Is this spray booth worth it?

I wouldn't say its a POS but probably inadequate for most modelers needs. This typically are design for the odd occasional use for brief periods of time using none vapor emitting paints.

You can do much better with looking towards a unit from Pace or making something on your own. If you can find yourself something to start with such as I talk about in a recent post Budget Paint Booth Resource, you're well on your way to getting a functional setup started.

Many of the arts & craft painting equipment available don't cut it for modeling...looking at this one says to me too small and where does it vent to? Yeah probably a filter in its base...give me a cardboard box and a shopvac and I can do something similar. Plus be able to vacuum up the workshop after.

Wow! Thanks Hawkeye. and I ready the 2 add-ons to that piece as well.  So your typical house box fan is sufficient?

Would an inexpensive furnace filter suffice?

, Dave

The furnace filter is only a particulate trap. Odors pass through it. For years I used a box fan which I made a cardboard plenum around to channel the air out through either a window or dryer duct. When I was spraying enamels or lacquers I set the speed on its highest...of course if the model is too close to the fan, the paint will take the express route out through the fan and not onto the model.

I made a downdraft set up using pegboard as sides and back, mounting the fan as the support for the table or working surface...which was a large plate discarded or swiped from the kitchen that was rarely used. Mount the fan so the switches are to the front.

I don't suppose you have photos of that set up...do you?

Dave

Somewhere...either on film or an old 3.5 in floppy disc.

Using a box fan will be okay though?

I was reading up on making a paint booth awhile back and one thing that concerned me was the wiring, possible fire/explosion hazard, and would I hvae enough CFM to remove the paint cloud.

That's when I stopped production. Do not want to injure myself for a relatively safe hobby.

, Dave

You can see my box fan set up in the front left corner of this shot...I'll see if I can find others. This was taken in my shop at a previous home we owned.

Here is the same setup as it was in my basement many years ago...tucked next to the gas water heater and furnace.  You get a better idea of how I used the pegboard to make the sides/legs...set up like a podium or microwave stand/cart.

Even spraying enamels I never had any issue with the box fan. I did fumigate the house with paint fumes because I forgot to connect it to the exhaust plenum. LOL

"Here is the same setup "  ?

, Dave

Oops.

Looks open. was/is there a top?

Do you stand or sit?

A down draft booth doesn't need a top. There is sufficient airflow, a top only blocks the light from the lamp hanging above.

I typically stand while painting. But you could sit at this setup.

Okay. Thanks Gerald for all the info.

Hartmann352

I'm looking at taking the leap, but I am not wealthy, nor do I want to purchase a inexpensive POS either.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220625088966&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

Comments, advise, healpful hints appreciated.

, Dave

You are looking at a well designed spray booth, but it is not inexpensive. The first time purchase price is not too bad, but look at the supplies here.

The Artograph booth has strong fans (compared to the Pace brand) and filter system designed to be used indoor. All of these sound good until you look at the price of consumables, such as filter, pre-filter etc. I considered that for a while and gave up.

Here is my homemade ,using an air conditioner fan and 5 inch hose.2' flourecsent and furnace filters .This is where to start for me ,find the filter system ,preferably cheap and easy to find .Then design your booth around it. The top of this one hinges up for filter change and the sides taper to the back. There is a plenum of sorts ,a chamber for the fan to pull from.The one you show ,sets you up to buy their filters . $200  is plenty of money for parts. I agree with Hawkeyes points as well.

Check my wip pix they are all shot in this booth as well ,using tape to diffuse the light and colored vinyl for the back ground.I didnt think of this until after but you can design yours to double as a photo booth,I get asked how I do my pix on here so they must be ok!

Keilau, Yeah, I saw that and really wondered. I was thinking if I took the leap that I would have been able to frabricate the filter stuffs.

Krow. Looks nice. How do you have the exhaust? out the back?

Any one....Does a downward pulling exhaust work good? I have this odd idea that it would maybe pull the paint and cause it to land where you might not want it. (ie, painting the top of a wing, and due to the air pull, it causes the paint cloud to curl around a bit and hit the underside of the wing.)

Is this not the case, or is it all about merely masking off?

Would it work by pulling it up, out the top?

, Dave

Mine goes out the back ,and I have a sliding switch to slow the fan speed .I would pull out the back ,downdraft complicates the fabrication . Its not a particale accelerator ,its a hobby spray booth

I was too busy worrying about CFM and stuff that I forgot the KISS principle. I finally taped a 24" wide by 14" tall foam board box to the front of a cheap box fan and put 2 charcoal filters and 1 AC filter in the back of the box. I now can paint and would never smell thinner if I were more careful about clean up. The fan moves plenty of air to work right and the filters work great. Filters are in the appliance section and come 2 to a pack and any AC filter will work to get the pigment out of the air.

Now maybe I can paint the 4 aircraft and 2 tanks that have been waiting for way too long!

Ben

Thanks Krow.     Not a particle accelerator....dang it, and here I was thinking about adding amature physicist to the hobby list.

Bomber.     Yeah, I guess the KISS rule is what needs to be applied. Do you have it hooked up to anything? (An exhaust tube to the outdoors?)

I'm setting up in a basement, and have a small window that I am going to be using dryer ducting to send the kaka ooutside.

, Dave

Dave, It just pulls through a coarse A/C filter and 2 activated carbon filters for a vent hood and vents directly into the room. I have never smelled any solvent or paint come out the other side and the wife can't smell anything so it seems to work well.

Ben

looks ok but like i would make your own mine is homemade with a modified shower fan

cost me about 40 euro (about 50 dollars)