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==
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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 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.

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. 

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.  
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.

An example:
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.

==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

[[Category:Body and exterior]]
[[Category:Garage and shop]]
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