Spray booth help...

Don't have a booth yet (been planning one for months), but here's my two cents:

1. My recollection is neither Home Depot nor Lowe's has the type of fan I would recommend; the closest I've seen in the hardware stores is probably with the fireplaces (somebody please correct me if I'm wrong). Most posts I've seen recommend something from Grainger, though I've seen people who are happy with muffin fans (the ones that come in computers are too small, but larger versions with more cfm are available).

2. I would recommend metal or wood, though I've also seen patterns for plexiglas and lexan. My experience with plastics (especially the plastic bins) is that they tend to build a static charge, and that may do some funny things with the finely atomized paint.

This post (http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17493) has what I think is a good idea, though the cart he's talking about is ~$70 if memory serves. I'm currently looking for an used cabinet or nightstand that I can buy for much less and adapt. Plywood is probably OK as long as you have the tools.

3. Here's a link to a site that talks about fan sizing and spray booth design.
http://www.briansmodelcars.com/tutorials/tutorial.asp?TutorialID=23&CurPage=1

4. You'll probably want a light for the inside... Lowe's has a nice sized flourescent fixture for ~$15, and incandescent fixtures can be had for about the same price.

5. I would also recommend the purchase of a fire extinguisher... just in case.

I made my spraybooth using a cooker hood, cardboard box, and some flexible dryer hose. The box sits on my workbench. The hose goes out through an open window. I use a 50 watt halogen desklamp sitting on a shelf behind the box for lighting. The box is lined with copier paper, which is changed when it gets dirty.
This setup works remarkably well. I cannot smell the thinner in the rest of the house (I spray in a spare bedroom), and I don't get the dreaded "crusty nose-hair" or "coloured mucus" after prolonged spraying.
Note that I only spray acrylics, which are probably less flammable than enamels.

Cheers

QUOTE: http://www.briansmodelcars.com/tutorials/tutorial.asp?TutorialID=23&CurPage=1

This is a superb link for anyone interested in building an efficient and functional spray booth.

QUOTE: http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17493)

This link is for a drying booth, and shouldn't be confused with a spray booth.

Please keep in mind that fans, when chosen, should be brushless. Bathroom and range hood fans are not the best choice for spray booths. Centrifugal, or squirrelcage, fans is one way to go. Stay away from clothes drier ducting for your exhaust, and opt instead for aluminum flex duct. And when choosing booth material, the best would be a heavy gauge sheet metal. A good second option would be flame retardent plywood.

To build a booth the right way is going to cost a few dollars. You may want to give consideration to a pre-made booth. Check out www.artograph.com They have some very nice and efficient down-draft booths that exhaust through a charcoal filter, thereby virtually eliminating the need for an external exhaust, although I understand the booths are still equipped in such a way that you can rig some flex duct if you want.

Gip Winecoff

Armormaster;
Gip's posted link is the exact one you want, all the info is there.
I was wrestling with the same question. I bought the strongest, quietest bath fan Home Depot had but was concerned about explosions, even from acrylics. I researched this thing to death, even getting MSDS from the paint manufacturers as well as opinions here. I decided that the bath fan, around 80-100 cfm might be strong enough (the ducts go atraight out the wall) but I didn't like the idea of the motor being in the air stream.
All the prebuilt booths have 'shaded-pole motors' that are squirrel cages with an externally mounted motor so it's out of the airpassage. None I found were 'explosion-proof' which is cost prohibitive for a hobby.
So, on the link Gip provided, there's a link to grainger equipment. I ended up with a shaded pole 350 cfm shaded pole($105) from them that was cheaper than the Depot bath fan!
I mounted it in the table and couldn't be happier. If you go to an old Armor post from me, the joke one about tiger details you can see the fan in the bench from underneath. I just throw a clear tote over the opening when airbrushing. the front is cut out and being clear I just bring the worklamp over it for a nice diffused light. When not airbrushing I use the fan to exhaust glue or threadlock fumes without the tote. It also allows for large projects as well.
I can give you more details and pics if you decide to go this way.

Ah, the ever popular BOOTH question.

I bought a storage box (30" long x 24" high, by 18" deep). It had theselittle compartments which came out (now big white open box made of partical board and white laminant)
I got a bathroom exhaust fan (contreversy abounds on this) and covered it with a thick plastic furnace filter (the kind you can cut to shape).

This coveres the big opening on the fan. The exhaust goes through a hole in the back of the "booth". Then to a metal 'bendy' hose attached to a frame that fits in the window frame. It works fine

For more SUCK, you can add a computer fan runnin on a 9volt battery

Oh, to make things fun, I put to flush mounted halogen lightes in the top of the 'booth'. Not only is it great light, but It doubles as a heat source.

I mounted handles on top to make the thing portable. I owe most of the design to Naplak.

QUOTE: Originally posted by styrene QUOTE: http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17493) This link is for a drying booth, and shouldn't be confused with a spray booth. Gip Winecoff

Gip, Just FYI that the link above is intended to be both a spray booth and drying booth. The top part will be for spraying, and the drawer will be for drying. Still working out a few 'design' wrinkles.... but stay tuned....

Murray

QUOTE: but It doubles as a heat source.

Sounds good, but um... well isn't heat kinda bad near flammable vapors?! I don't know, but thanks everyone for all the input.

OOPS! Sorry, Murray. My bad....

Gip Winecoff