paint booth

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Need help-Some time ago there was an article on buildind a paint spray booth. I believe it was in Model Railroad. Does anyone know what issue it was in? Thanks

2

There was an article on a spray booth in the August 1983 Model Railroader, page 103. Perhaps this is the article you are looking for.

Joe

3

26 years must be regarded as a little more than “some time ago” [:D].

4

I know Graffen but that’s the best I could do with a quick search of the Model Train Magazine Index. Anyway, it was fun fishing out my archived copy to verify the source.

Joe

5

If you want, here’s the cheap version:

  • Take one carboard computer box, cut a hole in the back, near the vent window (recycled from work, free)

  • If not near window, take piece of tubing and tape to hole, and to cheap window fan (maybe 15 bucks for both)

  • install rubbermaid plastic turntable. (4 dolla max, up to ~20 total)

  • Install gooseneck lamp by c;ipping to bottom of the box (mine was about tebn bucks, up to 30)

  • tape to bench

  • Add paint

  • Take saved money and buy more trains.

6

There have been many articles over the years in various hobby mags describing how to make a booth, and they are all just a box that is open on one side with some sort of exhaust port on the other. You can make them temporary or permanent, out of cardboard, hardboard, or cloth, lit or unlit… the construction is not tricky. The one important consideration is how to exhaust the fumes. If you use solvent-based paints, you must use a fan with a non-sparking motor, or one where the motor is not in the airstream. These are usually pretty expensive and are of the squirrel-cage design. If you are using water-based acrylics, a simpler fan can be used. A 20inch window fan with a furnace filter bungie corded to it works fine.

Don

7

I just finished building one. I am new to airbrushing so I cannot say how well it works. I did not have access to an outside vent. This is what I did. We could talk more if you want.

  1. I built a basic box out of particle board with Melmine faces left over from another project.

  2. I made some holders for paint jars with a forsner bit and screwed them on the top.

  3. I modified a cheap stove exaust fan and fastened it to the rear of the box.

It seems to work, so far. I am not sure I have enough charcoal filter to deal with a lot of solvent based paint. I may have to add more if I use much of that. I found no plans so I just made it up.

8

So far I just pick a nice windless day, pull a sawhorse out the shop door, and spray to my hearts content on the walk.

9

I built a booth from these plans, and it has served me well for the small amount of spray painting that I do. You’ll find that the fan/blower is the most expensive part of the project.

If I remember correctly, the author of the article actually did some research and/or testing to determine the proper size of blower, as opposed to those who will suggest that window fans or kitchen exhaust fans are adequate. Also the booth was made from sheet metal, which makes it durable and easily cleanable, and resistant to the inevitable paint/solvent spill that will occur. I had tried making a booth out of plywood, and that just didn’t work for me. I can’t see that the use of a cardboard box is a very practical idea.

A word of advice…I recently found that the furnace filter makers have changed the design of the filters, which slightly changed the overall dimensions of the filter enough so that it would not fit into the holder at the back of the booth. I had to make a slight dimensional modification to the holder. I suggest that you buy a filter of the specified size (10 X 20?) and size the booth holder portion to fit.

Regards

10

My spray booth looks a lot like my garage floor. To vent fumes, I press the door opener button.

11

Mononguy . . . .painting in winter out doors ( or in an unheated garage isn’t practical up here in New England).

Anyway Delivery48 try this link http://www.gamerabaenre.com/spraybooth.htm seems to be what you are asking about.

Another source of some suggestions is http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=444597 ;

Be creative

12

Wait for a nice day. Works for me and I am farther north than you are.