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I have been airbrushing for the last 8-9 months. I have mostly been doing it in my room, with the windo wide open. My window is right infront of my paint area. I have a fan pointing towards my window and have been painting towards it. A recent hobby related health scare resulting in me realizing how dangerous some of the product I use and how willy nilly I keep them around me(Army PAinter Quickshade, Miniral spirits and the bad habit of washing my brush , wiping it on a towel then using my mouth to reform it) Sometimes forgetting it put some mad stuff in the water have made me rethink some stuff.
So guys, what should I do for my airbrush now. Im thinking of getting a resperator, and getting window fan(one of those reversible ones with two of them)
I cant really take it out of my room TBH. so some help would be appreciated.

I also paint in inside since i'm in an apartment. I use a fan directed out the window and a simple mask. It work for me so far.

If you have already had a health scare related to your hobby work, I would probably go out of my way to invest in a proper airbrushing booth that has an extractor fan (small ones can be had relatively cheaply).

I'd also look at buying a properly rated painters mask, or respirator. I would go with the disposable painters masks to start, they are less burdensome and cheaper and might be good enough for you.

Winter wrote:
If you have already had a health scare related to your hobby work, I would probably go out of my way to invest in a proper airbrushing booth that has an extractor fan (small ones can be had relatively cheaply).

I'd also look at buying a properly rated painters mask, or respirator. I would go with the disposable painters masks to start, they are less burdensome and cheaper and might be good enough for you.

Well, this was related to superglue, and not wearing eye protection, not an Airbrush. Also, cost isnt that much of an issue right now. im not buying miniatures ATM because of a backlog.
I have seen booths that where just fans glued to the back of a plastic box for boothes.

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
I have seen booths that where just fans glued to the back of a plastic box for boothes.

I mean, in a nutshell that is what an airbrush booth is, a box with extractor fans (and normally a filter) on it.

It just depends if you want to build one or buy one. I myself don't use one (I can paint outside) but if I were to I would be investing in an already made one that has documentation on its filter and extractor.

Hmm, I could start Airbrushing outside I suppose. I do have the ability too. I just tend to paint at night more.
first I might look into is a good resperator mask

Ok first as far as super glue is concerned no one has ever gotten blinded by it (according to loctites website)

As for spraying, a dust mask is probably a minimum*. When you spray the paint aerosolised, that is to say you're putting fine particles of paint into the air. Most of this is directed at the miniature but SOME will be in the general air. Thankfully our nose has hairs and snot (seriously blown your nose after airbrushing) to trap this, your mouth not as much.

However some will get through, most of this again so trapped by mucous, in the same way as natural dust or germs. However however, SOME will still get through. You body can deal with bugs or a bit of household dust. Acrylic paint not so much. The paint dries and turns into plastic and that's not something your want coating your lungs!

So at a minimum use a dust mask, however a semi-disposable respirator type mask is going to be much better and last longer.

Additionally I have a 'room purifier's it's a sort of air filter that removes dust from the room and is relatively quiet. I tend to keep that on just to help reduce the amount of stuff floating around.

*Although i know if I'm literally spraying one thing i tend to be lazy. And I shouldn't!

My cousin had alot of masks he uses when he works with fiberglass and sanding wood.
Would those work? What about something like this?
https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-6779/Dust-Masks-and-Respirators/3M-8511-N95-Industrial-Respirator-with-Valve?pricode=WY586&gadtype=pla&id=S-6779&gclid=Cj0KEQjwqtjGBRD8yfi9h42H9YUBEiQAmki5OpDGToaSzIXxKdh5yrA1qAwijpWQdo9KjSFi6opzjE0aAncZ8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds


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 Soteks Prophet wrote:
Ok first as far as super glue is concerned no one has ever gotten blinded by it (according to loctites website)
!

Yeah, but it was a combination of things, mostly that i am starting to consider tamiya paint and the guy at the hobby store gave me a big rundown on safety with using tamiya paints.
Also, im a bit of a weirdo when it comes to unhealthy stuff in my body, especially chemicals. Mostly because I just worry. and my Grandma died because she spent her whole life as a hair dressr using hairspray in copius amounts.

Get something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/3M-Facepiece-Respirator-6291-Particulate/dp/B000FTEDMM/ref=pd_sbs_328_15?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000FTEDMM&pd_rd_r=YVEFYN84PJ2A95KN8BD5&pd_rd_w=xB51c&pd_rd_wg=gtHKM&psc=1&refRID=YVEFYN84PJ2A95KN8BD5

Don't settle for just a dust mask. I think those pink filters are rated for something like 99.5% of all aerosols/particulates/vapor. Combine it with a spray booth like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Master-Airbrush-Portable-Lighting-Extension/dp/B00NLQ019A/ref=sr_1_1?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1490621209&sr=8-1&keywords=master%27s+spray+booth

Stick the end of that out your window and have the extractor fan on while you airbrush.

I have and use both, every single time I airbrush. When it comes to respiratory health, I'd much rather be safe than sorry. Especially in your case, if you're considering using paints other than acrylics.

I have a spray booth and I use it.

I don't wear a dust mask about 50% of the time because my spray booth does an excellent job. If I'm spraying for a long time (15+ minutes), I'll wear one. Like when I'm base coating a lot of models all at once. But if I'm shooting a single model, multiple color swaps, I don't typically wear it.

