Hi All

Currently I brush paint everything. I'm thinking of getting an airbrush now.
There seems to be plenty of information around to help choose the airbrush and compressor, but what about where to do it?
Does everybody have spray booths? Should I expect paint on all the walls, or how controlled is the spray (assuming I dont wave the brush around wildly of course ) Would a big cardboard box with one side cut out do?
I know enamels need ventilation but what about acrylics?

Any advice will be gratefully received.

I built a Homemade downdraft spraybooth......... it uses 2 6" Muffin fans (the type in a PC) only they run on 120v AC. I spray Enamels in the basement....

If you do build a booth. remember to keep the ductwork as short and as smooth (and straight) as possible as all the factors kill the efficency of the fans............

I spray only acrylics and as long as I'm careful I'm able to do so inside into a simple plastic tote that I use as a spray booth. No ventilation, other than opening a window. I'd never consider doing that with enamels. A friend of mine in our local club, Matt, Red4 on Armorama, has a simple set up in his basement. He has a piece of cardboard with a length of hose attached to it. He opens his sliding window and puts the cardboard into the opening. The other end of the hose is attached to a fan on his spray booth. I don't have the space to do this yet, but it's what I'm planning on when I have a dedicated modeling room. You know, some day!

OK Thanks guys - sounds like as long as I stick with Acrylics I dont need anything sophisticated.

WRONG - you at least need to wear some type of mask to prevent breathing the small vaporized paint particles.

OK - I guess the type with the little filters?

That would be fine.

Great, just have to persuade the other half that it's an essential purchase now -

Ya, good luck with that (convincing the Other Half). You might try reverse psychology, and tell her something like:

"I can save a heap of money buy NOT buying a respirator! You can spend the saved money on YOU! The new studies I read say I will probably survive with only a permanent hacking cough if I don't use one, maybe only shave 5 years off my life."

I guess I'm the loonatic fringe. I spray with enamels, I don't have some sophisticated vent system, nor do I use a backdrop. Literally.....I put a lot of newspaperdown and go at it. Of course I do this in a large room. When I finish, I close the room off for a while. Seriously, the worst smell/effect I get is from using rattlecan dull-coat. As to a mask, once in a while I put on one of those doctor disposable paper masks and that really is all you need. So while my hair is falling out and I can't remember my own name half the time........................