Paint Booth fan location survey

All,

I built a free standing paint booth in my shop. Booth is 7.5X10X7. Pics attached. I was using 4 filtered box fans initially until we could get a hazardous materials (explosion proof) fan. My partner scored a 12" belt driven fan from a friend.

One of the issues we have been dealing with up to this point is schmutz (industry term for dust or any floating particle not invited to attach itself to the project). The other is suicidal bugs seemingly attracted to wet nitro. We always sweep, clean and fumigate before every session but sometimes **it happens.

Now that we are going to an OSHA friendly but smaller single fan, the question is where to put the fan in relation to the project.

Directly in front, below (pulls bugs and dust down through the project), above (pulls dust off the floor) or ceiling (same as "above").

Your thoughts........

Thx

With the work. This way the fan wont pull up or down and drag more floating debris into the guitar. OBTW... those bugs? I am convinced that all paint makers pack bugs under the label and they fly out in squadrons every time you use the paint:wink:
Good luck with your project,
Rob

man, dealing with nitro indoors is a challenge using primitive ventilation. I've yet to see a decently made "nitro paint booth" without still taking the risk... Do you have an updated picture of your booth? thanks

I know of body shop spray booth has an overhead exhaust and he wets the floor before spraying to settle dust and dirt, spraying automotive finishes, I dont know how the water evaporating would affect nitro, it doesn't affect his work

Mine is right next to the babies crib. So while I am smoking Ans spraying.. I can keep an eye on the baby

spraying the floor? I understand it lessens the dust, but what about the humidity the dampness creates? My buddy told me the flash point of the nitro vapor is less than the element! POOF!
I guess its outside for me with a fan blowing behind me and out the other side of my 8x8 shed-in-a-box from the depot..

The refinishers where I used to work use a downdraft spray booth; exhaust at bottom, draw filtered air from the top. Mind you, that's in an enclosed space. I've tried to duplicate that as much as I can in the garage by opening the attic crawl space (thru a furnace filter) ,open the main door a crack, and run fans outside that... Not perfect, but it seems to work.

I would think the goal would be to move air and draw fumes out. There is not a dust or dirt free way to set up a spray booth. The car shops that I know of and some of these are state of the art spray booths, the product still has to be sanded and buffed,because of dust or dirt. Most like to sand and buff regardless, gives it a better more consistent finish, as one guy told me it takes away that greasy look and gives it a more natural shine.

What is the fans size diameter and CFM? How large is your Plenum? Can YOU FEEL the air draw past your work area? (you shouldn't be able too, if so tTHATS why your getting so much dust.) Is there any way to have doors closing off the booth? if so they should be filtered too. By the look of your picture, I would say that you need more filter area in order to better "balance" the air/draw, I would ADD another 8 filters based on the look of your picture. You should be able to find some "booth" diagrams from Binks/Devilbis - online, for some ideas.
Jon