Low Cost Paint Booth

Modeling Subjects Ships
1

Does anyone have any information available on how to build a basically low cost paint booth? I see prices in the range of a couple hundred dollars and up. Too much for my budget.

2

If your projects are not huge, what about those ready made booths found on Amazon - only about $80 plus shipping.

regards,

Jack

3

Thanks jgeratic, I will check them out.

Earl

4

Homemade spray booths have been a frequent topic in the Painting and Airbrushing forum. Take a look at recent threads. Several of us who hang there have built them. My latest one is great except it is too hard to change filters, so am redesigning it to make filter changes easier. I like muffin fan- spark proof and cheap for the cfm you need (you need at least 100 cfm to do a good job).

5

I have thought about making one out of CPVC pipe and canvas/ cloth/ plastic. If done correctly I think you could make something that you could fold out of the way like those folding travel cribs/playpens for young children. Fans could provide an exhaust function. Perhaps Radio Shack wold have cooling fans for computers that would work? Just a thought.

6

I built one pretty cheap out of some thin wood and hinges made to fold. Grabbed a really cheap twin flat sheet at Walmart to cover the gaps over the hinges and at some point I’ll get around to adding a computer fan or two to the back of the thing. San fans, I think the whole thing was less than $25. I just use the clear plastic covers from a couple large trays of cookies to cover things after airbrushing.

Groot

7

Hello Groot,

That is pretty clever how you made your paint booth. I like the idea of using computer fans, sounds like a keeper idea to me.

Thanks a lot Groot, have a happy modeling day,

Earl

8

My first couple of booths were made from cardboard boxes. The regular top with opening flaps became the front and I cut the flaps away- one of the longest sides became the new top. I cut a rectangular opening in that top. Then I cut a piece of plywood just bigger than the opening. Cut a circle in the plywood the diameter of the fan of the muffin fan I intended to use. Screwed fan to top of plywood. Then I taped a rectangular automobile air cleaner to the bottom. The size of that cleaner determined the size of the rectangular opening I cut in the box top. The plywood + fan + filter just dropped into the opening and its weight held it in place. Simple power cord on fan- no switch- just plug it in to make it run.

9

I wanted a large paint booth and I thought I could do it cheaply. It’s unweildy and, if I were living with someone it would probably be tossed into the junk pile, but it works for me. I bought some poster board at Walmart, I already had a bunch of gaffer’s tape, bought a few cheap 12" x 12" filters, some ducting, and a window fan.

The result is NOT elegant but, as I said, it serves my purposes. I’ve been using it for over a year and it hasn’t yet come apart. I screwed in an LED bank of lights under the roof (you can see the on/off switch resting on top of its roof) and I’ve not looked back. The fan was the major expense. Just now I have it in my bathtub with a black garbage bag taped to the “exhaust” side just in case any paint particles make it through the filter. So far, so good. Since the weather is probably going to become a lot dryer in the next few weeks I may put the fan back in the window (The condo - HOA - police said it was OK [:)]).

I believe, including the fan, I spent under $150.00 for a rather large paint booth.

Mike

10

Thanks Don,

That was a very clever idea. I’m sorry that it took me so long to respond to your input.

Have a great day,

Earl