discussion Newly promoted workstation!

[Gern]

Hi Vaughan.

Just a thought on venting your spray box. Would a condenser box that is used for tumble dryers work?

Gern

 

[Guest]

You are not alone mate, I have to do that as well.....

Nice one. I don't even have a corner in a shed, all my stuff is packed away and I have to get everything out and set it all up each time I want to do some work on a model

 

[downscale model art]

right thats it. im dragging my lazy step son down to the army recruitment office. that bedroom will be mine!

 

[Guest]

Nice one Vaughan, looks cosy and practical.

 

[Vaughan]

Hi Vaughan.Just a thought on venting your spray box. Would a condenser box that is used for tumble dryers work?

Gern

Dave that could be an idea not sure where you would get one from or what they look like.

Still in the early stages of settling in here so will have to experiment where things will go.

 

[Gern]

Dave that could be an idea not sure where you would get one from or what they look like.Still he early stages of settling in here so will have to experiment where things will go.

Hi Vaughan. This is the kind of thing I was thinking of:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/White-Knight-Universal-Tumble-Dryer-Indoor-Condenser-Vent-Kit-Box-With-Hose-/150920641871?pt=UK_Irons_Presses&hash=item2323923d4f

As far as I know you add a small amount of water which acts to condense the water out of the air from the tumble drier. I just thought that might absorb any particles of paint from your spray booth - especially as you use acrylics - although you might need to use some tissue or similar around the outlet vent of the box to catch any paint that doesn't get caught in the water.

Gern

 

[Guest]

Dave that could be an idea not sure where you would get one from or what they look like.Still he early stages of settling in here so will have to experiment where things will go.

Hmmm. Not sure a condenser would work. When the (liquid) solvent in enamel and lacquer paint comes out of the AB nozzle, some lands, as liquid, on the model with the paint, but some must evaporate (else why the smell or the need for a spraybooth). At normal room temps. and air pressure, the evaporated solvent (white Spirit or Cellulose Thinners) will remain a gas, and the only way to condense it to a liquid would be to cool it to its condensation temp. Certainly, for white spirit and cellulose thinners, that temp. is below normal room temp., so it would probably not condense in a simple clothes dryer condenser, especially before it was blown out of the condenser. (The condenser must obviously have its own vent to allow a through current of air).

With acrylics, which are water based, if the smelly stuff is also water based, then perhaps it would condense. After all, water vapour from a clothes dryer does condense otherwise the condensers would not work. But acrylic paint might contain other solvent-like chemicals (mixable with water of course) which have a condensing temperature below room temp. (Smelly things are like that.)

We have a dehumidifier which reduces condensation in one of our rooms. It works by blowing the room air through a mini refrigerator (which is why they are quite expensive). The water in that cooled air condenses out into a tank. So that indicates even if acrylic paint solvents were like water, you would probably need a refrigerating condenser.

I think I saw a statutory statement somewhere that said the acrylic modelling paints were not hazardous to health. So why a spraybooth in the first place? Perhaps just to prevent smelling out the house? A clothes peg on the nose might be a cheaper solution (for acrylics)!

 

[Guest]

Had a similar problem in my room Vaughan. I bought extra ducting coupled the two up. Gives about 10 feet in length. If you do not want it trailing around it concertinas into next to nothing. Stiil works perfectly even with the extra length.

I also built a little table just a bit larger than the spray unit. A bit nearer the window and also kept all the paint stuff away form my work top.

Laurie

Edit. Depends on the manufacturer of the Acrylics Steve. Some have solvents not water based. Even Vallejo which is said by Vallejo Model Air to be OK. But a number of the paints have warning on them as having chemicals which are not healthy.

Plus put a dob of Vallejo thinners on plastic. It dries with a residue. That residue I am not to keen on drifting down my throat into my lungs.

 

[Vaughan]

Thanks for the idea Gern. will look into it. Laurie that's another solution adding extra ducting hose will look into the price of the hose.

 

[Guest]

Vaughan you can get the optional kit with hose at £14:95 on Amazon.

Alternative you can get from B & Q and Builders merchants an oblong section about 4*2 inches which can be parked along side a skirting. There are joints which convert round hose to oblong. Gives a much better look and does not affect the working state of the ventilation.

Laurie

 

[ojays]

When spraying, be it full size or airbrush, solvent or acrylic there is always an element of airborne spray dust be it wet or dry.

The spray booth is there to limit the amount of that airborne dust, also has the benefit of pulling the excess overspray away from your model.

How soon a (condenser) would clog up with the spray dust I don't know, as it would be a lot finer in particle than lint & dust off washed clothing.

Just my own thoughts.

Gregg

 

[Guest]

Hi Gregg not sure what you mean about a condenser ?

The spraybooth does have a filter before he air is extracted to the outside.

Laurie

 

[Vaughan]

Laurie Gregg is referring to the condenser box that Gern suggested.