Say It, Don't Spray It

"Say it, don't spray it!" is what we yelled on the playground when someone talked too close. It's also my new rule for home projects, after a spray paint incident we will now describe in painful detail.

The incident

I spray painted the old brass hallway light fixture matte black. In the garage. In March. In Minnesota. It was 38 degrees, the paint went on thick, never really cured, and the first time we turned the light on, the fixture smelled like a burning tire. We repainted it. Outside. In May.

When spray paint works

• Small metal items with lots of detail: cabinet pulls, hinges, lamp bases
• When it's 50 to 85 degrees with low humidity
• With light coats, at least three, and a primer made for the surface

When to say it instead

• Anything that gets hot. Use high-heat paint, or don't.
• Large flat surfaces. A roller gives a smoother finish with less overspray.
• Indoors. Just don't. The overspray travels farther than you think.
• Things people touch a lot. Door levers and faucets wear through spray paint quickly. Replace them instead.

Lesson learned. Now, who wants to talk about our new favorite arepa spot?