It seems that whenever I paint or clear-coat something, I find
two or three little fibers imbedded in the finished product.
I paint indoors, and I have no doubt that the FOD is airborne
(like dust), that settles on the surface while it is still wet.
Aside from enclosing the model inside a box while the wet coat
is drying, is there anything else I can do to prevent FOD in my
paint/clearcoat? Particularly when I’m applying it.
Thanks
Give your paint area a good wipe down with a damp cloth to pick up any particulates before you start to spray. The movement of air from your airbrush will stir things up in the vicinity.
Don’t have any vents, fans or anything else ‘on’ that can stir the air while you’re working.
Some folks run their paint through a strainer to remove the chunks and debris, such as fine little pet hairs and dander. Since I have both a dog and two cats, I vacuum the floor and wear something that neither has had access to. Hairs and dust seem to cling to clothes and only release when applying paint.[:(]
Since my paintbooth exhausts to the outdoors, if I leave the cover off the inlet the outside air pushes it way back through the ducting…not only making it chilly, but it also pushes the paint and dust particles back into the spray booth. Hence one of the reasons for the need to wipe down the booth occasionally.
In addition to what Jerry suggests, there are a few other things that help:
Dust the work room religiously and rigorously at least once a week!
In winter, or whenever it’s dry (relative humidity below 40%) increase the humidity in the room at least one hour before painting. I use a steam vaporizer, but any sort will do. Aim for a relative humidity of 50%, 60% is ideal. More than that will give you other problems.
Turn on the spraybooth at least 30 minutes before you start painting. This will help pull fine particulates suspended in the room air out.
Put a screen door on the workroom.
Put a windowscreen over the heat/AC vent in the room. You will be surprised how much dust it will catch.
Get one of those trigger spray bottles and fill it with water. Just before you paint mist the air in the surrounding area. This will help settle any remaining dust.
Wipe down the model with a Swiffer cloth just before you paint.
Gerry,
These points by you and Triarius are great. Plan to post a warning sign to myself based upon them!
But you Gerry! You should have a ‘flapper’ type vent outlet! They make them of plastic…plastic so light a person can blow through a 4" dryer vent and open them. It sure would stop the cold air from coming in, and your fan should have no trouble opening it.
Nam