So I have built a homemade booth out of a plastic bin and a muffin fan, and some filter media. I spray mostly acrylics and it has done its job (Not venting outside). I am thinking of putting some kind of vent hose on it, but I got to ask now is it better just to buy a small desktop booth? The $120 kind from Amazon? I don’t build anything big (nothing larger than 1/35). So anyone thoughts on those cheapish boths would be appricated.
Thanks
If this meets your needs, then why spend?
By all means add a dryer hose to vent outside (critter-proof as needed) if you think you need to.
And you will get more satisfaction by using your own self-made gear
Just don’t make the vent too long,needs to match the fan.
Hi!
I have the collapseable one from Micro-Mark. I don’t spray that much, but it can be fitted with a vent hose. I use it in the garage near the open garage door(Cracked about two ft.) It seems that what I build lately is to big for the booth anyway so I brush paint a lot—Just like in the old days. You should see the Metallic Painted model cars on our Rail layout at the Museum (Testors Metallics-Small bottle). It isn’t hard just tedious!
I screwed a clothes dryer hose mount to the output of the booth, and another to a board that fits in the window. Works fine.
Made mine a long time ago out of a trashed kitchen cabinet. Has worked perfectly and never let me down. My wife made the curtain out of a scrap of sheer fabric. I paint the model then close the curtain and leave the exhaust fan on to aid in drying. The curtain catches any and all dust. My wife comes up and takes it off every once in a while and throws it in the wash then brings it back up. Have used 2 filters per year at $2.50 each.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/XhJj2Q4BkTX9DUGv7
Whatever works. The most expensive is not necessarily the best.
Jim [cptn]
Stay Safe.
Thats a pretty clever setup you have Fox. I like it. Whats that fan off of?
Iim, that is a great idea. I have been reluctant to run mine too long for fear of sucking in too much dust from the shop. I’ll have to make a curtain. My booth is a lot like yours except I made the box from MDI. Also, used a muffin fan instead of squirrel cage.
My [2cnts] back to the OP…
Whatever you do, use the booth you have or buy/build another, IMO, the venting (fan(s) and ductwork) are as important (I’d argue more important) than the booth itself.
I realize I’m sort of repeating a comment or two above, but it bears repeating.
Lurch, the exhaust fan came from a guy I knew that lived near me years ago. He was taking down a small flower hot house his wife had in the back of his house. One of those things you see a lot in back yards. It had a metal frame and was covered with sheets of thin clear plastic and is about 10’x10’x7’high. He told me it cost $75 new. He just wanted to get rid if it so he gave it to me. It has worked perfectly for over 20 years. I’ll see if I can find the info on it. Should be up in the file cabinet in the loft. I’ll get back to you tomorrow.
It runs really quiet. I usually leave it on for about 2 or 3 hours after I’m done painting, but I have been known to leave it running overnight. Sometimes I leave it on when I go down for dinner and either forget I left it on (it’s that quiet) or just plain don’t get back to the bench for one reason or another.
When you close the curtain, you can see the air pulling the curtain inward. When the filter is starting to block up or the curtain is getting blocked with dust you can see the difference in the draw on the curtain.
Jim [cptn]
Stay Safe.
Hi Lurch,
Found the info on the exhaust fan.
Dayton Blower, Model No. 1TDR3, 1/20 HP, 115 V, 50/60 HZ, 0.94/0.77 Amps, 1390/1640 RPM, 273 @ Free Air 60Hz CFM. Dalton Electric Mfg. Co. Niles, IL 60714.
Hope that this helps.
Jim [cptn]
Stasy Safe.
It helps alot . Thank you very much.
Glad I could be of help.
Jim [cptn]
Stay Safe.