Old Blind Dog Posted May 3, 2007 Share Posted May 3, 2007 Now that the electrical upgrades in my shop are complete I think it's finally time to go the last mile and install a paint booth. I'll have a dedicated area with its own three-wire outlets in the opposite corner of the room from my workbench. I can easily have a hole drilled out in the wall for a 4 inch dryer vent. So I've been doing some looking around on various sites and see a number of attractive options; Badger, Paasche, Microlux, Artograph. . .so many choices! It can be a bit confusing! What would you recommend, based on your experience? I'm looking to spend as much as $400 (but less would be nice, if possible!) I'd like something with enough depth for the working area that I can do anything up to a 1/24 scale plane (one of the Badger booths seemed quite shallow at only 9 inches). I'd also like to buy a make/model that's easy to obtain replacement filters or other needful accessories (oy! is that an oxymoron?) Thanks in advance for your comments; your help will be greatly appreciated! Cheers Old Blind Dog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Green-Meanie Posted May 3, 2007 Share Posted May 3, 2007 If this is going to be a permanent installation if I were you I'd go down to the nearest hardware/DIY store and purchase some white melamine board, some screws and a high strength bathroom or kitchen extractor fan. Make your own spray booth for peanuts and spend the $400 on more models. ;) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
smithery Posted May 4, 2007 Share Posted May 4, 2007 This guy's work might be worth looking into Jerry: Pace Spray Booths His biggest booth is 34" wide x 20" deep, and 20" high. Downside is that price is right at your limit. Next one down is 24 x 18 x 18 for $100 less. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Old Blind Dog Posted May 4, 2007 Author Share Posted May 4, 2007 (edited) Thanks for the replies so far. I've thought about building my own and it is definitely an option I'll keep on the table (especially considering the $$$ issue). The Pace booths look like they're quite well made, and pretty reasonable all things considered. Cheers Old Blind Dog Edited May 4, 2007 by Old Blind Dog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gambit3131 Posted May 4, 2007 Share Posted May 4, 2007 (edited) I made my paint booth. I needed something I could fold up and put away in the closet. Once I buy a house and have a garage I was actually thinking of the PaceKeeper. It's large enough for a good size model and reasonably priced. Edited May 4, 2007 by gambit3131 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sting Posted May 5, 2007 Share Posted May 5, 2007 (edited) I replaced my kitchen's range hood with a microwave. I used the range hood, which has a fan and filter, to build a spray booth. All I needed was the wood and screws to build the box. Plus the hood has a built-in light. Edited May 5, 2007 by sting Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scot M Posted May 5, 2007 Share Posted May 5, 2007 I'm going to build my own.... I need something large enough to hold the Revell 1/48 B-1,and the only way I can get something that size........is to build it. Now...here is the question I have NEVER been able to get a straight answer to. How concerned should we (those that build our own booths) be about paint fumes vs. a bathroom exhaust fan? Should I worry about gatting a sealed motor to prevent flash fires? I use laquers,enamels,and acrylics... Just curious as to what you guys think. P.S. A sealed motor (or squirrel cage fan) fan is more expensive than just a regular fart fan... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Green-Meanie Posted May 5, 2007 Share Posted May 5, 2007 I'm going to build my own....I need something large enough to hold the Revell 1/48 B-1,and the only way I can get something that size........is to build it. Now...here is the question I have NEVER been able to get a straight answer to. How concerned should we (those that build our own booths) be about paint fumes vs. a bathroom exhaust fan? Should I worry about gatting a sealed motor to prevent flash fires? I use laquers,enamels,and acrylics... Just curious as to what you guys think. P.S. A sealed motor (or squirrel cage fan) fan is more expensive than just a regular fart fan... My spray booth uses an ordinary bathroom extractor fan and I have not once had any problems. In reality I think the chances of any vapour igniting is miniscule, it simply isnt going to happen. The tiny ammount of vapour from paint thinners just isnt enough to worry about. To get any sort of reaction you'd have to spray neat thinner directly into the fan motor, and you'd have to be pretty silly to want to do that. The only concern is keeping the fan clean from paint residue as it is extracted but a filter should take care of that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Joyce Posted May 6, 2007 Share Posted May 6, 2007 I bought the Artograph 1530, and it's one of the best modeling purchases I've ever made. I mainly do 48th scale WWII fighters, and it has plenty of space. 24th scale fighters would be a tight fit but probably doable. I purchased mine from Dixieart, which has free shipping (at least for CONUS) along with extra filters available. There is no lighting attachment included, so you have to rig your own. Right now, I simply have a 100 watt bulb hanging overhead. I don't think you could go wrong with it, although I've heard good things about Pace spraybooths (previously mentioned) as well. Regards, Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Av8fan Posted May 6, 2007 Share Posted May 6, 2007 IMHO this web page has one of the most exhaustive(pun intended) break downs of a proper spray booth that I have ever seen. If I could understand half of it, I'd have built one. You may have more luck. Brians model cars spray booth Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Boywillie Posted May 6, 2007 Share Posted May 6, 2007 OBD, if you are looking to build your own spray booth, there is a very good article about this very subject in the September 2006 issue of Model Military International magazine. It comples with a complete cutting diagram and uses readily available electrical equipment and the total finished cost is about £35 (UK). Finished work area is 700mm wide, 400mm high. complete with lamp, extractor fan etc. I believe that the magazine can be ordered as a back issue or I can try and get a photocopy/scan done of it. Regards Willie P.S. I believe the back issues can be ordered from www.modelmilitary.com Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EagleDriver Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 i've made one my self. It works very good !! Greetzzz, Luc Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grey Ghost 531 Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 (edited) My two cents is mount it so you're working at eye level. Mine is too low right now and half the time I end up holding what I'm painting above the opening of the booth so I can see what I'm doing. High on the to-do list is a taller stand for it. Mine's home-made out of scrap 1/2 inch ply and two cheap squirrel cage fans from the Harbor Freight catalog. The air path isn't through the motor but they're not sparkless models and I haven't blown up yet. I think the fuel to air ratio is way to lean to support combustion so I'm not worried about it. Here's a sketch of mine. Edited May 8, 2007 by Grey Ghost 531 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.