Building a paint booth

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==Overview==
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The booth needs to have good lighting and ventilation, but it also needs to be of a sufficient size for the job at hand. When you paint a car for example, you do not want it to be so small that you can barely get around the car, and you are at risk of damaging your nice paint with a zipper or a careless movement. You don't ever want to be struggling to be getting around the car safely.
  
 
==Light==
 
==Light==
The more light, the better. When you do not have enough light then you can not see the paint lay down, which can easily lead to runs and orange peel.
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The more light, the better. You can not have too much light, but if you do not have enough light, then you can not see the paint lay down, which can easily lead to runs and orange peel. In addition to good overhead lighting, get a good portable light that you can move around to better see what you are doing.
  
 
==Air compressor==
 
==Air compressor==
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When buying a compressor ask yourself how long you are going to be in the hobby. The low cost high HP compressors make air by using a smaller compressor run at high rpm. This beats the pump to death. These compressors will work for the guy who is dabbling some in the garage, but will fall apart if used regularly.  
HVLP guns need air. The 1/4" quick couplers do not flow air well. The 3/8" couplers flow twice the air. The problem with the smaller coupler is that you start out with higher pressure and since the couplers can not flow the air you get a drop off of pressure. You have to change your rate of movement to compensate and that is not easy to figure out when you are just starting out.
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I solved my compressor issue by using 2 air compressors (110V). The first one was 3hp, 10 gallon tank that put out 7.2 CFM @ 40 PSI and the second one was 2hp, 10 gallon tank that put out about 4 CFM @ 40 PSI.
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Motor HP has been incorrectly stated in the past. A 5 HP rated compressor sometimes used a lower HP motor rigged to pull more torque at start. This was often connected to a lower quality pump and run at high speed to produce higher CFM. These units seem to make more noise than air. 
  
I ran them on different circuits so they would not trip the AC.
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The true HP rating of a motor may be revealed by its current draw. A real 5 HP motor pulls about 22 amps while the 7.5 HP motor will draw 32 amps. Keep in mind the current these motors draw will cost you in electricity. I would avoid 7.5 HP units if that level of volume is rarely  needed. The higher current draw will run up your electric bill if you use it moderately to run power tools.
I ran a 20 foot hose from each air compressor (this let the air temp cool down and water condense out) and into a Y connector at my high volume water trap http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=98904. The output of the water trap has a air regulator and 50 foot of hose that goes into the paint booth.
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I never ran out of air with my gun which needs 9.5 cfm @ 29psi. On long shoots I could hear the smaller air compressor turn on to keep up with the air demand but it normally only ran the larger compressor. The beauty of this is you  do not have to deal with supplying a 220V circuit for a larger system.
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An example:
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At a shop where the compressor was used daily, a quality Ingersoll Rand 7.5 HP compressor eventually burned out its bearings. For this unit IR used the same compressor pump as with the 5 HP version. With the 7.5 they got the increase in volume by using a larger pulley and ran the pump at a higher RPM. It also needed its belts changed every couple of months. In addition, this unit needed its magnetic stater replaced several times due to the levels of current required to start the motor.
  
When buying a compressor ask yourself how long you are going to be in the hobby. The low cost high HP compressors make air by using a smaller compressor run at high rpm. This beats the pump to death. These compressors will work for the guy who is dabbling some in the garage, but will fall apart if used regularly.  
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==Air volume vs. uses==
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HVLP guns need air. The 1/4" quick couplers do not flow air well. The 3/8" couplers flow twice the air. The problem with the smaller coupler is that you start out with higher pressure and since the couplers can not flow the air, you get a drop in pressure. You have to change your rate of movement to compensate and that is not easy to figure out as a beginner.
  
Compressor motor hp has been incorrectly stated in the past.  They would put 5 HP special ratings.  This was a lower HP motor rigged to pull more torque at start. These was connected to a lower quality pump and run at high speed to make CFM, they seem to make more noise than air.
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===Piggybacking two compressors===
You can tell the true HP rating of the motor by its current draw. A real 5 HP motor draws about 22 amps and the 7.5 HP motor will draw 32 amps.  Keep in mind the current these motors draw will cost you a lot in electricity.  I would not get a 7.5 HP unit if you rarely ever need the volume.  The higher current draw will up your electric bill if you use it moderately just to do power tools.
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One compressor air volume issue was solved by using two 110V compressors. The first one's a 3hp, 10 gallon tank putting out 7.2 CFM @ 40 psi and the second one's a 2hp, 10 gallon tank that puts out about 4 CFM @ 40 psi.
  
An example:
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These were run on different circuits so they would not trip the circuit breaker. A 20 foot hose was run from each air compressor, allowing the air to cool and water to condensate out. They flow into a Y-connector at my high volume water trap. The water trap has an air regulator and 50 feet of hose that goes into the paint booth.
At a shop where the compressor was used daily, a quality Ingersoll rand 7.5 HP compressor eventually burned out the bearings. For this unit they use the same pump as used with the 5 HP compressor. For the 7.5 they got the increase in volume by putting a larger pulley on the motor and ran the pump at a higher RPM. It did not like this higher speed.  It also needed to have its belts changed every couple of months.  Also this unit needed its magnetic stater replaced several times because it was border line on the amount of current needed to start the motor.
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I never ran out of air with myTghis set-up was able to supply enough air to run a gun that required 9.5 cfm @ 29 psi. On long spray sessions the smaller compressor turned on to keep up with demand but it normally only required the larger compressor. One advantage of this type of set-up is you do not have to deal with supplying a 220V circuit for a larger air compressor.
  
