Spraying safely
Discussion
OK, thought I would be remaining old skool with a brush seeing as I faff around with this in the dining room but we can sort one room out upstairs as a partial man cave. One of the reasons I have large gaps in the making process is carting it up and down stairs all the time. Anyhow, what precautions. Setting the table up under the window, cardboard box and a crude extraction out the window? A good and suitable mask I assume is a given.
Also, I have been given a compressor of unknown vintage and type. I am guessing there is a pressure cut off somewhere and this can be hooked up to a pressure sommit or another that feeds the whatever doohickey that feeds the air brush. Guess I need to find out about and understand the set up from the mains plug to the tip of the brush.
Need to ID the compressor.
Also, I have been given a compressor of unknown vintage and type. I am guessing there is a pressure cut off somewhere and this can be hooked up to a pressure sommit or another that feeds the whatever doohickey that feeds the air brush. Guess I need to find out about and understand the set up from the mains plug to the tip of the brush.
Need to ID the compressor.
IF you do all that you'll have a fine set up. To be honest, most people just open the window to spray, and a lot of them don't bother with a mask either if the ventilation is good.
Now I'm not suggesting you risk your health etc by not doing the above but with a decent dual action airbrush and a nozzle size suitable for modelling, you will get some overspray and airborne vapour and particles but it's a lot less intense than the toxic cloud one would have found inside a car spray booth using 2K paint.
Whether using water based or enamel; you need the same ventilation and precautions for both. Both smell - they just smell of different things, and neither is like imbibing from the fountain of youth. An old cooker hood and carboard sides is ideal. My room is very small with a large velux window directly over the workbench so I just use that and it's more than adequate - the smell doesn't travel through the house etc.
I've found that most of the stink/mess/fumes are created during cleaning the airbrush out rather than painting. A cleaning jar that you poke the airbrush in to with a lid, filters and which catches all the relevant thinners inside to dispose of in liquid form every so often was the best thing I ever bought in that respect. Mine cost around a fiver IIRC.
Now I'm not suggesting you risk your health etc by not doing the above but with a decent dual action airbrush and a nozzle size suitable for modelling, you will get some overspray and airborne vapour and particles but it's a lot less intense than the toxic cloud one would have found inside a car spray booth using 2K paint.
Whether using water based or enamel; you need the same ventilation and precautions for both. Both smell - they just smell of different things, and neither is like imbibing from the fountain of youth. An old cooker hood and carboard sides is ideal. My room is very small with a large velux window directly over the workbench so I just use that and it's more than adequate - the smell doesn't travel through the house etc.
I've found that most of the stink/mess/fumes are created during cleaning the airbrush out rather than painting. A cleaning jar that you poke the airbrush in to with a lid, filters and which catches all the relevant thinners inside to dispose of in liquid form every so often was the best thing I ever bought in that respect. Mine cost around a fiver IIRC.
I'd beware the crude extraction system - buy the real deal and be done with it. That way you'll know that the extraction motor is explosion proof, and that the filters will at least do something to remove the paint before it goes outside (or gets blown back inside!).
Re. The compressor, if it's an old one and/or oil lubricated, you'll probably need a decent filter on the air line to remove any mist from the supply.
Also make sure you get the right organic filter for your face mask too.
Re. The compressor, if it's an old one and/or oil lubricated, you'll probably need a decent filter on the air line to remove any mist from the supply.
Also make sure you get the right organic filter for your face mask too.
Re blow back. It had crossed my mind. I was thinking of my bathroom extractor, or rather the blow back preventer for want of a better name. Few quid off the shelf and inserts into the pipe I would have used but point taken on getting it ready made off the shelf fit for purpose.
Though I have a couple of AC fans kicking around and was considering going Blue Peter on the idea.
Anyway. Filter for the compressor. Suppose the first thing is to ID it and see what it is able to do.
Though I have a couple of AC fans kicking around and was considering going Blue Peter on the idea.
Anyway. Filter for the compressor. Suppose the first thing is to ID it and see what it is able to do.
jmorgan said:
Re blow back. It had crossed my mind. I was thinking of my bathroom extractor, or rather the blow back preventer for want of a better name. Few quid off the shelf and inserts into the pipe I would have used but point taken on getting it ready made off the shelf fit for purpose.
Though I have a couple of AC fans kicking around and was considering going Blue Peter on the idea.
Anyway. Filter for the compressor. Suppose the first thing is to ID it and see what it is able to do.
It's up to you - I considered making a fume extractor as well. Thing is, if you have the right concentration of flammable vapour and an electric motor, it can obviously be a dangerous combination.Though I have a couple of AC fans kicking around and was considering going Blue Peter on the idea.
Anyway. Filter for the compressor. Suppose the first thing is to ID it and see what it is able to do.
jamieduff1981 said:
Whether using water based or enamel; you need the same ventilation and precautions for both. Both smell - they just smell of different things, and neither is like imbibing from the fountain of youth. An old cooker hood and carboard sides is ideal. My room is very small with a large vellum window directly over the workbench so I just use that and it's more than adequate - the smell doesn't travel through the house etc.
Part of my problem is sense of smell. None too good. And Asthma so preserving what I can. I will wear a mask.Been looking at the extractor cabinets/devices on offer vs the hassle of making sure I do not catch fire etc. and think I go for pre made. Mine was going to be based around a plastic packing crate bin with the fans fitted to the rear. Then the possibility of fire, as pointed out above, that meant filtering appropriately and checking the fans for compliance. So sod it, buy it ready made.
I bought myself a spray booth at Scalemodelworld last weekend. It cost me £73 in total and includes a filter and spare, a turntable and daylight lighting.
I thought that it was an excellent deal.
I haven't set it up yet as my model building will be taking a back seat until the end of January.
I thought that it was an excellent deal.
I haven't set it up yet as my model building will be taking a back seat until the end of January.
jmorgan said:
Part of my problem is sense of smell. None too good. And Asthma so preserving what I can. I will wear a mask.
Been looking at the extractor cabinets/devices on offer vs the hassle of making sure I do not catch fire etc. and think I go for pre made. Mine was going to be based around a plastic packing crate bin with the fans fitted to the rear. Then the possibility of fire, as pointed out above, that meant filtering appropriately and checking the fans for compliance. So sod it, buy it ready made.
as an asthmatic who can't smell, I know exactly where you are coming from. But my set up isn't that grand. Ventilation and good old newspaper. I know a booth would more than likely improve the quality of my finish, but cost-wise, it's not top of the list at present. A bodged together booth just may be worse than no booth at all, and that's before you factor electrics, so of you can afford one, I would suggest buying oneBeen looking at the extractor cabinets/devices on offer vs the hassle of making sure I do not catch fire etc. and think I go for pre made. Mine was going to be based around a plastic packing crate bin with the fans fitted to the rear. Then the possibility of fire, as pointed out above, that meant filtering appropriately and checking the fans for compliance. So sod it, buy it ready made.
Mutley said:
Ta. Added to my wish list. Will have to toss a coin later in the year but its nice to have recommendations.Wanted to get to Telford but could not make it.
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