To Booth or Not to Booth

Booths aren't strictly necessary, as long as you are spraying in an area where the vapors won't affect others. What is necessary, is a respirator that is capable of trapping organic vapors. I use both, the booth vents most of the vapors outside, and gives me double duty as a safe, relatively dust free environment while waiting for the paint to cure.

A paint booth is a very handy thing to have. Mine's nothing fancy, it's built from scrap lumber and a piece of plexiglass for the top. I added some lights and used a decent fan. Outside of the airbrushes I so dearly love to play with it's the best tool I've invested in. So, if you have the means to build one I highly recommend it.

Take a look at the March issue of FSM. There's a letter in there from someone that uses a box to capture overspray. Looks like it should work. Not the same as exhausting everything outside but useable. There isn't a lot of overspray from an airbrush but it's still there and some acrylics have more of an odor than others. If it isn't going to bother anyone else in the house then just use a respirator. Not a dust mask, a respirator. Some are expensive but you can get disposables that aren't. Seal it up in a big Glad bag when you aren't using it. You should use one anyway.

Tony

A fair amount of the paint and carrier you spray ends up on other surfaces other than the model you are painting. Removing as much of that particulate and vapor is always a good idea. You don't need a booth per say but you should have a way to remove the dust and fumes.

I vent mine out through using a fan which is connected to a dryer vent.

You can use a box fan, furnace filter and some cardboard and some dryer vent to create a simple and effective exhaust system cheaply. Exit it through a dryer vent as I did or through a window.

plus you're still inhaling paint and solvent so it's a good idea. If you don't, you won't die in a year, but always err on the side of caution, especially if you'll bbe painting a lot.

While I have a nice homemade spray booth with a lot of features, I only use it with rattle cans. I do not use it with my airbrushes.  Even with my SA brush that I use for most of my work I get very little overspray and fumes.  Even an SA brush can be adjusted for a flow to suit the model you are painting.  I do take care to make sure I have no parts right at the front of the desk that would be hit by any excess overspray.  I keep pressure low- 15- 20 psi, and spray close to the model surface, never more than about six inches from model.

I have on rare occasions had a part sitting on front of bench and got a bit of overspray on it, but learned eventually to take care. 

My spray booth is large enough and heavy enough that it would be a bother to clean off enough of an area to put the booth on the modeling bench.

Because I use enamel paint, in the past I had to airbrush in the garage even tho I have a huge basement but it was too messy and anybody would smell the fume upstairs after long airbrushing sessions.  Because it was freezing in the garage during winter times or too hot in the summer, I finally got me a paint booth from Pace for Christmas.  Boy, I wish I got it two years ago as soon as I returned to modeling. 

Safe to say that it is one of the best investment beside buying a good airbrush set... I am not that handy and I don't have the time to make one I brought one as a Christmas gift from my parents.

I opted 'Peace Kepper' that comes with two sets of lamps and hidden fan... if $$$ isn't an issue and you are not that handy like myself, get this Pace paint booth and you won't regret it....

YEPPER! Pace paintbooths are great! But only if you can fork out the dollar and you'er not a metal/woodworker. great quality, you won't regret buying on eif you do!

Do you have a problem with overspray getting on those jars on the shelf at the back?  And what kind of fan do you use for the vent?  Looks great.

Rich

HawkeyeHobbies

A fair amount of the paint and carrier you spray ends up on other surfaces other than the model you are painting. Removing as much of that particulate and vapor is always a good idea. You don't need a booth per say but you should have a way to remove the dust and fumes.

I vent mine out through using a fan which is connected to a dryer vent.

You can use a box fan, furnace filter and some cardboard and some dryer vent to create a simple and effective exhaust system cheaply. Exit it through a dryer vent as I did or through a window.

I am very seriously considering buying the peace keeper deluxe myslef.  I dont currently have a booth.  I decided on the big one because I have alot of 350 scale ships and I think the extra width would come in handy.

Dave

Don Stauffer

 I do not use it with my airbrushes.  Even with my SA brush that I use for most of my work I get very little overspray and fumes.  Even an SA brush can be adjusted for a flow to suit the model you are painting.  I do take care to make sure I have no parts right at the front of the desk that would be hit by any excess overspray.  I keep pressure low- 15- 20 psi, and spray close to the model surface, never more than about six inches from model.

I agree with Don.  I have a large basement and mostly spray acrylics.  I do wear a dust mask but haven't had any problems with fumes or overspray.  Most of the kits I build are 1/48 (not much area to paint) and it's not like I'm painting every night of the week.

There's a simple home-made booth described in the reader's tips section of this month's FSM (or FSAuto). I think I may build one like this until I decide whether or not I'm going to stick with the hobby this time around. If I get a few models under my belt, I may invest in a better system if I think I need one.

I will be using a respirator. I just have to find one before I start air-brushing.

Your post sounds just like one I would write. I have been back into modeling for 2 years and am progressing quite well - except for working up the nerve to use my airbrush. I live in a condo and would have to use it downstairs where the hot water tank and furnace are. I heard so many stories about "don't blow up the house using you airbrush in the basement" that I nearly just gave up the though of using one - I wasn't even sure a spray booth would be safe. Some of the replies here, however help to put things in perspective.