I only shoot four things through my airbrush: water based acrylic paint, flow improver, thinner, and water. I do not used any oils, alcohol, spirits, or Windex. There is zero reason to shoot anything else for this hobby. Windex scares the crap out of me because it contains who knows what chemicals besides ammonia. Spraying Windex means you are aerosauling a very dangerous cleaning product. If you are using Windex, I'd suggest you stop. Otherwise, wear a full up respirator, and get yourself an industrial paint hood.

While spraying, be cognizant of who else is in your room. I.e.; pets. You might be wearing a respirator, but are they?

Dust mask is a must IMO. I also use a spray capture bottle for cleaning the airbrush, which doubles as a holster for the airbrush when you need to put it down.

I probably should get a mask of some sort. but i spray in an open garage

if anything i should get gloves. i paint all sorts of toxic china sludge for cool effects but that stuff sticks to high heavens.

 Tamwulf wrote:
I have a spray booth and I use it.

I don't wear a dust mask about 50% of the time because my spray booth does an excellent job. If I'm spraying for a long time (15+ minutes), I'll wear one. Like when I'm base coating a lot of models all at once. But if I'm shooting a single model, multiple color swaps, I don't typically wear it.

I only shoot four things through my airbrush: water based acrylic paint, flow improver, thinner, and water. I do not used any oils, alcohol, spirits, or Windex. There is zero reason to shoot anything else for this hobby. Windex scares the crap out of me because it contains who knows what chemicals besides ammonia. Spraying Windex means you are aerosauling a very dangerous cleaning product. If you are using Windex, I'd suggest you stop. Otherwise, wear a full up respirator, and get yourself an industrial paint hood.

While spraying, be cognizant of who else is in your room. I.e.; pets. You might be wearing a respirator, but are they?

I never thought of using windex, occasionally Rubbing alchohol wil shoot when dont clean it properly and let it dry, But I mostly only Shoot Water, Acrylics, Thinner and flow improver.
I also just got a dust mask that is for painting and cleaning lead paint. I dont smell anything in there so maybe it works.
The Tamiya thing fell through because, for now, the project im doing stopped, maybe later on.
I also got two more fans for it.

There are two separate, but potentially overlapping, health concerns when spraying paints - particulates (tiny droplets of liquids/solids, like atomized paint) and VOCs (volatile organic chemicals, i.e. all of the potentially nasty solvents, propellants in aerosols, etc.).

A simple disposable dust mask will take care of most, if not all, particulates that might otherwise enter your airways. A nicer one (like the previously linked 3M version with an exhaust flap, adjustable fit, and thick, dense, breathable body) will do even better. Hell, a bandanna over the mouth/nose or simply staying upwind will do wonders for avoiding unwanted crap settling in your lungs. If you're only using water-based craft/hobby acrylics and thinners, most will be labeled 'non-toxic.' They're still not good to inhale as tiny particles (nothing is), mind you, but the chemistry won't do you any harm - it's inert matter that shouldn't be in your lungs in any significant amount, same as common dust.

The trickier bit is when you get to the VOCs - propellants in aerosols and solvents in enamels and lacquers, primarily, as well as most thinners for those paints, along with oils and a select few acrylics. These things are released as a gas/vapor that even a high quality dust mask can't filter. If you want to avoid inhaling them, you need a proper respirator. These can range in cost and complexity from disposable 'all in one' units to rubber/elastic frames with replaceable filter cartridges to full-on chemical-resistant hoods with face shields and forced (clean) air systems. For the average hobbyist with good ventilation and a dust mask, little more care is needed to avoid any nasty repercussions. Basically, if you can't smell it, it's probably not harming you. For the more industrious/industrial user, or one forced to work in enclosed spaces, you'd be an idiot not to take additional precautions. Sure, a few rounds of priming with spray paint in the bathroom won't kill you (God knows I've done it), but no one will argue that it's the healthy choice.

Personally, I find a light cross-breeze and a simple filter (bandanna in a pinch, usually a nicer 3M mask) to be more than sufficient. If using nasty thinners/propellants (meaning aerosol rattlecans, mostly), I'll spray outside and stand upwind. Were I to start throwing more enamels/lacquers through my airbrush, I'd either rig up a filtered spray booth (vented outside) with strong suction (i.e. MUCH higher CFM draw rating on the fan than the volume of the booth) and wear a basic dust mask or rig up a simpler one with a reasonable exhaust system to contain the cloud, plus a good VOC-rated respirator.

TLDR: Use your head. Painting won't kill you overnight. Hell, it'll barely effect you over a fortnight, unless you're REALLY dumb. Simple, basic, common sense precautions are all that most of us need, but if you're worried about anything, better to be safe than sorry.

Well, I switched back to Varnishing my model outside because the smell of varnish.
I mostly thin with water. But with summer coming I might take my airbrush outside a bit when using dangerous stuff. I also just got a reversable fan for the window.
If I was to say, start using enamels, would getting a nice dust mask and doing it outside be a bad idea? My compressor isnt exactly portable, but it CAN be.

I recommend one of those $40 double-filter respirator masks by 3M.

A nearby open window is great. The double-fan idea is perfect. The whole idea with that is you have to have a pressure of air build up for a bit so the paint particles are always pushed out of the window.

When you clean your airbrush, passing cleaner through it you need to use one of those little airbrush cleaning jars with the little hole just big enough for the nozzle to fit in. That will keep in 90% of the particles inside the jar rather than your lungs. Place a old sponge in there to soak up the moisture as well.

Solvents, spirts, etc should be used with caution and sparingly.

Always read, understand and respect the caution label and dangers on the products you use.

Well, I just came into 100$ so im getting a portable Airbrush Booth. With an exhause that hooks up to a window