Spray booths

[eaglecash867]

Well...as I have been finding out the past couple of days, if I plan on building more cars in the future, i'm gonna have to get a spray booth now. I have to open up the airbrush a lot more to get that glossy car finish. I guess that's what I'll put in the corner of my basement that already has a vent to the outside world. Future project though. After the Mustang is done, I'll be back on military stuff for a while.

[Steve Zuleski]

Oh boy, I can see I better get up to speed with the air vacs. I have all the gear to build a good one, just not much room in the bunker for ventilation, my paint booth is also my photo shoot booth. Unless of course I hang the chutes from the ceiling to the ventilation fan up front, yikes.

[deafpanzer]

Dec 17, 2023 13:01:56 GMT -5 Steve Zuleski said:

Oh boy, I can see I better get up to speed with the air vacs. I have all the gear to build a good one, just not much room in the bunker for ventilation, my paint booth is also my photo shoot booth. Unless of course I hang the chutes from the ceiling to the ventilation fan up front, yikes.

Steve, sorry but I have to ask you this... how the heck can you get out of your man cave? Real nice and cozy looking cave you got!

[Joe Rix]

I have the larger version of the Microlux Spray booth. I've had it since the late 90's. I spray mainly enamels or lacquers and it reduces the fumes quite well. It does struggle to keep up with rattle can fumes so I limit it to airbrush only. We live in a smallish house and with my wife's highly sensitive sense of smell I am able to spray in my booth without complaint from her. Trust me, that is big time effective. As such, I am very happy with it. I will note that regardless of it's abilities I still wear a respirator while spraying.

The draw back of this booth is that with blower underneath it sits very proud on a tallish base. This does not make it conducive to sitting it on a bench and being able to sit at it. It's just too high. That is why mine is set to stand at. Unfortunately, with my back issues it is very difficult to stand at the booth for long periods of time. So, this winter I am going to modify the book stand it is on. I am going to cut out the top and side so I can drop it down in so that i might be able to sit at it. The other option is let it go and purchase one similar to the one tcoat has so i can set it on a comfortable bench.

[keavdog]

Got my vent installed today

[TJ]

Dec 14, 2023 10:44:05 GMT -5 keavdog said:

And a poster of all the P-51s you're going to build 😁

Working on it. 

[Steve Zuleski]

Dec 19, 2023 12:46:21 GMT -5 deafpanzer said:

Steve, sorry but I have to ask you this... how the heck can you get out of your man cave? Real nice and cozy looking cave you got!

Lol, I ain't got that bigga belly, sheesh, Andy

Actually, I love it, but the drawback is the lack of space for a real paint booth. As you can imagine I have stopped buying more kits, no room. The nice thing is everything is pretty much within reach.

[mz3]

My 2 cents...

I work in the appliance business. I use a modified over the range hood for my "booth".



Excuse the mess, I recently moved in and haven't really set things up properly.

It's an older model. I run charcoal filters in it. I just go to the hardware store and find filters that fits instead of spending more money on the specific one for this model. Then ducttape the areas that don't cover. Looks ghetto but works awesome. 720 cfm. It's supposed to be 8" vent, but the stores here only had 7", but it's not even a foot of length. Used hoods like this can be found on craiglist and at used appliance stores/habitat for humanity places pretty cheap.

The length of your vent will effect your cfm. Especially if the blower isn't strong. Angles effect it even more. 4 inch vents are not going to work well no matter what. If you've ever cleaned out a dryer vent, these are the reasons why it's full of lent.

Also the amount of flammable vapers needed to start a fire is WAY higher then what people think it is. Unless you're painting a car in a closed garage lighted with candles, there's nothing to worry about.

[Steve Zuleski]

Does that come with any steaks, just wonderin? HA! Hey, if it works, it works, right?

[mz3]

Dec 14, 2023 11:57:43 GMT -5 Medicman71 said:

Dec 13, 2023 17:19:32 GMT -5 tcoat said:

I have this one.

