Paint Booths

[ejm1961Tbird]

A lot of guys on GJ have described some clever ideas for temporary paint booths. In this thread, let's see your permanent paint booth.

Please show us the permanent paint room you constructed in your garage, or your store-bought paint booth. Lots of pics and details! I'm especially interested in hearing from people that have lots of experience painting cars.

School me on how to put an economical, quality paint booth in my garage. I'm planining to dedicate up to 14'x30' for a paint booth. Thanks.

 

[brownbagg]

there was a guy here that had a wall that unfolded from the existing wall that I thought was great

 

[VairKing]

This is on my list of things to do in the near future. I am thinking 14x as long as I can stand it inside my 32x43 unfinished section of pole barn. 2x4 stud walls, 10' ceilings (maybe less, haven't given ceiling height much thought yet) Not sure about insulation or not, I don't do much painting in the winter, but maybe would if it was insulated. It will have heat, because of the early spring and late fall paint jobs I find myself doing. Inside walls will be caulked and painted OSB, the plastic stuff is nice but too expensive. I will probably use standard fluorescent lights mounted outside the booth shining through plexiglass windows. I would love to build a down flow system, but have not quite figured out how to do that on top of my existing floor. Maybe someone has done it and can show me the light!

My temporary booth (well its 8 years old now) is made from a 10x20 tent with plastic sides. It works very well.

 

[PCO6]

there was a guy here that had a wall that unfolded from the existing wall that I thought was great

This is not mine but it might be the one you are thinking of. I was impressed and saved the photos for my "To Do" list.

 

[sfm1951]

ejm1961tird,
Are you going to do this as a business or home use only.My boy worked for a shop that closed and he is starting a shop of his own. He is using part of my shop to do it. Any booth you put up homemade or factory has to meet
UL/ETL rating to pass insurance. We went to Montana from Minnesota and bought a used Future Cure 14X26X9 down draft with the heated air makeup and bake. We paid $5,5000 and had to take it down. We had to pour the pit and a tunnel for the air and heat make up. So before you do this make sure it will pass insurance company requirements. I don't know the regulations there. They have all kind of requirements. You have to jump through there hoops. Just my 2 cents worth, Steve

 

[TommyK]

Scroll about half way down on this thread to see the expandable garage booth I think the OP is referencing.

http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/heres-my-paint-booth-203193.html

 

[matt60j]

Heres the start of mine. Its complete now. I'll dig up some more pics when I get a chance. -MATT

 

[sberry]

I would be hard pressed to build in a permanent booth unless I had to have one, I had considered it and glad I didn't. Its easy to over estimate the need for it unless you are in the business full time. I go in spurts but can go a long time without doing a full paint job.
For small stuff I often don't bother doing full setup which takes me about 10 minutes, pull next to the fan and spray.

 

[sanddan]

My paint booth is purely for DIY projects, mostly smaller jobs. Its 15' x 18' with one end open and does double duty as storage for my toys. I installed an air filter and regulator just for the paint booth and an exhaust fan.

 

[1steve]

Scroll about half way down on this thread to see the expandable garage booth I think the OP is referencing.

http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/heres-my-paint-booth-203193.html

Now that is slick, thanks for posting.

 

[ejm1961Tbird]

ejm1961tird,
Are you going to do this as a business or home use only.... Any booth you put up homemade or factory has to meet
UL/ETL rating to pass insurance. ... You have to jump through there hoops. Just my 2 cents worth, Steve

Hi Steve,
My painting will be strictly for hobby work; restoring cars. I do need to check on the regulations for insurance in my area. I want a booth that is safe for my lungs and the environtment, and allows me to have my shop insured.

 

[ejm1961Tbird]

Heres the start of mine. Its complete now. I'll dig up some more pics when I get a chance. -MATT

That looks awesome Matt. Can you please share the details when you get a chance?

 

[BBBC23]

ejm1961tird,
Are you going to do this as a business or home use only.My boy worked for a shop that closed and he is starting a shop of his own. He is using part of my shop to do it. Any booth you put up homemade or factory has to meet
UL/ETL rating to pass insurance. We went to Montana from Minnesota and bought a used Future Cure 14X26X9 down draft with the heated air makeup and bake. We paid $5,5000 and had to take it down. We had to pour the pit and a tunnel for the air and heat make up. So before you do this make sure it will pass insurance company requirements. I don't know the regulations there. They have all kind of requirements. You have to jump through there hoops. Just my 2 cents worth, Steve

I agree with Steve. Zoning laws may come into effect even if it is for your own personal use. It only takes one disgruntled neighbor & the EPA or OHSA can shut you down with a hefty fine. So take the necessary steps to keep compliant. With todays paints & activators your health well appreciate it also

 

[ejm1961Tbird]

I would be hard pressed to build in a permanent booth unless I had to have one, I had considered it and glad I didn't. Its easy to over estimate the need for it unless you are in the business full time. I go in spurts but can go a long time without doing a full paint job.
For small stuff I often don't bother doing full setup which takes me about 10 minutes, pull next to the fan and spray.

