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spray booth - now laguna spray booth

updated mon 6 oct 08

 

Eva Gallagher on fri 26 sep 08


Hi James - we are currently looking at redesigning our spray booth at the
Guild. Right now we have a furnace filter which is very hard to wash as you
need to remove it to wash it properly. Plus it gets clogged up right very
quickly and so reduces the air flow. How do you clean the laguna filter?
It's says that it should be washed after every use. Do you need to take it
out to wash it? Also did you get the additional scrubber and motor? Our vent
will be right in the front of the building near the entrance so are looking
at getting additional filtration.
Eva Gallagher
Deep River Potters Guild
http://stephenhilljourneyworkshopjuly2008.blogspot.com/


----- Original Message -----
From: "James F"
To:
Sent: Sunday, September 21, 2008 11:17 PM
Subject: Re: spray booth


Steve...

I did precisely this. It lasted me 2 years until I purchased a Laguna
booth. I used packaging tape rather than duct tape, as it stays sticky
longer, and I added a smaller box behind the filter to act as a plenum and
deceleration chamber. The box got a bit squishy with use, but stiffened up
again when it dried out. It definitely did not work as well as the Laguna,
but it worked as well as the old Amaco I had used previously. The furnace
filter stopped most of the overspray, and most of what got past it ended up
in the second plenum box.

I do not think a vacuum cleaner will be powerful enough. I believe you will
need a fairly powerful shop vac at a minimum.

Good luck with your project.

...James

> Date: Sun, 21 Sep 2008 19:02:51 -0700
> From: wright271@SBCGLOBAL.NET
> Subject: spray booth
> To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
>
> Anyone ever build one on the cheap? I was thinking of a large box
> (television size), a furnace filter, an old vacuum cleaner, and duct tape
> as my only materials. Any thoughts? Disposable of course, but cheap and
> relatively easy to put together. Thanks.
>
> -Steve

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W J Seidl on sat 27 sep 08


Eva:
You might want to consider changing the filter out to one of these types:
http://www.permatron.com/Comm/METAL.html
No, they are NOT cheap, but with care last almost forever.
I did not buy mine from these people, but from a group in TX.
Mine had to be a custom size.

Another tip: I clipped a regular piece of fiberglass window screen over
the intake side of the filter. Easier to peel off
and clean after each use. It doesn't stop everything, but it does catch
the bigger junk, makes cleaning the regular filter
faster without compromising air flow.

Just a thought.

Best,
Wayne Seidl

Eva Gallagher wrote:
> Hi James - we are currently looking at redesigning our spray booth at the
> Guild. Right now we have a furnace filter which is very hard to wash
> as you
> need to remove it to wash it properly. Plus it gets clogged up right
> very
> quickly and so reduces the air flow. How do you clean the laguna filter?
> It's says that it should be washed after every use. Do you need to
> take it
> out to wash it? Also did you get the additional scrubber and motor?
> Our vent
> will be right in the front of the building near the entrance so are
> looking
> at getting additional filtration.
> Eva Gallagher
> Deep River Potters Guild
> http://stephenhilljourneyworkshopjuly2008.blogspot.com/
>

James F on sat 27 sep 08


Eva...

I bought the large Laguna spray booth=2C the Pro-V=2C with the standard sty=
rofoam filters. I don't wash them every day. I tend to work in batches=2C=
so I typically wash the filters and the shelf after glazing a batch or thr=
ee of work (which is strange for me=2C as I tend to keep the rest of my stu=
dio relatively spotless. Hmmmmm). The filters are held in place by a simp=
le press fit so pull out easily=2C and are made of two layers that separate=
for cleaning. Typically=2C with the exhaust fan running=2C I brush them d=
own in place with a moderately stiff paintbrush to get most of the glaze of=
f=2C then remove them and wash them under running water with a soft sponge.

If I had it to do over I would opt for the metal filters=2C as I am always =
afraid that I will break the styrofoam filters. In a community studio I wo=
uld certainly opt for the metal filters=2C as the foam versions are not up =
to any abuse.

