I am looking to build a paint booth. Anyone willing to share plans and/or pictures?
Hi Anthony,
Here's mine. Home built out of spare plywood. Ignore the fancy angles. I only had small pieces of plywood available. There is a fluorescent light inside the top of the booth:
I used a 16" three speed box fan. A 16" x 16" furnace filters fit perfectly. The filters work well. You can see that there is very little paint on the fan shroud. They do clog up fairly quickly so they have to be replaced regularly or the air flow drops off. Too much loss of airflow could overheat the fan motor.
Air pressure adjustment is easy with the valve on top of the booth. Saves walking back to the compressor every time I want to make an adjustment.
This booth doesn't vent to the outside, which doesn't matter because I only use acrylics. I use it in my garage and just open the doors a bit for air flow. It would be easy to attach ductwork. Some people will suggest that this set up could be a problem with solvent based paints if the sparks on the brushes were to ignite the fumes. I think you would have to have a lot of paint in the air for that to happen but what do I know?
If you don't already have a compressor, check out the new 'silent' models. They are amazingly quiet compared to the older designs. I'm tempted to get rid of my compressor and buy one of the new ones just to give my ears a break.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Thanks Dave.
I would only use a squirrel cage type fan. That is what the professional models use. The paint never goes through the fan motor, only the blades, so there is less danger of fire. Then you can run a vent from the fan to outside.
I simply bought mine from MicroMark about ten years ago.
.
It has a spark proof motor driving a squirrel cage blower. The oulet matches 4" dryer tubing, so routing the exhaust outside was easy. I ended up using 4" steel exhaust tubing meant for medium duty diesel trucks, just because I had it laying around. It will last for decades!
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Mine's homemade, almost completely from materials I had on hand. The base is 3/4" plywood, formerly the top of a homemade end table. Sides, back, and top are 1/8" Masonite, left-over from making coved corners in the layout room. I use metal wall-angle material left-over from installing a drop ceiling in the layout room to put the Masonite panels together using pop-rivets. The fan is from an air hockey game, and is installed in the metal plenum (the only part purchased specifically for the spray booth). I used 1"x2"s to make a slide-in filter holder in the top of the booth - it takes one half of a standard 11"x20" fibreglass furnace filter.
I also installed a turntable in it, but I have never used it, as I generally hold the item being painted. The photo shows the booth when it was in my basement train workshop, but it's since been moved out to my detached garage, in a small room used only for airbrushing. There, I've replace the plastic dryer duct with metal. In the basement shop, the fan worked okay, but was somewhat limited in that the house was too "tight" (little or no outside air coming in to replace what was being exhausted).In the garage, I included a closeable (to keep the wildlife out) opening to provide make-up air, and the fan is now very efficient.
Regardless of the fan type you choose, if you start the fan before you start painting, the concentration of vapours won't reach explosive levels - it's not like you're painting full-size trains or automobiles. Mine has been running for over 35 years, including some commercial painting, without issue.
The compressor I use runs constantly, and is somewhat noisy, which is not an issue in the garage. A rotary-type, it needs no air tank, as the output is constant, rather than in pulses like a conventional compressor...
Wayne
I'll be interested in responses to this one as well. A number of years ago, I salvaged a nearly- new squirrel cage blower with a brushless motor from a piece of industrial equipment that was being scrapped, and before too long will be wanting to build a new spray booth to fit it.
I had a plastic tote box, 18x24x16deep. Laid box on it's side,cut hole in bottom[now the back]. Attatched a cheap bathroom exhaust fan and vented thru a window.Found a furance filter that fit the bottom/back.Total cost about$15.
took a turn table from a stereo, remounted it on a wood stand,works well
sorry no pics
Wayne,
I love the old compressor! Our water pump at the cottage is actually a bilge pump from the 1920s. As long as you keep it greased it still works great.
hon30critterI love the old compressor!...
