Airbrushing indoors?

[Guest]

Me's thinking (can you hear the tic tocin') of the paint process here... if your spraying into the confined space of the box, the majority of paint particles should attach themselves to the model but overspray should hit the back of the box and (hopefully) stick. The big question is what's left in the immediate atmosphere to become potentially explosive? The remaining gases should be considered very carefully, therefore I will only use diluted acrylics and may double up with the extractor fans. As for filters, the solder fans seem a very good idea, but are they powerful enough to do the job? We shall see this weekend!

Take care guys and be safe!... now about those stockings...?

Chris

[Guest]

Well, I've bought the fume extractor from Maplins & 1st impressions are good. A rather unscientific test was performed by blowing cigarette smoke at it, & it sucks pretty good! I'll be using the AB tomorrow so I can see how it deals with real fumes! Patrick

[Guest]

Nice one Patrick

Can the front stand and housing be removed easily with the Maplin Extractor? Sounds like a good buy with adequate power, heh all eyes are on you to see how this pans out. I didn't get chance to go out today to make my purchases, though I hope to get out to B&Q and Maplin tomorrow. Thanks.

Chris

[Guest]

The stand can be removed but not the housing-that's integral & also contains the on/off switch so any booth will have to be built around it. Still, it's worth a go-at the very least it makes a good smoking filter! Patrick

[Guest]

Well, I borrowed the airbrush and compressor from my dad and got excellent results! I'm not sure if the people in the flat below were quite as happy though as the compressor is pretty massive and was shaking the floor, lol. Luckily I didn't have much to spray so it wasn't on that long.

As for the compressor, well, there's not much info on the motor itself. I think it's manufactured by Newmani (?) and it's a made in England jobby. The only date I can find on it is 1962 (!) but I'm not sure. Tbh it does look ancient. There's no info about its output apart from that it's a 1/2hp. It did the job anyway but if I'm going to do any more models I'll proably invest in a more modern model.

[Guest]

If it's made in england, then it's gotta be old Aaron! Glad to hear it was successful-I've got my new kit for Christmas & have managed to get the other half to give me my prezzie early! Gonna build my spray booth this weekend! Patrick

[Guest]

Am i right in thinking there are no fumes as such with acrylics?

Cheers

Wayne

[Guest]

There are fumes, maybe not as dangerous as enamels (I think) but there is still airborne particles and chemicals any of which are better for you outside of your lungs.

[Guest]

As Graham rightly says, fumes are present with acrylics. Because many people believe that acrylics are universally water-soluble, there aren't any harmful effects but that ignores the chemicals used to make them, much less the pigments floating in the fumes. Always follow the basic rules for painting-ventilation & protection. It may seem like the 'nanny state' but no-one should suffer for a hobby. Off my soapbox now! Patrick

[Guest]

So what about fumes from brush painting? Because at this time of the year it's to cold to sit next to an open window!

Cheers

Wayne

[Guest]

Well when you're brush-painting, it's not so much of an issue as the fumes from an open paintpot are small (as long as you don't put your nose down there & inhale!) The issue is more about the use of an airbrush & specifically the way the paint & thinner mix with the air into fine droplets. Also, there's much more of the stuff around when airbrushing.

Think of it like dabbing on a bit of aftershave before you go out, compared to choking when the missus squirts her perfume all over the place!

Patrick

[Guest]

Think of it like dabbing on a bit of aftershave before you go out, compared to choking when the missus squirts her perfume all over the place!

What a prosaic analogy :shhhh: But a very good one none the less lol The airbrush or spray can or spray gun are designed to throw a cloud, however small, of paint and thinners into the air, that is how they work. Some will stick to the intended object and some will go past and float around for a while. It is the floaty ones you need to be wary of.

With brush painting, there may be a bit of heavy spray from the bristles as you go over an edge and they flick. However, the heavy stuff just drops and does not stay airborne thus reducing the risk.

A simple question to ask with most things modelling is "Can I smell it?" If the answer is yes then you are breathing in fumes be it a safe amount or not.

Just to add something. Did you know that burning plastic gives off a lethal cocktail of chemicals? Be a bit careful when heating sprue for stretching.

Also one last thing.... if you drop a scalpel, don't try to catch it by closing your legs, it hurts :fool:

[Guest]

Completed home made Spray Booth

Well, what do you think? One number Marley Vent Axia secured to a deep container, wired up with inline on/off switch with 3amp fuse. So if something does happen - the plug fuse should go first before the house MCB board. 2.5m extractor hose for easy access to an open window. When not in use, it shall be used as the storage container for all my indoor modelling goodies.

I might refine the design to include the lid somehow. I have a solid black lid that I may (or may not) cut out a window and place a clear plastic polythene sheet over, that way limiting the fumes back into the room. However, this may obscure my vision into the container... Just a thought though - what do you think?

Cheers,

Chris

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[Guest]

That looks really good Chris, but I have one question-how did you cut the plastic box? It took me about a week to do mine as I found the plastic seemed to almost 'melt' from the friction which hindered the cutting action. In the end I drilled lots of holes to make it easier & used mastic to seal the extractor in tight. Patrick

[Guest]

I did exactly that, I drilled a series of holes around the template, minus the mastic seal as it was a very tight fit. With the hose and extractor fan panel in place, it was a tight enough seal, though the mastic is a good idea.

Chris