creating dust free painting areas?

[OldBlue67]

What do I need to do to set up an area to paint in so I won't end up with the little dust and junk stuck to it? Right now I'll only be doing a couple small peices (fender and hood) and I'll just be primering them with maybe a coat of por 15 on the inside. So its not a huge deal if I get dust specks, but I still want to do it right, ya know? I know on a small scale you can use a wet cotton sheet and some mineral water or something, but I somehow doubt that thats how the pros do it

[BCOOLEY]

Most of your dust (trash) comes from what your painting! You should always clean the area you are painting and blow out all of the cracks and seams were dust can settle! I have seen my dad (back in the day)paint a car outside w/o trash due to his prep work! This works for me!

[DuckRyder]

Depends on what you have to work with.

If you have a garage you can errect a paint booth for small stuff with clear plastic, a stapler and maybe 2x4s if you need to create framing.

That, clean parts and a clean spraygun operator will go a long way. You can wet the floor as well to dampen the dust, just be careful not to get let the water get into the paint work.

On a larger scale, you can create cross flow by building a frame to hold furnace filters under the garage door and a large shop fan on the other end. in an entry door sucking air out.

[FoMoCo]

I painted my 67, white, in my garage and had zero dust or dirt make it into the finish.
First thing is obvious, sweep and mop the floor. Cover everything in plastic(tool boxes and mowers). Mist the floor with water. Wrap a chain around the chassis and let it dangle down, onto the floor. This will ground the truck. Go to an automotive paint store and buy pretreated alchohol wipes. Look for "max-off" by contec. Dont worry about using a tack rag. Use a precleaner wax/grease remover if you recently sanded. But nothing beats Max-off wipes. Another trick is to place several box fans blowing out the windows. If you do this you'll need an inlet to let clean air in. I didnt try that because I try to keep my garage at above 110 degrees. Fans would suck out the heat.

Nick

[hardtailjohn]

Liz,
Some good advice has been given to ya, especially the one about grounding the truck or parts! I taught people to paint for the past 20+ years, and suprisingly, the most trash comes from YOU! Our body and clothes give off a constant flow of "stuff" that will get in your paint. My best advice is to spend the $40 and get a GOOD paint suit, with a hood and elastic around the legs.
As far as paint and primer goes, PLEASE make sure you read the safety stuff ... been there, and thought I was bullet proof as well as smarter than the rest for a long time . I'm reminded of it alot more as I grow older . Also, don't think that a respirator will always keep you safe... READ the saafety stuff , and alot of times they say to have a fresh air source... that's not a respirator.
Max off rags are awesome! Another thing you can use is 3M Dust Control on the floor and walls... it really works!! I can coat the floor, walls, and ceiling of my paint booth a few times with one gallon.... well worth the money!!
One of my customers used PVC pipe and plastic sheeting to make a great paint booth to paint his airplane, but if you need just small parts, you can get by with something a bit less elaborate.
Good luck, and please be careful.
John H.

[FORDification]

As mentioned above, you could build a booth out of 2x4s and plastic sheeting, like what I did when I constructed my indoor sandblast booth:

http://www.fordification.com/my67-p12.htm

[FoMoCo]

I want to second the safety with respirator idea. I have a Binks setup that I would swear buy. A true fresh air system is mega expensive, unless you can find used. Another suggestion is wear painting gogles.

Nick

[granitestate68]

OldBlue67, lot's of great advice above, but, the only thing I'd question is the grounding. Unless the floor is grounded to earth ground it won't make a difference. If you have a cement floor the cement will act as an insulator which will not allow the charge to optimally discharge any charge to ground ( wood as well ). If you want to ground something your best bet is to physically attach the piece to the ground wire of an outlet ( green wire ) which would also be the screw in the outlet cover ( make sure you get good continuity between the back of the screw and the green wire ). Just be aware, you'll want to get as many insulators out of the shop or isolated before you paint. FoMoCo, just wondering, what month did you paint your truck?

[DuckRyder]

The chain will dischrge static.

Particularly inportant if you are painting metallic, unless you like your mica standing on end.

[granitestate68]

How's the chain going to discharge anything if it's not connected to groung Cement is an insulator and you can't ground an insulator. The only way to ground flooring is if you have a conductive floor and connect it to earth ground. Just from experience, throwing a metal object on the ground, folks think it's grounded but it isn't so ( the charge has no place to go ). You are definitely right, grounding is very important. Tried to give some advice to properly do it that's all. Just my

[DuckRyder]

It works is all I can tell ya,

Go ahead and paint some metallic without it if you like...

[granitestate68]

Robert, you're taking me wrong. I'm saying grounding is the absolute right thing to do. I'm just trying to let someone know the right way to do it. If you paint in the winter months when it is really dry, you'll pick up a bunch of crap you don't want, but, if you paint in the summer months when the humidity is higher you're apt not to pick up as much if any.

[DuckRyder]

You're probably right, and I'm in one of my smart ass moods, so don't take me too literally.

I wasn't trying to get on you, just saying it does work, or least for me the times I've done it.

I don't know why the chain works, maybe because every time I've done it the floor was wet. :shrug:

Some of the guys over at autobody store say they ground the car to the air lines?

[granitestate68]

Cool, the times it worked for you because the floors were wet? That's what I was talking about. Conductive. Just for shits and giggles ask the guys at the autobody shop if their air lines are connected to earth ground. I'd be interested.

[DuckRyder]

I was just serching through AutoBodyStore for topics about grounding body work. Lots of various opinions, and mention of "straps" or "Cables".

I wouldn't know how to act with an actual "paint booth"

Liz, do heed the warnings on the products as they have some pretty nasty stuff in them (isocyanates SP?) which build up in the body.