compressor turn on while painting

[kamaroman68]

Is it possible to have an explosion in your garage shooting epoxy primer and the compressor possibly turning on? This would be done in an enclosed garage with a kerosene/torpedo type heater. Of course I would turn off the heater. Garage is a standard 2 car garage. Thanks Chris

[manicmechanic]

Do you have any type of exhaust port? Attic hole or window in the wall to help pull the fumes out of the garage? It could happen but the chances are slim, but still there. I wouldn't like the Kerosene heater for the fumes it puts into the air and on the car, would more than likely cause some type of paint issues. I have painted my car in the garage, but I have a window with a box fan set-up to pull the fumes out of it. I run more of a risk from the fan, I set the compressor outside of the garage when I paint. I tape plastic along the wall and down half the garage to keep the fumes out of the house, off the washer and dryer and garage area in general. Check my website under painting pictures button to see it.
www.geocities.com/z28f41

[ProdigyCustoms]

A few things, those kerosine heaters can and will blow crap in the air and cause the fisheyes from hell. Kerosine has oil in it, simple enough.

As far as explosion from paint fumes and a contact spark from the compressor, the air the paint mixture has to be nearly perfect, like within a few percent, to actually be flamable. But with that said, you may not want to challenge that ratio.

[MrQuick]

ahhh yeah, been there done that. A friend blew up his house, lost an eye and 2 fingers painting a car in his garage. Spark from the compressor can be bad if the fume/air ratio is right. Ventilation,compressor out of paint area and no pilot lights. My compressor use to sit in an open section of ther garage (near back door) separated by a sheet of plastic and duct tape.

[myclone]

As others have mentioned it can happen so put the compressor outside at least while painting. Lose the kerosene heater too....if not you'll become VERY familiar with "fish eyes" in the paint. Petrolium fumes/fall out+paint body work=fish eyes.

[Happyfunballs]

If you need to heat the garage(with a portable heater) and paint at the same time(which is generally not a good idea) use a propane heater. You can pick one up for $100 or so and it burns clean. I would recommend ventilating the overspray before you turn it on.

[parsonsj]

Yeah, I used a propane heater last winter to heat my garage while I painted the engine compartment and underside of my car. It gave off an odor, but I was masked up and didn't notice that during painting. It was either that or wait til spring, since the outside air temp was in the 20s and 30s.

Sometimes I was at the Home Depot twice a day getting propane refills though.

jp

[JoshStratton]

I was told once, and it seems to be a good idea, to heat (propane) up the garage for a while before painting. Since it is just the metal that has to be warm, get it warm, turn off the heater and then paint.

Anyone think this is a good/bad idea?

[Happyfunballs]

Most of the time, that's what I did. Once the overspray was gone, I'd kick it back on till the next coat. It probably wasn't especially good for the reducer, but I never had a problem.

[manicmechanic]

I use a couple of old Quartz radiant heaters to warm up the garage before I start to paint. I also keep them on during hard freezes to keep the temp at least at 50 or above. I had my garage insulated when I built the house walls, ceiling and door.