Replies

1. 
   rslatm | May 06, 2003 12:37pm | #1

   Grainger would be the first one that comes to mind. Many more should be found looking on google or your local yellow pages under such titles as spray guns, etc and also The Thomas Register online and at your local library.
2. 
   TomT226 | May 06, 2003 02:20pm | #2

   Ask Jeff at http://www.homesteadfinishing.com, on the forum.

3. 
   Jeff | May 06, 2003 03:59pm | #3

   Mark

   I went thru this same thing last year.

   Grainger is the best place for fans.

   DO an advanced search for fnas on the site.

   Someone gave a list of place to look up, but I don't have it now.

   You should be able to find it pretty easy.

   I got lucky.

   Got a free 24" explosion proof fan (Grainger's price abou $400),

   without motor.

   Ask around, you might get a free one or inexpensive from a closed

   auto paint shop or something.

   Jeff

4. 
   AlanTurner | May 06, 2003 07:39pm | #4

   I went with a TEFC fan, about $100 @ 16", from Johnstone which is a national co.  The fan they shipped was actually made in Canada.  For shellac, I thought this was sufficient, but that is just for me, not for everyone.  I know that explosion proof is recommended.  For my limited use, and sraying right in front of it with shellac, there was no buildup of odor or vapor in the basement at all.  Opened a window across the basement for the make up air, and it was quite pleasant.

   Alan

5. 
   billyg83440 | May 08, 2003 02:04am | #5

   I think mcmaster.com & msc.com will have some.

   Grainger's has them. I've never purchased from them because they always seem to have the high price for everything. At least everything I've ended up purchasing elsewhere. Use their catalog all the time for reference.

   Also check http://shop.emotorstore.com/estore/SearchMainPage.asp

   I've found them to have great prices, and a huge selection.

   Added: Remember to put your on/off switch outside the spray booth. I'm sure the wires to the fan itself are in a sealed box.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 5/7/2003 7:06:51 PM ET by BILLYG83440

6. 
   LouisTorrans | May 08, 2003 08:16pm | #6

   From what I've learned and read, an explosion prove fan simply means it is capable of surviving an explosion, not prevent one as is commonly held. All induction motors work without brushes which are the source of sparks so you need to stay away from universals. Also the fan blades needs to be nonsparking metal like aluminum. I may be wrong, but I think too many folks have been buying explosion proof fans when all they really needed was a TEFC with aluminum bladed model. Now the insurance people may have a different few. I can't see spending all the money for an EP fan and not doing all the other stuff a full fledged finish room is required to have. I think you can do very well with a TEFC motor and save a few bucks. That's really all an EP fan is anyway. You're paying for a lot more than is needed IMHO. 

1. 
   booch | May 09, 2003 11:24pm | #7

   I guess this should really be directed to MarkH

   Explosion proof is a term that relates to heat and sparks.

   In essence it is the ability of an electrical enclosure to contain the product of an explosion and any exhaust gas that (has to) exit the enclosure has to be below a temperature that would spontaneously ignite fumes in that environment. That is the reason for massive steel and cast aluminum enclosures with wide flat flanges. The flanges cool the expanded exhaust gas.

   Tech stuff:

   http://www.hoffmanonline.com/Technical_Info/

   Go here and click on "Classifications of Hazardous locations" The sheet that pops up is a really good definition of the categories.

   What you have is a Class 1, Division 1 location. Flammable gas in a normally occuring status is class 1 division 1. That is the most dangerous environment.

   What the fan assembly is supposed to do is provide a housing massive enough to dissipate the heat generated by the motor so that it cannot spontaneously ignite the solvent. Further the mechanicals of the fan should be made of base metals that cannot generate a spark if something goes awry. i.e. if the fan housing gets bent and contacts the blades of the fan it should not be a steel to steel connection that could generate a mechanical spark.

   If you are a business the Insurance agent would come down your throat with a microscope to make certain this explosion doesn't occur. This is the reason industry has gone to powder coating and water based paint products.

   Now if yours is a home shop the same physics apply, but the insurance and laws may not. Just understand the concentration of vapors is the real enemy. the weaker the concentration the better your chances are of avoiding an explosion.

   If nothing else changes in your ventilation system, turn the fan on before you open the can of lacquer or solvent. If you have enough CFM's we won't read about you in the local news section.

   Jack of all trades and master of none - you got a problem with that?

   Edited 5/9/2003 4:25:06 PM ET by Booch

7. 
   Jeffj | May 12, 2003 01:30am | #8

   The fan I used for the book was Grainger part # 4C369. I think a much cheaper, and better all around fan is available here

   http://www.sprayshield.com

   Click on explosion proof fans. The 16" one will work fine.

   Jeff Jewitt