Retractable Paint Booth

[Rensho]

New here. Cool stuff going on here. I like it.

My shop is an airplane hangar. I've got an airplane in the hangar, but it's a high wing Cessna, so it's easy to get around it for normal work.

However, I really want to build a paint booth. I'm thinking of doing something that can be retracted against the wall, since I'd definitely have to move the plane out when I'm using the booth.

Anyone ever build a paint booth that can be retracted or stored? Any thoughts or ideas would be much appreciated.

 

[Krodad]

http://www.chamtechsystems.com/spray-painting/videos-retractable-spray-booths

Not suggesting the systems in the above link are practical for an individual because they are still pretty expensive, but might give you some ideas.
I have direct experience with the versions used in precast concrete operations, and the system/concept is very slick.

 

[Ross/Kzoo]

I experimented with some PVC pipe and poly film for the cowl of my 28 speedster. I didn't realize that was so much stress on the assembly. With unlimited finances I would do one in 3/4" or 1" pipe and weld it. That way you can use clamps to secure the Visqueen.

 

[JakeKohl]

I've seen a company that has a retractable paint booth...~googling~...here it is:
http://www.duroair.com/

Warning; if you watch the video, you will be a little disappointed when Kelly steps in to explain more.

I have been considering some sort of curtain system that could be hauled up to the ceiling for my shop...never got really serious about it though.

 

[Krodad]

I've been considering for a while getting one of these...


http://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Tra...bucket_id=irsbucketdefault&findingMethod=p13n


or even a more traditional tent where I can seal it up with the zippered flaps, create an airflow/positive pressure in the tent, then open the flaps leaving the screen in place so bugs can't get in and land on the finished piece before it dries. Obviously not for cars or big items, but I do a lot of smaller things and furniture refinishing in warmer weather and can't stand it when I get a 6" trail with a fly at the end in my clear finish. I do have a fresh air mask so I'm not concerned about keeling over in it if it get's too foggy in there. Lighting is a problem I haven't figured out yet though. If I close it all up with the flaps in a tent, I would need lights inside, and that is too small a space to risk anything but sealed, explosion proof lights.

 

[Rensho]

http://www.chamtechsystems.com/spray-painting/videos-retractable-spray-booths

Not suggesting the systems in the above link are practical for an individual because they are still pretty expensive, but might give you some ideas.
I have direct experience with the versions used in precast concrete operations, and the system/concept is very slick.

That was the inspiration for what I was thinking of. However, I don't want to drop that kind of coin, and I'd really prefer to build it myself so it fits perfectly. Anyone here build one like that???

 

[Thumper68]

I have built 3 or 4 in different ways.

Quick and clean, pick up a couple of the tent/covers they sell at menards and use the 2 kits to make a frame big enough for your project and cover it with plastic sheeting, you can also find zippers and tape to seal it up.

I also built one by running rope from eyelets in the front and back walls and draping the plastic over it.

I use a old 12" duct fan in one end and a couple of furnace filters in the other to move air through the enclosure.

 

[sberry]

I have one,

 

[Krodad]

sberry I like the way those curtains roll up! So when you roll them up and down, does the rope "grip" enough to prevent chaffing of the curtain, or is there a little sliding going on? I guess I'm asking if there is much wear in those areas, or is that not even an issue?

 

[BirdRacer]

This is NOT mine, nor do the pics belong to me, but something I found on the web, possibly on here at one point. Something I would love to get around to building one day...

 

[Ross/Kzoo]

This is NOT mine, nor do the pics belong to me, but something I found on the web, possibly on here at one point. Something I would love to get around to building one day...

Now that is a slick setup!

 

[rippered]

I have always envisioned doing it like a shower curtain except with a track instead of a rod to ride on.

I have seen similar set ups like Sberry's which seem to work quite well.

 

[JakeKohl]

This is NOT mine, nor do the pics belong to me, but something I found on the web, possibly on here at one point. Something I would love to get around to building one day...

That is definitely slick...takes up about 4 inches of shop space on the wall when not in use.

 

[Rensho]

This is NOT mine, nor do the pics belong to me, but something I found on the web, possibly on here at one point. Something I would love to get around to building one day...

