To make sure any new paint job looks as clean as possible, the last thing you want is to wait hours for the surface to dry. The longer the paint stays wet, the greater the chance for something to come along and ruin your work. Even more importantly, you want to make sure you don’t start a fire or make the air in your shop too toxic to breathe. So, it is important to have an automotive paint booth that is not only properly isolated but also has the right ventilation system.
Automotive paint booths are designed to move a specific volume of air, which will cause a certain amount of restriction to the system – what they call “static pressure.” As this increases, the amount of air flowing in and out of the booth will decrease. This is why airflow should be properly managed in order for it to operate efficiently.
Automotive paint booths come in three major types: open-faced, pressurized, and non-pressurized. Here is a brief explanation of these types of booths:
- Open-Faced: This type of booth has three walls as well as one open end. Air is brought in through the opening and is pushed out through an exhaust located at the rear.
- Non-Pressurized: Unlike an open-faced booth, this is fully enclosed. Air is brought in through an inlet and is pushed out through the exhaust. Because there is no pressure being applied to the incoming air, you have no direct control over the air volume. While this could save on energy costs, it will most likely not be as effective.
- Pressurized: The airflow mechanism in this type of booth works in a similar fashion as the previous. The only difference is that some pressure is applied to the incoming air, so you have more direct control over the air volume. This will almost always be more effective than a non-pressurized booth.
Types of Airflow
Automotive paint booths come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Likewise, there are different types of airflow. They all have their advantages, as well as their disadvantages. So, you want to weigh these options carefully to find the one that is right for you.
Any automotive paint booth will have one of these three types of airflow:
- Cross flow: The air in these types of booths move from one end to the other in a horizontal direction.
- Downdraft: Unlike cross flow booths, the air in downdraft booths moves downward in a vertical direction (from the ceiling to the floor).
- Semi-Downdraft: These types of booths can be considered a cross between the previous two, as the air comes in from the ceiling and is blown out through one of the walls.
Pros and Cons
As I said before, all of these types of booths have both their advantages and disadvantages. That’s why it’s important to weigh your options carefully.
In any case, downdraft booths will be the most effective, as that will limit dry overspray and will keep any harmful contaminants away from you. But you might be in a situation where this isn’t an option for you. If that’s the case, there are some things you need to consider.
If you plan on using a cross flow or semi-downdraft booth, you need to be mindful of the direction of the airflow. You want to make sure you spray toward the exhaust, as that will keep any paint away from you. You also want to make sure you point the gun perpendicular to the surface you are painting, as that will limit the amount of dry overspray that can get onto an area that you don’t wish to paint.
There’s no doubt that having the right type of airflow can make a huge difference. Not only do you want the air to move in the right direction, but you also want to make sure it moves in the right amount and at the right speed. After all, we are talking about a significant expense. So, you want to make sure you get the right one, or it could cost you more money in the long run.
