Painting in a winter wonderland

[drbassman]

Well, I hated the results I was getting with hand finishing.  So, I stopped trying that and finally decided to bite the bullet and build a portable spray booth for indoors.  The weather here sucks from November to March and that's just too much time to lose for building and finishing.  My barn is too big to heat and I like being in the house during the winter months anyway.  So, I built a 36" x 32" box, 24" deep.  I'm trying a 1300 cfm blower, in reverse, for my air removal source.  I'll install a removable high efficiency furnace filter under it before use.  Total cost thus far is about $50 in MDF and pieces from my scrap pile.  $85 for the blower and that's about it except for some wood screws and glue.  If this blower doesn't do it, I might opt to convert a used dust removal blower.  We'll see.  I don't know why I didn't try this sooner.  I have 2 basement windows, so there will be no problem venting to the outside.  Should be able to test in out in a few days.

[Denis]

Nice! I like it when you have to build projects to finish other projects. And with a 1940 Indian in the works I feel qualified to write that!

[drbassman]

Nice! I like it when you have to build projects to finish other projects. And with a 1940 Indian in the works I feel qualified to write that!

Thanks!  Yeah, I hear ya.  Working on old stuff can really make support projects a real must.  The Indian is a challenge, I'm sure.  Getting the motor out of my 68 Porsche is a nightmare too and someday I just need to build ramps to drive it up on.  Someday................

[Highlander]

The fan... spark-free... right...?

Don't build a ramp, dig a pit...

[Pilgrim]

The fan... spark-free... right...?

Don't build a ramp, dig a pit...

The spark issue was the reason that I went to acrylic lacquer when I built my temp paint booth a while back, figuring it was safer...I also used furnace filters on the intake air, and it worked very well.

[drbassman]

The fan... spark-free... right...?

Don't build a ramp, dig a pit...

I believe it is, I'm going look into that this this week.

[drbassman]

The spark issue was the reason that I went to acrylic lacquer when I built my temp paint booth a while back, figuring it was safer...I also used furnace filters on the intake air, and it worked very well.

Yeah, I'm think of going to all acrylic for clear coats and solid colors.  There's a great auto paint store in Scott's neighborhood I've used before.  The less sanding the better!

[dadagoboi]

Acrylic lacquer is just as flammable as nitro...make sure your fire insurance is up to date if you're going to be using fans that are not explosion proof...in your basement...below where you live.  I'll be looking for the Youtube video.

[Pilgrim]

Good to know!  Thank you.

To quote Gomer Pyle, "Learn somt'tin new ever' day!"

[drbassman]

Acrylic lacquer is just as flammable as nitro...make sure your fire insurance is up to date if you're going to be using fans that are not explosion proof...in your basement...below where you live.  I'll be looking for the Youtube video.

Ooops, we'll have to work on that.............

[drbassman]

Dang Carlo, you have to be the voice of reason and spoil my cheap adventure.  I've researched it more and you are so correct.  The cheapest explosion proof fan I've found is around $550.  So, I have some friends in industry and I'm going to look for one wholesale or discounted.  I am not going to be detoured by a fan.  If I can't spray in the winter, I'm screwed anyway.  It's still cheaper than a pre-fab booth costing over $2K.  So, off we go in search of a fan..............

[dadagoboi]

Yeah, the fan and motor is the big cost but the rest can be DIYed.

I paid $1200 for my first spraybooth in 1985 or so, 10ft wide and 6ft deep with a 24" fan, from Sears. Then I bought a second one used,  a Devillbiss, 20' wide and 8'deep with a 3 phase 36" fan, cost $400.  There was a recession going on in L.A. and all sorts of equipment was going cheap.

A real spray booth has a plenum, the full width wall of filters that is in front of the wall that holds.  That provides for high volume relatively low speed airflow through the booth.

Open Face Spray Booth Porn:
https://www.google.com/search?q=open+spraybooth&client=firefox-a&hs=KDw&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=nts&tbm=isch&imgil=aAS8uzOeOGbeRM%253A%253BuEa9fwACpy-jFM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.airmanagementsystems.com%25252Fopenface_booths.aspx&source=iu&pf=m&fir=aAS8uzOeOGbeRM%253A%252CuEa9fwACpy-jFM%252C_&usg=__pEGlaMkYQ192NSIdYTpcATiyDi4%3D&biw=1248&bih=626&ved=0CEwQyjc&ei=sTsjVN-cCYaSyASZpoDQBw#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=aAS8uzOeOGbeRM%253A%3BuEa9fwACpy-jFM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.airmanagementsystems.com%252Fuserfiles%252Fopen_face_booth%281%29.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.airmanagementsystems.com%252Fopenface_booths.aspx%3B350%3B273

You need to build a small version, 4'wide, 3'deep, 4' high will do.  With a 1' deep plenum this will give you a 2x2x4 work area.  You can make it out of 2.5 sheets of 1/2"plywood, the cheapest you can find.  The plenum wall can be framed out of lumber to hold your filters.  Put it on 2' legs with or without wheels.

[amptech]

Open Face Spray Booth Porn:

Oooo.. nice!

Wintertime is approaching Norway too, doubt all projects I planned for this season will be done this year.

The only problem I had with my setup is dust, I have to work on the walls in my outdoor booth next season, they seem to emit concrete particles. And oh, gotta check the fan I installed too!

How low can the temperature be before it gets difficult to shoot?

[dadagoboi]

How low can the temperature be before it gets difficult to shoot?

Depends more on humidity than temperature with lacquer.  I've sprayed with temp in the high 40s/low 50s (Fahrenheit).  Best to use 'fast' lacquer thinner when it's that cold.

[Lightyear]

Doc, where is your furnace and/or water heater?  Not having basements down here I have to assume that they are always in the basement.  Just wondering what the risk is even with a good spray booth setup.