ChesshireCat Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 Ok, I ready to start sawing wood for a new spray booth, but after six dozen designs I've now reached a brick wall. I do aircraft, armor, and a few ships. Mostly 1/48th stuff, but not four engined bombers in 1/48th. I do them in 1/72. The ships I do are 1/72 submarines and a few other odds and ends. I can build a 22" wide booth that will do all the armor I'll ever want to, and most aircraft. But no boats! Or I can do a 26" booth and do most everything but the really big stuff (Uboats). But being as I have not cut anywood yet I can also build a 30" booth, but still can't do a submarine! I do build a few 1/48th twin engined bombers and a few single engine 1/32 scale plane (probably an Fi156 being as large as I will ever get unless it's a jet) I now think that with a Gato class sub being well over 40", that I need to get that idea out of my head. So now I'm thinking I can get by quite nicely with a 26" box. Does this make much sense to you? Or should I be thinking 30" box. Lastly for all the guys that have done the large subs; how did you paint them??? gary Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mz826 Posted December 21, 2011 Share Posted December 21, 2011 Hi Gary I recently built a booth for painting 1 32 airplanes of all sizes. I did a 33" box with sides that taper down from 24" in the back to 3" in the front. I find i get lots of spray angles and its wedge shape is easy to store in a corner. A long tubular sub should fit diagonally as that length should be about 46" if my math is right. Good luck with your booth. Graeme Quote Link to post Share on other sites
balls47 Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 (edited) Build your box to easily hold the scale that you do the most. Most of my models are 1/48 scale jets, with a few WWII planes. A few years back, I built a 24" cube with a "squirrel cage" fan on top. I have done smaller 1/32 scale jets, the last being an A-4 without any problems. If have to do a bigger model, I do it outside, most of the time in my workshop or garage. Of course, in this situation, dust is a problem. Open up the doors, windows, etc. to let as much dust as possible blow out of the room. Then close everything up, and let things settle down. Dust or wipe things down. Then, spray the area down with a bottle of water to help settle more dust. After painting the model, cover it up a large cardboard box. Before covering the model, spray the inside of the box with some water first, to keep the dust down. Good Luck. Edited December 22, 2011 by balls47 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChesshireCat Posted December 22, 2011 Author Share Posted December 22, 2011 thanks for the replies. A 33" box is doable, but also kinda hard to store. Might look at a way to break it down for storage. gary Quote Link to post Share on other sites
drhornii Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 I built a 38" booth years ago and it doubles as storage space. The room got so crowded I moved it to the garage after I installed a small booth. The small one was actually a finger print developer I picked up at out city auction for $1. New booth in the background Old booth Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jbryan911 Posted December 25, 2011 Share Posted December 25, 2011 (edited) I just built this booth a couple weeks ago. I found a vent hood for $25 on Craigslist. It's 30" wide x 18" deep. I used 2 2x4 sheets of 3/8 plywood, and 3 6' 1x2's. The plywood was cut 30" wide to match the width of the hood. The sides were cut to match the sides of the hood before it tapers, about 12-12" or so. By not having the sides come all the way to the front, I have room to work on a Sub or big bomber. The 1/2's were used as nailers to provide nailing and gluing surface. I did use some to make a lip around the top that the hood slides into, makes it easier to move if I need to. Here's the whole set up. Edited December 25, 2011 by jbryan911 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SBARC Posted December 25, 2011 Share Posted December 25, 2011 Yup...buy a rangehood fan unit for a stove. You don't need many CFM's....just a cheap one will do....used is fine. They have 2 speed fans and built in lights. Then build your box to fit the rangehood unit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
UKPonchoMan Posted December 25, 2011 Share Posted December 25, 2011 I'd argue against this - I went down this route but found that the suction, even on maximum, wasn't enough to stop the paint mist from settling or blowing out of the booth. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SBARC Posted December 25, 2011 Share Posted December 25, 2011 I'd argue against this - I went down this route but found that the suction, even on maximum, wasn't enough to stop the paint mist from settling or blowing out of the booth. Perhaps we are comparing apples to oranges here as I am in Canada and you are in the UK? Household items tend to be bigger here in Canada (and the USA)in comparison to the UK. I don't know... I do know that with a cheap rangehood with fan on high speed......I was able to clean my airbrush with straight laquar thinner......sprayed into a collection bottle (soft drink bottle) with facial tissue "sealing" the opening around the airbrash and no laquar thinner fumes escaped into the room and my wife's ever sensitive nose. Without the fan the room was filled with fumes if I tried to clean my airbrush. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
UKPonchoMan Posted December 25, 2011 Share Posted December 25, 2011 May well be the case - I'm not sure what the CFMs are for typical extractor hoods here but it's not very high. Having said that, there is the issue that range hoods present a fire risk as the motors aren't properly shielded for vapourised paint... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jbryan911 Posted December 26, 2011 Share Posted December 26, 2011 I'd argue against this - I went down this route but found that the suction, even on maximum, wasn't enough to stop the paint mist from settling or blowing out of the booth. I had been using a bathroom fan, about 80CFM, the range hood specs are 160 CFM, almost double. I've found it definitely does a much better job of removing the fumes. I can feel a draft when the fan is on. When I blast laquer thinner through to clean out the brush, I can see the overspray being drawn up into the vent instead of bouncing back out like it did with my old one. I turn the fan on prior to spraying, and the volumes coming out of an airbrush are diluted by the time the overspray gets to the fan. I've also put a furnace filter in the back to spray into to catch some of the overspray as well. While I'm sure a fire is possible given a perfect storm of factors, I feel alot safer airbrushing than pumping gas into my car. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Liberator24 Posted December 26, 2011 Share Posted December 26, 2011 May well be the case - I'm not sure what the CFMs are for typical extractor hoods here but it's not very high. Having said that, there is the issue that range hoods present a fire risk as the motors aren't properly shielded for vapourised paint... PLEASE someone elaborate on this, because I have just been given a range hood, and my buds want to come over help me build the spray booth and do the exact same layout as this. Will it blow up???!!! -Jim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B-1 Nut Posted December 26, 2011 Share Posted December 26, 2011 PLEASE someone elaborate on this, because I have just been given a range hood, and my buds want to come over help me build the spray booth and do the exact same layout as this. Will it blow up???!!! -Jim Jim, Is it possible? Yes. Is it likely? No. How possible? If you take a bowl of thinner and splash it on the motor it might catch fire. I don't even think if you unload your airbrush directly into the fan that it will catch fire. I use a bathroom exhaust fan. Many people use a range vent hood. No one has ever reported a fire.....just that it might happen. If I remember correctly, everyone told me that a range vent hood was much better because they are "properly shielded" unlike a bath fan. If you spray acrylics this is a moot discussion. A simple solution is to put some form of filter barrier over the intake. I don't do it with mine, but if it makes you feel safer, I say do it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
drhornii Posted December 26, 2011 Share Posted December 26, 2011 A simple solution is to put some form of filter barrier over the intake. I don't do it with mine, but if it makes you feel safer, I say do it. Agreed, my little booth is of similar design as a range hood and I added a cheap 12 x 12 inch filter as "stage one" before it gets to the charcoal filter that comes in most range hoods. This does two things, catches 95%+ of the spray and gives you a disposable filter for easy cleaning. Both stages should keep paint from reaching the fan motor. Replacing a cheap filter is far easier than cleaning a charcoal filter that will degrade after each washing (happened on my booth...). The booth I have is an old "Finger print developer" so if you see on for auction, check it out. A perfect booth for the average model size. 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.