Does anyone here put your freshly painted models in a dust-free box for drying?

I'm thinking we have a guy or two here who uses an upside down plastic tub and 25 watt lightbulb raised up slightly off what ever base they place that on as a dryer. Some others added a fan and air filter to add some efficiency.. Some of us use food dehydrators with temp control as dryers. There may be someone who just uses a tub alone. Air movement really adds some efficiency and a little heat some more fwiw.

Actually what I use is the kitchen air fryer which has a dehydrator mode in it, I dry a model body shell at 108f. But a tub with bulb and a little computer fan will do it too. Someone might be along to explain it better. The heat is a secondary matter by the way.

I only do something like that for my Clear parts. After dipping them in Future, for drying I place an inverted plastic food container over them to keep the dust away.

Like Stik, I put clear parts dipped in Future under or in a food container, usually a Chinese takeout soup container, till the liquid has dried.

Likewise, after applying a coat of clear acrylic as a prep for decaling, I'll put the model in a plastic box (eg, Sterlite shoe box) till the coat dries.  That's for airplanes, ships, cars certainly. 

For my Maschinen Krieger models, I don't bother with that step, because bits of dust that might adhere are just more places to hit with the weathering.

I use a home built and quite large paint booth with an exhaust fan. I do all my airbrushing exclusively in there and after I'm done, I close the plexi door and leave the parts in there to cure/dry. So I do keep them closed up and away from dust, pet hair, etc. Every once in a while I clean the rack, change the filters and wipe down the walls to keep the dust down in there.

Also, like the other guys, I use a sealed container for clear parts dipped in Future. I use a small, square plastic "snack box" with a snap on top and a piece of paper towel on the bottom. 

I made a large box from particle board and mounted a lamp socket in it, with a dimmer/switch in seriesAnd a clear plastic storage tub (inverted) on top, with holes in top of box and top of tub to let air flow throug it.  I have a 75 watt incandescent bulb in it. It is just right.  Only have to turn it down occasionally on very hot days. I like to hold temperature at between 90 NS 105F.  I use it mainly for gloss enamels.  However, I put matt enamel parts and models and lacquer in it for an hour or two without turning on light, just to keep it dust free till it dries.

I have a homemade booth made from a recycled kitchen cabinet. The exhaust is placed in the window when using. When finished spraying, I close the "Sheer" curtain my wife made for the booth and leave the exhaust on. The "sheer" catches any dust floating around and keeps it from settling on the painted piece. Every once in a while, the wife throws the sheer in with the white wash and "voila" a new clean filter for free.

Jim 

Stay Safe.

I made a spray booth from a plastic storage container that I purchased from Ikea. I turned the container on it's side and cut a large opening in the bottom side. Located under the plastic container is a filter and blower that exhausts to outside the house. It's a big spray booth, that's a 1/24  scale car in it. The container came with a cover. When I am finished painting I shut off the blower and put the cover on the container which prevents dust from getting on the fresh paint.

Hello JohnnyK,

I like your spray booth! Do you mind taking some detail pictures on how you build it? 
thanks so much!! 

AH64D

Hello JohnnyK,

I like your spray booth! Do you mind taking some detail pictures on how you build it? 
thanks so much!! 

 

My spray booth has two parts. The base holds the filter and the blower. The removable top contains the spray booth. I got the idea for this spray booth from some guy on the Internet.

The base is constructed of 1/2"x12" MDF with a hardboard bottom. The size of the box is 28"x17". The size will depend upon the size of the top spray booth. The wood cleats on the inside of the base support the furnace filter. The top spray booth also sits on the cleats. The blower is mounted on the back of the base. The electrical box on the side has a switch for the blower and an electrical outlet. A heavy duty extension cord provides power to the box.

I bought the blower from Granger. The model number is a Dayton 1TDR3 (135 CFM). The current cost is $102.00. The motor is not in the path of the air so it won't get gummed up with paint. The exhaust air is ducted to outside the house.

I purchased a plastic storage box with cover from Ikea. I turned it on its side and cut an opening in the bottom (side). I made a frame around the opening out of 1/2"x3" MDF. A mesh screen was used to cover the opening. 

This is the finished product. Note how the removable top spray booth sits inside the bottom base. Those things on the side are battery powered lights. They didn't work out so I eventually removed them. After I am finished painting I attach the plastic cover to keep dust out of the spray booth.

Thanks JohnnyK that really helps!!

I like it. And it's AMERICAN made!!!

I followed JohnnyK's footsteps some time ago and built a similar contraption. However, I used a larger 2-speed motor (409/542 cfm), and I am glad I did. This thing turned out to be a real monstrosity which can handle pretty much anything, including drying.

Painted parts can be dried either directly on the screen or placed past the filter in the main box, next to the intake opening.