paint booth for small auto and moto parts

[mslim]

It seems like I'm always needing to paint small parts in my restoration projects. Good quality spray paint is getting around $15-20/ can plus it seems just as I'm getting near the bottom of the can it spits some blobs and ruins the work. Yes, I shake the can adequately and always clear and clean the nozzle after use.

The largest part would be about 30". Stuff like brackets, starter housings, instrument bezels etc. Generally a durable "New Part Black" semi gloss.

The booth could be field expedient like hardboard or corroplast or metal sheets just to keep overspray off the rest of the garage.

So I'm looking for suggestions for a small booth, a decent touch up size spray gun, and a compressor that would provide enough cfm and pressure for that gun plus a water trap and filter.

 

[The Cobbler]

cardboard box for the booth. the rest

 

[mslim]

cardboard box for the booth. the rest

Yep been doing that with the spray cans.

 

[chrismenke]

I have a small Paasche ducted airbrush booth with a lazy Susan. Prolly 2' wide, 18" deep and 18" tall.


90% of everything I've painted in the last few years has fit.

 

[PugetDude]

I use a wardrobe box to paint small parts Big enough for most of the stuff I paint, has a drop down front flap, folds flat for storage and you can hang parts from the clothes rod.

Use it until you feel like spending another $8 for a replacement.

Where are you spending $20/can for spray paint?

 

[matt_i]

I've had this idea floating around to make a sheetmetal updraft booth, squirrel cage fan (so the AC motor is outside the flow stream) and duct into the attic.

Makeup air would have to come from outside the shop, crack open a window and use furnace filters.

Then have a set of furnace filter "doors" that could be closed after the paint was shot to clean up some of the solvent-fumes while the fan still runs, then idle and let the paint finish curing..

 

[evh]

I have a large cardboard box like the others have mentioned. Sealed it up and cut two large square holes on either end. Placed a strong wire in the top for holding parts. On one of the cutouts I taped a high quality fabric furnace filter. I then place a cheap box fan next to that opening on slow speed blowing out. The fabric catches most all of the overspray. I look at the fan and find hardly any spray at all on it. I have used it about 10 times now with the same filter and it still has good air movement. I had all items laying around so cost was $0.

 

[racerex]

I'm OCD about getting overspray on everything....plus I'm doing a full body-off resto of a Corvette in my 18x24 and having to paint enough parts. My paint booth is a simple 10x10 pop-up tent with sides. I hang cheap disposable plastic drop cloths on the inside walls and ceiling. I use two small fans along the back for exhaust and cheap HF tarps on the ground...that I spray down with water, to keep the dust down. Setup and take-down is quick and easy. I used it last weekend to paint (prime, base and clear) a fender and bumper cover for my daughters car.....she tagged a pole in the crazy tight long-term parking garage at school a year ago and I finally had some time to fix it.

 

[racerex]

I've been thinking about a getting a larger compressor, but my small one has been fine so far. As for HVLP guns, the dirt cheap HF purple gun is pretty darn good. I have two of them.....I drilled out the tip on one of them to shoot high build and I use the other for sealer. For base and clear, the HF "professional" gun (like $65 with a coupon) is pretty good. That being said, it takes a little work to dial them in....and you have to clean them really well before using one for the first time....HF goes heavy on the oil and poor thread sealer.

 

[Slednut]

I have a booth that I put up every time I paint a car, it takes me around an hour to put it up but I always do buy new plastic each time. I'm sure a small one could be made that could be quickly erected for under $100.

If you want a dirt free pro finish and no over spray in your shop this is the way to go.

 

[txvwnut]

For bigger stuff that’s getting hit with the gun I’ll set my easy-up awning up and wrap it with cheap tarps from HF, pretty much the same idea as racerex. For smaller items I’m considering building a down draft table with filters in it catch the overspray.

 

[larry4406]

I have a booth that I put up every time I paint a car, it takes me around an hour to put it up but I always do buy new plastic each time. I'm sure a small one could be made that could be quickly erected for under $100.

If you want a dirt free pro finish and no over spray in your shop this is the way to go.

Looks like a pretty nice setup. Details please...

 

[M6erfan]

The issue with smaller box booths is 360° access to the part.

 

[bczygan]

The issue with smaller box booths is 360° access to the part.

Lazy susan?

 

[M6erfan]

Lazy susan?

Perhaps, but not all shapes lend themselves to resting on a platter. Hanging is much better for access from all angles.

 

[mslim]

I appreciate all the good suggestions here.

I have a nearly new Paasche H1 single action airbrush and a Makita MAC700 compressor. Do you think this combo would be of any use painting small parts like a headlight, starter or a control lever housing on a motorcycle?

 

[Robby321]

I did canvas (weld spark keeper inner) drapes around my weld booth and paint there. Has outside exhaust and no prob.

