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Hey guys,

I recently got an airbrush and plan to set up a studio in my garage. One item that I need is an airbrushing booth. I was planning to buy one off amazon for around $80.


While it would be easier, its kinda expensive considering I don't have a job. I've seen people make them before, so I was considering doing that.

Does anyone have past experiences? Tell me what you think I should do.

I've been looking at making my own vs buying one and would be interested in anyone who has done either or both's suggestions also.

The DIY solution seems to be an extractor fan mounted in a plastic box, with some level of bodged filter.

The cheapest method, of course, is to park your desk in front of a window, open the window, put a big box fan in the opening, and frame it with a large cardboard box.
But that isn't always convenient, or necessarily a good idea in the middle of winter or summer when it comes to saving money on your heating/AC bill.

That portable one shown above? Keep checking it on Amazon from different sellers. Sometimes they go on sale for half price.

I have the one you are considering, it's pretty good and I haven't had an issue with it in the 3 years I've used it.

Folds up very compact if storage is an issue, although I usually keep mine open. There is a slightly cheaper one by the same company that doesn't come with the hose on the back which can easily be replaced with some simple HVAC fittings from a hardware store.

The walls aren't entirely opaque either so they do a good job of diffusing any light sources that get close.

 Tannhauser42 wrote:
The cheapest method, of course, is to park your desk in front of a window, open the window, put a big box fan in the opening, and frame it with a large cardboard box.
But that isn't always convenient, or necessarily a good idea in the middle of winter or summer when it comes to saving money on your heating/AC bill.

The bigger problem can be that if it's windy outside, the wind is going to beat your fan, so if a gust of wind blows through your window as you're spraying you're gonna get a face full of fumes.

I found building one myself isn't really a hell of a lot cheaper overall, but it let me just use a big fan I already owned. I've heard with the one you linked, when you have the narrow outlet and filter attached it doesn't suck enough. Not sure if that's true, but it's what put me off buying one.

I have been thinking if we even need a booth at all.

I mean if we are using acrylics, they are non toxic so there aren't any fumes, right? I can see the point with enamels and lacquers or varnishes, but for plain old Gw or Vallejo pain it seems unnecessary.

 Phobos wrote:
I have been thinking if we even need a booth at all.

I mean if we are using acrylics, they are non toxic so there aren't any fumes, right? I can see the point with enamels and lacquers or varnishes, it seems unnecessary.

This does come up a lot, rather than writing a long response I'll try and find one of the old threads.

Considering the nature of manufacturing today, I don't trust any paint to adhere to any toxicity standards. And something can be non-toxic and still cause long term damage in other ways. You do not want to breath in any particulates like this, doesn't matter if it's not directly toxic, it's still particles of paint that can get lodged in your lungs, or cover your cilia that protect the lungs.

I was taught material safety by an 80 year old painting instructor who watched many of his brush licking, careless about ventilation, artist friends die of cancer.

You can find those booths for cheaper than $80 USD, I've seen it go for $60 for a while, and it's know to drop a bit lower than that if on sale.

At that point, you have to decide whether you want to spend the time and money driving around buying the parts and assemblind, or whether $30-$60 is worth it.

But, as above, just painting near a window with the fan on is a good temporary solution. You'll also want a filter mask, to filter out large particulates, you don't quite need a respirator if you have good ventilation.

AllSeeingSkink wrote:

 Phobos wrote:
I have been thinking if we even need a booth at all.

I mean if we are using acrylics, they are non toxic so there aren't any fumes, right? I can see the point with enamels and lacquers or varnishes, it seems unnecessary.

This does come up a lot, rather than writing a long response I'll try and find one of the old threads.

I couldn't easily find it.

Basically the gist of it is, you don't particularly want to be inhaling a mist of paint even if it doesn't have as many VOC's in it as an enamel might have. You also don't know what's in the thinners you are using or the binders in the paint itself, so it's best to not be inhaling it. If you're painting in your house, you also typically don't want the cloud of paint settling on your furniture, carpet, etc.