Replies

1. 
   gdcarpenter | Mar 06, 2006 04:40am | #1

   Contractor I once worked for built one. One of the other carps said he would wire it. All he wired got gutted. Seemed here in NC the inspectors wanted all wiring in metal cable, as, I gather, some kind of spark protection. Apparently needed an appropriate fan too, so no open armature sparks.

   Let's not confuse the issue with facts!

2. 
   Don | Mar 06, 2006 04:46am | #2

   You have to design it for explosive environments. Means all wiring in conduit. Electrical Boxes & switches all sealed so no vapors can get in them. Lights must be explosion proof. Motors must meet NEMA explosion proof standards. Must have sufficient exhaust & filtering to collect nearly all mists. You have to meet all OSHA & EPA requirements for exposure of people & VOC emissions.

   Other than that, it's a piece of cake!

   Don

   Don Reinhard
   The Glass Masterworks
   "If it scratches, I etch it!"
3. 
   junkhound | Mar 06, 2006 04:47am | #3

   Have done so for private use only in the 'far' past (simply a big blower and oilless comp for face mask supply) , do not think I'd even try to find out all the OSHA and EPA laws and regs now in effect on the west coast, more effort to comply than to build. Probably need a water wall here now, negative vents with air bags, etc. etc.

4. 
   RW | Mar 06, 2006 05:52am | #4

   I have, a couple, but I could write about a 3 volume book on the differences that the local jurisdiction makes in the equation. I've seen "legal" drywalled with box fans and not code compliant $20K prefab units. There are some non intuitive things you can do which are legal, explosion proof, code compliant most places, and less expensive than other options. The ones I know of deal mostly with lighting and venting. If you're going to build one email me what you're doing and I'll tell you whatever I know that pertains.

   And we'll talk about them trailers too!

   "A bore is a man who, when you ask him how he is, tells you." -Bert Taylor

5. 
   ponytl | Mar 06, 2006 06:58am | #5

   Spray booths are a can of worms...  everyone wants a say some places  like was posted... some have to have fire systems like a commercial vent-a-hood, all explosion proof fittings & switches... negative pressure, waterbath filters, seperation tanks ect...

   but if are just building one  and "it was here when i got here"  then you can build a drywall  framed space... down draft is usually best... ie suck the air our from the bottom... have your filterers up high...   a 30"  45degree cant where the walls meet the ceiling  build in 2 x 4ft drop in ceiling light fixtures seal the lens to the frame and gasket the frame to the fixture... large old vent a hood (commercial) fans move a alot of air... doors with grids that accept cheap standard size A/C filters (if you can you want to pull air from both ends you want everything to fall (overspray) you want filters where the air comes in and where it goes out (out to save your duct work & fan from build up)  a floor drain  is almost required and if your could you'd want to pull your air out from a floor grate thats just usually not an option in a home made booth..  but you will want to be able to hose it down for dust control... most automotive factory applied paints are now waterborn or so i've been told...    when i was 13-14yo there were 6-10 lines of warnings on a can of automotive paint... now you get MSDS on everything from the thinner to the paint to the hardner.... might be why i have this twitch now now now now now.....  

   comes down to keep'n dust down, fresh filtered air in... overspray airborn & out... and alot of light...  depending on where you are.. a source of heat might be needed... even if you just use it to warm everything before you spray... and then use it after you are finished....I'm sure booths have blown up but i've never seen it, we use to warm ours with those heaters that sit on top of 60lb propane tanks... open flame...

   or as we use to...  plastic draped from ceiling down to floor, wet everything down... a line of ac filters pressed between the btm of the garage door and the floor... and a shop fan blow'n out the walk in door with cardboard seal'n it up to the jam... and a wet rag over our face... the color we were shoot'n would have a direct affect on the color of the rocks you'd pull from your nose after...

   p