 

[MushCreek]

Perhaps, but not all shapes lend themselves to resting on a platter. Hanging is much better for access from all angles.

Shouldn't be all that hard to make a hook that you can turn from the top. Just have it stick out through the top of the mini-booth, with a knob/handle to turn it.

 

[Griff79]

Perhaps, but not all shapes lend themselves to resting on a platter. Hanging is much better for access from all angles.

Could you mount the lazy Susan upside down on the top. The part could be suspended from a wire and spun by rotating the disk?
Griff

 

[M6erfan]

Could you mount the lazy Susan upside down on the top. The part could be suspended from a wire and spun by rotating the disk?
Griff

Sure, why not? Just depends on how involved you want it to be. Could even motorize it, so it slowly spins. Control it with a foot pedal.

Sky's the limit.

 

[PCMusicGuy]

I have one of these I use for smaller things.
https://www.amazon.com/HomeRight-Shelter-C900051-Portable-Painting/dp/B01I1YI09O/ref=pd_lpo_60_t_2/144-0978584-2845637?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01I1YI09O&pd_rd_r=7613ced4-996c-46b9-a791-c5671c757225&pd_rd_w=kFac3&pd_rd_wg=PFIqA&pf_rd_p=7b36d496-f366-4631-94d3-61b87b52511b&pf_rd_r=R5C3C9JRWBVG8E688PM9&psc=1&refRID=R5C3C9JRWBVG8E688PM9

Coupled with a lazy susan or a overhead mount that spins works pretty well.

 

[sberry]

I use pallets and pallet boxes and floor jack to rig and can turn 360. But for small stuff might set up a tent in front of a window I could put a box fan in.

 

[evh]

I have one of these I use for smaller things.
https://www.amazon.com/HomeRight-Shelter-C900051-Portable-Painting/dp/B01I1YI09O/ref=pd_lpo_60_t_2/144-0978584-2845637?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01I1YI09O&pd_rd_r=7613ced4-996c-46b9-a791-c5671c757225&pd_rd_w=kFac3&pd_rd_wg=PFIqA&pf_rd_p=7b36d496-f366-4631-94d3-61b87b52511b&pf_rd_r=R5C3C9JRWBVG8E688PM9&psc=1&refRID=R5C3C9JRWBVG8E688PM9

Coupled with a lazy susan or a overhead mount that spins works pretty well.

In my cardboard box setup I just put a coat hanger wire through the top. Bent the top of it so it could be easily rotated. Easy peezy.

 

[sberry]

yes, could easily make some kind of hanging rotator, thats a pretty good idea.

 

[evh]

Here are pics of my setup. I have used it about 15 times so far and have yet to replace the filter. Works great for smaller items.

Pic 1 has arrows to the hook that holds the item and crank on the top that can actually be turned by hand while your are still painting
Pic 2 is a close up of the inside
Pic 3 shows the filter taped to the back
Pic 4 shows the box fan I use that I set up tight to the filter on the back. The green tape make sure all "suction" happens on the filter

Again, made at zero cost with materials I had on hand.

 

[seedtime]

I’ve made many small cardboard spay booths over the years. Some were just the box and lacy Susan, others were all decked out. But the upside-down mounted lazy Susan is a great idea I will certainly be implementing.

Lately the tailgate of my decommissioned trailer seems to be my go to for quick jobs. Close, outdoors, and overspray is not an issue.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Slednut]

Looks like a pretty nice setup. Details please...

It's made out of 1 inch PVC, the sides and door (that has the filters) are one piece, those have 90's at the corners and all other joints are like the one in the picture.

It has a 7700 cfm fan and an OSB vent that goes out the rear door of the shop. There are 12 20x20 filters in the door. I tie the center spine of the ceiling up so it doesn't sag.

 

[larry4406]

I have a booth that I put up every time I paint a car, it takes me around an hour to put it up but I always do buy new plastic each time. I'm sure a small one could be made that could be quickly erected for under $100.

If you want a dirt free pro finish and no over spray in your shop this is the way to go.

It's made out of 1 inch PVC, the sides and door (that has the filters) are one piece, those have 90's at the corners and all other joints are like the one in the picture.

It has a 7700 cfm fan and an OSB vent that goes out the rear door of the shop. There are 12 20x20 filters in the door. I tie the center spine of the ceiling up so it doesn't sag.

Slednut - thanks for the details. The tube notched tee/zip tie joint is pretty clever!

 

[isb cornbinder]

This is my disposable and foldable spray booth. It is a repurposed cardboard appliance carton. I bought the kitchen range hood from a Craigslist seller. ($40) The rotating base came from curb-mart. The "X" frame was a hospital laundry bag holder.
I am not the only member to make this set-up. Check evh.