It is designed for and safe right up to highly volatile sprays such as lacquer. it is portable and you just pop the hose out a window. I spray everything even rattle cans in the thing and there is almost zero odour in the house. I love the thing.

www.amazon.ca/OPHIR-Airbrush-Portable-Adjustable-Brightness/dp/B082D88JCT/ref=asc_df_B082D88JCT/?tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=459570944395&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3324283738486983517&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9001069&hvtargid=pla-872299574063&mcid=cd36ddfc9d583cf78986b02a8c855f95&th=1

OK so I have the same spray booth and it doesn't vent the fumes that well. I spray lacquers and it'll stink to high hell for a long time. I have it venting out the window just above it. The dual fan set in the window is positioned to pull the fumes out the window.

 

The way the flex vent is run is killing your cfm. Vents need to be as straight and short as possible. Especially flexible vent. The bend in the vent at the top of the booth where it attaches is causing most of the issue. Any bend will reduce the airflow, anything over 90 degrees basically blocks it. The drooping in the middle is also going to add to the lack of air movement. The 90 degree bend at the end of the vent run adds to all this, but with the placement of the vent probably isn't avoidable.

Cut the vent down and stretch it out a little bit. Make it as straight as possible. If it's possible, move the booth so the vent opening on top lines up with the window under where it will go out. That way you only have the one 90 degree bend at the end.

[aaronw]

Dec 23, 2023 11:53:20 GMT -5 mz3 said:

Dec 14, 2023 11:57:43 GMT -5 Medicman71 said:

OK so I have the same spray booth and it doesn't vent the fumes that well. I spray lacquers and it'll stink to high hell for a long time. I have it venting out the window just above it. The dual fan set in the window is positioned to pull the fumes out the window.

 

The way the flex vent is run is killing your cfm. Vents need to be as straight and short as possible. Especially flexible vent. The bend in the vent at the top of the booth where it attaches is causing most of the issue. Any bend will reduce the airflow, anything over 90 degrees basically blocks it. The drooping in the middle is also going to add to the lack of air movement. The 90 degree bend at the end of the vent run adds to all this, but with the placement of the vent probably isn't avoidable.

Cut the vent down and stretch it out a little bit. Make it as straight as possible. If it's possible, move the booth so the vent opening on top lines up with the window under where it will go out. That way you only have the one 90 degree bend at the end.

To add to MZ3's comment about bends, and help illustrate what is going on. It looks like you are using 4" ducting. At that size, a 45 degree bend is like adding 3 feet of ducting, a 90 is like adding 6 feet, so those three sharp bends are like adding 18 feet of duct to the (I'm guessing) 6 feet of actual duct for a total effective length of 24 feet.


Even leaving the booth in place, if you just cut the duct to the needed length to run it as straight line as possible would only require about 3 feet of ducting. This would also replace the three 90+ degree bends with only two 45-ish degree bends. That would reduce your current effective length of 24 feet, to just 9 feet (3 feet of actual duct + effectively 6 feet for the two 45 bends) so the fan would be fighting about 1/3 the friction loss of your current set up. That should allow the booth to exhaust much better.

[Green KreationZ]

Just ordered my spray booth! Decided to go with a Pace as others suggested. I went with “The PeaceKeeper 24-Inch Mini-Plus” 

[kyledehart5]

Dec 24, 2023 0:33:10 GMT -5 Green KreationZ said:

Just ordered my spray booth! Decided to go with a Pace as others suggested. I went with “The PeaceKeeper 24-Inch Mini-Plus” 

I hope you like it as well as I like mine! 

[TJ]

Dec 24, 2023 0:33:10 GMT -5 Green KreationZ said:

Just ordered my spray booth! Decided to go with a Pace as others suggested. I went with “The PeaceKeeper 24-Inch Mini-Plus” 

That looks like a nice one. Hopefully one day I'll get one

[george]

Here is a cheap, fast and easy scratchbuild Hi-tech spray booth: a storage container, bathroom exhaust fan and paper filter.

[project510]

This thread had me highly motivated to finally solve my paint booth issues, or I was going to try something new. 

What I realized was the MicroMark carbon filter in there "three" stage filter was causing like 90% of the issue. Because I am venting this out to the side of the garage, any fumes will go unnoticed unless my neighbor decides to hang his head over the fence and take in giant breaths of air.