And, like your bilge pump, a lot of old machinery, if maintained, will outlast much of the new stuff by decades.
Maybe it's a part of a turboencabulator.
I used a hood vent that was above my stove...
Currently, I'm only shooting acrylics. There is a filter on the back side of the fan. I'm in the process of obtaining a squirrel cage fan so I can upgrade this system.
Inspired by Addiction
See more on my YouTube Channel
Here's a photo of mine, built from plans in the January, 1988 MR. Article was called the Paint Shop Spray Booth by Andy Sperandeo.
SeeYou190I simply bought mine from MicroMark about ten years ago.
Here is a picture of my "old reliable" paint booth. This poor baby sure has a lot of miles on it.
I moved it out to the garage and used it for about four hours today.
I've misplaced the photos of mine so I'll have to take new ones and post them tomorrow. I'll include details then, but the box itself is just scrap OSB I had laying around. It includes a light and a Nutone bathroom exhaust fan that you can get at Home Depot, and probably other places as well.
Apologies for the delay. Here are the photos of my spray booth. I'm happy to take any measurements you may need, but my suggestion is to go to your local home improvement store and build your booth around the filter size(s) that are readily available. Also, put your light closer to the front of the booth so you don't get any shadows on the front of the model where you will be painting.
I bought an adjustable elbow that allows me to route the exhaust out through a window via the styrofoam. Cut the styrofoam to fit the width of your window opening and whatever height you choose. Then wrap the edges of the foam with duct tape to prevent breaking the foam when you flex it to put it in the window. Also wrap the hole there your exhaust routes through to prevent it from being dinged up by the elbow.
Again, the fan I used is a Nutone bathroom exhaust fan from Home Depot, about $20 or so. Tape up any gaps around the fan with duct tape.
The spray gun you see in the booth is an automotive trim gun, a cheapy off of ebay. I highly recommend them for painting models, be it trains, cars, or whatever, and use acrylic craft paints thinned with 91% iso alcohol. Super easy to paint with and even better is the super easy cleanup and no nasty smells.
If you prefer lacquer paints, just use the rattle cans from Tamiya. They have a great nozzle and lay down paint nicely.
For clear coating I use clear acrylic aerosol from my local Hobby Lobby or Future floor shine (with a foam brush) from the grocery store.
Hope that helps.
My Old Hobby Spray Paint Booth:
Where I live, the extreme weather conditions limits when I can spray paint inside my attached house garage. It will be too humid in the hot summer, too cold in the winter or too damp when it rains. My only best option is to spray paint indoors.
I have a very large work bench surface area in my garage, but again the weather conditions limit when I can spray paint. I also have a small limited hobby work area behind my train layout. I mounted old kitchen cupboards above the small work bench. Under the kitchen cupboards I mounted a cheap stove fan to supply light and to blow out any unwanted harmful fumes to the outdoors. Because of the indoor limited space and aisle way restrictions to my hobby work bench area, a wooden box would be difficult to use. Instead I would cut out and use cardboard boxes to prevent any over spray paint around my work area.
My New Spray Hobby Paint Booth:
No more cardboard boxes. I now use a portable airbrushing spray paint booth that does not have a "Brand Name" because it is made in China. But doing an internet "Image Search" using the name "Voilamart Airbrush Spray Booth" seems to be used. The exhaust air hose from this compact portable spray booth is connected to the stove overhead exhaust speed fan. I replaced the metal mesh fan filter with a custom made plastic cover plate and with a custom made plastic hose adaptor. I only operate the stove overhead speed fan at "slow speed". This spray paint booth only has a small "suction" exhaust fan to only suck out any over spray paint. Not to cause a negative air environment to suck the paint from the spray gun. This spray paint booth is really ideal for individuals that have very limited living spaces.
