Sectioning off a spray/finishing room. Plastic vs Canvas drop cloths for the sides???

I put screw hooks in the ceiling and use a couple lightweight blue poly tarps. I spaced the hooks to line up with the tarp grommets and just take them down when not in use. Be sure to mark the hooks and tarps with numbers or letters because the grommets aren’t always the same distance apart. I have about a 4” gap at the top and a 12” gap at the bottom. I haven’t noticed overspray getting out and causing a problem. I also put a tarp down on the floor when spraying. Some light comes through the tarps, but there is also a light in the spray area.

Paul

I had a small room where I painted a frame, tank, and fenders in many years ago. I used plastic, but, I taped a piece of 1”pvc across the whole length of the bottom (after it was hung from the ceiling), then when I was done, all I did was roll it up to the ceiling where I had a couple of bungee cords to hold it up out of the way. The pvc also helped hold the plastic in place. I don’t know if plastic or canvas would be a better choice. I did have an exhaust fan in a window, but, I was spraying automotive paint. Good luck with whatever you come up with.

-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Kentuk55@bellsouth.net

You could also do something with piping, tarps with grommets (you can put grommets in canvas if you want or just buy those black plastic grommet clips) and get some shower curtain clips. Instead of rolling up and down you can just push it all back – seems easier.

I’ve been thinking about doing something similar for a long time. I like the idea of positve pressure. But if you do that with plastic or canvas, won’t the “walls” just blow out?

I have done something similar with canvas and quite like it for a couple reasons. First, I mainly use waterbase finishes, so I just have some water on hand that I spray right into the drop cloth for the first round of clean up. Also, it is heavier, so you don’t have the problem with any pressure differences moving the plastic. Third, it just looks and feels much more substantial.

I like the recommendation to essentially make them curtains, as it would be much quicker. I haven’t found my canvas cloth to produce any lint, and I got it from Harbor Freight for dirt cheap.

-- Brian T. - Exact science is not an exact science