2nd, was a few posts back some of you made comments about the vent hose on another booth. So I looked at mine. 

Before:



After:



Fewer bends and I was able to remove over 2 feet of length from the dryer hose.




We are headed out to town tomorrow morning, so Ill give her a try out when I get back but did a simple smoke test with some incense and NOTHING is getting out of the booth.

[Joe Rix]

Dec 26, 2023 23:13:39 GMT -5 project510 said:

This thread had me highly motivated to finally solve my paint booth issues, or I was going to try something new. 

What I realized was the MicroMark carbon filter in there "three" stage filter was causing like 90% of the issue. Because I am venting this out to the side of the garage, any fumes will go unnoticed unless my neighbor decides to hang his head over the fence and take in giant breaths of air.

2nd, was a few posts back some of you made comments about the vent hose on another booth. So I looked at mine. 

Before:



After:



Fewer bends and I was able to remove over 2 fwwt of lewngth from the dryer hose.




We are headed out to town tomorrow morning, so Ill give her a try out when I get back but did a simple smoke test with some incense and NOTHING is getting out of the booth.

That looks like it will improve things a good bit James. Given our conversation and seeing what you have done is leading me to a new rearrangement also. You have been very helpful. Thank You.

[project510]

Dec 27, 2023 8:23:55 GMT -5 Joe Rix said:

Dec 26, 2023 23:13:39 GMT -5 project510 said:

This thread had me highly motivated to finally solve my paint booth issues, or I was going to try something new. 

What I realized was the MicroMark carbon filter in there "three" stage filter was causing like 90% of the issue. Because I am venting this out to the side of the garage, any fumes will go unnoticed unless my neighbor decides to hang his head over the fence and take in giant breaths of air.

2nd, was a few posts back some of you made comments about the vent hose on another booth. So I looked at mine. 

We are headed out to town tomorrow morning, so Ill give her a try out when I get back but did a simple smoke test with some incense and NOTHING is getting out of the booth.

That looks like it will improve things a good bit James. Given our conversation and seeing what you have done is leading me to a new rearrangement also. You have been very helpful. Thank You.

Glad I could help! Good luck on your changes!

[eighty3studios]

I just paint at my desk for the last 25 years, I live in an apartment and never had an issue. I use Mr.color/ tamiya LP lacquer, love the smell of lacquer paint lol..

[Medicman71]

Dec 23, 2023 18:37:27 GMT -5 aaronw said:

Dec 23, 2023 11:53:20 GMT -5 mz3 said:

The way the flex vent is run is killing your cfm. Vents need to be as straight and short as possible. Especially flexible vent. The bend in the vent at the top of the booth where it attaches is causing most of the issue. Any bend will reduce the airflow, anything over 90 degrees basically blocks it. The drooping in the middle is also going to add to the lack of air movement. The 90 degree bend at the end of the vent run adds to all this, but with the placement of the vent probably isn't avoidable.

Cut the vent down and stretch it out a little bit. Make it as straight as possible. If it's possible, move the booth so the vent opening on top lines up with the window under where it will go out. That way you only have the one 90 degree bend at the end.

To add to MZ3's comment about bends, and help illustrate what is going on. It looks like you are using 4" ducting. At that size, a 45 degree bend is like adding 3 feet of ducting, a 90 is like adding 6 feet, so those three sharp bends are like adding 18 feet of duct to the (I'm guessing) 6 feet of actual duct for a total effective length of 24 feet.


Even leaving the booth in place, if you just cut the duct to the needed length to run it as straight line as possible would only require about 3 feet of ducting. This would also replace the three 90+ degree bends with only two 45-ish degree bends. That would reduce your current effective length of 24 feet, to just 9 feet (3 feet of actual duct + effectively 6 feet for the two 45 bends) so the fan would be fighting about 1/3 the friction loss of your current set up. That should allow the booth to exhaust much better.

Well damn. Guess I need to get to cutting. Now where's the chain saw.

[Green KreationZ]

It is here!! So excited to not have to paint my solvent based paints in the freezing garage! 

