Airbrush Spray Booth Build, How to Make it with Lights & Noctua Fan!

Airbrush Spray Booth Build, How to Make it with Lights & Noctua Fan!
Build a custom airbrush spray booth to your own requirements with good lighting and ventilation, as I did for around 90 - 130€. In this step by step tutorial, you will learn how to build your own airbrush spray booth for acrylic water based airbrush painting, in which I go into details how to make an enclosure out of rigid foam boards with a filter frame, install the filter, inside I put a basic fan and the cheapest LED lights, outside I glued on a universal reducer and put an exhaust hose on top of that.
You should be aware that breathing in any paint either it’s paint dust, vapor or solvents from any kind of spraying, is harmful to your health and with proper ventilation system you can eliminate this risk.
Please also note that the build itself is not explosion-proof, meaning that it can ignite if fan sparks when there are enough flammable vapors from aerosol spray painting around.
Materials used in this build
- rigid foam board
- filter
- LED strip
- Noctua NF-A14 2000 exhaust fan, but I recommend Noctua NF-A14 3000
- 3 or 4-pin PWM USB cable
OR
- dc-dc step up voltage regulator and regular phone charger
- Noctua anti-vibration mount
- universal reducer
- PVC exhaust hose
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to ask below!
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:41 List of materials
03:56 Enclosure
10:34 Filter frame and filter
14:37 LED lights
18:27 Fan
27:42 Cable and hose management
30:54 Outro - B-roll
Noctua fans: noctua.at/en/products/fan
Noctua NF-A14 2000 - noctua.at/en/nf-a14-industria...
Noctua NF-A14 3000 - noctua.at/en/nf-a14-industria...
4-pin PWM fan running on 3-pin fan headers - noctua.at/en/productfaqs/prod...
pin-configuration of Noctua - noctua.at/en/productfaqs/prod...
This video is not sponsored by anybody, but based on the research, these were most convenient to get and build it.

[@radiantav]

This is very nicely put together, plus uses Noctua fan which is instant plus in my book. Great work.

[@theflyingdutchman787]

Your first video? Wow, very professionally done. Thanks!!

[@amazingmao]

2:44 The most relatable thing I've seen all day. USB plugs will never go in right the first time.

[@craftydanijela]

Hehe I'm glad I'm not the only noob :P

[@MrTeal888]

This is a great video. I will put one together myself. Thank you

[@edwardhood6252]

Very nice work. I'm going to be building a similarly sized booth out of some cardboard that I already have, reinforcing it with the backing panel I salvaged from an old dresser, and ventilating it with four computer fans, for increased air flow.

[@gracebyseven]

Hi Daniella. Just discovered your channel and very much enjoying your content. Keep up the great work!

[@Maikshikari]

Awesome booth, also uses computer fan which is a BIG plus. Good job!

[@oslogutt80]

Really well done tutorial. I will definitely make something similar soon. 🙂

[@craftydanijela]

Please report back on how you will do it!

[@jaredfinkenbinder]

After watching every spray booth video on KZbin, I came across your video. This is exactly what I had in mind to build. I have the foam board and I bought two NZXT high static pressure computer fans I will place them side by side instead of one single fan. Can't wait to see your next videos! I subscribed to your channel too.

[@PINGUA2311COMEDIAYPVP]

How did it go? Is the extraction system enough?

[@jaredfinkenbinder]

@@PINGUA2311COMEDIAYPVP it has enough extraction, but I'm rebuilding the enclosure to adjust a few things. So its all torn apart right now.

[@nicolatarantino2877]

Complimenti Danijela, ottimo tutorial pratico e funzionale. Sto acquistando i vari pezzi replicherò con piacere il tuo progetto. Grazie! 😉

[@craftydanijela]

I will be posting an update on this shortly so stay tuned. Thank you, I am glad it was helpfull!

[@everettdegrasse8478]

Very nicely done. I hope you will do more videos.

[@craftydanijela]

Thank you, I have several projects in the works, hopefully I'll be able to upload the next video in about 2 months.