Compact Portable Spray Booth:
Complete Unit Components:
Through Window Exhaust Vent:
Review: Portable Airbrush Spray Booth
Doctor Faust's Painting Clinic
Specification:
* Power: 25W --> (115 V.AC wall plug)
* Noise: 47db --> (refrigerator)
* Hose Length: 5 ft. --> (exhaust hose extended)
* Air Flow: 3 cubic meter per minute --> (3 cubic yard per minute)
* Weight: 5.5 kg approx. --> (12 Lbs.)
* Closed Size approx. --> (enclosed metal case) --> (16 1/2" long x "6 wide x 8" high)
* Opened Size approx. --> (spray paint booth) --> (16 1/2" wide x 13 1/2" high x 19" deep not including the exhaust hose)
Package Includes:
1 x Spray Booth
1 x Turn Table --> (7 1/2" round)
1 x Extension Hose --> (plastic)
1 x Exhaust Port --> (9 1/2" long and narrow)
1 x Plastic Sleeve --> (to attach hose to the unit)
1 x Soft Sleeve --> (to attach hose to the plastic sleeve)
1 x Hose Clamp --> (to attach hose to the exhaust port)
1 x Fiberglass Filter Sponge --> (standard - easily replaceable)
Special Note:
This portable paint booth is avaliable on Amazon.com for only US $99.96 that also includes free shipping. It also includes the 3 LED light tubes that are built into the top and both sides of the paint booth.
Lighted Paint Booth:
Why can't you post a picture of what YOU actually have instead of an endless string of copy-n-paste pictures from the internet ? You claim to have the goods - let's see 'em !
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
I think that he thinks he is a master of illusion.
Joe
I agree, Joe.
Mike
My You Tube
GrandTrunk-HO1 x Fiberglass Filter Sponge --> (standard - easily replaceable)
Standard? Really? Available from whom?
hon30critterGrandTrunk-HO Standard? Really? Available from whom?
From the same place he got the photos from, Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Master-Airbrush-Paasche-Enterprise-Airhobby/dp/B00AR2JC0K/ref=pd_sim_201_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00AR2JC0K&pd_rd_r=XSFVJ5SHJ93WX5NNQYDT&pd_rd_w=GhqzS&pd_rd_wg=4wcra&psc=1&refRID=XSFVJ5SHJ93WX5NNQYDT
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Hi Henry:
Thanks for answering my question. I asked the question because Grand Trunk_HO is prone to making broad statements which aren't always true, so when he said they were "standard" and "readily available" I had my doubts.
However, they are not exactly cheap at $9.96 USD per filter. My 16" x 16" furnace filters cost me the equivalent of about $5.50 USD per filter and every big box store carries them. Given that the filters clog fairly quickly the filter costs would add up a lot faster with his system vs mine.
JoeinPAI think that he thinks he is a master of illusion.
I thought that he was actually advertising a product which he was selling, and I almost reported the post.
Updates Required:
Mark R. Why can't you post a picture of what YOU actually have instead of an endless string of copy-n-paste pictures from the internet ? You claim to have the goods - let's see 'em ! Mark.
Why can't you post a picture of what YOU actually have instead of an endless string of copy-n-paste pictures from the internet ?
You claim to have the goods - let's see 'em !
Hi Mark;
Your one of those hecklers (Mark R.) from that other model train forum that sometimes actually only talks about model railroading. You are also the actual individual that posted a new thread on this other forum to attack me personally. Only this other model train forum would allow individuals to bully other individuals.
Without using copy-n-paste, how could I show actual manufacture pictures showing manufacture specifications and an actual YouTube example?
I actually have this compact portable spray booth, because how would I know how to correctly connect the exhaust fan to my over head stove fan?
hon30critter GrandTrunk-HO 1 x Fiberglass Filter Sponge --> (standard - easily replaceable) Standard? Really? Available from whom? Dave
GrandTrunk-HO
hon30critter Hi Henry: Thanks for answering my question. I asked the question because Grand Trunk_HO is prone to making broad statements which aren't always true, so when he said they were "standard" and "readily available" I had my doubts. However, they are not exactly cheap at $9.96 USD per filter. My 16" x 16" furnace filters cost me the equivalent of about $5.50 USD per filter and every big box store carries them. Given that the filters clog fairly quickly the filter costs would add up a lot faster with his system vs mine. Dave
Thanks for answering my question. I asked the question because Grand Trunk_HO is prone to making broad statements which aren't always true,
so when he said they were "standard" and "readily available" I had my doubts.
