Spray Booth Recommendations

[lcarroll]

Chris Johnson, a fellow member here, and I are shopping for spray booths. Can I ask for some recommendations on models and sources from all you Folks?
Paasche has a few available in Canada but they don't seem to be worth the price compared to others we've seen on-line. Biggest problem is paying Duty and Brokerage fees if we order from outside the country.
I like the idea of an integrated light(s) as well which the Paasche's don't have. What do you use, pros, cons, recommendations??
Thanks in advance,
Cheers,
Lance

[uncletony]

This is the same booth as I have, different vendor but otherwise would appear to be identical. No built in light but has a clear top, very easy to light. About $80 cheaper than Micromark. Recommended:

http://www.amazon.com/Artograph-Hobby-Model-Spray-Booth/dp/B000KNFR2S/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1357598181&sr=8-3&keywords=spray+booth

[WarrenD]

This is what I bought:  http://www.hlj.com/product/GNZGT03  I haven't been able to use it much, but in the little time I have spent with it, it seems to do the job.

HTH, FWIW, YMMV,

Warren

[petero]

I also have an Artograph spray booth, and I'm very happy with it.  I have the wide version with two fans.  The airflow handles airbrushing easily, and is robust enough to contain Tamiya Fine White Primer spray cans also.  Even though the instructions say it does not need to be vented outside, it does work better when vented.

Here's the overall view:



The ducting:



The outside vents:



Since it's my hobby room, and the door is always closed to keep our cat out, neatness doesn't count 

Peter

[lcarroll]

Peter,   
   First, Thank You for taking the time to provide photos and the information. I now have a better idea of this product. The filters seem like they could be a problem, how often would you need to change them? Could some other products be used to substitute?
Cheers,
Lance

[uncletony]

The 2 main filters should last a very long time with the materials we are using (hobby paints). Save a catastrophic spill I doubt I'll ever need to change mine, not with the minuscule amount of paint that is actually being sprayed painting models. The outer paper filter traps about 90% of the particles and spills. The paper filter is available in a roll that is equal to 120 changes. That will probably last 10 or 20 years. The carbon filter and the middle filter are available as replacements.

You can view the instructions here, this will give you a very good idea of the product:

http://www.micromark.com/html_pages/instructions/82427i/82427-82430-spray-booths.pdf

Again, this is identical to the Artograph booth, just different branding.

[uncletony]

I forgot to add that you can buy filter material for spray booths in bulk from places that cater to body shops, etc.

[petero]

I'll second what Bo said about the filters.  I've had my booth for several years, and have never changed the bottom and middle filters.  I do change the top filter paper between each build.  As the paint particles build up on the top filter, the fans become less effective, so changing it often keeps the airflow at its best.

Peter

[Von Schlepp]

I just have to reply to this one.

My friend built one from cardboard plans he bought online.
It works great and he chose not to vent it. So far I've only sprayed Future and Vallejo airbrush primer through it But now that I've stopped using Vallejo for the most part I suspect that it will need to be vented.

I will have him post some pics, I love DIY hobby stuff.

-Roger from Calgary

[WarrenD]

I love DIY stuff too. A few years back Scale Auto Modeler published an article about a spray booth a gentlemen made out of a pre-fab melamine cabinet, and it is self-contained!  It vents into one or two five gallon buckets in the bottom. Probably the best spray booth article I've seen in a hobby magazine. Not sure if scanning it and posting it here would violate any copyright violation, etc. If it doesn't, let me know, and I'll try to find it.

Warren

[Jan K]

Hallo,
I did quite a lot of experiments to get my booth working - now I know I need air flow at least 300m3/hr ~ 10 000 cubic feet/hr,
but my solution is surprisingly simple, please see the attached image, I have just an extractor with flexiple pipe on my table. The pipe diameter is about 5 inch ~125mm, a box around inlet is not mandatory.
Important note: even with a good spray booth you'll need a spraying face mask.

My extractor is similar to this one:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Grow-Tent-extractor-fan-TT125-/250644881934?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Hearing_Cooling_Air&hash=item3a5b99620e

[bobs_buckles]

Great idea Jan   

vB

[WarrenD]

Jan, so true about the respirator/mask. When I built my 1/72nd tripe, and my first time using an airbrush, I was amazed at the amount of paint that ended up in my nose from just that little bit of paint. Kind of scary, I was just glad it was acrylic and not solvent-based. Be safe out there folks, it'll come back to haunt ya.

Should this thread be sticky'd next to the airbrush recommendations?

Warren

[lcarroll]

I should update this thread with the fact that, in the end, I bought a Spray Booth from Bob Pace Enterprises in the U.S. It arrived last week however I have not had time to even plug it in! Looking forward to trying it out and also many Thanks to Jan and Warren for the reminder on the Mask requirement; I bought one last weekend.
Cheers,
Lance

[Von Schlepp]

I'm gonna get started on that spray booth soon. I'm getting a bunch of sheet metal for next to nothing too!
And i'm definately going to look into that extractor too.

-Roger