[@ricardoalejandrocarballes3170]

Hello Daniella, looking for how to build my own airbrush booth (I'm just starting out :)), and trying not to have large expenses on it, I came across your channel. According to how you explain in your first video, building the cabin, I must tell you that it is very professional as you explain, very good. If it's not a bother on my part, can you put the measurements that you have used for each of the parts, to make an identical one?, since although the place I have to put the cabin has no exit to the outside, that cube where supports the hose, it has given me an idea of ​​how to solve this. Once again I congratulate you for how you explain and edit your videos. Greetings from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

[@craftydanijela]

Thanks for watching! All the measurements are explained in detail in the video (where I come from, I use centimeters, but I also include inches), so all you have to do is stop the video where I measured the foam boards and draw them on a piece of paper - nothing special ''spices'' for this. In life in general, you have to be resourceful, and that is why I encourage and support all viewers to think that way. Let me know how your build goes and how you solve the challenges!

[@John.349]

I was going to make mine out of card board with similar design but the foam board looks better thats the one Im making Thanks.

[@REKlaus]

I have built a couple desktop spray booths and like this design in general. One change I would make is to move the light further forward to light the side front of what you are painting . Light shining from the back toward me causes a problem for my eyes so I have to place the light so the object to be painted is well lit but not shining in my eyes. I use a 19 inch strip across the top front shining back and down and a 10 inch strip on each side shining diagonally toward the rear. This gives good light and reduces shadows from my hands while painting.

[@craftydanijela]

I don't mind the lights for now, because I've only used it a couple of times so far, actually I didn't really think of it the way you did, but I'm sure I'll use your ingenuity in the future. Thank you for sharing!

[@chemech]

As a very near-sighted person, I find that bright lights shining towards my eyes are a Bad Thing... even for folks with normal vision, it is best to light your work such that the light shines on the side of the workpiece facing you as you work, with minimal shadows and reflections. This gets to be rather important when I am painting and weathering my models.

[@tonidancer]

Best DIY Airbrush Paint Booth that i found on YT....fits perfect for my needs :) THX for sharing P.S. I love the way you keep things tidy....your desktop extension lead for example😃😍

[@craftydanijela]

I'm glad I made this video and posted it to help at least a few people with the design. I had never held a camera before and then I learned a lot about making videos and holding a camera. After a year I dropped it on the floor for the first time, to this day I'm still shocked but luckily no damage thanks to the step up ring and uv filter. In the next video I'll show the upgrades I've made and how it can be simplified even further.

[@tonidancer]

@@craftydanijela i couldnt belive this is your first video, you did perfect. i guess youre talented ;)

[@Dijoxin]

Great video, been thinking of putting one together in 3mm MDF (which is still my preferred material) but some really helpful pointers on specifics that didn't occur to me

[@craftydanijela]

It will definitely do the job! All depends on what you can get in your area, what ideas you have and how resourceful you are. There is strength in uniqueness! Thank you for your feedback, I appreciate it.

[@chrishayes5755]

can't even get a clear view of the booth without it spinning around lol..

[@1point689]

I wouldn't use a PC fan especially if your booth is that far away from the window, and I might consider using a window flange (blocking piece with hose opening) to mount the ventilation duct so no air got blew back into the room by wind. But I like the design and DIY part. Great content.

[@craftydanijela]

I know, but I don't have any other option. If I can drill the wall, I would, especially when is cold or hot outside it bothers me too. But I am not sure for my window, if I can make a hole, this window has 3 layers of glass. I will eventually figure something out to solve this. Thanks for that, I appreciate it!

[@chemech]

@@craftydanijela The 100mm wire-reinforced vinyl hose appears to be the same size as is used to ventilate clothes dryers in North America. You can buy a flap-valve to go to the outdoors that will close when the fan is not blowing. Instead of making a hole through the wall, this vent valve can be mounted to a block of wood or foamboard that can be inserted between the window and frame with a partially open window, then removed when you want to close your window at the end of a work session. The details will vary depending upon the window and frame you need to fit this up to. Variations on this theme are commonly used by apartment dwellers, where their lease does not allow permanent modifications to the building.