I did not purchase the scrubber. It is my understanding that it is for non=
-vented applications. I do notice a faint iron oxide coloration on the lou=
vered exhaust vent on the back of my studio=2C indicating that at least a b=
it of glaze material is making it past the filters=2C but I have never noti=
ced anything appreciable exiting the vent=2C and there is no deposit on any=
neighboring trees. In your case=2C if it were me=2C I would install the b=
ooth without the scrubber=2C but design the ductwork such that a scrubber c=
ould be added if it proves necessary. I used rigid spiral duct to get up t=
hrough my studio ceiling and into the attic=2C then used 12" diameter rubbe=
r flex duct to get outside. If you go this route it would be a relatively =
simple task to cut the flex duct and retrofit a scrubber. If you use all r=
igid duct=2C you can include a removable section. I could not find an HVAC=
guy willing to install my vent system so had to figure everything out myse=
lf=2C so your HVAC guy might have better ideas. BTW=2C I was able to purch=
ase all of my vent supplies through McMaster-Carr (www.mcmaster.com). The =
local HVAC supplier did not carry anything that big. Grainger also did not=
carry much of what I needed. I'm not sure if McMaster has operations in C=
anada=2C but their website should tell you.

A couple of tips should you opt for the Laguna booth: First=2C the thing i=
s HUGE! You absolutely do need a WIDE doorway or it will not fit into your=
studio. I believe Laguna specifies a minimum 48" doorway=2C and they aren=
't kidding. When I built my studio=2C I installed a set of 6' french doors=
just to accommodate the planned spray booth. Second=2C there is no power =
switch on the unit. When I installed the circuit for the fan=2C I included=
a 20 amp switch wired into the outlet=2C and mounted it in a wall box righ=
t next to the unit. Third=2C the unit created incredible suction. If your=
studio is leaky you should be fine=2C but mine is very tight=2C so I have =
to open a window a crack for make-up air while the unit is running=2C which=
lets in a bit of a draft in the winter. Lastly=2C the metal shrouding on =
the pulley mechanism of the Dayton tubeaxial fans rattle horribly and creat=
e a din while the machine is in use. This seems to be common to the Dayton=
fans=2C as the Paasche spray booth at the local college suffers from the s=
ame malady. I rectified it by disassembling the metal shrouding=2C stickin=
g self-adhesive weather stripping foam tape (the thinnest I could find) alo=
ng all of the contact surfaces=2C then reassembling the shroud. This took =
a bit of finagling because of the extra thickness of foam=2C but it complet=
ely solved the noise problem.

One further thing: The Paasche booth at the college uses the furnace-type =
filters. I never washed them out=2C but rather just banged them against th=
e inside of a garbage can (outside=2C with a mask if possible) to knock the=
bulk of the material loose. Seemed to work fine. We had to order the Paa=
sche rather than the laguna for this studio as the building did not have wi=
de enough doorways. The Paasche is assembled from flat metal panels=2C so =
could be built in place. The Laguna is=2C except for the legs=2C in one gi=
ant piece.

If I can answer any further questions=2C I would be happy to do so. Having=
experience now with three different commercial units=2C I would not hesita=
te to select the Laguna booth again for many reasons. No regrets at all.

All the best.

