Spray Fumes

[jrpeteo]

I have a question about fumes. My work area is in my basement, so when I spray adhesive, lacquer, shellac or whatever, what I do is spray quick and run upstairs, to return when the smell goes away. I do have a little spray box set up with a fan (see picture) which works pretty good at removing the overspray and particles in the air. But it does not remove the fumes. You may think I should go outside to spray, but here in Minnesota it?s below freezing and snowing out there half of the year (seems like). I use the spray adhesive for pattern application, and the spray finishes are so much easier than trying to brush something on. Any help with alternate products or any other ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks, Pete

[Keefie]

When spraying or sanding I use a face mask. ...the one I specifically use is specially for fine particles and vapour. I don't know if you have a company called screwfix in the USA, but if not you might be able to find the same mask in a local company. here is the link to the mask I use. http://www.screwfix.com/p/3m-maintenance-free-respirator/13038
hope this helps.  ( by the way it is by far the most comfortable mask I have used. Check the reviews at bottom of page)

[Stravides]

Yea I had a nasty incident once when working with gorilla Glue...  I'm an asthmatic and as such should not really use gorilla glue.  I had this bright idea that (when making pens) i would use the glue, and wear a mask...  Once  finished I put the glue away and then took off my respirator.  Only to be stupid enough to wait for the glue to dry in the same room as me.  The fumes from these 2" blocks of wood was enough to set off my asthma big time... 

Moral of the story is don't squat where you sleep

One big help is to have a fan near an open window - blowing air OUT of the window - spray in front of the fan and any offending vapors should be sucked thru the fan and out of the window  - splash n splatter guards are a must though.

[Barry]

Be sure to have plenty of ventilation and wear a mask, particularly with lacquer.  It can be dangerous to breath.

I was thinking, while reading your post, my wife would kill me if I sprayed in the house.  We don't have the winters in VA that you experience in MN.  Shellac and adhesives OK, but if at all possible get outside with lacquer.

Good luck Pete.

Barry

[Billy in Va]

My shop is in a shed outside but I still go out of the door to spray (Ieverything) temps here for the most part are not as bad as you Barry and definitely not the deep freeze of MN. I have a cardobard box that I use for spray glue. Prop the pattern in the box step outside, lay it one a sawhorse and spray. If its raining I stand in the doorway and spary to the outside, careful not to let the rain drops hit the paper, akes the ink run.

[Dean A]

I too have a shop in the basement, not sure on how I'm going to spray finishes yet. My initial idea is, I have a heater in the garage. I'll save up a couple of projects to finish and do them out there. I don't want fumes going through the house. I hate winter!!

[GrayBeard]

I have my shop in the garage and in winter here it can get damn cold. I have a heater in the garage and now as I make all my Christmas presents I carefully package each one and put it them in a separate box.
If it gets cold before I finish them I will fire up the heater, get the garage nice and warm, turn off the heater and spray away. Once everything is sprayed I open the garage door and let the fumes dissipate while I carry everything downstairs to my assembly area.
Don't want the fumes floating around while a propane heater is burning!
Wearing my respirator has to be done while I have my 'ear' equipment off because it interferes with the fit of the respirator so I am in a nice quiet place while spraying!

~~~GB~~~

[jscott2]

I'm in Montreal and can't spray outside in the winter so I cut a 1/4" thick board to fit into the garage window.  A small squirrel cage fan fitted into a cardboard box works as a spray booth, much like jrpeteo.  The inlet of the fan has a filter over it to collect over-spray.  A plastic dryer hose vents out through a hole in the board so I can spray in the middle of winter.

It works quite well but there is still a small amount of smell so I don't stay in the garage after spraying.

Jim

[crusty59]

After reading everyone's input about fumes, I feel very spoiled. I'm in south Florida and I work in the garage, the door is almost always open with fans blowing. I spray everything with and airbrush. Of coarse my car needs a good washing once in a while LOL

[jrpeteo]

Thanks to you all for the ideas.
Keefie, I do have a mask very similar to yours, it protects me but the fumes are still in the house.
Stratavides, unfortunately in about a month, my basement windows will be packed from the outside with snow drifts making them inoperable LOL.
GB, I have to keep my cars in the garage or they won?t start when it?s 30 below zero.
Jscott2, you may be on to something here. After reading your post I did a little checking online, and found it?s quite easy to build a little spray box with a fan motor on it and vent it outside, much like a clothes dryer. Wife says it would be OK to put the vent cover on the back of the house behind a bush.
Thanks, Pete

[tundraguy]

I fell your pain i am in wisconsin so i have the same ....glue stick's work great with no spray to worry about....thats what ill be doing now that it is getting colder out...

Jim .....

[Danny]

HI Everyone....Love this Forum....  Well after many years of Scrolling and doing whats normal after the cuts I came to the conclusion a few years back that I would continue enjoying my scrolling, but I would hold back on all the finishing till the weather got to the point where everything went good.  So many finished projects backed up, but I just boxed them and waited.  My shop is OUTSIDE.  My Spray booth is only a Big Box with a square fan and a filter blowing outside.  Works really well.  Of course any protection from breathing in the bad stuff is a must.  Hope this helps....  Danny  :+}