Any way to speed up putty drying...?

[Jim]

I'm just redecorating a room in my flat and have had to unscrew a window from its frame to do some external repairs and replace a broken pane since the window is not very accessible from outside.

I used putty, didn't realise how long it takes to set.

I obviously want to paint the putty to waterproof it when it has set. However, I can't do that with the window in place (hence why I took it out in the first place).

Is there any way I can speed the putty drying process - (say with a hairdrier perhaps) - so I can get the window back in place sooner?

Or alternatively, is it ok to paint the putty before it has completely set.

Thanks

[andrewpreece]

I have painted it after 24 hours before, though this is unsatisfactory, and can lead to the paint developing mini-corrugations. When you paint 24 old putty with varnish, if you are not extremely careful you can see it smearing into the paint.

So, it's possible to paint after 24 hours but not good practise. I can only suggest keeping the frame in a warm draught, I'd have thought a fan heater would be better than a hairdrier, but the principle is sound, and keep it up for a day at least :-(

My solution was to tape plastic onto the window frame to stop the draught, so I could let the putty cure for longer, but it could be difficult to do this if you are out during the day especially if it is a downstairs window, for security reasons.

Andy.

[Ian Stirling]

with oil based paint, it should be OK. With water based paint, it doesn't really work.

A hairdryer won't really do anything positive. If you could lie it down flat, and heat to 40C for a week, it may work better, but it won't really set easily.

[Andy Wade]

No, not really. Why can't you put the window back temporarily and remove it again in a few weeks for painting? Provided you get some paint on it by next autumn it should be OK.

[bigcat]

yes, use a modern fast drying stuff. I guess putting a coat of linseed paint on linseed putty would also work. Not tride it though.

NT

[Weatherlawyer]

No need. If you put the putty on too wet it will have got all over your hands. Too dry and it won't seal, you will soon know just by looking at it. (It's very unlikely to be too dry.)

What you should have done was pull the whole lot of putty out the tin then cut a sction as though cutting a pie. Then mixed that up.

If it's too wet it may skin over and ripple when you paint it unless you paint it straight away (with oil based paint.) Whatever you do you should have it painted before three weeks.

[jacob]

If you are keeping the window inside it'll take weeks to dry. It needs a bit of exposure to moisture and weather. Start it off by wetting it

- e.g. spray water on with plant sprayer, and then re-hang. Wet the glass also as this helps with cleaning off putty smears later. Wait

2/3 weeks until it is dryish i.e. won't take a finger print easily, then un-hang the window and paint it. Best left too long rather than too soon, as long as it hasn't started cracking or dropping off.

cheers

Jacob

[Mike]

Just wondering ........ Putty seems to have been around for years, and this drying time seems a dated process. Is there no alternative to putty been discovered yet?

Mike

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[Rod Hewitt]

"Jim" wrote in news: [e-mail]:

Too late - but I wonder if adding a little paint driers to the putty before use would speed up drying? Obviously, would require very thorough kneading.

[andrewpreece]

Yes, I think you can get glazing sealant, though I'm not too hot on details. Probably applied by one of those squeeze gun thingys.

Andy.