Airbrush spray booth

Glen Haasdyk

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Feb 2, 2004
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I went over to my In-laws today and my Father-in-law and I built an airbrush booth for my workshop. I found an old fan witha sealed motor for the exhaust which will be routed through the window of my workshop using a dryer vent hose and a special adapter board that will fit in the window tracks Now I just have to hook everything up and I'll be in business.
The booth measures 20"x 20" so there will be plenty of room inside for locos, cars, buildings ect. I'll post pictures when I can
 

Glen Haasdyk

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No problem, the first pictures of my new (to me) digital camera:

spraybooth2.jpg

The back shows the exhaust system, consisting of a flat fan (I don't know where I got it) located behind a furnace filter. The hose is bought a the local Rona store for about 2.50. The board in the window is cut to fit in the window tracks and exhaust fumes outside.
Spraybooth1.jpg



The furnace filter slides up and down on the two wooden tracks shown sticking up above the top.
 

Kevinkrey

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Jul 27, 2006
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Looks good. But I always just airbrush in the basement. Is it bad to not have ventalation. I try to make it my last task, so when Im done I can leave the basement.
 

iis612

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Dec 26, 2006
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Looks good. But I always just airbrush in the basement. Is it bad to not have ventalation. I try to make it my last task, so when Im done I can leave the basement.

Considering the atomizing effect of the airbrush, and the amount of partucalates released into the air that you are breathing. Not to mention the flamable nature of some of the paints, and almost all of the thinners. I would say that it is bad to airbrush without ventilation.
 

iis612

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Dec 26, 2006
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I forgot to mention the toxic properties of the paint and thinner.

I got a new airbrush/air compressor for Christmas, and I am having to wait until spring to put it to use.
The weather around here iss upposed to be oddly warm this weeked. I think if I can handle if physically, I will start weathering some stuff.
 

Glen Haasdyk

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I figured I'd add a picture of my painting fixture:

spraypaintholder.jpg


It's a chunk of 2X4 with holes drilled in to at 1/2" intervalls. Bent wire can be inserted into the holes to fit almost any project as you ca see with the Athearn SW hood and cab.
 

Tommybza

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Feb 15, 2007
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looking good there . I did get the air brush for Christmas all i need to do is look for the compresor and get it . and then start working on the paint booth . I was thinking a fan for the computer would do just fine ? they seem to spin really fast and quiet ..thanks for the kick in the pants to get going on another project .
Tommy
 

kirkendale

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May 24, 2004
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Glen, looks good. Last year I to started to experiment with an air brush but since I don't have room for a booth I had to go out side all the time. Not practicle this time of year. Two questions.... Would not the filter over time become clogged? I'm thinking that there should be as little blockage as possible between the booth, fan and the outside. On this point is your booth in a pernament location or do you move it around the area a little? I noticed the down bend in you vent hose. Depending on the strenght on the fan it you could keep it as straight as you can and going up the air would flow better.
:p Since I only paint outside and have not yet tried to build a booth am I being too fussy ? If I am then when I do build a booth this info will certainly help.

kj
 

Glen Haasdyk

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Thanks Tommy and KJ.
A computer fan probably isn't adequate. you can barely feel the air movement off one in comparison to the one I found. The computer fan is only 12VDC where mine is 115VAC.
The filter will become clogged over time. That is why it is removeable. It slides up and down on the wooden tracks on each side of the booth. There are two reasons that that the filter is there. One I don't want the fan getting clogged with paint particles and two the window screen is still in and that will also get paint on it if the filter isn't there. I have noticed alot of hobbists who make their own booths don't use the filter. I worked in Aviation for 12 years and around a paint booth that was 5 times this big. we used 3 big furnace filters for some of the same reasons, mostly to protect the exhust fan since the paint particles would cause havoc with the bearings.
The Booth is pretty much where I want it right now. It's not permamently nailed dow or anything (it only weights about 20 Lbs.)
The bend in the hose doesn't effect its operation that I can tell. It still draws the fumes out of the booth and keeps them from entering the rest of the house. That's the main point.
I don't want to say you're being too fussy but This arrangment works for me. Probably tracking down an adequate fan is the most difficult part.
 

kirkendale

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May 24, 2004
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Thanks Glen, Yes, :v8: the booth is all about the fumes and vapors not so much about the paint particles. I also was not sure how well a computer fan would work it is did at all. For the moment my thoughts are that when I do need to build a booth for inside ( not planning on doing painting until the summer) it will have to be portable and the window screen will have to be removed. Good to hear that the bend you have ( and it really is not sharp or twisting ) is ok.... as you say the focal point should be in drawing power of the fan. stong enough for the job with out being a gale force wind.

kj
 

Nottaprob

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Jan 6, 2008
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Hey, great idea and with the painting I'm gonna have to do, I better look to build something like this or open the window. Nah, live in the country & too cold, even for me to do that.
I was wondering what diameter that fan is? I don't have any advise for train stuff yet, but I can say that a PC fan won't work as they are made to suck out the warm air within a PC case and anything larger takes more fans, so this would have to be a home or exhaust type fan. Now that just might be an idea. I need to replace the exhaust fan in the bathroom & it just might fit the hose too. Oh, see what you've done now. I had an idea. Ouch, my head hurts. ;-)
Al