I recently purchased the large Pace booth.. here is a copy of a review I recently posted and some discussion regarding the booth
(NOTE - Pace 'sales" roll over.. the summer "sale" prices ended, and then the Fall 'sale" prices started.. same sale price... dont feel rushed to buy because the 'sale" is ending...)
----In case anyone is searching for Pace booth info... I got the Peacemaker (largest)... few observations:
1. The 2 light bulbs are regular 75W incand... will heat up the top part of the booth REAL fast and REAL hot... a problem if you left your spray can on top of it like I did ;) I promptly changed them to 60W energy savers. looks like same amount of "light" , the extended bulb fits in the space, and your booth does not get hot!
2. Be careful moving it around.. the steel sheets can/could bend.... and have sharp edges.
3. It IS noisy, but moderate.. you COULD have a radio (loud) or TV on if you would like...my air compressor is actually a tad louder, but nothing bad at all.
4. Works well, the peacemaker has two fans and they really rip... the venting is high capacity air flow, and it DOES take care of the fumes (I tested this; I use enamels).
5. you need to practice and figure out how "deep" within the cabinet you musy have your model when you AB. Couple times I washed by AB with a blast of thinner at the end of a session, too close to the edge and got some blowback. But again, only when you are not deep enough in the cabinet and shooting high volume hi psi.
6. As mentioned before, this thing is HUGE... lots of space to leave your thinners, AB cleaning stuff, some model parts drying on the back, etc. Plenty of "elbow" room for larger pieces (ships, 1:32 A/c)
Have not used it enough to determine frequency of filter changes... but filters are furnace type, not the 70$ proprietary ones that Artrograph booths require.
Overall contruction is not too bad, but not excellent.. not very sturdy, you need a solid platform.. I would reinforce the main frame if I knew how to, to make the overall structure more solid.
In summary, a good investment; a tad pricey, but cheaper in the long run than Artrographs.. also the largest non-professional non-custom built spray booth you can find. If you have the space and moulah, high recommendation, with jury still out on filter change frequency, longevity and long term use.
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1. You paint about halfway inside the booth, always aiming towards the back... filter/fans are slanted to your LEFT, thats the route of airflow. Not a problem if you spray normally and are a "righty".
2. You do have to cover the inside with something... I have a layer of plastic tarp, and newspapers on top. I have (yet!) to get paint on the sides, but was also thinking of covering the sides. In either case, cleaning should not be a problem, since all you would do is wipe with a rag holding some thinner, the paint wont stick to sheet metal (as long as you wipe shortly after the mess). (I use enamel paints)
3. Venting is a problem/issue. You MUST vent with this model... the main reason I was looking at the Artrograph was because one of their models uses charcoal activated filter system and (in theory) allows you to spray "vent-less". Those models are also "downdraft" systems, uses less air "power" to create equal negative flow of air. However, the filters can be quite expensive and need to be changed every few models (got this info asking people on this forum).
4. If you have a window, you can set up a plywood "slate" with your hose attached (and sealed). Open the window, put your slate, close the window until it abuts your slate, and vent away. Basically, the same setup people use for driers or internal/vertical "apartment" AC, difference being, you want it to be a temporary set up, so you can close your window fully when not in use. Depending on your local weather, you may even have it permanently.
My (limited) experience with the booth is that you vent the FUMES and (in theory) the aerosolized paint particles should be trapped by the booth filters. My wife was concerned I would turn the house siding outside my booth window a lovely shade of aircraft grey ;). Finally, your window/outlet should be less than 15' from the booth, and minimal 90o bends, or you get degradation of venting. Look up a few posts in this thread, a member ESPINS posted a Peacemaker pic in his house, I think its a bedroom, venting out the window next to the booth.
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Yes, the Pace booth was a compromise; I could not find a "very good in all fronts" booth that covered my needs (for less than $400).
I am experimenting with the air flow issues; seems you will not get blowback in about 75% of the inner area (including the shelf). The back/center right side is a dead zone... I put my bottles, cleaning supplies, etc there (and drying models).
The sheet metal construction is adequate at best; I was a tad surprised at the flimsiness of contruction. I think he is saving weight (and metal) by using the minimum engineering strenght needed (or so I hope!). The lightbulbs heating the metal sheet is a problem Im surprised escaped QC.
On the other hand, blowing out the thinner in my AB during cleaning at 30psi into the booth, I dont get any blowback... again, once you learn the "sweet" spot, you can AB safely.. however NO WAY I would spray can into any booth, much less this one.
In summary, I would recomend the booth with an asterisk, depends on your needs. I spent half my adult life working with biological agents and in/out/around biological safety cabinets... I know how "safe" hoods/booths can SEEM, but we know that the only real measure of safety is airflow patterns. For me, the cost of the Artrographs filters and the size of the Pace tilted the balance to its favor... i wish I could sneak out a chemical fume hood from my lab (I have a spare one) but then I need a proper filter system. Or purchase an used artist booth (usually in the 2-3,000 range new).