Spray Booth Fan

[gtcr98]

Hi, I am currently building a spray booth for airbrushing. I have seen one or two articles where range hoods were used to exhaust fumes. One person claims they are fire proof and went so far as to spray thinner directly into the fan. I have not been able to fine a source to confirm that they are fire proof. Does anyone out there know for sure. Thanks in advance Gary Taylor

[bcammack]

If the fan motor is a brushless design it should be safe. You should use sealed switches to reduce any risk of explosion. Use water-based acrylics will render all concerned moot. :)

[cacole]

Unless you're going to use spray cans of paint that use Propane gas as the propellant, or an oil based paint in an air brush, you needn't worry about the fan causing an explosion. I have used military camouflage spray paint in a range hood paint booth with no problems. I wasn't spraying so much, though, that the propellant could be ignited if it was propane gas. If you use only short bursts from a spray can there should not be enough explosive fumes build up to be of concern.

[Anonymous]

[2c] My spray booth has a squirrel cage fan. The motor is on the outside of the cage. If vapors can get into the motor housing, then yes you have a potential ignition source. Lots of crud build up on the fan blades over time and if the crud were to build up around or in the motor, it could overheat and ruin it. .
Stove or range hoods are for moving steam and smoke, not paint fumes. The motor is usually inside the housing. Whatever you use, the fan should be in the housing and the motor on the other side of the vapors.
[8D] "Know what I'm say'n"

G.