[@craftydanijela]

I have another idea and that is to stick on the window the window seal usually used for portable air conditioner with the exhaust pipe extension attached, but with modification as @chemech said you can add a flap valve at the end of the hose but it is not necessary in my opinion.

[@chemech]

I see several discussions of fan capacity. A spraybooth is effectively a fume extraction hood, and in North America, the face velocity of the air coming in through the opening should be 100 ft/min [0.5 m/s if I've done my math right] For a 20" [50cm] square opening, we get 400 sqin = 2.78 sqft [0.25m2] The fan capacity is then roughly: 278 cfm [450m3/h] There are electronics muffin fans available online at affordable prices that can deliver this much flow - typically ~120 or 140mm square - when operating at 12 Vdc. Depending upon market conditions, it may work better to install 2 or more fans in parallel in order to get the necessary flow. The availability of bathroom or kitchen vent fans capable of these flows varies greatly by region... here in North America, the modestly priced bathroom fans for example do not go much above 100 cfm [170m3/h]. Industrial fans are available, but at prices much higher than a hobbyist would be willing to pay. One potential benefit of using a bathroom vent fan is that some are made to fit into a window frame on a temporary basis. You will need to shop around a bit in order to find your fan solution, based on your local market conditions. One further note: fans that are going to be used with paints that have volatile organic solvents (lacquers in particular) need to be non-sparking (aka explosion proof) to ensure that you do not accidentally start a fire.

[@craftydanijela]

Very well done. I have never done such research, let alone thought of calculating it. Thank you very much for this valuable information, I knew it was best to put the fan as strong as possible but I did not know that there was a calculation for this. Having said that, it's really best to put 2 fans in parallel and close them so that the exhaust air is channelled towards the reducer and hose, or to get one specific fan that will do the job originally. In the upgrade video I did replace with a better one but obviously not powerful enough. I hope at least someone will read the above and use it on their spray booth!

[@Brutal1966]

Great video, if can make a comment and its not really a critism but if the parts you bought worked then listing then with links to the vendors would have been helpful. Again great video.

[@craftydanijela]

I will in the future, thank you for your feedback, I appreciate it!

[@DieTabbi]

Awesome video and the first I found in month explaining how to use pc fans propperly. Which potentiometer have you used?

[@craftydanijela]

The potentiometer is just part of the step up voltage regulator, also called DC-DC Step Up Converter 2V-28V Step Up Module Boost Converter Power Supply Adapter DC Voltage Regulator (copied from amazon) and cost about €7 for 5 pieces. This voltage regulator with micro USB input is very useful if you want to use a USB that you already have at home and would otherwise be lying somewhere in the corner collecting dust. But recently I got another solution how to connect the fan, because I replaced the fan with a Noctua 3000, I had problems starting it (it didn't start immediately when I plugged it in, I don't know exactly why - just like it was with the 2000). Then I additionally bought a Power Supply Adapter which has 12V fixed and 3 amperes (with connector size 5.5mm x 2.1mm, used for LED lights, etc.) and terminal block 2pin DC 2.1 x 5.5mm female, and connected everything directly between with each other. It cost me additionally €16 and I can say that it also works like this. It all depends on what you have at home, how to get through it cheapest, BUT with good quality of course, and you have to be inventive as well as creative. Let us know how your build goes!

[@denismolan6041]

Not bad for first video, use the spray booth well

[@Hell0P0tat0]

Hello, great video + I been watching this video for couple times already and I am wondering that why did you fried the adapter in the beginning because I am going that direction and I know nothing about electrical and stuff. Cheers

[@craftydanijela]

I don't know exactly ether but I think it's because that power adapter have adjustable output voltage and when I plugged the PWM USB cable into the USB adapter I didn't think about how much the adapter could be set to (I set it to 12V, but it should be 5V) and because too much power went into the PWM USB cable, they both fried in the end (maybe also because they were touching each other) and because this cable has built-in overload protection, the fan stayed intact. So if you want to set it up properly, you have to have the adapter or phone charger set to 5V and have at least 0,2A input current, but as for the PWM USB cable, it's pulling 5V of power through the USB connector and it's putting 12V of power into the fan, that's because it already has a built-in step-up circuit. Thank you for your comment, I appreciate it, I hope this reply will help you somehow!