However, they are not exactly cheap at $9.96 USD per filter.
My 16" x 16" furnace filters cost me the equivalent of about $5.50 USD per filter and every big box store carries them.
Given that the filters clog fairly quickly the filter costs would add up a lot faster with his system vs mine.
Hi Dave:
So the only thing that you can find faulty about this portable spray paint booth is the air filter.
A (2) layer high density fiberglass sponge filter is used to protect the exhaust fan from building up any foreign debree on the fan blades.
hon30critter ...... I used a 16" three speed box fan. A 16" x 16" furnace filters fit perfectly. The filters work well. You can see that there is very little paint on the fan shroud. They do clog up fairly quickly so they have to be replaced regularly or the air flow drops off. Too much loss of airflow could overheat the fan motor...... Dave
...... I used a 16" three speed box fan. A 16" x 16" furnace filters fit perfectly. The filters work well. You can see that there is very little paint on the fan shroud.
They do clog up fairly quickly so they have to be replaced regularly or the air flow drops off. Too much loss of airflow could overheat the fan motor......
The compact portable spray booth has only a 6" round fan with an air flow of around (3) cubic yards per minute. This is used to only remove the overspray paint fog.
You are using a 16" round 115.V-AC furnace fan that is (2 1/2) times more powerful. That is around (7.5) cubic yards per minute.
Is this high volume of air suction in your paint booth, actually sucking the paint from your spray gun? Is this why your furnace filters get plugged up so fast?
doctorwayne JoeinPA I think that he thinks he is a master of illusion. I thought that he was actually advertising a product which he was selling, and I almost reported the post. Stick out tongue Wayne
JoeinPA
I thought that he was actually advertising a product which he was selling, and I almost reported the post. Stick out tongue
Hi Wayne:
What is the real purpose of this reply? How can a person master of illusion post actual manufacturing specifications?
How can I be actually advertising a product that I am selling, without a designated location?
#1) Question:
Why are some individuals doing postings that are not relevant to a spray paint booth?
#2) Question:
Why has no individual posted that this is a "faulty" manufactured portable airbrush spray booth?
Mel & Mark: You know, if you guys just left this alone, it would go away on its own accord. I understand why you might be perturbed, but I don't understand why you feel the need to provoke it with a stick.
maxman Mel & Mark: You know, if you guys just left this alone, it would go away on its own accord. I understand why you might be perturbed, but I don't understand why you feel the need to provoke it with a stick.
Max I agree with you and posted a Do Not Feed the Bears pic in one of his threads.
Either he thinks he is the reincarnation of John Allen and is happy to share his knowledge or he derives some enjoyment out of jerking peoples' chains. If I gave you my opinion it might be construed as a violation of forum guidelines.
Despite the criticism of look of his posts, they look really slick. For better or worse you can see exactly what he is talking about. The Newbie might think these are some sort of reference posts, especially since they are followed by numerous posts that the Newbie might not read.
That doesn't seem to be of concern to management. Not being a fan of UCLA at Berkley, I can see their point and suggest ignore is the best option left to us.
I, for one, have been wrong in some of my posts. I did my best, but I am here to learn, not pontificate. If I get it wrong, and one of you corrects me, I have learned something, as did everyone else who didn't know and reads the post.
Grand Trunk If you really think your knowledge is so valuable and informative for the Hoi Polloi, you are wasting your time in these forums that don't appreciate you. You should start your own website and maybe Youtube channel so you can reach the maximum number of people.