, just shake it a bit and spray.

jamief671mo ago

My brother tried this same trick last winter when he was painting metal chairs for his deck, except he forgot about the cans in the bucket for like 45 minutes and they got so hot he nearly burned his hands shaking them. Pat_moore I always take mine out first because I'm paranoid about water getting into the nozzle or something weird happening. That 20 minute dry time sounds amazing though I usually stand there staring at wet paint for an hour feeling stupid. Might have to steal this method for my next project even though it's 90 degrees here now and I'll probably just sweat through my shirt instead.