[@OrlandoColonJr]

Great Video! Would it be possible to get the parts list and measurements in a PDF file?

[@HijoDeLaLibertad]

Buen trabajo! Pense que un ventilador de PC no daria buen flujo de aire, al menos los usuales de 12-14cms. Estoy por armarme uno con extractor de baño (20x20cms, 15cms diametro del ducto y 295m3/H) en caja de madera.

[@craftydanijela]

That's also great! Thanks for sharing!

[@Togster]

Hi! Very nice video, I think this is the best most simple tutorial so far (I've been browsing for hours!). So, I have some 3 spare pc fans (12cm), I'm thinking of daisy chaining them using fan splitter cable. My questions are, how much voltage do I have to set the DC-DC step up volt regulator, and must I use a bigger Amp phone charger? Thank you so much! Might as well subscribe wkwk

[@craftydanijela]

Thank you for watching! My intention with this video was to provide useful information that I haven't found anywhere on the internet and I am glad that it is useful to someone. Depending on the specifications of these fans. Can you find information on these three fans? This information is very important in the calculation and there is one very easy formula for this: V (volts) x A (amps) = W (watts). For example for my NF-A14 2000: I have 3 fans which has an operating voltage of 12V and the input power is 2,16W - this means that for 3 fans I need 12V (stays always the same) and 6,48W (variable - 3 x input power). And then you put all this into a formula because you want to know how many amps you need: A = W / V (A = 6.48W / 12V), and you get 0.54A, if it's more it's no big deal, with LED lights you have to add 20% more to the calculations anyway. Just pay attention to the specification on the adapter where it says input. I decided to change the NF-A14 2000 fan for the NF-A14 3000 and when I made the transition, even this 2 amps (output current) phone charger was not powerful enough anymore (the same was with the 1,5 amps in the video). This is because the 3000 needs an Input current of 0,55A and on the charger it says it has a current of 0,5A. I had to replace it with a regular AC to DC 12V 3A power supply adapter which has a 1,5A input current (more than enough) and a 5.5 mm x 2.1 mm connector. I then connected it directly to the DC 2.1 x 5.5mm Female and it seems to me that everything is even more simplified. On the market you can even find an adapter with an output current of 2A which has 0,8A input current. When you shop you have to look carefully and pay attention to all these specifications because they are crucial for it to work. I hope this long explanation will help you at least a little bit ;P

[@jonakason4451]

Great video! I am researching DIY spray booths for my own design of a collapsable booth. Your design is very relevant, I will use some of your ideas, but with some flexible seams/joints so it can be collapsed and tucked into the closet when not in use. I was curious to know the name/provider of that LED strip you ended up with. I appreciate the sharing 🙂

[@craftydanijela]

I'm thinking of something similar for my outdoor painting, which I've made bigger than that and end up not having room to put it in my room, and what I've done is I've dismantled it and put it in a closet because I don't have a plan to use it in the near future. See my latest video, I replaced the led lights with a better one as they weren't the best and connected it on LED controller. I bought this better performing LED strip on an Austrian website because they provide shipping to my address and the ones I bought cost 50€ for a 5 meter long LED strips. See what you can get in your country, all that matters is that they are RGBW and not a regular ones and that they are good quality. Thank you for sharing!

[@southpaw5483]

Thank you for sharing. Is the Blue Paint Filter catching all the overspray? or do you need a different type of filter?

[@craftydanijela]

It does its job, but don't expect it to catch everything 100%.

[@CatLegoDiver]

Hi Danijela. I love the video and your precise instructions. I will try to build something similar at some point. I am confused by the ventilation. It venilates the exhaust into ... nothing? It just collects the gas fumes and paint in the back of the booth? What am I missing?

[@craftydanijela]

Sorry, I didn't intend it to come out that way, because the exhaust is so flexible I had to come up with one simple solution so I can put it away when I'm done. Initial intention was to show you how to make a simple little box to put the exhaust in. After all, you still have to stretch it out and get it through the window, where all the harmful air will go out.

