I have a small hobby room. For the past few years I have opened windows in the adjoining room and in the hobby room, and got a fan blowing for cross-ventillation.
I’d like to airbrush in the winter, but opening windows is out of the question.
What if I airbrushed with all windows closed, wearing a respirator, and just closed the hobby room and left when that section of airbrushing is done? And then come back, say, half an hour later when the fumes have dissipated?
I’ve sprayed lacquer from a can in the winter using the above method and it worked fine. I’m just worried about residue forming on the walls from the contained fumes. Can this happen?
And by the way, what do you cold-climate modelers without spraybooths do in the winter?
Thanks,
Dave
Dave,
In the absence of local exhaust ventilation, as in a spray booth, dilution ventilation is the next best thing. I would suggest getting a good room fan going, and even opening the window, if only slightly–even in cold weather. Put the room fan behind you or slightly to the side. In an open doorway would also be good–if not best. The general idea is to force enough “fresh” air into the space that it dilutes the existing room air. The addition of a ceiling fan will help also; and don’t close the registers for your HVAC system.
A respirator is a must, regardless of the paint type being sprayed in the environment you mention. I wouldn’t close the door, as vapors will concentrate the longer you spray. Besides becoming a fire hazard, they’ll cause your respirator cartridges’ service life to expire pretty quickly. Furthermore, any solvents which may have a secondary pathway into the body through intact skin may have increased exposure potential.
The only residue to worry about should be pigment from overspray. In addition, spraying from an airbrush instead of a spray can, and acrylics instead of enamels or lacquers should reduce both the quantities and overall potential toxicities of the vapors that you have airborne at any one time.
On your airbrush, use the lowest air pressure settings you can get away with quality-wise, and schedule your painting so that you are spraying minimal amounts over minimal times–if that’s possible.
Lastly, commen sense is authorized…use it and have a good time!
Hope this helps a little.
Gip Winecoff
Gip, that helps a lot!![8D] I’ll open the windows a little while airbrushing with fan blowing in the doorway to draw air from adjoining room into hobby room. I’d say keep the windows slightly open for 15 minutes and the room shouldn’t get too cold for the paint.
I might even turn the heat up in the basement beforehand to extend the length of time I can keep the windows open before it’s too cold and the paint is affected. I’ll keep windows open long enough to change the air. I’m usually not spraying for much of a length of time anyway.
I was hesitant to crack the windows, but I just opened them a crack ten minutes ago and the room isn’t that cold yet.
Thanks[tup]
Dave
Gip,
I did a test run. I opened windows a crack and got fan blowing for cross-ventillation. Room temp didn’t go down overly much after 15 minutes. I think I have a system that will work now. I think I’ll replace my respirator filters to be safe.
Thank you,
Dave