Mini Outdoor Hygrometer Thermometer

I do read the directions on spray paint cans.

My goal - To get better spray can glosses in the Summer heat.

Most spray cans say the recommended temperatures should be from 55 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Humidity should be at 60 or below.

Sure I could always check my outside wall Thermometer, but who had a Hygrometer to know the humidity level?

I have one now! (Actually, I have five!)

I found it on Ebay. To see it: CLICK HERE

What I didn't realize is I was sent FIVE units for $12.69! I thought I was buying only one.

It's small. Clips on the side imply it could have been snapped into a dashboard or control panel cutout.

I simply set it on my patio table and can easily read it through the window. The "35" is the Humidity, 107 is the "feels like" temperature on July 15 at 2:30 p.m.

I have mentioned in an earlier post, I didn't realize what time of day had the lowest humidity.

In central Florida, humidity is highest in the morning, lowest in the mid afternoon and highest in the early evening.

So it's a compromise - I could try spraying early in the day when the temps are lower, but the humidity is higher!

I took the batteries out of the extra Hygrometers and all went into small zipper baggies.

So I have four extras.

I also have solid wood guitars and ukuleles.

Those cases now have humidity monitoring.

Humidity & Gloss Paint - TIP

This is an important post for anybody spraying rockets in an area with high humidity! 

I may have figured out the relationship between humidity levels and gloss finish spray paint!

Boy, did I have this wrong!

Since moving to Florida in the early 1980s, I assumed humidity levels rose with the temperature.

In the Summer months, gloss finishes can dry with a flat finish. So, I tried spraying (outdoors) in the morning. I reasoned - cooler temps = lower humidity.

According to this chart, humidity levels are higher in the Morning then drop in the Afternoon.

Lately, I've been having a hard time getting gloss finishes to dry shiny.

Yesterday I sprayed a heavier final coat in the afternoon when humidity was lower. 

The paint went on wet and dried glossy!

Try a search of your state or better yet - your hometown humidity.

Insert your State (XXXXXXX) in this address:

https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/XXXXXXX/humidity-june.php

That will bring up the humidity for June in your state. Change the month as needed.

In the above Florida chart, the morning humidity was recorded at 8 a.m., the afternoon humidity was from 4 p.m. The humidity level recorded times vary in different state charts.

My spray cans say to spray when the relative humidity is 60 or below! 

I grew up in the Monterey Bay area of California. The average temperature was 70 degrees. If there was any humidity you didn't notice it. Back then, the old formula Krylon went on smooth and dried glossy!

TIP: If you live in a high temperature area, think twice about using a final clear coat acrylic. Acrylic clear coats get sticky on a hot day. By the time you walk your rocket to the launcher, there could be fingerprints left in the clear coat!