I'd like to build my own spray booth. Are there any articles or websites out there that would give some plans or tips? I have an idea of what I want, but I'm looking for any ideas I ca get, as well as a source for parts like the exhaust fan.
Any help is appreciated.
"The Paint Shop Spray Booth" by Andy Sperandeo, January 1988. I built mine using this article. I believe I bought the exhaust fan from Grainger.
I built my own spray booth.
I built the booth out of 1x2s and 1/8" ply with a lexan top. The top of the booth slopes down slightly towards the back, and the lexan panel is held on with clamps to provide easy access to the inside if maintenence is necessay. The joint between the panel and the spraybooth body is sealed with single-sided foam weatherstriping tape. The exhaust fan sticks out from the back with an adaptor from 6" round duct to 6"x12" rectangular duct, which fits over a pair of 5"x6" holes in the back. The filter is made from fiberglass furnace filter, and is held in over a 1/4" wire screen with the cut ends of the screen bent out to stick into the filter. A flexible plastic and wire 6" round duct extends from the exhaust fan to wherever the outlet happens to be.
The fan is a standard 6" duct fan from Home Depot, and is wired through a standard wall switch to a 3 prong plug. All the materials were bought at Home Depot.
If I had to do it again, I would get a fan with a higher cubic feet per second rating. Just get a 6" fan with the highest volume per second rating that you can find - more airflow isn't a bad thing; it keeps you from getting blow-back.
You'll also want to make sure that the framing for the spray boot is on the OUTSIDE to minimize air resistance and turbulence in the booth. My booth has a 1x2 horizontally across the top of the front to support the clear panel, but that is the ONLY brace on the inside. The cear top is essential - a solid-topped booth will be VERY dark.
Modeling the Pennsy and loving it!
I build according to these plans, but modify to the buyers liking, most I assemble request 2 more 120mm fans.
this is not my design, all design credit goes to the designer/uploader , google user sketchup user:
panzerlite
88gta350 I'd like to build my own spray booth. Are there any articles or websites out there that would give some plans or tips? I have an idea of what I want, but I'm looking for any ideas I ca get, as well as a source for parts like the exhaust fan. Any help is appreciated.
Here's one: http://modelpaint.tripod.com/booth2.htm
Just be aware that if you use solvent based paints, it's a good idea to use an explosion proof motor driving your fan or at least have the motor for the blower outside the airflow (as in a squirrel cage blower).
EDIT: Description of a spray booth explosion: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=28124
Andre
LION put a cardboard box on its side and called it a spray box. It does not have a fan, but then the LION does not do all that much spraying.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
I used a simple 16" x 16" air circulation fan as a base unit, and I then built a 3/8" plywood shroud around it. The open (front) end of the shroud is approx. 30" wide x 21" tall and about 18" deep. I installed a fluorescent 24" light inside the top of the shroud. It just so happened that I was able to find some furnace filters that were the same size as the fan when I was designing the spray booth (I think I used up one horseshoe there). The filters are a snug fit inside the shroud up against the fan.
Here are a couple of pictures of the beast. Pardon the graffitti Oops, not supposed to use that word here! My Bad!!:
I put a second regulator right on top of the spray booth so I could adjust the pressure without having to walk over to the compressor - very convenient if I may say so!
Here is the fan with the filter removed:
I am not sure if the fan motor is sealed, but for now I am only using acrylics so I don't think I can blow myself up.
I have to tell you a funny story related to the spray booth:
When I was building the spray booth my then 15 year old son was watching me closely. He watched very, very closely when I mounted the fan backwards (so it would spray everything back in my face) but didn't say a (explitive deleted) word! Don't know where he got that nasty streak from, but he was ROTGLHAO when I first cranked it up. ( For those of you who are explitive challenged the acronym starts: Rolling On The Ground Laughing His A.. Off - moderators please be tolerant, it is a funny story).
Anyhow, the spray booth worked quite well once the fan was turned around, although the filters seem to clog up fairly quickly.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
andrechapelonJust be aware that if you use solvent based paints, it's a good idea to use an explosion proof motor driving your fan or at least have the motor for the blower outside the airflow (as in a squirrel cage blower).
Andre, you might as well save your breath mentioning this potential issue. The subject of paint booths and the need for blower safety has been discussed in past threads. And the response is always from individuals who say they've used bathrooom exhaust fans, kitchen range hood fans, computer cooling fans, and so on and have not had a problem.
And the response is always from individuals who say they've used bathrooom exhaust fans, kitchen range hood fans, computer cooling fans, and so on and have not had a problem.
Obviously the ones who did have a problem wouldn't admit it. I don't really how the above type fans can move enough air to be effective at removing paint particulates and fumes. If you're using solvent based paints, the vapors get concentrated enough to ignite and there's a spark, you'll have a big fireball.
No doubt none of these people wear respirators, either and operate chain saws, leaf blowers and gas powered weed whackers without ear protection and safety glasses.
Yup, they haven't had a problem yet, but when they do, you can take it to the bank you'll never find out unless it's your idiot brother-in-law or your next door neighbor.
I wasn't going to reply, but:
like the lion, I use a very very large cardboard box that a folding table saw came in. I adapted it a bit with a high CFM bathroom fan I had lying around.
we have a plexiglass window panel with a cat door in it so that the cat can go in/out at his liesure to the 'veranda" and enclosed cage for him during warmer months, during colder moths it is closed ooff to him.