...James

> Date: Fri=2C 26 Sep 2008 22:23:09 -0400
> From: galla@MAGMA.CA
> Subject: Re: spray booth - now Laguna spray booth
> To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
>=20
> Hi James - we are currently looking at redesigning our spray booth at the
> Guild. Right now we have a furnace filter which is very hard to wash as y=
ou
> need to remove it to wash it properly. Plus it gets clogged up right ver=
y
> quickly and so reduces the air flow. How do you clean the laguna filter?
> It's says that it should be washed after every use. Do you need to take i=
t
> out to wash it? Also did you get the additional scrubber and motor? Our v=
ent
> will be right in the front of the building near the entrance so are looki=
ng
> at getting additional filtration.
> Eva Gallagher
> Deep River Potters Guild
> http://stephenhilljourneyworkshopjuly2008.blogspot.com/
>=20
>=20
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "James F"
> To:
> Sent: Sunday=2C September 21=2C 2008 11:17 PM
> Subject: Re: spray booth
>=20
>=20
> Steve...
>=20
> I did precisely this. It lasted me 2 years until I purchased a Laguna
> booth. I used packaging tape rather than duct tape=2C as it stays sticky
> longer=2C and I added a smaller box behind the filter to act as a plenum =
and
> deceleration chamber. The box got a bit squishy with use=2C but stiffene=
d up
> again when it dried out. It definitely did not work as well as the Lagun=
a=2C
> but it worked as well as the old Amaco I had used previously. The furnac=
e
> filter stopped most of the overspray=2C and most of what got past it ende=
d up
> in the second plenum box.
>=20
> I do not think a vacuum cleaner will be powerful enough. I believe you w=
ill
> need a fairly powerful shop vac at a minimum.
>=20
> Good luck with your project.
>=20
> ...James
>=20
> > Date: Sun=2C 21 Sep 2008 19:02:51 -0700
> > From: wright271@SBCGLOBAL.NET
> > Subject: spray booth
> > To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> >
> > Anyone ever build one on the cheap? I was thinking of a large box
> > (television size)=2C a furnace filter=2C an old vacuum cleaner=2C and d=
uct tape
> > as my only materials. Any thoughts? Disposable of course=2C but cheap=
and
> > relatively easy to put together. Thanks.
> >
> > -Steve
>=20
> _________________________________________________________________
> Want to do more with Windows Live? Learn =9310 hidden secrets=94 from Jam=
ie.
> http://windowslive.com/connect/post/jamiethomson.spaces.live.com-Blog-cns=
!550F681DAD532637!5295.entry?ocid=3DTXT_TAGLM_WL_domore_092008

_________________________________________________________________
Want to do more with Windows Live? Learn =9310 hidden secrets=94 from Jamie=
.
http://windowslive.com/connect/post/jamiethomson.spaces.live.com-Blog-cns!5=
50F681DAD532637!5295.entry?ocid=3DTXT_TAGLM_WL_domore_092008=

Eva Gallagher on sat 4 oct 08


Hi Wayne,
Checked out the filters you suggested - sure look better than the furnace
filters. I think part of our problem is that we use a Critter sprayer- so a
lot of overspray that lands on the filter. Our compressor is not big enough
for the HVLP guns - too low a cfm - most HVLP's need 6 cfm and ours are just
under 4. We would buy a bigger compressor but some members in our Guild do
not wnat the HVLP as with the Critter it is so easy to store and change
glazes suing mason jars.
But will see what filters are available in Canada.
Thanks for the window screen tip - will have to try that.
Eva Gallagher
Deep River, Ontario
http://stevenhilljourneyworkshopjuly2008.blogspot.com/


----- Original Message -----
From: "W J Seidl"
To:
Sent: Saturday, September 27, 2008 6:56 AM
Subject: Re: spray booth - now Laguna spray booth


> Eva:
> You might want to consider changing the filter out to one of these types:
> http://www.permatron.com/Comm/METAL.html
> No, they are NOT cheap, but with care last almost forever.
> I did not buy mine from these people, but from a group in TX.
> Mine had to be a custom size.
>
> Another tip: I clipped a regular piece of fiberglass window screen over
> the intake side of the filter. Easier to peel off
> and clean after each use. It doesn't stop everything, but it does catch
> the bigger junk, makes cleaning the regular filter
> faster without compromising air flow.
>
> Just a thought.
>
> Best,
> Wayne Seidl
>
> Eva Gallagher wrote:
>> Hi James - we are currently looking at redesigning our spray booth at the
>> Guild. Right now we have a furnace filter which is very hard to wash
>> as you
>> need to remove it to wash it properly. Plus it gets clogged up right
>> very
>> quickly and so reduces the air flow. How do you clean the laguna filter?
>> It's says that it should be washed after every use. Do you need to
>> take it
>> out to wash it? Also did you get the additional scrubber and motor?
>> Our vent
>> will be right in the front of the building near the entrance so are
>> looking
>> at getting additional filtration.
>> Eva Gallagher
>> Deep River Potters Guild
>> http://stephenhilljourneyworkshopjuly2008.blogspot.com/
>>
>
>