What I am going to do is use my airbrush on my patio this summer until I learn it's potential and become comfortable with it.

I have a good brush and a good respirator and will build a spray booth to use inside next winter. I use rattle cans a lot but cold weather makes for some humorous situations when I am dashing out for a quick spray when the temperature is below freezing

rookie 104

cold weather makes for some humorous situations when I am dashing out for a quick spray when the temperature is below freezing

Living in Edmonton, I can definitely relate.

I work in the basement and have a gas water heater and furnace. I do use a paint booth but I think it would take a good bit of spraying with an airbrush for enough vapors to pool  to be ignited by the water heater or furnace. Not to say it couldn't happen.

About three years ago during the winter I needed to finish a rifle stock with aerosols. I used aerosol clear lacquer. Put down some drop cloths, turned on the paint booth as an exhaust and to be safe, turned off the gas to the water heater and furnace and turned off the furnace. Put on a respirator and  let it fly. It got kind of foggy a time or two and I wouldn't have wanted a spark or pilot light but I think I'd have to go over and shoot some lacquer thinner directly on the pilot or igniter with the airbrush to create a flash over.

But, better safe than sorry.

Tony

Wingman_kz

About three years ago during the winter I needed to finish a rifle stock with aerosols. I used aerosol clear lacquer. Put down some drop cloths, turned on the paint booth as an exhaust and to be safe, turned off the gas to the water heater and furnace and turned off the furnace. Put on a respirator and  let it fly. It got kind of foggy a time or two and I wouldn't have wanted a spark or pilot light but I think I'd have to go over and shoot some lacquer thinner directly on the pilot or igniter with the airbrush to create a flash over.

Tony

Dang, Tony, that's kind of scary.  If the vapors had reached the lower explosive limit, a light switch or static discharge could have set it off.

Don

What can I say? It had to be done.

Tony

I like to have a clean environtment for my  workbench. So that if it will be pleasant for any visitors. And I can buld models till I reach 100 years or more. My spraybooth is on wheels with a flexible shaft. So that I can clean anything under the booth.... http://www.junaustriamodel.blogspot.com/

JunJun, liked your work space.  It sure reminds me of a scene in one of Star Wars movie.  Oh, you are a big fan... just like me.  Thanks for posting because you have given me some ideas what I can do to mine.

Don Wheeler

Wingman_kz:

About three years ago during the winter I needed to finish a rifle stock with aerosols. I used aerosol clear lacquer. Put down some drop cloths, turned on the paint booth as an exhaust and to be safe, turned off the gas to the water heater and furnace and turned off the furnace. Put on a respirator and  let it fly. It got kind of foggy a time or two and I wouldn't have wanted a spark or pilot light but I think I'd have to go over and shoot some lacquer thinner directly on the pilot or igniter with the airbrush to create a flash over.

Tony

 

Dang, Tony, that's kind of scary.  If the vapors had reached the lower explosive limit, a light switch or static discharge could have set it off.

Don

True Don but unless the room is fairly tightly sealed the chance is pretty slim an explosion will occur.

Marine Sniper

 

 

 

True Don but unless the room is fairly tightly sealed the chance is pretty slim an explosion will occur.

You may be right, Mike.  It kind of depends on how large the basement is and how much air the exhaust fan is moving.  What got my attention were the phrases "aerosol clear lacquer" and "It got kind of foggy a time or two".  Maybe I'm just overly cautious.

Don

You should know that it has more to do with the chemical composition of the substance in question.  Different chemicals will ignite at different saturation density levels in the air.  Laquers can ignite at a relatively low density.  I would be very very careful and never assume that it can't ignite because you think the ventilation is adequate.  If it is foggy, or you can smell the fumes, then it is probably past or close to the critical saturation point.   I never recommend using any kind of aerosol near any potential ignition point (furnace, Heater, Garage Door opener etc...)  Stay well away from anything that can spark.  I work on our enclosed front porch.  It is so well ventilated that I need to wear a coat this time of year.  I have a small electric heater I use to warm it up as much as possible before I start, then shut it off and unplug it until I am done and I am sure that there are no remaining fumes on the porch.

Just be careful.

Rich

Don Wheeler

 

Marine Sniper:

 

 

 

 

True Don but unless the room is fairly tightly sealed the chance is pretty slim an explosion will occur.

 

 

You may be right, Mike.  It kind of depends on how large the basement is and how much air the exhaust fan is moving.  What got my attention were the phrases "aerosol clear lacquer" and "It got kind of foggy a time or two".  Maybe I'm just overly cautious.

Don

Don Wheeler

 

 

 

What got my attention were the phrases "aerosol clear lacquer" and "It got kind of foggy a time or two".  Maybe I'm just overly cautious.

Don

I can see where those words would get your attention.

The answer is - YES!

I just put a small booth together this weekend for under $50. Nice!
Since I mostly use acrylics I'm not concerned about that thing exploding in my face. No smell, no fumes and no paint getting were it shouldn't. And spraying any time I like to. I'm happy!

Now I'm working on my fist model!