Do I REALLY need a spray booth?

Hi Don,

The work area will just be the 4th room of a 4 bedroom free standing house which is currently a disused guest room, turned into a hobby room. So it'll just be me and the wife sniffing up all the fumes :p

You need to tell us more about your working area.  Do you live in an apartment where others may smell paint and thinner?  Do you work in basement, where you only need to keep wife or other family members happy?  If you work in a garage, not much of a problem depending on which paints you use.

In high humidity lacquers do present a problem.  Acrylics and enamels are not as bad, depending on what you thin them with (I know folks who use lacquer thinner on them- does create a problem).

bluenote

I use Tamiya acrylics for the most part and the odour is pretty miminal.  As well, I use a double action (Iwata Revolution) and there is very little overspray.  In fact, all my airbrushing is done at my model desk.  I just use a piece of blank paper under the part I'm airbrushing and it's more than enough to protect my desk.

This is exactly what I had in mind....

keavdog

but consider humidity.

 

This raises a good point - where I am in Townsville, summers get really hot and humid. The model room has aircon and so on, so I can run it on the "dry" function, but - what do I need to keep in mind on those especially humid summer days?

I've used one for years.  Very convienient, vents out of my garage window.  No need for cardboard or newspaper is a big plus.  I still manage to get crap in my paint on occasion but helps with the fumes.   I dont think you need one but it sure is handy.  You can paint day and night in any weather, but consider humidity.

IMHO, basement or garage spraying no- house or apt yes.

I use a respirator for enamels or lacquers,and I really don't spray excessively 

bluenote

K4BeeTee

And one thing that jumped out at me which I haven't considered before - is "needing" an airbrushing spray booth...

 

Bt

 

 

I think it really depends on the kind of paint you plan on using.  I use Tamiya acrylics for the most part and the odour is pretty miminal.  As well, I use a double action (Iwata Revolution) and there is very little overspray.  In fact, all my airbrushing is done at my model desk.  I just use a piece of blank paper under the part I'm airbrushing and it's more than enough to protect my desk.

 

I will also keep a window open and have a fan on.  (I model in the basement).

 

I think if you will be using a single action then there will be a lot more overspray.  

 

I also only use acrylics but I do have a spray booth. Also use a respirator. While we're on the subject, safety glasses too. 

Do I "need" it?  I don't know.  Someone smarter than me will have to answer that.  I don't want to find out the hard way. The stuff wasn't expensive and the PPE is surprisingly comfortable.  

T e d

K4BeeTee

So being new to airbrushing, I'm still in the process of buying my stuff, and I've been reading up on airbrushing and tools and accessories. Im yet to actually use one. And one thing that jumped out at me which I haven't considered before - is "needing" an airbrushing spray booth...

I plan on doing little 1/72nd scale airplane models to get back into the swing of things, before moving back onto 1/48 and then 1/32, am I really going to need one?

Bt

 

Ok, I have never used one, however, I do plan to build one for my new work area. I use lacquers, enamels, and acrylics, and figure in the long run it would be a good idea.

I think so. You need it if you paint indoors, in particular with spirit based paints.