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Enamel vs Acrylic & Spray Booth

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  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: White Mountains, NH
Enamel vs Acrylic & Spray Booth
Posted by jhande on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 1:58 AM
I'm used to spraying the exterior of my 1:24th scale cars with (mostly) Testors enamel spray cans or sometimes factory touch-up cans, such as i.e.- Duplicolor. I've always sprayed outside during warm weather or in the basement. But we moved and no longer have a basement and it's too cold outside during the winter. Now I'm moving up to an AB for a better quality finish.

I spray both opaque and semi-transparent colors (enamel) with a high gloss finish.
Would I have similar options and results using acrylics?

Spraying enamels indoors will require an additional $80.00 (approximate) investment in an exhaust fan/blower for my spray booth to deal with the volatile fumes.
Would such a blower moving such high CFM's be needed for acrylics since it's mostly over-spray that's a concern?

Or should I just go ahead and build my spray booth with the blower since I spent a lot of money on everything else, why skimp now on the booth? That way I can spray anything. Confused [%-)]


-- Jim --
"Put the pedal down & shake the ground!"

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Bicester, England
Posted by KJ200 on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 2:37 AM

Jhande, acrylics don't give off anywhere near the same sort of fumes as enamels or lacquers. I know, my wife complains about the smell of lacquer thinner whenever I open the jar to clean my AB, but has never once noticed the small given off by the acrylics I use.

I don't have a booth with a fan, I just leave the window open, and that seems to work fine. Clean up is also a lot easier with acrylics, being both faster and less messy.

Save your $80 and spend it on a decent AB & compressor.

Just my My 2 cents [2c].

Karl

Currently on the bench: AZ Models 1/72 Mig 17PF

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 2:58 AM
I had exactly the same problem and after a lot of thought,  decided to go for  the full works.   My final  set-up for the booth  extraction  system consisted of a bathroom kit with flexible hose and an  in-line fan.(about £22  , including vents).
Although I now mostly work in acrylics you will always find a time when you wish you`d gone for the extractor, an example (in my case) is sealing decal paper with three coats of varnish.  My own little tip I`d like to share, was to install a turn-table in the booth. (mine came from an old record deck). No more accidents when you have to spray four sides of an object.     Jim

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: Left forever
Posted by Bgrigg on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 9:35 AM
I only spray acrylics and went the whole meal deal on a blower for my spraybooth. My wife can tell the difference between acrylics and future without being in the same room. Be careful that your fan/blower can handle the volitile fumes. You really don't want an explosion in the house!

So long folks!

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: White Mountains, NH
Posted by jhande on Wednesday, January 4, 2006 10:59 AM
I followed along with the calculations from this web site - http://modelpaint.tripod.com/booth2.htm and then priced out a few blowers from http://www.grainger.com

I have sprayed real life auto's and know first hand the benifits of venting the fumes. Wink [;)]

I just never had experience yet with acrylics as they weren't heard of in the modeling world when I was last building.

When I was a kid an open window and a big fan was good enough, but then again so was a brush and spray can.

Now that I've invested in a silent hobby compressor, a couple of Iwata's, built a turntable, filled a toolbox up with modeling tools, stocked the shelf with almost every color of Testors and Model Masters I could find at the local hobby shop, etc... I figured maybe I should be more concerned about my 10 year old sons health and just want to do things right. Smile [:)]

Thanks guys

-- Jim --
"Put the pedal down & shake the ground!"

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