Hi sberry,

Yes, giving permanent space to a paint booth when you don't use it very often is a big consideration. ...and I know I would only use one now and then for car restorations. I was originally planning for a 30x48 garage, but now think that I want a 30x60 so that I can dedicate one bay to a paint booth. I was thinking that I would build or install a booth in the last bay. When I was not painting, the space could be a place to park a finished car.

 

[ejm1961Tbird]

My paint booth is purely for DIY projects, mostly smaller jobs. Its 15' x 18' with one end open and does double duty as storage for my toys. I installed an air filter and regulator just for the paint booth and an exhaust fan.

Hi sanddan,

It looks like your booth is in the back corner of your shop. I am considering the same. Does your exhaust fan vent to the outside? Do you have any filters for air in or out of the booth? Thanks for posting.

 

[BBBC23]

Another thing that has to be considered is the area or building that this paint booth would be installed in. Air quality & contamination are very important when painting. If mechanical work is being done where a lot of oils,grease,silicone sprays,etc are used, painting will be difficult. Ask any painter about this & they will tell you they don't mix.

I don't mean to put a cloud over your project, I would just hate to see you go through all the work & expense & not have it work out as planned, Good luck & Happy Painting

 

[ejm1961Tbird]

Another thing that has to be considered is the area or building that this paint booth would be installed in. Air quality & contamination are very important when painting. If mechanical work is being done where a lot of oils,grease,silicone sprays,etc are used, painting will be difficult. Ask any painter about this & they will tell you they don't mix.

I don't mean to put a cloud over your project, I would just hate to see you go through all the work & expense & not have it work out as planned, Good luck & Happy Painting

Hi BBBC,

You are not putting a cloud over my project, I appreciate your feedback! So, for the experienced car painters out there, what do you think? If you have a properly built and enclosed paint booth, can you do a good job painting cars if the booth is in the same building where you perform mechanical and fab work? How about if the last bay of the garage with the paint booth was walled off from the rest of the shop, with a separate overhead door entry? Thanks.

 

[sberry]

If you are going for this go 40x60, sq ft price is more economical and 30 is too narrow. Anything along the walls crowd 2 cars wide. Buildings like this need wall space, as important as floor space or work area, this allows for putting tools, benches etc along walls.

 

[ejm1961Tbird]

If you are going for this go 40x60, sq ft price is more economical and 30 is too narrow. Anything along the walls crowd 2 cars wide. Buildings like this need wall space, as important as floor space or work area, this allows for putting tools, benches etc along walls.

I am planning (at this time!) for a 30'x60'x12'6" garage with one 18x10 overhead door flanked by two 10x10 overhead doors on one 60' wall. There will be attic trusses and a 14x60 room on the second floor. The idea is to put the paint booth behind one of the 10x10 doors, so I think that a 30x60 will work for me.

When I first started looking at GJ, I was planning a 24x30 garage. Then it grew to 30x40, and next 30x48. Now I have the crazy idea of having a paint booth in my garage, so I am planning for a 30x60!

 

[matt60j]

That looks awesome Matt. Can you please share the details when you get a chance?

Thanks. Booth is 16x24. 10ft high. 12 double t8 fixtures. 4 in each side wall. 4 in the ceiling. They are on seperate switches. They are covered with lexan frames and siliconed. I have a 2 speed fan with sealed motor. 6 2x2 filters in the front and filtering the air going out. Its pretty bright and I am very happy with the way it turned out. I live on 2.5 acres with woods around so no neighbor issues. I'll post finished pics and pics of my buddys 72 chevelle were working on. It is BAD *** to say the least. My 65 is next in line. -MATT

 

[ejm1961Tbird]

I look very forward to pics of your booth and the cars, Matt! Thanks!

 

[Full Size 66]

My compliments to anyone who is doing their own spray booth. I hate the mess and hazard. I will do a bit of prep and body work but not full paint jobs. There are people who get paid to do this by people like me.