Now THAT is what I'm talking about!!! I like that one. I've got to figure out a way to do that one, but have a ceiling on it. My ceiling is like 30 feet high. Maybe I could just have some plastic draped over the tracks at the top.

 

[sberry]

When I did this I envisioned changing out the plastic and we used the **** out of it for a while, I figured every year or 2 etc, Its been there near 20 years now and the pipe just tumbles, it rolls, if I stage it on the ground and take the slack out it is super tight, even a windstorm thru is ok as log as its rolled up. The only place there is a ding is where someone leaned a light against it. It is just "gone" when stored and takes about 5 minutes to be paint ready and not much more to store. Here is a secondary benefit when doing equipment, I can open it and bring things in from the side.

I can put a whole tractor job in.

 

[cdsvt]

I've only done it once to paint a race car, so it was temporary, but 6 mil clear poly hung from the ceiling stapled to strapping to hold it taut and we misted down the floor with a hose prior to painting for dust control. It worked great. If I planned to paint anything large more than once every 5 years, I'd do the same thing sberry did.

 

[Ross/Kzoo]

When I did this I envisioned changing out the plastic and we used the **** out of it for a while, I figured every year or 2 etc, Its been there near 20 years now and the pipe just tumbles, it rolls, if I stage it on the ground and take the slack out it is super tight, even a windstorm thru is ok as log as its rolled up. The only place there is a ding is where someone leaned a light against it. It is just "gone" when stored and takes about 5 minutes to be paint ready and not much more to store. Here is a secondary benefit when doing equipment, I can open it and bring things in from the side.

I can put a whole tractor job in.

What mil visqueen do you use and what was used for the roller?

 

[BirdRacer]

Now THAT is what I'm talking about!!! I like that one. I've got to figure out a way to do that one, but have a ceiling on it. My ceiling is like 30 feet high. Maybe I could just have some plastic draped over the tracks at the top.

Yeah, I have scissor trusses and would need a ceiling on it also. I haven't spent time thinking of a way to do it yet.

 

[JakeKohl]

When I did this I envisioned changing out the plastic and we used the **** out of it for a while, I figured every year or 2 etc, Its been there near 20 years now and the pipe just tumbles, it rolls, if I stage it on the ground and take the slack out it is super tight, even a windstorm thru is ok as log as its rolled up. The only place there is a ding is where someone leaned a light against it. It is just "gone" when stored and takes about 5 minutes to be paint ready and not much more to store. Here is a secondary benefit when doing equipment, I can open it and bring things in from the side.

I can put a whole tractor job in.

Do you have something for tubes in the center of the rolls? That is a pretty neat way to go about it ... I don't have the ceiling or wall space to do anything else and that might work pretty well in my situation.

 

[cdsvt]

I'm just making stuff up, but you could use PVC pipe, or if it is less permanent, what about using those cardboard rolls they have inside carpets at the carpet store.

 

[JakeKohl]

I'm just making stuff up, but you could use PVC pipe, or if it is less permanent, what about using those cardboard rolls they have inside carpets at the carpet store.

I have a vinyl shop so I'm over-run with 54" long 3" diameter cardboard tubes...I was just wondering if smaller/bigger/none were options. I didn't think about PVC though...good thought.

 

[188slo50]

What mill plastic is being used, I'm really digging the one that drops from the ceiling?

 

[sberry]

Yes, a long carpet tube would work, I doubt a coupling for pvc would hurt, thinwall sewer pipe maybe? I had a 40 ft 5 inch irrigation pipe and I sorted till I got a straight one. For a shorter ceiling a 4 inch would work, 3 in 8 ft would proably be ok.

I used common 6 or 8 mill plastic,,, 6 I think and have 20 ft of it. I used 3 3/16 ropes and 6 pulleys to a common boat winch for the 40 ft and on the end wall just hand pull on the ropes as there is only 2.

I cant really help a lot with more pics but one end of the rope is tied in the ceiling, goes down around and back up to a pulley. I was going to be a smart azz and make it power with a limit switch but its so fast as it is just not worth it.

There has been one reman with the fan since I put this together and some weather strip but the whole fan and panels are sinstalled in my loading dock door and 6 wood screws removed allow it to come out with a 2 wheel hand cart.