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Small Paint Booth?

ws27

ws27

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I was planning on making a small paint booth kind of like a work bench with side walls and a soffit across the top so I can paint small things inside my shop with out the smell. I have some ideas, but have nothing go by or copy. I was planning on using some sort of small exhaust fan, but haven't found anything that I'm comfortable with due to explosion hazards.

So I was hoping to pick some of your brains on ideas if you've done or seen one out there.

Any thoughts?
 
You're right about the explosion hazard. If the fan plugs in, it may go "boom" (with you in the booth). Also, you really need supplied air since even organic vapor respirators aren't enough inside even a homemade booth. If you can figure this out, I'd like to build one too.

I have seen (not sure how safe they are) people building wood frames out of 2x4's & stapling plastic sheet on as walls/roof to paint whole cars inside garages without getting paint everywhere.
 
Are we speaking code requirements for a paint booth or is it you just dont want to blow yourself up accidentally????
 
How about a supply fan located outside the booth (No need for explosion proof)? You can use a home style AC filter and filter holder to clean the incoming air. Use AC ducting to supply fresh air and another duct to exhaust the paint fumes out of the booth.
 
Probably not the safest way, but I converted a large tube tv box several years ago into a small booth. I use two bathroom vent fans that have small filters over the screens inside the booth to keep the paint from going inside the fans and vent pipe and to outside and the piping I can hang out my basement window to vent fumes. I have a plastic sheet on the front so when I am done spraying, it can be pulled up to cover the entire front and suck out the vapors to outdoors.
I put the window in the back to let in more light, but not shown in these pictures it the fluorescent light that is not installed in the top. Its worked great over the years, mostly for rattle can stuff when I was restoring the RR.
DSC03494.JPG

DSC03498.JPG
 
Thanks guys, I was thinking along the lines of idrivemopar, but permanent. I have enough room in my shop that I can build this and keep it around.

As far as venting, it would have to evacuate the booth, not push air in because the fumes would leak out any seams.

I was just wondering if anyone has ever built one. I can't spray outside where my shop is and even if I did, I'd be tied to weather.
 
If it's something that small I don't think there would be to much danger. But if you are concerned just have it belt driven where the motor is not inline of the fumes.
I would put some kind of fresh air damper with a good filter so you can regulate how negative your booth is. You don't want your paint getting sucked out before it's applied...
 
I built a booth using an attic fan for exhaust and furnace filters for clean intake air, don't see why you couldn't do that but smaller? Belt driven like Mike said is an option if concerned.
 
I've been involved with the installation of a number of paint booths over the years. It's not just motors that can trigger an explosion but sparks from ferrous material, like fan components, heat sources like light fixtures/bulbs and arcs from outlets nearby where the vapours may ignite. Static is also a big concern which you can get from hanging plastic like so many of us do. Enclosing the vapours in a small area may actually be worse as they become more concentrated. Just make sure there's nothing that can produce an arc or excessive heat inside the path of the vapours. Filters remove much of the particles but not all of them.
 
I was planning on using drywall for the sides and top, and most likely this will be used with just spray bombs, but if I do it right, I can probably use a small gun too. No plastic will be used and I'm not sure I'll do enough painting that will cause static build up, but I'm really not sure how much would cause it either.
 
One of these would work for an exhaust fan. It's off of a gas water heater. Just cut the shape out in the top of your booth and hook up a pvc or flex hose to the outside. They are 110 volt. They are expensive new but a appliance junkyard should have one cheap. I grabbed this one off of mine when a basement flood ruined the burner part.
20170310_204914.jpg

20170310_205047.jpg
 
i used an attic fan, painted many parts with a gun, i just turn the fan on before spray, so theres no build up of fumes, same way a friend of mine has done it for 10 plus years, I'm still alive and have most of my hair, (not lost from a static explosion or fire), probably not the safest, but it works. fan costs around $100.00 new, comes with colapsable vent, for outside of building
 
Some good ideas for sure. I like the water heater draft inducer, and I already have one on my shelf. Not sure if it will produce enough CFM, but I'll check it out.

One of my friends has a body shop with a fan motor in line with the fumes and he hasn't had a problem ever. I think I may just be a little paranoid on this issue.
 
I'm sure there's lot's of things that are never a problem until 'BOOM'. There's good reason for the codes we have to abide by in the electrical business, particularly for hazardous situations. Sure it tends to be overkill and engineered for the worst case scenario, but being paranoid about this is not a bad thing. Being cautious and informed helps to keep you around a bit longer! You'll be fine if you filter the outgoing air. If you use a light inside, try to find something that runs cool or just make sure the hot portion is outside of the enclosure. Industrial paint booths have a glass lens sealed on the enclosure to keep the vapours from passing through to the light fixture mounted above the glass.
 
Thanks, I like the idea of isolating a light inside, I was just planning on having it outside. However, inside will be much better.

It'll be a few weeks before I can really get going on it
 
Look up hermetically sealed.
It just may save your life and keep you from blowing up your house.
 
Intrinsically safe is the term for devices rated to be in an explosive environment.
NFPA has free access to all codes & standards.
NFPA 70e is the NEC
NFPA 33 spray applications of combustible products
 
OK, heres the best way I see to do it, first "permanent" is to me a waste, heres what happens, even if you restore cars all the time meaning you never stop, 1 car is done next one rolls in (I haven't stopped in a long time), the space becomes a huge issue, so to have a big empty box permanently in your garage is silly to me..

Heres what I do, I have bought $50 of pvc tubing (1", but 3/4" will work), sew on Velcro stripping, and plastic sheeting (thick stuff came on a roll).

I made the frame with tees and 90s, and the straight pvc tubing (booth ends up being 5feet x almost 8 feet tall and 8 feet deep). I have 1 piece of plastic that goes all the way around it with Velcro stuck on to the frame so it lines up with the Velcro I sewed onto the plastic, then the ceiling is just some .99 cent each air filters from homedepot (20x24 I think). SO the fan sucks the air out of my booth and the most of it comes in through the top filters., My velcros seals pretty good and duct tape helps, I build the booth on top of a tarp.

So pvc frame, air filter ceiling, Velcro door latch, flex duct venting and a boiler vent fan, it works great, I also have a rack I roll right in there for hanging the parts I am painting. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SZWOHZY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

then when I am done I roll it all up and put it under the stairs...

just an idea it works for me, I use led flash light wands for lighting, I have like 30 of them so never a big deal.

As far as blowing up I haven't yet, but I guess it could happen, I move a ton of air through there when I am spraying and its always small stuff, maybe 50 seconds of trigger time at each coat...
 
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