Dean Jenkins
Promoted Users
I was tired of 3M respirators and googles and wanted to get a fresh air hood system.
Most of them look like they were designed for NASA and priced accordingly.
I enjoy the challenge of coming up with innovative and cost effective solutions.
Check out my thread on my ~$200 Paint Booth (which is working very well!)
http://www.spiuserforum.com/index.php?threads/my-200-paint-booth.7634/
So here is the deal with a "Fresh Air Hood," the whole idea is to have clean, fresh air to breathe while painting. What is so hard about that?
After ton's of research and trial and error, here is what I came up with for ~$100
You've got to have a quality air hood. Can't skimp on this and it is cheaper to buy one than to try and make one.
Here is what I found:
Allegro Industries 9910-D Maintenance Free Tyvek Hood. It has everything needed, plus you can get tear off lens covers for it for cheap.
It is $49.19 on Amazon.
Here is the link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012D8NLQG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Picture:
I tried all sorts of air sources. Crazy stuff like; Hair dryers, Bathroom vent vans in a box, Leaf Blowers. Crazy, right?
Bottom line is that you need both pressure and volume and it has to be regulated.
Sounds like Air Compressors are the perfect answer and they are. But, Air Compressors (unless you happen to have a very expensive scuba diving rig) produce air that is not safe to breathe. There is the possibility of oil mist and contaminates from old moisture and all kinds of potentially nasty stuff.
The answer? Use a compressor but get a filter system that will provide suitably healthy air.
Here is what I found:
"Supplied Air System for Spraying Respirator Gas Mask" by Chudeng (Yeah, it's Chinese, but the reviews were great and it works!)
It is $52.49 on Amazon.
Here is the link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MU2Z17Z/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Picture:
Total cost for both = $101.68.
Of course, you have to have a compressor in a "clean air" environment. If you just use the one in the shop where you are spraying, then you are just compressing and breathing the contaminated air.
Here is what I used:
Ridgid 6 Gal. Portable Electric Pancake Air Compressor from Home Depot. I already had this so didn't count it in the cost.
If you don't have it, it is another $99.
Picture:
I have the paint booth exhaust fans on one end of the shop, so I put the compressor outside at the other end of the shop where there is no chance of sucking in paint fumes.
I just tested it tonight while painting SS Rally Stripes on my hood.
Result? Awesome! Everything works as planned. Cool fresh air into the hood. I never smelled paint fumes at all (which I did with the 3M respirator)
Plenty of air volume. I could feel the air moving and if I closed the neck of the hood it immediately ballooned up. Plenty of positive air pressure and flow.
The compressor supplied a consistent 25lbs which is well beyond the Allegro spec of 14lbs for a 50' hose.
And it was great having a wider field of vision and not having the uncomfortable pressure of a respirator and googles.
Here I am in the hood:
Well there it is, my ~$100 "Fresh Air Hood," or ~$200 if you have to get the compressor. Still cheaper than anything out there.
And, it worked great!
Your thoughts?
Most of them look like they were designed for NASA and priced accordingly.
I enjoy the challenge of coming up with innovative and cost effective solutions.
Check out my thread on my ~$200 Paint Booth (which is working very well!)
http://www.spiuserforum.com/index.php?threads/my-200-paint-booth.7634/
So here is the deal with a "Fresh Air Hood," the whole idea is to have clean, fresh air to breathe while painting. What is so hard about that?
After ton's of research and trial and error, here is what I came up with for ~$100
You've got to have a quality air hood. Can't skimp on this and it is cheaper to buy one than to try and make one.
Here is what I found:
Allegro Industries 9910-D Maintenance Free Tyvek Hood. It has everything needed, plus you can get tear off lens covers for it for cheap.
It is $49.19 on Amazon.
Here is the link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012D8NLQG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Picture:
I tried all sorts of air sources. Crazy stuff like; Hair dryers, Bathroom vent vans in a box, Leaf Blowers. Crazy, right?
Bottom line is that you need both pressure and volume and it has to be regulated.
Sounds like Air Compressors are the perfect answer and they are. But, Air Compressors (unless you happen to have a very expensive scuba diving rig) produce air that is not safe to breathe. There is the possibility of oil mist and contaminates from old moisture and all kinds of potentially nasty stuff.
The answer? Use a compressor but get a filter system that will provide suitably healthy air.
Here is what I found:
"Supplied Air System for Spraying Respirator Gas Mask" by Chudeng (Yeah, it's Chinese, but the reviews were great and it works!)
It is $52.49 on Amazon.
Here is the link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MU2Z17Z/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Picture:
Total cost for both = $101.68.
Of course, you have to have a compressor in a "clean air" environment. If you just use the one in the shop where you are spraying, then you are just compressing and breathing the contaminated air.
Here is what I used:
Ridgid 6 Gal. Portable Electric Pancake Air Compressor from Home Depot. I already had this so didn't count it in the cost.
If you don't have it, it is another $99.
Picture:
I have the paint booth exhaust fans on one end of the shop, so I put the compressor outside at the other end of the shop where there is no chance of sucking in paint fumes.
I just tested it tonight while painting SS Rally Stripes on my hood.
Result? Awesome! Everything works as planned. Cool fresh air into the hood. I never smelled paint fumes at all (which I did with the 3M respirator)
Plenty of air volume. I could feel the air moving and if I closed the neck of the hood it immediately ballooned up. Plenty of positive air pressure and flow.
The compressor supplied a consistent 25lbs which is well beyond the Allegro spec of 14lbs for a 50' hose.
And it was great having a wider field of vision and not having the uncomfortable pressure of a respirator and googles.
Here I am in the hood:
Well there it is, my ~$100 "Fresh Air Hood," or ~$200 if you have to get the compressor. Still cheaper than anything out there.
And, it worked great!
Your thoughts?