"paint booth" question

Johnstone supply has shaded pole HVAC motors with different exhaust port configurations for less than $50.00. Their web site is: www.johnstonesupply.com

This might help you get a blower a little cheaper.

Wroper

OK, I give...what is a "shaded pole" HVAC motor?
Gip

QUOTE: Originally posted by styrene Mike, I'm honestly not sure about the binder statement; I know that binders help stick the pigments to each other and to the substrate, but you still have to get it from point A to point B through some sort of solvent vehicle.

A wrong choice of words on my part Gip.
The "binder" I referred to should have been the word, "carrier" instead.
I was referring to what medium the paint pigment is suspended in such as enamel thinner, lacquer, etc.
Acrylics such as the Createx paints I use for T-shirt airbrushing are ready to shoot from the bottle and are non-flammable. I assumed the Testors and other brands of acrylics were the same.

Mike

Mike,
The Testor's brand may very well be the same. It may be that they are using a glycol ether as their carrier, and as such, they may not be flammable or combustible. I am getting this desire to experiment to see if acrylics can be thinned at all with a water/antifreeze mix. It would certainly bypass the alcohol/flammability/exposure thing, and being water soluble, would help with negating surface tension in water.

Anyway, I cannot find any of Testor's acrylic material safety data sheets on line. I've found plenty of their enamel stuff. I guess I'm just going to have to contact them and Tamiya for information so I can pass out accurate information to you.

Gip Winecoff

I can't afford a $300-$500 commercial model and I won't build one myself because I don't trust the power and airtightness of home made models, not to mention the fact that running that air exhaust hose across the apartment and out the window is going to be a pain.

So I brush in the bathroom with the bathroom fan running. I use a cardboard box as my spray trap and I wear a respirator. Finally, I try to use acrylic paints as the least toxic and least stinky. A cardboard box will catch & trap the paint as good as a $500 spray booth. Of course, it won't do anything to protect you from the fumes but the respirator and the fan ventilation do the trick. The bathroom becomes a gas chamber so as soon as you're done leave the fan on, close the door and wait for an hour or so befor showering or something.

Inexerienced colleagues should realize that an airbrush shoots a very thin and very precise jet of spray. It's not like an aerosol can or a body shop gun that sprays all over the place and into the face of the operator. A spray booth is recommended, but if you can't get one don't panic.

If you'd like to purchase a commercial model I recommend ebay.com because they always have listings. Just beware of some of the lamers who offer those booths for what appears to be a low price but they quadruple shipping and handling cost.

coldwar68 - If you really want to build your own spray booth - Check back two or three years in FSM - they had an excellent article on building a spray booth from wood -If you want to build one out of metal, see if you can find a copy of the March 1988 or 89 Model Railroader - Gordon Odegard had an article (with plans) for a metal one - I wanted to build one for years (always seemed that there was something more important to spend our money on, our kids for example) - After the kids got out, figured that I could build a booth for probably 80 to 100 bucks of materials - Then I lucked out and found a spray booth (used) in the hobby shop for a couple of bucks more than a new Dayton blower would cost me - guess which direction I went.

I have heard of at least one person who bought one of these abrasive blast cabinets from Harbor Freight and made it into a paint booth.
I don't know how well it would work though.
Here is the info on it:



BENCHTOP ABRASIVE BLAST CABINET WITH LIGHT

Strip paint, polish and clean material. Portable enough to use on a workbench. 15VDC light provides viewing for intricate work. Includes rubber gloves, blasting gun with trigger, 4 assorted ceramic nozzles, dust collector port, hopper and screen. Powder coated.
115 Volts, 60 Hz
Required air pressure: 80 PSI, 5 CFM
Required hose ID: 3/8''
Viewing window: 21'' x 17-5/16''
Working area: 18'' x 22'' x 11-1/2''
4 nozzles: 4-1/2mm, 5mm, 6mm and 7mm
1/4'' NPT air inlet

ITEM 38440-2VGA

$99.99

This one here is even bigger for the same price, but no light:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=42202

Mike

QUOTE: Originally posted by MikeV BENCHTOP ABRASIVE BLAST CABINET WITH LIGHT Includes rubber gloves, blasting gun with trigger, 4 assorted ceramic nozzles, dust collector port, hopper and screen. Powder coated.

