Paint Booth Filters
Paint booth filters play a vital role in protecting the environment as well as protecting your paint booth. When paint is sprayed, additional particles are airborne and need to be trapped before exiting the booth. Without the correct type of filters and filters that are clean, the following can happen:
- Paint is released into the atmosphere
- Paint will build up in your ductwork
- Paint will build up on your fan causing it to break and require costly repairs
- Reduce the airflow in your booth
There are many types of filters available for different types of booths, but they can be categorized into the following groups:
- Prefilters – this can either be a metal type mesh filter similar to what you see in kitchen hoods or they can be a polyester bag stye with a metal frame. Prefilters trap any debris such as leaves, large dirt, and other large debris that enters from an outside air source before entering into the equipment. Prefilters are out of sight and are normally within the mechanical unit of the equipment.
- Intake / Ceiling pads and blankets – These filters are used as way to catch any fine dirt and particles before they enter the paint booth work area. Many types exist but most are made out of polyester and have a tacky substance called tacktifier added to catch any small particles. These can also have wire frames sewn into them to hold them better into the designated opening in the equipment. The cleaner the air going into a paint booth, the cleaner the paint finish will be.
- Exhaust Filters – Normally made from fiberglass or polyester, this type of material is used to catch any overspray that is not being applied to the item being painted. This filter is changed the most frequently and the time frame is dependent on types of paints used and the amount of painting. These can be roll materials or cut pads that are inserted into the booth. Exhaust filters are normally located on the floor or on the walls of the booth.
- Secondary exhaust – Not all booth have secondary exhausts but the majority do. A secondary exhaust filter is normally a bag style and catches any extra paint that might pass through the first stage exhaust filter. This helps protect your ductwork from paint buildup and makes your equipment last longer and work more efficiently.
Paint booth filters should be regularly changed to provide quality paint finishes and to keep your equipment running as efficiently and safely as possible. If you have questions on what type of filters you need, please contact us and we can point you in the right direction!