Body work mess management

[motormitch]

I could use some advice on how to manage the mess associated with body work in a nice shop setting. I was thinking of taking some industrial curtains that I have with some PCV pipe and build a portable enclosure, but I would rather use something more made for the job if it is not excessively expensive.

 

[Bill Bowman]

I use a broom. Air blow gun for the stuff that gets coating of dust, and a hose down once in a while. Don't over think the process. Bill

 

[Krash Kadillak]

Body work is messy. No getting around it - particularly the sanding part. From all the shops I've seen, the ones where the techs can sand outdoors seem to have a better handle on it. Indoors you need some type of suction vacuum device, and even then they aren't 100% effective.

 

[motormitch]

I use a broom. Air blow gun for the stuff that gets coating of dust, and a hose down once in a while. Don't over think the process. Bill

Bill, the problem is that I have a fully retractable cross draft paint booth in the same shop that is made from a transparent industrial vinyl. I would like to try to avoid getting a lot of dust on it because it is 30x14x10 and trying to get up and blow the top off is going to be a real pain. I also would like to do a lot of metal polishing on a large commercial polishing wheel and that spreads the buffing compound in the air as a fine black powder that is slightly greasy.

 

[ihredo4]

Only thing I can think of is putting up a partition wall to isolate the areas. I will be interested to see other thoughts.

 

[Falcon67]

Plastic drop cloths hung from PVC rails. Work outside. It's a mess, worse if you use a grinder.

 

[motormitch]

There are portable filtered and ventilated finishing booths, but they cost thousands. I 'm hoping someone here has a clever thought.

 

[gipraw]

I do all mine outside under the carport with a fan blowing out the door of the shop to minimize dust getting into the shop.

 

[motormitch]

I do all mine outside under the carport with a fan blowing out the door of the shop to minimize dust getting into the shop.

Problem with outside is Texas at 105....

 

[mayday0017]

Best bet is drop plastic from the ceiling secured and lay boards on the plastic to hold it down. Make two windows in the plastic and add box fans, one blowing in and one blowing out. Put HVAC filter on both of them this keeps the CFM the same so there won't be many issues with positive or negative pressures. And the air gets filtered before leaving the "room". It won't remove all of the dust from the air, but it will keep it from traveling around the shop. Clean the room as best you can before taking it down when you are finished.

 

[zmotorsports]

When I had my old shop at my parents house right out of high school I worked hard to keep the mechanical and the body sides of work seperate. Almost impossible, body work is simply too damn dirty. That fine sanding dust is like talcum powder and gets everywhere. I covered toolbox as well as tools and it seemed to find its way into every drawer and under drop clothes.

I eventually sectioned off the workshop with a wall down the middle and an oversized man door between the two. This didn't even completely remedy the issue. That **** finds a way in regardless.

Mike.

 

[creativecars]

You can separate the areas with inexpensive tarps sealed around the edges or sliding on a cable around the area you want to use (like hospital curtains) for the really dirty stuff. They are inexpensive and can be rinsed and cleaned when they get dirty. Pull them back or raise them up to sweep and clean the whole area. Fans are your friend... A sketch or picture of your area would be helpful.

 

[motormitch]

Here is the layout... Living space and paint booth are the large objects.

 

[JCQuick]

Well I use to sell bodyshop equipment and there are dust collection systems you can buy but they are pricey and you need to buy special DA's sanders and what not. The curtain idea you have will help but that stuff has a knack of getting everywhere

 

[metaleltr]

Use a cheese grater instead of sand paper to rough shape body filler. You can get panels straight faster and instead of dust you end up with strings of body filler. in order to do this you must cheese grate it before it has fully hardened. Wet sanding primer also help reduced dust.

Just get a cheese grater blade like this. No need to use the handles that they sell for them.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00002X1ZN/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[creativecars]

Use a cheese grater instead of sand paper to rough shape body filler. You can get panels straight faster and instead of dust you end up with strings of body filler. in order to do this you must cheese grate it before it has fully hardened. Wet sanding primer also help reduced dust.

