Is spray booth a "must have item" for airbrushing or is there other alternative?

If I have to get a spray booth, is there any recomandation? Also is there anythings that I must watchout for (like pit falls) or avoid?

Many thanks.

Fred,

I'd recommend a booth for a couple of reasons: safety, in that the airbrushing paint fumes are vented outside (rather than breathed in or allowed to accumulate, creating a fire hazard); and esthetics, in that the fumes do not filter through your entire house.

However, I would also recommend that you build one, rather than buy a commercial booth. These booths move air at about 100 cubic feet per minute (cfm) more or less, which is not very much. As well, they are rather small items, and pretty expensive for what you get. I built my booth to be 30" wide, 24" high and 20" inches deep. This allows me to build virtually any kit that I'll ever want, and house the whole thing in the booth as I paint. Air is drawn from the booth and through a filter by a Dayton Shaded Pole blower, rated at 495 cfm, and vented through a dryer hose to the outside. I also stuck a fluorescent light across the inside top, and wired it with the fan so that one switch turns on both at the same time. The inside is painted white to maximize the light, and a sheet of plexiglas covers the inside lower surface to protect against spills. I tacked a sheet of plasticard to one inside wall to use as my "test surface" before I actually apply paint to a model. Total cost came in at about what you might spend for a "good" commercial booth, but I think that mine's the better design. My wife cannot hear the system when it's up and running, even though she may be in the room directly above the booth.

Hope this helps!

Gary Barling

Thanks! Wow, I did not even realize about fire hazard and I forgot that the fume can actually go around the house........och, that will be bad.......

As for building one, is it hard (especially the design)? My knowledge in this area is rather minimum.

Hi!
I found a few helpful articles on building spray booths, maybe they can help you.

*http://www.interlog.com/~ask/scale/tips/booth.htm
This one is made using a kitchen stove hood, which is
a quick shortcut, although you still will need a light.

*http://home.earthlink.net/~mmwilson3/Building_a_Spray_Booth.htm
Some big basement booth, pretty oversized unless youīre working in a large area.

*http://www.ipms-seattle.org/tips/ted_pt2.htm
And hereīs another one that I found, after searching a bit. Havenīt read this one, but it seems good.

I am making a spray booth myself, and Iīm using an old fan from a copying machine. Not sure if it will suck out enough fumes, but Iīll try it out and see. If it doesnīt work I can always replace it with a stronger one.
Iīm making a clear plastic "roof" for the thing, so that my large flouroscent light can shine through, elliminating the lighting problem. Another thing that Iīm thinking about is a clear plastic sheet for a "window" and a hinged "door" underneath it which can be flipped up when painting, and then flipped down when finished, to minimize the amount of fumes that escapes into the room. I think itīs a pretty good design, but I havenīt fully tested it yet(since it isnīt completed). Oh, and a filter will be put behind the fan, and then a flexible ventilation thing will run out the window.
I could get you an article about making compact spray booth which can be stored away easily, but that web adress is somewhere in my modelling room... Iīll find it for you tomorrow if you want.
/Peter

Thanks for the great DIY links! The kitchen top was an interesting idea albeit noisy!

Must go to a DIY shop to see what is the cost of fan, clear & white plastic etc. (UK may not be that cheap, shall see.)

By the way, if one uses an extractor host, is carbon filter still necessary (it is costly after all)?

As for storing away booth - I don't think I dare to move my DIY booth in case it fall apart!

Fred,

Trust me: if I can do it, ANYONE can! I used 1/2" plywood and a frame of 3/4" x 1 1/2" wood (of some inexpensive type or other!). The booth is a simple box, open at one side, with a hole cut in the roof to accommodate the blower. Everything else (light, plexiglas, filter) is simply add-ons. In fact, I enlisted the help of an elderly friend to do the wiring for the blower and light: electrically-oriented I am not! If you can handle a saw and a screwdriver, you should be able to build this thing with no problem. Good luck!

Gary

Thanks, good to know anyone can do it!

By the way, what is your take on filters? What is your recommandation?

I donīt know if it works, but Iīve built a filter using some stuff I found in my modelling room. First, a metal tube with a lot of small holes in it(couldnīt find anything else) that i glue a piece of aluminium mesh(used for repairing car bodys) on(over the opening on one side) This was glued using Super Epoxy, since I donīt want it to fall out. Then I took some ordinary cotton(not too much), stuffed it in, and cut out a piece of aluminium mesh to fit inside the tube.

Since I want my "filter" to be replaceable I canīt glue the mesh to the inside. I took some old kit boxes, and made a round thing to fit inside, this also covers all those small holes. This stopped the mesh from falling out. Another round thing is made from kit box to fit around the tube(sealing those small holes even more).
I donīt know if this filter works, but it should at least stop most of the paint from spraying my window. The cotton is also replaceable, just remove the round thing from the inside and remove the mesh. Iīm not saying this helps against fumes(vent my stuff outside, so it doesnīt matter) or is "safe" in any way, but at least the cotton should catch paint. Otherwise I think real filters can be bought where youīll find ventilation stuff(hardware store etc) but they are probably expensive.

Oh, about that "take-apart" spray booth, here it is. Itīs a very simple design. Compact, good for small hobby rooms.
http://www.culttvman.com/kirk_schermerhorn_s_paint_boot.html
/Peter

Thanks! You are right, the take-apart booth is really simple to do! I have an old PC fan that I could use, cost will be minimum! Execellent, cheers.

Fred,

I fitted a filter (that can easily be replaced) in the "roof" of my booth. Air is drawn upwards by the fan, through the filter, through the blower fan assembly, and then vented outside. Fumes in the air flow go right through the system. Any paint, dust or other particles get trapped in the filter. I did this to prevent any particle buildup and consequent damage to the blower fan assembly. The filters are inexpensive, and in my opinion, a good investment to maintain my equipment.

Best Regards,

Gary

Make sense, definitely will include filter in my booth, thanks!

Fred

Problem with building your own is that the blower can not be inline to the exhaust since the fumes from enamel paints can be combustable. A straight exhaust motor from say a dryer is cheap enough but one that is not inline is expensive to buy on opening market. I would recommend a commerical spray booth instead. John