F.A.Q

Got Spray Booth Questions? We’ve Got Spray Booth Answers!

Purchasing a paint booth or spray booth enclosure can be a difficult task. There are various types and sizes of spray booths that can be used for various finishing/refinishing applications. There are also various technologies that can be utilized to increase functionality of a typical spray booth. This includes air movement systems, climate controls, dust collection, air make-up units, and more. With all these options and features choosing the right spray booth means asking the right questions. Checkout our frequently asked questions below help you with your next paint booth purchase.

What is your latest in paint booth technology?

Our latest innovation in paint booth technology is our patented multi-tiered flash and baking system that comes standard in our Junair 5 Series Spray Booths. Also featured in this system is our patented QADs™ (Quality Air Drying System) which greatly enhances the airflow within this multi-tiered system and can be integrated into any new or existing paint booth systems.

How do your products benefit professional painters today?

Our products offer the painter the ability to perform their jobs more efficiently and in a safer environment. By studying the typical routines of the painter, the engineers at Spray Tech / Junair have developed products that target their specific needs so he/she can achieve quicker turnaround times. Examples include integrating a paint mix room adjacent to the prep area which minimizes the number of paces required to get from the mix room to the area in which the vehicle is going to be prepared.

Another example is with the use of “Smart Sensors”. By monitoring the Spray Gun air use, the Spray Booth can be switched from the “Prep Mode” or “Economy Mode” by just pulling the trigger on the spray gun. The painter doesn’t need to leave the booth to switch modes on the control panel. Our multi-tiered baking system saves the painter time on every job. More through put equals more revenue.

Do you use variable frequency drives?

Spray Tech / Junair incorporates twin variable frequency drives (VFD’s) for the most programmable and energy efficient system on the market. By using a multi speed VFD control instead of the two speed system offered by other manufacturers, both the intake and exhaust motor drives can be set to operate at their optimum frequency in all stages of the refinishing process. Up to an 85% reduction in energy usage can be achieved with our control programming, advanced sensors and integrated VFD’s.

What are the challenges painters have encountered converting to waterbornes?

The biggest challenge has been to change the way the painters operate within the booth. This starts with the preparation of the vehicle. In the beginning, some technicians thought the change to waterborne was going to take them longer to do their job. When trained on how to change procedures, the net result was shortened cycle times. Education of the painter is the quickest way to succeed in the change to waterborne.

What are unique features and attributes of Spray Tech spray booths?

Our Junair 5 Series Spray Booths offer superior performance and unparalleled energy efficiency. This booth gives the painter the ability to easily program the flash and cure cycles based on the different types of product being applied. Primer, Base Coat and Clear Coat all have different cycle times so the painter can adjust the booth settings accordingly.

By incorporating a full range of highly innovative features including: T-5 high output lighting; the best “fit and finish” cabins in the industry; the latest in controller technology; and the QADs™ air movement system as standard, the Junair 5 Series Booths will provide your shop substantial reductions in energy costs as well as a refinishing environment unmatched by that of any other manufacturer.

What makes a good paint booth better?

A good spray booth is obviously the one which fulfills your painting needs but a better spray booth is the one which doubles your painting production. Only a metallic square room with 1-2” steel wall width is not enough these days to be called a spray booth.

It has to have other competitive features which can make a better choice. Spray Tech / Junair spray booths are specifically designed to reduce energy consumption. Using our booths automated LED light management system, auto air-flow shutdown controls and fuel efficiency reduces the overall cost per painting Job. Using our latest QADS™ (Quality Air Drying) system, A- patented technology, the booth cycle time can be reduced by almost 35%. This increases your ROI considerably at the end of the day.

Whenever you decide to purchase a spray booth go for the best. The margin of error in this purchase is very narrow. It’s a long term investment that pays off in the narrow term.

Do you have statistics on the overall energy efficiency of your units?

We do – we can apply real world numbers from our different customers and owner utility bills to show the differences between existing equipment vs. investing in new equipment. We have shown a high profile customer in a colder climate in North America that by investing in new technology his equipment would be paid for in utility savings.

How does using variable frequency drive increase energy efficiency?

All booth functions are channeled through a system called an Energy Monitor. The Energy Monitor uses a group of automatic sensors that are built into the Spray Tech / Junair control system and are used to monitor the operations of the spray booth/oven. If the spray gun is idle for ten minutes, the booth automatically enters an “economy” mode. In this mode, 80% of the air is recirculated and 20% fresh air is brought into the booth.

In addition to the recirculated air that has already been heated, the fans slow to an idle speed to reduce electric energy consumption. The booth will stay in this mode continuously clearing itself of recirculated air automatically, every ten minutes. When the painter is ready to spray, the spray gun trigger is pulled or the “spray” button is depressed on the control panel. This entire process of change over from economy mode to spray mode takes less than ten seconds, saving the painter time and ultimately increasing the profitability of the shop.Included with the Control Panel is an Auto Balance System that monitors the pressure within the booth.

