--- title: "Coating Steel: Watch the Dew Point" description: When using oil based steel primer, temperature at the time of coating is important. Solvents will dry at a slower rate in colder temperatures and can evaporate away before drying is complete, leaving a clay-like film in its place. This is called 'cold curing'. image: https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/hubfs/Picture1-Jan-15-2021-05-18-27-68-PM.png --- [![Providing Structural and Miscellaneous Steel Fabricators](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/hs-fs/file-14727826-jpg/images/bannerfixed-webrdy.jpg?width=750&name=bannerfixed-webrdy.jpg "Providing Structural and Miscellaneous Steel Fabricators")](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/) - [![the steel supply company](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-1.jpg?width=88&name=logo-1.jpg "the steel supply company")](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/) - [![The Steel Supply Co, Inc](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/hubfs/top-text-new.png)](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/) - [![Specialized Supplies for Structural and Miscellaneous Steel Fabricators](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/hubfs/bottom-text-new.png)](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/) ![BLOG TheSteelSupplyCo banner950x250](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/hs-fs/file-730735349-jpg/images/blog_thesteelsupplyco_banner950x250.jpg?width=760&name=blog_thesteelsupplyco_banner950x250.jpg) ## Steel Manufacturing Blog: Keeping it Steel # Coating Steel: Watch the Dew Point Posted on Fri, Jan 15, 2021 @ 12:57 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) When using [oil based steel primer](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/industrial-coatings/primers-coatings-and-cold-galvanize), **temperature** at the time of coating is important. Paint will dry at a slower rate in colder temperatures and its drying solvents can evaporate away before drying is complete, leaving a clay-like film in its place. This is called 'cold curing'. Temperature is also important when considering the 'dew point' of the environment that [primer](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/industrial-coatings/primers-coatings-and-cold-galvanize) is being applied. Dew point is the temperature at which naturally existing moisture in the air condenses into water droplets. No matter what temperature, water molecules are always present in the air. At higher temperatures, the air can accommodate more water molecules than it can at colder temperatures. Once the relative humidity of the environment reaches 100%, any additional water molecules in the air will condense onto any solid surface. The condensation is not always apparent in some cases, and while you may believe that you are applying primer to a perfectly dry surface, these imperceivable water molecules will stop an oil based steel [primer](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/industrial-coatings/primers-coatings-and-cold-galvanize) from making direct contact with the steel. In this situation, as the steel [primer](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/industrial-coatings/primers-coatings-and-cold-galvanize) dries and tightens, cracks will occur in the [primer](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/industrial-coatings/primers-coatings-and-cold-galvanize) coating as shown below in Figure 1. ![Picture1-Jan-15-2021-05-18-27-68-PM](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Picture1-Jan-15-2021-05-18-27-68-PM.png?width=319&name=Picture1-Jan-15-2021-05-18-27-68-PM.png) [Water based primers](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/steel-primers-water-based) can be used in place of an oil based primer in these circumstance, which may mitigate, but not prevent, the issues related to imperceivable moisture on a steel surface. However, it is important to note that [water based primers](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/steel-primers-water-based) are more susceptible to cold curing. If a water based primer is used, it is crucial to ensure that any fabricating, cutting, or drilling oils that are removed from the steel surface. In the same way that even a tiny amount of moisture can prevent a primer from bonding with its surface, these materials can do the same. For example, cold rolled steel, commonly used to produce hand rails, will generally have a very thin layer of oil remaining on it after the milling process, which must be removed before priming. ### Subscribe by Email ### Follow Me ### Most Popular Posts ### Browse by Tag - [Aluminum Plug (2)](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/blog/topic/aluminum-plug) - [Anchor Bolts (16)](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/blog/topic/anchor-bolts) - [Askew Head Bolts (6)](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/blog/topic/askew-head-bolts) - [Bearings (11)](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/blog/topic/bearings) - [Bent Anchor Bolts (4)](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/blog/topic/bent-anchor-bolts) - [Channel Slot (2)](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/blog/topic/channel-slot) - [Clevis (2)](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/blog/topic/clevis) - [Clevis Rods (4)](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/blog/topic/clevis-rods) - [Construction Shims (3)](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/blog/topic/construction-shims) - [Cut Thread (2)](https://www.thesteelsupplyco.com/blog/topic/cut-thread) - 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