painting at home

[jus1975]

Can someone get a professional job without a top notch paint booth. Is it possible to make a temporary paint booth in my garage. Something that is removable after painting.

[Happyfunballs]

I made a downdraft booth out of my 19X24 garage at my old house, but it involved cutting a hole in the back of the garage and a hole in the ceiling on the opposite side. It had superb flow with a 36" box fan. I turned out great looking jobs all the time. Although, you've got to be aware of the overspray. It will go down the side of the house if your not careful. Plus, it help to have cool neighbors.

[TRILOGYZ28]

painted in my 2 car garage, no booth whatsoever.
i just wet down every possible thing with water to keep the dust to a minumum.



garage pictured in the background of this pic.

[jus1975]

What did you guys use for an air dryer? I have painted a few times with some tutoring but in a downdraft, heated booth. So I'm spoiled. What did you guys use for heat?

[TRILOGYZ28]

What did you guys use for an air dryer? I have painted a few times with some tutoring but in a downdraft, heated booth. So I'm spoiled. What did you guys use for heat?

I used a home furnace turned up to 85-90 degrees after i shoot my last coat of clear and its past being tacky.

furnace pictured in the upper left corner of this pic.

[Happyfunballs]

I used a propane "salamander" before my base coat and before each coat of clear. I painted this in my garage.

[TRILOGYZ28]

I used a propane "salamander" before my base coat and before each coat of clear. I painted this in my garage.

lol !
just don't use the kerosene version.....can you say "FISHEYE" lol !

[TRILOGYZ28]

I used a propane "salamander" before my base coat and before each coat of clear. I painted this in my garage.

SIK s-series happy !!!

[Happyfunballs]

Thanks!! Hope you use plenty of fish-eye remover in your mix.

[NOT A TA]

I've painted several cars outside in my backyard on a dirt driveway. I get everything ready and wait for the right day (usually a sunday because there's less airborne particles floating around in early spring or late fall in new england)then start first thing in the morning and then put the car in heated garage for a day.
You'd never be able to tell they were painted outside on dirt if you looked at them. No one believes me when I tell them. This is a recent pic of a car I painted in the early 90's with PPG acrylic enamel.

[Satatic]

I just put a furnace fan on a base and have a plastic filler piece that I put in the service door with a cutout for the fan. Put a furnace filter infront of the fan to catch the overspray so it doesnt end up on other cars. Sweep up what I can. No water because that increases the humidity and causes the clear to clump. Might get some tiny hairs in your paint or something but it all sands out in the end.

I tried hanging plastic and stuff before but unless you have a large garage its just to much of a hassle to have that stuff blowing in at you or on your car while you paint. Plus I don't think it really does anything or improves the quality of the paint.

I also just use one of those 3m organic resperators. The fan really pulls all the fumes out where I can take it off very soon after painting and not smell anything. I would like to add a couple more fans though to help pull overspray away just to make it a little bit better.

[jus1975]

What did you guys use as an air dryer?

[Happyfunballs]

Air dryer? Mother Nature.

[jus1975]

I mean to dry the compressed air and remove oil, dirt, moisture before it reaches the gun.

[63SW]

I use a KEROSENE salamander with K-1 in the winter time ...No fancy air driers , Just a good fan to pull out the fumes and overspray hanging in the air.

I PERSONALLY WOULD NEVER EVER EVER use FISH EYE ELIMINATER -and i have no problems with fisheyes- NONE !
THAT STUFF IS JUNK !
Clean your car & equiptment good, YOU DONT NEED THAT IN MY OPINION !

I like it around 70-75deg.

USE A GOOD HVLP, more material on the car than in the air!

CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN the garge from top to bottom...

Wrap a chain around the axle or some part of the chassis to the floor for static...

Cover tool boxes , and all important items with Clean sheet plastic...

I do it all the time !

heres a couple !
I just sold the 70 chevelle in PF for 18K ...sold the vega last year at Indy SC ...
I still have the Blown 72 Camaro , and the white 69 Pontiac ( i built it for my other half- KEEPS HER OUT OF MY STUFF ) ..LOL

GOOD LUCK ,

[63SW]

Heres another tip ...ANYONE can spray a average to good paintjob ( IF THE BODYWORK & PREP IS NICE ) but a quality job will come in the finishing work and its time consuming and Trying...

WETSANDING AND BUFFING !!!

we start with 2500 , if that doesnt cut it , we go to 2000 ...Start with the finest and go till you see what removes the imperfections...

It will make life easier on you and will buff easier as well....

Sometime we finish with 3000 ...

[jus1975]

What about water and containments in the air line?

[indyjps]

there are many air line filters on the market. I use ne from Harbor freight for everyday use. I hook up one from, I think McMaster Carr when I paint with a new airhose after the filter. Ive never shot an entire car in my garage but Ive done panels, patch in jobs, firewall/interior. lay on plenty of clear so you have room to sand any imperfections.
I dont recommend doing this in attached garages.
another thing to consider is the fan. I took a squirrel cage fan and seperated the blower from the motor and drove it with a belt and idler so the fumes arent drawn through the motor and have a chance of creating combustion.
Having the furnace in the garage offers the same issue. blowout the pilot until youre done painting.

[63SW]

At your automotive paint store , or harbor tool , they have what we call Golf balls for your paint gun...
Its a round filter just a bit bigger than a golf ball and it screws to the end of your paint gun .. They're about $ 4 and work great.

your paint gun , then your regulator / gauge ( if you dont have a digital gun ) and then the golf ball filter.
you can even double up on the filters , but you dont need to !

[fastiroc]

I use a inline regulator and moisture trap, but I also use a mini dessicant filter on my gun. It has blue pellets inside and when they turn pink, it is time to change it. You can find them at your paint supplier store.