Editing Building a paint booth

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==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.

==Air compressor==
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.

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.

I ran them on different circuits so they would not trip the AC.
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.

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.

==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.

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.

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.


==Articles==
*http://www.mckennasgarage.com/xke/jag_25.htm
*http://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-Paint-Booth-in-Your-Garage
*http://www.ehow.com/how_4498772_build-paint-booth.html
*http://www.theairplanegarage.com/History_and_Preperation/the_paint_booth.htm
*http://pages.interlog.com/~ask/scale/tips/booth.htm
*http://chris66dad.tripod.com/id24.html
*http://www.hotrodders.com/articles/makeshift_paint_booth.html
*http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83285

==Discussions==
*http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/temporary-paint-booth-163773.html
*http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/outdoor-driveway-paint-booth-1363.html

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