Spray booths are usually expensive because they're built using top quality materials and are designed by professionals who know exactly where and how air should flow. But for some, investing in one is tough especially if the booth isn't going to be used for many painting sessions. This guide aims to help woodworkers construct simple spray booth.

Do remember that a DIY booth cannot and should not substitute a professionally built one if heavy painting is to be done. You run the risk of not being able to properly contain fumes and keep out contaminants. The guide below works best for water-based sprays and isn't advised for flammable material.

Insulation panels

Purchase rigid foam insulation panels for the walls. Three panels will make the sides. Furring strips will be required for stability. Hold the panels at the corners using heavy-duty duct tape and top off the installation with another foam panel for the roof. Use furring strips and duct tape to join it with the booth.

Adding the ventilation

The front of the room will naturally have a door but you'll need windows and openings for installing a furnace filter and a medium-duty box fan into the booth. Try to fit the booth into a room that has windows, one on the left nearer to the door and the other on the right towards the rear of the booth. This ensures cross ventilation is achieved.

To set up the filter and the fan, cut out a portion of the rear panel on the center. Fit the furnace into the opening. From the outside, set up a standard sawhorse and a plank to support the fan. Adjust it so that it sits squarely behind the filter. This is important because the fan will draw out fumes created inside the booth.

The booth design given here is extremely lightweight and can be dismantled and reassembled. It's meant for use indoors as outdoor booths are best constructed by professional manufacturers.

Plastic sheet booth

Using a similar build technique, you can also create a booth out of heavy plastic sheets. It can be as effective as a foam-insulated one and is cheaper to make (though not particularly fancy).

Purchase heavy plastic sheets, enough for three sides. Cut them to size and hang them from ceiling joists using a nail gun or a stapler. Wooden planks can weigh the sheets down on the floor which will make it easy for you to remove the installation when you need the space for something else.

To hold the corners and act as a tie-back, standard woodworking clamps do a decent job. Large binder clips may also be used. Install a box fan to keep fumes out of the booth and make sure there's a direct path to a doorway for fresh air.

As you can see, temporary spray booths don't have to be expensive or labor intensive to build. The examples here are designed for temporary use only and (we stress again) cannot be used for daily work. Investing in a professionally constructed booth is the only way to get the most out of spray painting. Proper ventilation is guaranteed, you pose less of a hazard to your health and the environment, and your woodworking project won't have to suffer uneven finishes from contaminants. The cost of prefabricated booths ranges from $1,000 to $4,000.