[@CatLegoDiver]

H @@craftydanijela. Thank you for the clarification. :-) I looked at some other paint booth videos and they all show ventilation to the outside so now I understand. I guess this is something I will have to do. Great video ! Love it !

[@niklamas6756]

Nice video, job very well done. I will also try to make a cabin for painting. I rejected the plywood because it was too heavy. Exactly which panels did you use, Forex?In your opinion is it better to use grilles on the fans to prevent the filter from being attracted?Thanks

[@craftydanijela]

By definition of the Forex panel (thick panel made from foamed PVC), it sounds like I made a spray booth out of these panels. I also think that the positive thing about these bords is that they are waterproof if you want to whip the surfaces. To use grilles on the fans is good way to protect the fan and defensive prevention that can be included in your build. Just don't forget to fix the filter well so that the whole opening can be covered. Thank you for watching!

[@chemech]

@@craftydanijela The brand name for foamed PVC panels in North America is Sintra. It is generally a good idea to have a plenum (chamber) for the air behind your filter and before the fan. One common approach to the filters is to use inexpensive disposable HEPA HVAC filters - aka Furnace Filters - which have a cardboard frame that provides some rigidity. It is also a good practice to mount the fan on the exterior surface of the plenum, for better access for maintenance, and easier routing of the power wiring.

[@craftydanijela]

If you live in North America, Furnace Filters are relatively affordable, but in Europe you usually can't find them because we have other systems, or if you can get them, they are double or even quadruple the price as in the US. So it's important to do your own research into what's available to you.

[@SpenceBeGarbage]

Is one single fan enough? I was looking for a small fan like the Noctua, but was wondering if I should get 2.

[@craftydanijela]

Surely 2 are always better, as long as it pulls enough air out, as the filter stops suction a lot. You can test this by placing your hand on the other end of the hose and feel how much it blows (for example there is a significant difference between Noctua 2000 and 3000). If you install 2 fans, you also have to adjust the reducer so that it is big enough. I saw on KZbin that someone put 4 small fans next to each other. After several tests when I airbrushed the heart, the Noctua A14 2000 performed very well, because I didn't smell the paint while I was airbrushing. But just in case, after a year I switched to Noctua A14 3000 and now I use Noctua 2000 as an air sucker while soldering.

[@SpenceBeGarbage]

@@craftydanijela Thanks for the input! Appreciate it. 😀

[@pierrelartigue6218]

i Merci pour le tûto. le profilé a t'il le verre laiteux ?

[@craftydanijela]

This rigid foam board is not the same as Plexiglas, but I suppose you can use it as it will work anyway. The rigid foam board is made of a dense foam core, which can be laminated on both sides, and different types of plastic are used in its manufacture. Because it is made of foam, it is lightweight and easy to handle. Plexiglas, on the other hand, is an acrylic glass made of solid hard plastic, which is more difficult to handle if you don't have the right tools for it.

[@kylep1903]

What's the thickness of the foam board?

[@craftydanijela]

It is 3mm thick. I hope this helps you.

[@kylep1903]

@@craftydanijela Thank you

[@travisstoneking4049]

Anyone ever use a bread box for a paint booth?

[@craftydanijela]

That's not a bad idea! You can close it after painting so that dust doesn't get on the wet paint. On the other hand, airbrushing contributes more dust in the air and it is therefore important to have good ventilation... I appreciate your thought!

[@Ale_giro]

130€ isn't that cheap... There are booths (also foldable) for less! Anyway... I think that a single fan isn't enough for that long exhaust tube; that filter is too big for a single fan (you should only cover the fan, not the side, where there is no suction); i would put the filter/fan to the base, not that high (unless you spray from bottom to top.......??? Usually it's horizontal spraying move, not vertical!)

[@craftydanijela]

If it's like you say, then this video should be a reminder that this is not the way to do it. There is a lot of room for improvement with this build and this video is meant to inspire new ideas, as I said you will have to do the research yourself, for me this thing works! Ps: You didn't mention the lights and the enclosure, which to me means that I did at least something right.