I have an old fashioned spray booth from Badger exactly as seen in the image. It’s dark inside it and most of the time I have to squint trying to see what I’m spraying. A single lamp with a flexible head on top isn’t enough. Table lights set up outside and pointing inwards tend to get in the way. I have considered and tried all kinds of ideas, even including a micro light that attaches onto the airbrush itself. Any ideas?
I’m not sure how wide that booth is but you could probably find a fluorescent lamp that is close to the width of the boot and attach it behind the lip in the top of the booth. I use 18W fluorescent lamp in my booth and it gives plenty of light.
The other suggestion would be bright LED’s, you could put a few in the roof of the booth. There are at least 3W versions available.
Michael
smoffo has the right idea. Check at Lowe’s or Home Depot for light fixtures made to under a kitchen cabinet. There are some small fluorescent fixture that should suit.
This brings up another question. There is a lot of chat about what is a safe fan to use for a booth… but what about putting lights IN the booth? Is there a similar concern regarding an explosive atmosphere?
I thought long and hard on that very subject when I built my booth. I ended up using fluorescents (those same under counter ones you’ve mentioned) with the reasoning that they took up less room, and as an added bonus were cooler in operation than incandescents.
I suppose there is a chance that they are a fire hazard, but, they are all sealed units, so the fluorescent gases can’t get out, so the paint fumes shouldn’t be able to get in. Incandescents run too darn hot to sit that close to. LEDs would be the coolest in operation, but I wonder if those little puck lights have enough wattage to do an effective job.
I think if I had that booth, I would get a fluorescent fixture, and enlarge the whole on top to fit the fixture. I use one “cool” and one “warm” tube in mine, and find that the light is pretty good and seems to be fairly balanced. Using either one or the other colors the light unrealistically.
What’s the booth made out of and how translucent is it? I was wondering if some utility lights, the kind with the aluminum bowl reflectors could shine through from the outside. Maybe using fluorescent bulbs to reduce heat. That failing, I also use the oft mentioned 18" fluorescent under cabinent fixtures on my booth and have been quite happy with them.
I’m not sure what the booth is made out of but here would be my idea.
Cut a bigger square hole on the top. Leave say an inch lip all the way around.
Go pick up a piece of lexan/plexi and cut to the same dimension as the booth. This would leave a 1" lip to support the clear plastic. Could use a range of methods to seal it if you want. The fan “should” pull the over spray so shouldnt get alot on the clear.
Now you could either lay a fluorescent fixture on the clear plastic or just being clear may allow your other lights to get in there.
Just my [2c]
edit Heck the same could work for the sides as well letting even more light in.