Anyone have any suggestions on an affordable unit? The best size for the money I have come up with is this:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXMBU6&P=7

I really like the construction over those portable units.

I figure I need to quit using the garage and start getting serious about painting AND using the airbrush. The winter weather really puts things in a bind using the garage.


- Jeff

Well, the cheapest way is to build one yourself. The supplies are cheap and you can build it to your specific spec's provided you have the properfan/blower for the spray area. There's many plans available on many websites, all you have to do is google. The best type of paint booth to buy or build is one that uses a furnace blower, unlike the paint booth in your link. Keepsflammable fumes out of the fan motor since it uses a squirrel cage.

If you don't want to build one yourself, then you can purchase one from this site. It's a quality build, uses powerful furnace blowers and made of sheet metal. I purchased one from Bob years ago, but eventually my work called for a bigger booth, so I sold it.

http://www.pacepaintbooths.com/pace/

Hello Jeff,I use cardboard boxes from the local u-haul shipping center.They are very large and thick,a single light fixture attached from the rear heat and dries paint in a reasonable time and its portable.Even using a wood frame and covering it with thick cardboard makes an excellent paint booth.What you don't spend on the paint booth you can invest in more paints,better air brush,up grade your compressor,I understand wanting something that seems professional and well built,but a paint booth gets paint on it,are you going to be to concerned with overspray on the booth that cost 200+ or a wood framed booth that has cardboard sides you can replace for pennies? I have attached some pictures of a TIGER I painted on and in a cardboard booth,and one picture of both my Tigers,the 1/6 scale will have to be painted.I intend to build a cardboard walls that will attach to my work bench which the big Tiger sits on and will allow me to walk around,Local appliance store often throws away large card board boxes,2x4 are two bucks each,when not in use this paint booth can be stored behind my work bench for future use.Well may not be the best idea but it worked for my 1/16 scale tanks and it will work for my 1/6 scale as well.Good luck on your paint booth,Blake 1-Saxondog

Saxondog,

A hobby paint booth or paint booth in general consists of more than a boxed in area with a heater. I'm sure what he's looking for is a paintbooth that catches over spray and fumes by reverse airflow and vents it through duct work or neutralizes it by coal filterssuch as the paintbooth he posted as well as the type I posted. Very useful if your painting in house or in fume sensitive environments. Also, keepspaint particles out of your lungs. Despite popular belief, acrylic is toxic if inhaled.Also keeps dust and debrisoff of your painted items by sucking it through the filter, depending on what you get.

Your right, I would much rather spend several hundred dollars for a indoor booth that vents the over-spray and toxic fumes out of the window,how ever filtered and the drier being adjustable for different drying speeds.that is something a wood framed structure with card board sides could not support,I was just commenting on how in the garage you could build a portable booth with little money,my focus was on the booth not the blower,or drier,which could be added to a wood framed structure just as easily as a metal structure,I'm sure Jeff is capable of making his choice,I simple offered another building material nothing more.Good luck on your booth,hope it works out for you.Blake http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=161726

Well, your cardboard setup isn't a bad idea, nor is it uncommon for people to choose a cardboard box paint booth. It just lacks ventilation. Here's one I think you would approve of!
http://cs.scaleautomag.com/scacs/for...94/357859.aspx

I just don't recommend using propeller fans. It pulls fumes right into the electrical motor, which is a fire hazard of course. But, this guy used brushless fans, which is a bit safer I suppose. Just not enoughcomputerfans in his cheap set up to really be at top performance. Should have a minimum of 4-6 fans at 50-75 cfm's.

First thing is I was rude and that was wrong,and for that I am sorry.The thing about cardboard is what ever over spray is in the air will be drawn to the static on the cardboard,ever rub your arm across card board and have the hairs raise,but never a spark.Also it is cheap,either way if we all contribute our idea's then together we can create a solution that is a benefit to everyone concerned.Good luck on your booth,Blake

I just throw a box out in the snow and spray, the cold has actually set the paint better for me(guessing less moisture?)

Apology accepted??? I didn't read any rudeness, but I guess you would know! lol

Anyway, it's just my opinion that anyone who is at all serious about their hobby or craft should eventually invest in a paint booth, it's more than a practical necessity. The static cling theory may help to a degree, but using a paint booth with downward, upward, or crossword draft would be efficient.

In my field, it's an absolute necessity. Any maquette with debris would be devastating to the final stage of the piece and would call for an absolute redo.And there is no removing the paint once it's applied to polymer clay.

Anyhow, love the tanks in your photos posted!

Have a good one!
Tony

Hi i have it it a great booth but it would be nice if it was a little wider ...i got mine on E-bay i think it was cheaper.

That's interesting Tony,Marquette as in display types or Like the casino Marquette? I have been in the same industry most of my adult life,conveyor systems,design,manufacturing,installation and maintenance.At least until 2001,after that you might say I am semi retired.But I have never been exposed to your profession or the manufacturing of Marquettes.From what you stated is it a form of molding? Perhaps another post would be more appropriate to discuss your trade.But I have to ask does your trade require making molds? This could have far reaching applications.Just curious because if you could mold tank bodies,turrets,and other parts you could make a contribution to this hobby as most of the large scale manufacturing is UK OR EU based. perhaps a pm would be better,take care Blake

Sorry Saxon,

I don't work in that kind of field. It's maquette, not marquette. Pretty close so Ican see where the confusion comes from. I'm a freelance sculptor for industries in toy development, 3D graphic scanning for computerware/gameware and 3D modeling conceptual design or animators to use as a reference. Maquette is just a fancy name for a scale model or rough draft model such as this maquette from a personal project of mine posted below. Due to disclosure restrictions, my hired work is not postable nor mentionable. Hope this clarifies the confusion! Regardless, I hope some of my skills can cross over to this hobby!

\

Tony

Thanks for clarifying and correcting my mistake.I was not aware of that form or definition of sculpture.It is obvious that you are very skilled,I could certainly see where your skills could be applied to our hobby.I've made my living building machines and to me I have always enjoyed the creative aspect of these machines,and how we have been able to construct miles of conveyor,with sometimes hundreds of units adapted to manufacturing machines and all synchronized to operate as one system.But I look at what you have created,and find it amazing.Not everyone can see the beauty of machines,or understand how they are in their own right a form of artistic talent,but to create something so unique as that creature from your mind and then to transform some inanimate material into a lifelike adaptation of the vision in your mind is talent pure and simple,very impressive Tony.