Just get a cheese grater blade like this. No need to use the handles that they sell for them.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00002X1ZN/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Do better metal work and leave the cheese grater in the kitchen..... There is no reason to put filler on in a thickness to warrant shreading it off.

 

[lynnbilodeau]

Unfortunately, I don't think there is a really good low cost solution. Would like it if someone proves me wrong.

I painted my Z/28 in the garage last fall and winter. Every time I got ready to paint, Sherri and I would spend over an hour taking most everything out of the garage, sweeping, blowing, mopping. Then after tacking off whatever was being painted, we would go in the house and wait a couple hours for the dust to settle. Tack again and spray. Very labor intensive. I have a couple other car builds lined up after we build our workshop. As much as I love the diy, I may farm out the paint work.

If anyone has some good ideas for a temp paint booth, I am all ears.

BTW, the car came out great. No dirt in the paint.

 

[Marion3]

Do better metal work and leave the cheese grater in the kitchen..... There is no reason to put filler on in a thickness to warrant shreading it off.

Not a big fan of the cave it and pave it method eh.
Get ya some 36 grit on an air file and you can shoot a 20 foot rooster tail of bondo right out the garage door

 

[JCQuick]

Not a big fan of the cave it and pave it method eh.
Get ya some 36 grit on an air file and you can shoot a 20 foot rooster tail of bondo right out the garage door

My thoughts as well If you need one of those you have way to much dent.

 

[motormitch]

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Default Re: Body work mess management
Unfortunately, I don't think there is a really good low cost solution. Would like it if someone proves me wrong.

I painted my Z/28 in the garage last fall and winter. Every time I got ready to paint, Sherri and I would spend over an hour taking most everything out of the garage, sweeping, blowing, mopping. Then after tacking off whatever was being painted, we would go in the house and wait a couple hours for the dust to settle. Tack again and spray. Very labor intensive. I have a couple other car builds lined up after we build our workshop. As much as I love the diy, I may farm out the paint work.

If anyone has some good ideas for a temp paint booth, I am all ears.

BTW, the car came out great. No dirt in the paint.
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Here is the answer to space management I came up with. It is a retractable booth that gives me the best of both worlds. A top notch cross draft booth when I am painting and the space freed up for other uses when I am not.

 

[fwillison]

Nice booth! Where did you get it?

 

[motormitch]

Duroair in Canada

 

[Makoto]

I was a porter at a body shop years ago and there's no getting around it, the mess willl happen. The best thing I can think to do is used a covered area outside for easy cleanup.

If you absolutely have to work in your garage keeping stuff off the floor makes cleanup easy but don't try and use that same space for painting anytime soon cause you'll get all kinds of trash in the paint.

 

[gipraw]

Problem with outside is Texas at 105....

yes. that does ****. I try to time most of my larger projects to the cooler months because of that.

 

[RMR&C]

Tape a furnace filter to the suction side of a box fan. Turn it on the lowest speed pointing away from work area.
You will be amazed at how much dust you catch.
Also remember, if the filter can catch that much dust....how much is going into your lungs? You are wearing a respirator, right?

 

[motormitch]

Tape a furnace filter to the suction side of a box fan. Turn it on the lowest speed pointing away from work area.
You will be amazed at how much dust you catch.
Also remember, if the filter can catch that much dust....how much is going into your lungs? You are wearing a respirator, right?

I usually wear a simple dust mask.

 

[bellhorsepower]

I Like this thread as I have similar concerns with body and paintwork in my shop.

 

[motormitch]

I will definitely post what I am doing and how it works as I proceed. I would love to just buy a fully ventilated finishing booth, but that is almost as much as a paint booth. I'm going to call the company that I bought my paint booth from to see if they offer any low cost options.