I have lived in the Southeast U.S. for most all of my life. I am use to only having one or two weeks a year where I could not paint outside. I am now living in the land of ice and snow (it’s below 0 degrees F with the wind chill right now). So, I am now faced with not being able to airbrush but maybe 6 to 7 months out of the year.
I would like to know what equipment I will need to successfully airbrush indoors and not make a total mess.
I would also like suggestions on brand names and model numbers if applicable.
If possible, I don’t mind “buiding it yourself” to help keep costs down.
I paint using Acrylics and Enamels.
I am currently using a Badger 150 with a Badger 801 compressor.
I did several searches for airbrushing indoors and did not hit on anything.
If I am repeating a question that has already been asked, please send me the link. I would appreciate it.
The only alternative you have is to either build a spray booth that exits through a duct from the spray booth to outside, or buy one of the spray booths that are made by companies like Artograph which are quite expensive. This model sells for $360 from Dixie Art:
These types have a charcoal filtering system in them so that they don’t have to be vented to the outside.
FYI I own that paticular spray booth because I paint indoors all the time (I live in the SE but bugs really drive me nuts) and I vent the 2 hoses out the window. Although it costs alot the spraybooth keeps the room clear of nasty oders and I dont worry about painting with enamals now. I do still use a resperator just to be safe but I wouldnt trade the spray booth for anything. I am sure you can build one much cheaper than if you buy one, depends on just how handy you are:-)
Good Luck. I bought my Spray booth online but I am at wotk now so I cant provide any details.
First thing you need to get is a paint booth. If you don’t you will get overspray everywhere in the room, and the chemical smell will pervade the house (been there,done that, got the T-shirt) and make the wife unhappy. If you get a paint booth you’ll be both happier and healthier.
You’ve already figured out that there are two ways to get yourself a booth, either buy one or build one. If you are going to buy one be prepared to pay $300 to $500 dollars for a new one. You may be able to find a used one on E-bay for a heck of a lot less. (I was preparing to build my own when I found a used one in a LHS for $50. Which is about $2 more than what the fan unit for my homebuilt was going to cost).
If you feel comfortable, you can build your own. Both FSM and Model Railroader have published plans for a wooden (FSM) and a metal (MR - 1988 -by Gordon Odegard) spraybooths. You can probably build your own for an outlay of $100 (or less depending on your resources) with the largest expense being the fan unit.
Hope this helps you a little.
What I did was take some scrap wood, and built a box just the right size to accomodate an old kitchen vented stove hood on the top.
I used a dryer vent hose to vent it outside.
Works great and since I got the vent hood for free from a remodeling project my brother in law was doing, and the scrap wood came from an old pallet. my cost was only the vent hose.
but I’m betting it could be built for under $50 if you bought everything new.
latch66
All the spray booths I’ve seen use some form of furnace filter in them, usually located between the painting area of the booth and the fan. Whether you build your own or buy a commercial one, the instructions should tell you what to use, where to put it and when to change it. I change mine about every 3 months (at the same time I change the filters in the furnace).
The filters in the spray booth picture that I posted are various types along with a charcoal filter. I believe that Artograph uses a 3-stage filter in theirs.
If you don’t have a charcoal filter then you will smell the solvents used in the enamel paints and thinners. These paints are also flammable so caution is advised if you build your own spray booth.
Make sure you use a fan with the motor outside the path of air being exited from the booth.[;)]
I am considering building a spray booth, but I was wondering; is it possible to make one that can be moved around to get it out of the way when it is not in use? Basically what I’m saying is having the spray booth vented outside, but being able to somehow detach the hose or some part and be able to move the actual booth somewhere until I’m ready to use it. I hope I’m making sense with what I’m saying.
Yes, there would be no problem if you could do that.
I need something like that too as I am renting this house and can’t go cutting a hole in the garage wall for a paint booth. I am still trying to figure out what to do.
I may just switch entirely to acrylics and just put a furnace filter in front of a box fan and have it catch the overspray.
I have to get a spray booth for my hobby room. I have been reading the posts on this topic and was a little shocked to hear that a bought spraybooth would cost $300-500. What special features would they have that a home brew one wouldn’t. I wouldn’t mind seeing those plans that were in FSM. Does anyone remember the issue? Its too bad that this airbrushing stuff has to be such a trial.
Thanks Mike V. It’s one of the most comprehensive analysis of spray booths that I have seen to date. Everyone should read it (even if they don’t understand it!)
I’m still contemplating my spray booth. I’ll keep you posted