During the winter months, I use a dryer hose {short} connected to the fan connected to the window cat door for ventilation.
BUt I don't use flamable paints. ANd I dont spray like a mad man all the time either.
gee, it is Simple, cheap effective.
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
galaxy I wasn't going to reply, but: like the lion, I use a very very large cardboard box that a folding table saw came in. I adapted it a bit with a high CFM bathroom fan I had lying around. we have a plexiglass window panel with a cat door in it so that the cat can go in/out at his liesure to the 'veranda" and enclosed cage for him during warmer months, during colder moths it is closed ooff to him. During the winter months, I use a dryer hose {short} connected to the fan connected to the window cat door for ventilation. BUt I don't use flamable paints. ANd I dont spray like a mad man all the time either. gee, it is Simple, cheap effective.
This is the route I'm expecting to take, but I don't have any spare fans laying around so I'll probably have to find or buy one. Maybe I can get something cheap on Craigslist or ebay. I'll probably install a cheap light too.
88gta350 galaxy I wasn't going to reply, but: like the lion, I use a very very large cardboard box that a folding table saw came in. I adapted it a bit with a high CFM bathroom fan I had lying around. we have a plexiglass window panel with a cat door in it so that the cat can go in/out at his liesure to the 'veranda" and enclosed cage for him during warmer months, during colder moths it is closed ooff to him. During the winter months, I use a dryer hose {short} connected to the fan connected to the window cat door for ventilation. BUt I don't use flamable paints. ANd I dont spray like a mad man all the time either. gee, it is Simple, cheap effective. This is the route I'm expecting to take, but I don't have any spare fans laying around so I'll probably have to find or buy one. Maybe I can get something cheap on Craigslist or ebay. I'll probably install a cheap light too.
I forgot to mention: I installed an el cheapo light from the dollar store into the box, too. for some reason, I choose an appliance light bulb for it, thinking that it might be better able to withstand something in the box..but it gets neither hot nor too cold in the box, so I don't know what I was thinking. I changed to a CFL As it gives me abetter look at the color of something I am spraying. The lamp is an industrial curved aluminium half-circle clamp-on lamp similar to those used by photographers..
The fan was a $10 bathroom fan I bought to replace one in the former residence, but never got to, so I dragged it with me and had it in the shed here, and had it laying around. It was plain and simple.
Good luck and have fun!
LION has lots and lots of spare fans lying around -- all 12 volt DC from discarded computers (needs wall warts) --
Acrylic paints might not catch fire in the heat, but can short out the fan with the water base.
LION recommends HEPA filters, then even a fan discharge to the room will be acceptable, although for heavy work you want it vented to the outside.
The FAN does not need to be mounted on the spray booth. We usually duct up to a fan box closer to the ceiling with the discharge ducted outside of the building.
(Not my spray booth, but one that we built for our potter.)
if you don't airbrush alot how about a box with a hole in the back with a furnace filter there and a large fan on the back too suck the air through the filter and out? rambo1.. is it not safe enough?
One thing to check on before you complete the spray booth design is what sizes of furnace filters are available at the local hardware store? WHy? I did not check, used the 1988 article design, and have been cutting down filters to fit for the last 20+ years. Not a big deal, but one more maintenance thing thing that takes time away from painting. Also, MR printed a retraction of the design a couple of months later, saying the booth should be made from sheet metal, not plywood due to potential fire hazard.
Another maintenence thing, once or twice a year I clean the blades on my Dayton blower. It picks up paint solids on the blades which lowers the efficiency of the fan. The stuiff is not tightly adherent so all it takes is lightly scraping each blade with a screwdriver. The dust falls to the bottom of the fan, so I turn it on, let it run for a minute or so and let the dust blow out the vent.
As to lighting the booth. I installed a piece of plexiglass on the top of the spray booth and mounted an under counter fluroescent light above that. That keeps the lighting away from any potential explosive fumes.
Another thing to considder with acrylic paints. A friend of mine uses winshield washer fluid to thin his paints and to clean his airbrush. This changes acrylic to a semi-solvent based paint; and, if you use this,you need to use appropriate personal protection.
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
G PaineOne thing to check on before you complete the spray booth design is what sizes of furnace filters are available at the local hardware store? WHy? I did not check, used the 1988 article design, and have been cutting down filters to fit for the last 20+ years. Not a big deal, but one more maintenance thing thing that takes time away from painting. Also, MR printed a retraction of the design a couple of months later, saying the booth should be made from sheet metal, not plywood due to potential fire hazard.
I agree about the size of the filter. I also found that the size had changed. However, I just modified the booth opening to accept the new size.
However, I believe that you are incorrect about a retraction to the article, or have the retraction confused with another article. The spray booth described in the January 1988 article was made using sheet metal.
One final comment. I have the booth I built mounted on a small stand in the basement. It is vented out through a plate I made to fit in one of the basement well windows. When I want to paint something, the booth is there ready to be used. I just don't understand how using flammable cardboard boxes with questionable capacity fans set up to exhaust through cat doors or any other temporary opening can possibly be conducive to accomplishing anything. One might just as well wait for a clear, calm day and paint outside.
For as often as I spray pain (with a rattle can), the cardboard box will do just fine.