[Green KreationZ]

[tcoat]

Your production will triple now!

[project510]

Jan 2, 2024 10:54:59 GMT -5 Green KreationZ said:

Would love info on those lights!

[kyledehart5]

Jan 2, 2024 10:54:59 GMT -5 Green KreationZ said:

Oh that’s very nice

[Green KreationZ]

Jan 2, 2024 13:21:42 GMT -5 project510 said:

Jan 2, 2024 10:54:59 GMT -5 Green KreationZ said:

Would love info on those lights!

Sure!

The lights are LED light panels attached to web cam arms.

The specific light panel I use is: VILTROX L116T CRI95+ Super Slim Dimmable LED Light Panel,Bi-Color 3300K-5600K LED Video Light with LCD Control/Light Mount (NO Battery/No ac Adapter).

       

        Amazon link: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KZLM3QC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You can change temperature (3300k-5600k) brightness (20%-100%).

This light does NOT come with a power adapter which needs to be bought separately. It uses a common 12V adapter. The one I bought is: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071GYVL7C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Webcam arm: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09DP3SWGM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    

Max height:

Controls on the back:

Able to get VERY close to project:

Positioned for photo lighting @ 5000K

Positioned for photo lighting @ 3300K

Overall I am pretty satisfied with this light setup. 

I have been eyeing another light which is highly recommended in the Miniature painting community. If I was to get it, I would replace the small light you can see on the right side of my table and keep my other two LED Panel lights - www.amazon.com/dp/B0BV5ZQSVT/ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?pd_rd_i=B07P5HTCDR&pd_rd_w=b60aZ&content-id=amzn1.sym.a53ea610-e450-44d1-897e-68c0c718bf50&pf_rd_p=a53ea610-e450-44d1-897e-68c0c718bf50&pf_rd_r=X0X19XSBSY2RJVGB658W&pd_rd_wg=4i1s8&pd_rd_r=92957179-2733-47fa-ab64-80b3ecf2a321&s=hi&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1

[Medicman71]

Fixed the exhaust hose on my spray booth.

[kyledehart5]

Jan 2, 2024 22:54:44 GMT -5 Green KreationZ said:

Jan 2, 2024 13:21:42 GMT -5 project510 said:

Would love info on those lights!

Sure!

The lights are LED light panels attached to web cam arms.

The specific light panel I use is: VILTROX L116T CRI95+ Super Slim Dimmable LED Light Panel,Bi-Color 3300K-5600K LED Video Light with LCD Control/Light Mount (NO Battery/No ac Adapter).

       

        Amazon link: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KZLM3QC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You can change temperature (3300k-5600k) brightness (20%-100%).

This light does NOT come with a power adapter which needs to be bought separately. It uses a common 12V adapter. The one I bought is: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071GYVL7C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Webcam arm: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09DP3SWGM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    

Max height:

Controls on the back:

Able to get VERY close to project:

Positioned for photo lighting @ 5000K

Positioned for photo lighting @ 3300K

Overall I am pretty satisfied with this light setup. 

I have been eyeing another light which is highly recommended in the Miniature painting community. If I was to get it, I would replace the small light you can see on the right side of my table and keep my other two LED Panel lights - www.amazon.com/dp/B0BV5ZQSVT/ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?pd_rd_i=B07P5HTCDR&pd_rd_w=b60aZ&content-id=amzn1.sym.a53ea610-e450-44d1-897e-68c0c718bf50&pf_rd_p=a53ea610-e450-44d1-897e-68c0c718bf50&pf_rd_r=X0X19XSBSY2RJVGB658W&pd_rd_wg=4i1s8&pd_rd_r=92957179-2733-47fa-ab64-80b3ecf2a321&s=hi&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1

sweet! I need to get some better lighting. These look pretty nice.

[mz3]

Jan 3, 2024 17:07:50 GMT -5 Medicman71 said:

Fixed the exhaust hose on my spray booth.

Much better.

[aaronw]

Jan 3, 2024 17:07:50 GMT -5 Medicman71 said:

Fixed the exhaust hose on my spray booth.

How does it work now? I'd think that should make a big improvement.