A professional spray booth...
A professional spray booth will have a high-powered ventilation system, as illustrated by this modern down-draft spray enclosure. The booth seals the vehicle in a clean environment, feeding filtered air while drawing out harmful vapors and mist. The lighting is designed to provide a clear view of the finish as it is being applied.
The most common level of protection would include disposable gloves, lint-free paint coveralls (typically disposable), a cartridge-style respirator rated for the material being sprayed, and a full head covering sock. Especially nasty brews of paints may have requirements that exceed this level of protection, and may require full head-gear with a respiratory air supply. Precautions should be observed at all stages of paint handling, not simply while in the booth doing the actual spraying. This includes protection from contact and vapors during mixing.
Clearly, the health aspects here are the primary concern; however, there is also the consideration of minimizing the potential for contamination of the paintwork itself. Lint from street clothes, the oils from skin contact on the car's surface, or a stray hair or two can ruin the paint work in a hurry. Using the recommended protective gear will not only protect the paint applicator, but it will protect the paintwork at the same time.
| Difficulty Index - 5 Wrenches |
| Anyone’s Project: no tools required | 1 Wrench |
| Beginner: basic tools | 2 Wrenches |
| Experienced: special tools | 3 Wrenches |
| Accomplished: special tools and outside help | 4 Wrenches |
| Professionals Only: send this work out | 5 Wrenches |
Booth filters can become contaminated...
Booth filters can become contaminated and lose their effectiveness of providing clean air. Make sure the filters are clean and in good condition when contemplating a spray facility.
Detail paint guns are often...
Detail paint guns are often useful for tight areas where only a small pattern and modest amounts of paint or primer material are required. Even a very inexpensive conventional suction-feed touch-up gun is very useful in the restoration or refinishing process.
There are many consumable...
There are many consumable supplies that are used in the spray painting process. The most basic of these are disposable paint strainers and mixing sticks. These are usually provided free of charge at the paint retailer, and it pays to have an ample supply on hand.
Graduated mixing cups are...
Graduated mixing cups are often available from the paint supplier, with scales showing the ratio of each ingredient in mixing the final spray mixture. Clean containers to mix the paint components should be in ready supply when preparing to paint.
Many professionals will have...
Many professionals will have a separate gun for less critical work such as applying primer. This gun is equipped with a choke-style regulator including a pressure gauge at the air inlet. Additionally, there is a disposable air/moisture separator fitted to the air inlet, providing extra insurance against contamination.
Spray painting safety should...
Spray painting safety should always be taken seriously by utilizing the appropriate equipment. Here the paint technician is wearing a protective over-garment, along with a head covering sock, a respirator, and disposable gloves.