$10k inflatable paint booth vs. fleaBay China best?

[Dad Was A Racer]

The American/Texas made inflatable paint booths from Mobile Environmental Solutions are about $10 grand. Even though they're made about 30 miles down the road, that's a big chunk of change for me to learn how to paint in.

https://www.mobileenvironmentalsolutions.com/portable-paint-booth/#23

I'm wondering if any of you here have first-hand experience with the Chinese-made copies being sold on fleabay for less than $2k? I know you always get what you pay for, but for a home-shop hobby guy, is there really $8 grand difference in them?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/26x13x10Ft...080058?hash=item1ed128063a:g:jK8AAOSwfrJZ3D3~

My biggest concern is the safety of the cheapo, ie proper ventilation. I don't what to die from asphyxia to save $$. Wondering if you can save on the structure by buying the cheapo, and upgrade it with the quality filters, etc. of the better unit?

 

[mike93lx]

you can learn to paint with a tarp and a way to hang it. not sure why spending $10k would be something I would consider when just starting out with a hobby. Even $2k is a lot to start with.

 

[kctyphoon]

For 10 grand you can probably build a building.. if you want cheap - what about a cheap car port kit and taping the side together?? No way I'd spend 10 grand on an "inflatable building".

 

[zendriver]

I painted my first vehicle, inside a corn crib, using plastic sheeting and a box fan.

Other than the mosquitos sticking to the paint and the water drops from compressor condensation, the job turned out pretty good.

You need some air flow and don't even think about painting without a respirator.

I would not waste money on that since inexpensive options are available.

 

[jshillin]

Yeah, if you are just learning, you don't need that... I see paint booths pop up from time to time on craigslist for decent prices. You can also build your own.

 

[jakemac]

1x3 strapping for a frame and a roll of plastic sheeting is all you need to get started. It's much cheaper and easier to take down when you're done.

 

[dkroth]

Texas is a long way from Rochester, but this guy is accepting reasonable offers.


https://rochester.craigslist.org/tls/d/carcoon-workstation-paint/6567192848.html




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[toolenthusiast]

I'm wondering if any of you here have first-hand experience with the Chinese-made copies

Nope, but plenty of people have unsolicited financial advice.

 

[SilverBulletZ06]

For 10 grand you can probably build a building.. if you want cheap - what about a cheap car port kit and taping the side together?? No way I'd spend 10 grand on an "inflatable building".

This.

 

[Danglerb]

You can't find anybody local that will rent you some booth time?

 

[kctyphoon]

Nope, but plenty of people have unsolicited financial advice.

Ok, if the time comes you're wondering if it's a good idea to buy an INFLATABLE garage - we'll be sure to say it sounds like a great idea..

Let's sit back and watch the first hand experience roll in, cause I'm sure they'll be a ton since it seems like a solid idea.. worst case I guess you could rent it out and do some kids birthday parties right next to the bouncy house.

 

[Jim c]

I think he is worried about proper ventilation using contemporary paint packages. Today, as opposed to back when we were all learning, the paints use a mix of isocyanates (the little bottle called hardener) which are a very big safety concern when you are mixing and especially while spraying. You really do need proper ventiation for your personal safety. Probably best to work in the field where you will gain access to state of the art booths.

 

[zendriver]

Nope, but plenty of people have unsolicited financial advice.

So, what's wrong with that?

A lot of newbies get sucked into thinking they have to spend a Ton of money to get in to a project they don't even know if he'll even like.

You've never tried to give good advice, to someone who didn't specifically ask for it?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[alexb2000]

I believe trying to start out right is a good attitude.

Two of the biggest problems with painting in a garage or carport are lighting and ventilation:

If you can't see the paint as it flows out you will either leave a bunch of dry spots or have runs. I bashed my head against the wall for years in slap together booths trying to deal with this. Given the choice between painting in one of those or outside, I'll take outside and I believe the results would be better. You have to have enough light especially on the sides of a vehicle to see, yet not have any glare or shadows.

Ventilation is also makes seeing what you are doing really tough when you have overspray fogging up the air. Getting enough airflow through the booth is critical, and it has to be through large openings so that it doesn't effect the paint. Look at the wall of filters both inlet and outlet on a commercial booth.

One last point, IMO, most all of the dust in the paint comes from the vehicle. If you don't have a top end downdraft booth, then you have to make sure the entire vehicle top, bottom, engine bay, inside the fenders, cowl panel, etc. is REALLY clean. I pressure wash them at least two times, scrub all the fenders, door jambs, etc. and that has done wonders keeping dust out of paint jobs done outside of a commercial booth.

If you don't want to spend the $10K and you don't mind doing some work here is an idea that I think has some merit, building a PVC frame. It would take some work to figure out the lighting and ventilation, but it would be collapsable.

https://formufit.com/pages/pvc-spray-paint-booth

 

[sberry]

For people wanting to paint go to this easy read, there are a few pages, not a lot of fancy math to remember but try to get the idea and the principles, the concept.
http://finishingacademy.com/training/aero/aero_mod3/aero_mod3_intro.html
That pvc link is about how to frame with plastic pipe, it does nothing toi train on how it works and how to paint. In some garages and rooms may not need any framing, some may need to be divided especially if there is heating equipment running.

 

[shepherd]

Seen a few posts about people that rent those small moving containers from Home Depot or similar...line the walls and floor with plastic, box fans to vent...if you have the room and don't want to store it if used only occasionally, might fit the bill.

 

[gte718p]

Back in the day, one of the clean room techs at GT taught my team how to make a clean room out of PVC, plastic wrap, air filters, a box fan, and duck tape. It is good enough you can certify it. It is how they move large pieces of equipment into and out of clean rooms.

We built one to do the layup and painting of our solar car. It is much less then $10k and folds into a nice small package. The last time I did one to paint my 4runner, I used a $200 portable garage tent and plastic wrap.

As mentioned, proper ventilation is important. You need to ensure you have enough air moving through. If you are using some of the nastier paints a full body suit and supplied air is strongly recommended.

 

[sberry]

The paint and fumes don't care if its 200$ or 2000 or 10K. Filters don't do anything for safety. There are 12 short pages in that link I posted, they will apply to basically all paint booths and venting/clearing rooms. A little of this theory applies to clean rooms, they are positive pressure where a paint booth is negative.
You cant even smell it outside this booth when its running. I don't even have filters in the intake which is above the end and makes for downdraft. I have furance filters in front of the fan to keep some overspray from sticking to it. There really isn't any "frame" to this and the fan pulls the corners and edges closed. I have probably painted a hundred big jobs in it. It clears so well that overspray doesn't stick to the walls or anywhere but a bit of the floor and fan filters.

 

[Parrothead]

1x3 strapping for a frame and a roll of plastic sheeting is all you need to get started. It's much cheaper and easier to take down when you're done.

^^^THIS^^^

Plastic sheeting and a box fan is much easier (imho), and way cheaper.