It measures the resistance of the airflow across the filters and adjusts the booth pressure accordingly by transmitting the information to the Variable Frequency Drives (VFD’s) so the painter can be assured that the booth is balanced at all times. VFD’s are used for optimum air management and efficient motor startup. VFD’s eliminate energy depleting and maintenance prone control dampers.

Can you give examples of general and extraordinary tasks that are done in the booths, and how your technology works in those situations?

In the instance of waterborne paints, Spray Tech / Junair engineers have performed hours of testing using a standard booth with atmospheric temperatures and regular spray speeds.

Under these conditions, the base coat has taken thirty minutes to dry. When the tiered baking and QADS™ waterborne drying systems were added to the booth, the base coat drying times were reduced to four minutes. This can be further explained by the fact that a full flash off is not achieved until every area of the panel is dry.

If clear- coat is applied in this situation the result will be dieback in the paint. With the addition of QADS™ in the booth, we have ensured that the difficult areas of the vehicle, i.e. the rocker panels, the area behind the vehicles’ mirrors and the area where the side moldings have been removed, all completely dry within this four minute period, making the vehicle ready for the clear-coat.
Static Electricity is easily generated in plastic parts when tacking off the vehicle in preparation for it to be sprayed. If there is a static charge in a plastic part, metallic paints will not appear to be the same color as a metal part adjacent to it on the vehicle, even if they were both painted at the same time. The reason for this is that the aluminum flake used in the metallic paint reacts to the static charge on the plastic part and stands on end, instead of arranging itself randomly like it does on the metal part.

Spray Tech / Junair/Junair has a patented system that is used with our QADs™ system to eliminate this problem. The QADs™ System with the Static Neutralization option is switched on while the technician is tacking off and preparing the vehicle. All static is eliminated as it is generated. The system is left on while the painter is filling the gun with paint and as soon as the trigger is pulled on the paint gun, the system shuts down, the booth changes to spray mode automatically and spraying commences. Not a second is lost and you are ensured of the best finish!

How can I keep my spray booth clean?

Investing in an industrial spray booth is the first step in ensuring that your paint jobs are the absolute best. If you are still finding dust or dirt in your paint job, the answer may be simple. Finding dust in your booth is not necessarily a sign that your booth is damaged but that you are not keeping it as clean as you should be.

A contaminated paint job is a sign that your work area is not being properly maintained. Here are tips to organize and maintain your space to ensure a flawless finish on your vehicles.
The easiest way to prevent dust from entering the booth is by keeping the booth doors closed. When the doors must be opened to the vehicle or parts in or out, make sure that the booth is running to draw in contaminants in to the filters.
Other ways to keep your booth free from dust is by never leaving unnecessary items inside and store any items you will use in the booth in a clean area. Never sand in the booth and properly prep the object prior to bringing it inside the booth.

Seal the entrances and other crannies that might allow contaminants in or out. Your booth is an investment in your painting business, so do not skimp on necessary items. This goes for your filters, you do not want to purchase cheap and therefore, inferior filters. Low quality filters will only lead to paint finish problems while a high quality filter will provide high efficiency when it comes to airflow and turbulence. Remember to regularly replace filters when needed.

Despite how careful you are while painting, some overspray will collect on your spray booth walls and floors. Any overspray that is found in the booth can come loose and land on your paint job. Prevent this through regular cleaning such as vacuuming, sponge-cleaning, and mopping both floors and walls. Remember to keep the ventilation system on while using solvent-based cleaning supplies to prevent dust from sticking around.

Overspray will not only be found on the walls and floors of your booth but your materials as well. Your paint gun and hoses will also be covered with flecks of paint that could chip off and land on your freshly-painted car. Clean and replace your gun and hoses when necessary to avoid chipping paint. Keep an eye out for paint build-up in the exhaust and other areas that may not be visible.

Moisture can also be an issue because the condensation can cause damage to tools and imperfections to your paint job. While a compressed air system is an integral part of paint application, it can also produce moisture. To combat moisture, make sure that your booth is receiving the air it needs to keep things dry.

Refrigerant dryers reduce and eliminate moisture in your compressed air system. Make sure you choose a system that us reliable and performs well.
The right spray booth can be hard to find but not when you shop at Spray Tech / Junair. Since we deal exclusively in spray booths, we provide only the highest-quality booths for painting. From automotive to aerospace, we have the booths you need for a flawless paint job. Request a quote online today.

One More Question?

Couldn’t find the answer you were looking for? Not a problem. Use the link below or visit our contact us page to get in touch with one of our spray booth knowledge experts who can give you all the required info you need to make your paint shop run more efficiently, increase throughput, increase revenue, and keep your paint operators safe.