Mike,
I like the abrasive blast cabinet. The description says it has a dust collector port, so you still need to purchase an exhaust fan and ductwork, and somehow mount it to the rear of the unit. I also like the light. It is guarded to protect it from the blasting media, but by being so constructed, may be similar to a vapor-proof light. I wouldn't use the unit without it being mechanically vented.

Gip Winecoff

Gip,

And your hands would stay clean with the built-in rubber gloves in the front.

The only problem I see is that it is a little small for those of us building 1/48 aircraft kits. I don't think the B-17, B-29 or C-130 kits would fit in there.
It would be great for tanks and car kits though.

Mike

Harbor Freight carries a hobby paint booth (or at least they did). It's 20" x 12" x 12", metal case, ducted fan, filters and has a 'window' on top for light. The SKU # is 44040 but I don't see it on their website. I picked mine up at a local HF for a little over $60. They must still have them around 'cuz the local has one on the shelf right now.

I have a silly question. I just started using an airbrush probably don't have a proper set up. I'm using a large cardboard box for a spray booth in my garage. I open the garage door and have a ceiling fan going, though it's not blowing directly on me. I'm using laquer thinner and enamels. I don't paint very much, but I don't want to turn my brain to mush. Is my set up ok for small amounts of painting? Or is this something you want to be extemely cautious with? How much do respirators cost and do you need both ventilation and a respirator? I'm obviously trying to get by with the minimum here but not at the expense of my health. Thanks.

Just my opinion, but I think that a cardboard box tends to capture, concentrate, and hold paint vapors that otherwise should be dispersed, thereby creating a greater potential inhalation exposure problem, not to mention a bigger fire hazard. Opening doors and windows, and running fans is an excellent means of diluting vapor concentrations; however, because you're spraying laquer and enamel-based materials, a respirator would be a welcome addition to your painting supplies. They run about $20 and can be found at most hardware stores. Make sure you get one that has a rubber facepiece, and an organic vapor cartridge (normally black in color) with a paint prefilter (catches pigments and dust). When not in use, keep the respirator in its original bag, or in a Zip-Loc bag to keep the filters from prematurely going bad. Change the filters when breathing becomes difficult, or when you can smell or taste the contaminant while wearing the respirator (assuming you have a good, no-leak fit). Personally, I would get rid of the box, and spray in as open an area as possible.
Hope this helps.
Gip Winecoff

Agree, a respirator is a simple thing, like a civilian gas mask (as you breathe you make sounds very much like Darth Vader). Just make sure you read the labels or ask a sales associate for something that will protect you from paint vapors. Some respirators will protect from dust only-stay away from those.

My nearest Ace Hardware sells about half a dozen shapes and models.

Painting respirators use the same carbon granule filtering technology as military grade gas masks so if Al-Quaida attacks your hobby mask can double as part of your survival gear.

I agree with Gip.
I open the side door in the garage and paint right near the opening of the door with a respirator on and a fan behind me blowing out the door.
I have a MSA Comflo respirator that I like very much.
Here is a photo of one:



Mike

Excellent photo, Mike.
I also like the MSA Comfo II. It's probably one of the most popular respirators on the market. 3M and North also make great masks, too. I wear a North 1/2 mask at work when necessary, and am fitted for an MSA fullface, as well.
One note: The picture shows what appears to be a yellow or greenish air purifying cartridge. It looks like a cartridge approved for either acid gases or formaldehyde. The cartridge necessary for painting will have a black stripe or color and will be approved for organic vapors. A dust/mist prefilter should be included and will attach to the front of the organic vapor cartridge with a special cover/cap.
Gip Winecoff

QUOTE: Originally posted by styrene One note: The picture shows what appears to be a yellow or greenish air purifying cartridge. It looks like a cartridge approved for either acid gases or formaldehyde. The cartridge necessary for painting will have a black stripe or color and will be approved for organic vapors.

I knew when I posted it that you or someone else would catch that filter in the picture as not being for paints.
Thanks for adding that info.

Actually, my comflo is an older model but is very similar to the one in the picture.
I need to get some new cartridges for it though as mine are REAL old. I wonder who sells them around here?

Mike

Mike,
1. Try www.msanet.com. They have a distributors listing, but I couldn't get it to open up.
In lieu of that,
2. West Pac Marine www.westpacmarine.com out of Tacoma, Washington sells MSA respirators, cartridges, etc. Their number is 1-800-343-5826.

Gip Winecoff