Artograph 1530 Spray Booth

I have that booth. I don't vent it outside when using acrylics, but I do when I use lacquers. The biggest thing I don't like about the booth is that the filter is on the bottom of the booth. It does not make for a sturdy surface on which to place the model. It gets kind of frustrating. Also, the metal housing for the fan/motor/base is riveted and not welded, and the joints leak air. I'm going to put some kind of sealant on the joints to see if I can prevent that.

Other than those two things, it does it's job well.

I can visualize what you mean about a place to place the model (on the filter stack, which is unsupported). I wouldn’t have considered that and appreciate your pointing it out.

So I guess you don’t feel the filtration is quite good enough to vent solvent-based paints inside, which is what I was hoping to do.

BTW, been sorting through reviews and the leak at the bottom seems to be a common complaint. Folks seem to be sealing that with aluminum and/or duct tape.

Thank you very much for you input, my friend!

I am using one was well.  And noticed the same things air leaks and squishy bottom from the filters.  I usually put a piece of cardboard down but try to avoid covering up the area above the fans.  Yeah and I used HVAC foil tape to seal up the air leaks.

The filtering is definitely not going to filter out lacquer fumes or other strong smelling fumes.  I vent outside through a window and I was able to smell the fumes while spraying lacquer primer  from another window that faces towards the exhaust vents.  The filtering is mainly to catch particulates for the most part.

But I am at least able to still work indoors during the winter and keep the noxious fumes localized to the room without it spreading throughout the house.

Hope this helps.

Gene

Gene, that is helpful info indeed. Thank you!

What I am trying to determine is if I could spray solvent based paints and primers indoors without external venting with this unit, and the answer appears to be yes, but not with the results I'd hoped for.

Johny, though I'm not looking at making a booth (at least right now I'm not), I gotta say that is one very nice one you've built there!!!

Welcome to the forum, BTW!

We use that booth's big brother at work in the art department for use with spray adhesives.  Although not a direct comparison, I can tell you that it has been going strong for over 25 years.  The first five years I worked there it never turned off. Ever. Not even on weekends. I eventually put a motion detector on it so that it only turned on when somebody walked up to it.

Ours is not vented outside but it does a very good job of keeping he adhesive fumes in check (3M Super 77 mostly).  I have used Krylon/Rustoleum in it a few times and it helps but the airflow is too fast for the carbon filter to handle.  It still smells a bit.  

Thanks.  I wanted a booth large enough to hold the body of a Revell 1/48 B-29.

Hey Spots, that's very helpful. Thanks!

I neither need nor expect to eliminate fumes entirely, would just like to be able to spray the occasional solvent-based stuff inside whilst reducing fumes and airborne solids to a safer level, and stop worrying about blowing up the furnace/house.

No prob.  The 2025 has two speeds... I'm not sure if the 1530 does or not but I noticed that ours does a better job with odors when on the low setting.  I guess it gives the carbon time to work.  It definitely keeps the particulates in check.  

That's an interesting tip, thanks, Spots. Your theory makes sense.

Looked up the 2025 and see it is specific for what you are spraying at work. Pretty cool.

OP..I bought this booth and although I have yet to use it (waiting for my airbrush/compressor), I can tell you it is well made and sturdy.  The issues around  air leakage seem easily remedied, and the appeal of this booth is that is does allow for unvented use which I would suspect is the main reason most people purchase it.  While venting outside is always preferable, the nice thing here is you can do both.  Most people buy a stand to place objects for painting on.

Thanks for your input, lup10.

I'd be very interested to hear any additional feedback once you put this in service and start using it.

Welcome to the forum, BTW.

That's helpful. Thanks, milehigh, and welcome to FSM.

JonnyK... nice job with the booth.   I have an extra Harbor Freight portable sandblast cabinet (neighbors trash) and was going to convert it into a spray booth but then they came out with the $90 specials.  You can find these online under a host of names... I bought mine from Amazon for just about $90 under the Master Airbrush name.  Cheaper and more convenient than building my own.  So far I can't say I'm disappointed with it.  It came with a plastic hose that you point out the window and is basically a computer fan.  Hey, you get what you pay for.

Sorry , I'm a little late to the party...  I bought a 1530 a few months ago and love it!  Well worth the cost.  There is a company called "Ventworks" who makes a window vent that is specially designed to attach to the dual 4" exhausts and slides to fit different size windows.  A solution to the unstable surface of the bottom of the booth where the downdraft filters are is to purchase some of the open plastic grid material that is found in drop ceiling flourescent light fixtures.  It is inexpensive, easy to cut to size, and does a good job of supporting your model.  Just my 2 cents

David

David, excellent information, thank you!

Tom, sorry I missed you post from April. Thanks for your input.