 
==Ventilation==
 
==Ventilation==
Air flow helps tremendously. You want to move the overspray out so you can see. You also do not want the overspray landing on the completed areas. A couple of little box fans and a small hole in your tent do not cut it. The box fans will draw the air around the corner of the box. You need to fill the corners and open up the tent to allow for lots of air flow. A whole house fan and lots of holes in the tent work well. Do not worry so much about the dust. Most of the dust really comes from the part you are painting, and from yourself.
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Air flow within the spray booth is necessary for a good job and to prevent build-up of paint vapor. The goal is to move overspray out, maintaining visibility and avoiding overspray landing on completed areas. A couple of little box fans and a small hole in your tent will not cut it. The box fans will draw air back into the booth around the box corners. The corners should be filled, opening up the tent to allow for lots of air flow. A whole house fan and lots of holes in the tent work well. Do not worry so much about the dust; most of which comes from the part being painted as well as the painter.
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More air is also a safety issue. When using an organic-cartridge mask, the less lingering paint/solvent vapor, the better. Organic cartridges need to be fresh. They have an expiration date on them and the charcoal fills up eventually. The biggest exposure to bad chemicals is though the skin and through an improperly fitting mask. A supplied-air system and coverall suit is a good way to go. The fresh air units are pricey, but they maintain good resale value, so think of it as a rental. The suits are cheap and cut down on the dust that comes from clothing.
  
More air is also a safety issue. If you are using organic cartridges in your mask, then the less vapor hanging out in the booth the better. Organic cartridges need to be fresh. They have a time rating on them and the charcoal fills up eventually. The biggest exposure to bad chemicals is though the skin and through an improperly fitting mask. A supplied air system and coverall suit is the smart thing to do. Yes, the air units are pricey, but they have a good resale value, so think of it as a rental. You can resell the unit later and make a lot of your money back. The suits are cheap and help prevent the dust that comes from your clothes.
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If the booth is attached to a home, care must be taken to ensure that the occupants are not exposed to fumes. Use out-flowing fans to create a negative pressure (suction) in the garage area. You might be surprised at the pressures that small and medium sized fans can produce. Try using a roof vent fan inside the painting area (so the fumes aren't drawn from the paint area into the dwelling) to pull air out.
  
If your booth is attached to your house then you need to be sure that the occupants of your house are not exposed to the fumes. Use the fans to create a negative pressure in the garage area. You might be surprise at the pressures that small and medium sized fans can produce. Try using a roof vent fan to push air out.
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==Resources and references==
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*[http://www.mckennasgarage.com/xke/jag_25.htm How to build a paint booth at home] from mckennasgarage.com
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*[http://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-Paint-Booth-in-Your-Garage How to Create a Paint Booth in Your Garage] from wikihow
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*[http://www.ehow.com/how_4498772_build-paint-booth.html How to build a paint booth] from ehow
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*[http://www.theairplanegarage.com/History_and_Preperation/the_paint_booth.htm The paint booth] from theairplanegarage.com
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*[http://pages.interlog.com/~ask/scale/tips/booth.htm How to build a paint booth] from interlog.com
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*[http://chris66dad.tripod.com/id24.html Paint booth] from interlog.com
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*[http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83285 Make shift paint booth] HAMB thread
  
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;Hotrodders knowledge base
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*[http://www.hotrodders.com/articles/makeshift_paint_booth.html Makeshift paint booth]
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*[http://www.hotrodders.com/kb/paint-spray-booths Paint Spray Booth Suppliers]
  
==Articles==
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;Hotrodders forum threads
*http://www.mckennasgarage.com/xke/jag_25.htm
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*[http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/temporary-paint-booth-163773.html Temporary paint booth]
*http://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-Paint-Booth-in-Your-Garage
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*[http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/outdoor-driveway-paint-booth-1363.html Driveway paint booth]
*http://www.ehow.com/how_4498772_build-paint-booth.html
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*http://www.theairplanegarage.com/History_and_Preperation/the_paint_booth.htm
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*http://pages.interlog.com/~ask/scale/tips/booth.htm
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*http://chris66dad.tripod.com/id24.html
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*http://www.hotrodders.com/articles/makeshift_paint_booth.html
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*http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83285
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==Discussions==
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==Safety==
*http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/temporary-paint-booth-163773.html
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*[[Health and safety in the shop or garage]]
*http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/outdoor-driveway-paint-booth-1363.html
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[[Category:Body and exterior]]
 
[[Category:Body and exterior]]
 
[[Category:Garage and shop]]
 
[[Category:Garage and shop]]
 
[[Category:Undeveloped articles]]
 
[[Category:Undeveloped articles]]
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[[Category:Undeveloped Body and exterior articles]]
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[[Category:Undeveloped Garage and shop articles]]

Latest revision as of 22:02, 1 December 2012

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