Personally, I think you're doing the correct thing: purchasing a manufactured spray booth. Just a couple suggestions:
1. Go to the Paasche website: www.paascheairbrush.com and look at the booth specifications. What are the dimensions of the booth face ( the opening into which you will be spraying)? Second, what is the rated cfm of the fan? For example, say your face dimensions are 2' X 2'. That's 4 square feet. If you try to maintain a 100 fpm airflow at the face, then 4 X 100 = 400cfm. Therefore, the fan should be pulling at least 400 cfm. (In actuality, airflow at the face should be about 80-100 fpm to allow for adequate vapor capture.)
2. Fan speed is also important when exhausting the vapors that accumulate inside the booth. Since you are pushing the vapors upward, the fan has to be strong enough to get them out your window. You can help the process by keeping your ducting as short as possible, and avoid a lot of bends, especially right angles. Length and bends all add up to increased resistance, and therefore, a fall-off in duct transport velocities.
3. Use aluminum flex duct as your exhaust ducting, NOT dryer hose, as the latter will melt/burn, and may react negatively over time with solvents. The solvents may leach out the plasticizers, and leave you with a brittle mess, forcing more frequent replacement, or at least vapors that escape through small leaks before getting through the window.
4. For comparison/pricing sake, go to www.micromark.com and
www.artograph.com and look at their booths and specifications, and see if you are getting the best booth for the least amount of money. It never hurts to comparison shop.
5. Once you get your booth set up, get a small ABC fire extinguisher and put it under your hobby bench. You will probably never need it, but It never hurts to play it safe.
6. Lastly, have fun...and let us know what your decisions are. If you have additional questions, don't hesitate to post here, or e-mail me.
Gip Winecoff