Kindly reminding people not to do this. Thank you.
2 Likes
If we get rid of the copier can we get a paint booth?
2 Likes
I made a paint booth type of thing in my garage using plywood, box fans, and furnace filters. It works good for sucking in overspray but fumes are an issue still and the filters clog up pretty fast. I buy multiple filters at a time and wear a respirator for spray paint.
If anyone has any other solutions (for my garage not necessarily for DMS) I’d love to hear them.
1 Like
Looks like we need to start a pressure washing committee.
4 Likes
I’d rather see a dustless paint blaster
1 Like
I’ve seen small paint booths made using stove vent hoods, with the duct running to a window. You make a plywood panel to fit in the window, with a hole for the vent hose to go out.
Keep in mind most fans and vent hoods don’t have explosion-proof motors. You can be fine spraying any number of VOCs for years, but then one day it’ll decide to ignite your lacquer thinner. So keep a fire extinguisher within reach.
The space shuttle would make a great paint booth on wheels.
3 Likes
I’ve made the same, but I used a bathroom exahaut fan attached to a 4" exhaust duct. From there, I attached 4" flexible tube to the duct and stretch it outside the garage. I attached this end to another duct box for weight. It works great and their is no overparay inside th garage. When done, I just move the flex pipe back in the garage.
Not picking on you Owen correction James 
, just some fun info.
So there is a big difference between a fire and an explosion. Fire extinguishers are of no use against an explosion, they can put out left over flames after though. But, they will not stop you from turning into red mist. Also, learned this in a chemistry lab, an Explosion Proof Ventilation Fan is not only designed to keep from igniting / starting an explosion, but also to stop the explosion from propagating back past the fan. If you want to read more about this here is a link with more info. What does explosion proof mean?
There is a reason for systems being explosion proof when dealing with paint booths. This is because paint booths are designed to evacuate harmful fumes by pumping in fresh air. Air is an oxidizer and the amount of oxidizer compared to the amount fuel tends to control the burn rate of the fuel. Low oxidizer to fuel mix tends to lead to slow burning, High oxidizer to fuel mix tends to lead to fast burning. At some point the burn rates gets so fast that the fuel detonates aka an explosion. You can pass this point and put a fire out, like blowing out candles.
So you can build your home paint booth with shitter fans if you would like, but don’t waste your time with the anti-explosion fire extinguisher. Also, much of the reasons for paint booths are the dilution of VOCs to levels low enough that they are not harmful carcinogens. So if your booth isn’t moving enough air to keep you from absorbing carcinogens through skin contact or breathing, make sure you have a respirator (not a dust mask) with fresh filter and protective clothing.
For those wondering, Why doesn’t DMS have a paint booth? It is less cost and difficulty of install, and more of regulation and required book keeping. I’m not an expert in the requirements, but this seems to be the down fall whenever the paint booth gets suggested.
2 Likes
- I’m not Owen
and
B) Most of my dealings with this stuff has been for painting scale models, with an airbrush. I’ve had some friends have a “whoosh” of flame out their vent hose but no flying debris. Painting with any larger quantities of flammable vapors doesn’t make a lot of sense to do in my spare bedroom.
When it really gets fun is when a “science” type buys a regular fridge and stores solvents in it and it decides to go boom. Fun times.
1 Like
There used to be a ventilated paint room, then the fire marshal came and shut it down for compliance reasons. The regulatory requirements are pretty intense as Nick said, so it’s not feasible. Outside painting should suffice for most projects, through most of the year, just set down some cardboard or scrap plywood or something to keep it off the concrete.
On the subject of personal paint booth setups for home, I’ve used an old range hood to decent effect when painting model kits and the like. It’s not particularly explosion-proof or fireproof, so don’t get any ideas about fire safety from this post, but it does a good job of pulling paint fumes away from the work space, which makes it more convenient to paint inside, which is particularly good when trying to work on small pieces that quickly lose detail if the paint gets contaminated with humidity or flashes too quickly or slowly.
1 Like
Good to know, I was one of the jokers I was referencing in my explanation. Nick Dangerous and I were looking into building a rather large paint booth for repainting pinball machines with automotive paints. I’m sad to say the explosion potential is not what stopped us, but rather the amount of flow needed to keep the harmful carcinogens at acceptable levels. These paints, at least the good ones have pretty scary carcinogens in their hardeners.
That’s actually our fault. I’ll gladly bring our pressure washer and clean this. Can we connect it to a hose in the back?
10 Likes
We have no water hookups anywhere near the back of the building as far as I know.
2 Likes
Glad they owned up to it. Thanks for that!
For the next person, we should prove a point by going to their house and spray painting something on their driveway or front porch.
If regs are so onerous why are there thousands, maybe millions of paint booths? Why do other makerspace’s have paint booths too?
The expense to purchase the electrical components for a paint booth are pretty high. Example: regular light switch box and cover are about $10; an explosion proof light switch is about $600. Everything associated with the paint booth must be explosion proof. Controls have to be approved and items have to be interlocked to shut down in the event of a fire.
it seems like, in the pictured “transgression”, something like this would have sufficed.
Maybe this is the sort of thing that should be pursued (esp. given the “get rid of the copier and put in a paint booth” thing, this would be about the same footprint)?
https://www.amazon.com/Artograph-Hobby-Model-Spray-Booth/dp/B000KNFR2S
2 Likes
Perhaps a 5 gallon bucket with a bulkhead hose bib. That can be hooked up to a pressure washer to clean the paint up. You won’t get a lot of time with it but refill it a couple times, it should be ok.
4 Likes
Thank you for the input @TBJK. I was just looking up ways to try to do the same.