Primers that are safe to use indoors?

[OldNYJim]

So, I'm moving in a couple of weeks.  Currently I'll shoot primer on my projects in my yard and then the color coats I can do indoors easily enough as I primarily use Auto Air or Wicked Color acrylics and clears.

The place I'm moving to doesn't have a yard, roof access or anywhere much to rattle can primer onto a project short of standing in the street outside (in downtown New York - not ideal).  I'll be moving in with my fiancee and it's not a particularly big place so whilst I can get away with airbrushing a little Tamiya acrylic or similar on a project here and there I think she'll object pretty quickly to getting ill from rattle can fumes (and rightfully so).

We don't have room for a spray booth or anything, and I think I already know the answer to this...but are there any model primers that anyone knows of that are safe to spray (can or airbrush) inside without any specialist ventilation?

Edited October 27, 2018 by CabDriver

[935k3]

You might want to look into Badger Stynylrez. It's a water based acrylic. It comes in a few different colors.

 

 

Edited October 27, 2018 by 935k3

[OldNYJim]

Ohhhh, great tip!  Thank you!  I'll try that out!

[El Roberto]

The Stynylrez is great stuff.  You won't believe how well it levels out when dry.

[OldNYJim]

I'll give it a try!  Do you do anything special to clean up after using it?

[Dave G.]

  On 10/28/2018 at 5:54 PM, CabDriver said:

I'll give it a try!  Do you do anything special to clean up after using it?

Expand  

I use a home made airbrush cleaner I make up and use for acrylic paints. But what ever you use do it right after painting, don't let your airbrush sit around. Once this stuff dries it will b3e a bear to get out of the innards of the airbrush, as are most acrylics but all the more so where this is acrylic poly.

[OldNYJim]

Great tip!  Thanks Dave!  What's in the homemade cleaner?  I tend to use water for most of these acrylics and it works ok but it sounds like this stuff might need something stronger

[Dave G.]

  On 10/29/2018 at 5:39 PM, CabDriver said:

Great tip!  Thanks Dave!  What's in the homemade cleaner?  I tend to use water for most of these acrylics and it works ok but it sounds like this stuff might need something stronger

Expand  

50-60% windshield washer fluid, 20% Windex, the remainder is IPA alcohol (91% not the 70% stuff) . To that I add a drop or two of flow agent or glycerin will also work ( this helps keep the nozzle clear and paint from sticking inside the brush on your next paint application). If you are using water anyway you also can just mix it 50/50 with the IPA and use a drop of dish soup in it. That works too but I have the other ingredients in the house anyway and it works well, basically like commercial acrylic airbrush cleaner. You can use rough numbers the exact ratio isn't critical.

[OldNYJim]

That's REALLY helpful, great advice!  Thanks for sharing Dave!

[oldcarfan]

Will your new place be on an upper floor and will it have opening windows? If so you might be able to use dryer ducting and a box to make a temporary spray booth and use regular primer if need be. Over the last few years I've developed sensitivities to most paints and even sanding dust so I try to get all of it out of the house whenever possible.

[OldNYJim]

  On 11/2/2018 at 1:35 AM, oldcarfan said:

Will your new place be on an upper floor and will it have opening windows? If so you might be able to use dryer ducting and a box to make a temporary spray booth and use regular primer if need be. Over the last few years I've developed sensitivities to most paints and even sanding dust so I try to get all of it out of the house whenever possible.

Expand  

New place is on the ground floor - I did think of a spray booth though, yeah!  Good thinking!

[Dave G.]

  On 11/3/2018 at 11:17 PM, CabDriver said:

New place is on the ground floor - I did think of a spray booth though, yeah!  Good thinking!

Expand  

You could get one of those Master or Point  Zero booths or similar that are all made the same under different names and price points. But I think for $90 or so you can get one with the hose and attachment that fits under an almost closed window for shooting solvent based paints or even acrylics. But truth be known, "news flash" ! Our bodies aren't made to ingest paint, solvent or acrylic. And these booths fold up into a case no larger than a trumpet case if even that big. Should be no problem to stick it under a bed or behind a chest someplace when not in use.. If I were moving into a small area with a delicate and I'm sure pretty young lady that I cared deeply for or similar situation ( pets etc) I'd go acrylic and booth personally. I mostly do  even in my house with large kitchen. Now and then I spray some solvent based paints, nail polishes and such or otherwise lacquer but I've mostly converted to acrylics now and still use a booth when I spray.

Acrylics still stick up the inside of your nose if left air borne, get the booth is my advise.. Wart off sinus infections and such, they are prevalent enough without invitation as well..

 

 

[OldNYJim]

  On 11/4/2018 at 1:47 PM, Dave G. said:

 Our bodies aren't made to ingest paint, solvent or acrylic.

Expand  

This is great advice, yes!  Always worth bearing in mind.  A paint booth will be a GREAT investment, and a fold-up one is a great idea if I can find a spot for it.  I'm sure I have enough bad habits already that my "delicate" young lady will appreciate me not adding any other peculiar smells to the ambiance of her nice new apartment

Luckily ventilation is good there, so I can minimize the health risk by opening windows and airing the place out after shooting even 'less-unsafe' stuff like acrylic - and hopefully keep future-wife happy long enough to have her still be eventual-wife

[Ace-Garageguy]

Something not brought up yet (unless I overlooked it): spraying ANYTHING paint-like indoors will make "dust" appear all over every horizontal surface. 

When you spray paint or related materials, what doesn't go on the object being painted drops to the floor or floats away as dry, colored dust.

Most women I've encountered don't like having to wipe every surface in the house down all the time, and vacuum constantly.

Good on you if you clean your own mess up, but it's another powerful reason to set up a booth that exhausts OUTSIDE before you spray anything, toxic or not.

 

Edited November 4, 2018 by Ace-Garageguy

[El Roberto]

  On 11/4/2018 at 2:34 PM, Ace-Garageguy said:

Something not brought up yet (unless I overlooked it): spraying ANYTHING paint-like indoors will make "dust" appear all over every horizontal surface. 

When you spray paint or related materials, what doesn't go on the object being painted drops to the floor or floats away as dry, colored dust.

Most women I've encountered don't like having to wipe every surface in the house down all the time, and vacuum constantly.

Good on you if you clean your own mess up, but it's another powerful reason to set up a booth that exhausts OUTSIDE before you spray anything, toxic or not.

Expand  

I tell my wife that it's dust from the dogs. 

  2 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

 

Expand  

 

[Dave G.]

  On 11/4/2018 at 4:50 PM, El Roberto said:

I tell my wife that it's dust from the dogs. 

 

Expand  

For me it's the pellet stove but it's also true. The pellet stove is way dustier than acrylic paint jobs ever thought of being. Now the over spray from metallic nail polish on her stove is another story, pulled that one off before I had the booth ! Just another plug for a booth, well worth having all the way around. Ya just putting down news papers and turning on the range hood didn't work out so hot.

[Dave G.]

What airbrush and nozzle size would you be shooting the Stynylrez through ?

[Ace-Garageguy]

  On 11/4/2018 at 7:58 PM, Dave G. said:

... Ya just putting down news papers and turning on the range hood didn't work out so hot.

Expand  

It can be a real bummer if you forget and happen to turn on the gas, too.

                                           

[Dave G.]

  On 11/4/2018 at 10:24 PM, Ace-Garageguy said:

It can be a real bummer if you forget and happen to turn on the gas, too.

                                           

Expand  

Indeed.