The Ship Model Forum

The Ship Modelers Source
It is currently Fri Mar 29, 2024 10:50 am

All times are UTC - 6 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Dust
PostPosted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 3:36 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2012 2:05 am
Posts: 84
Location: Germany
I am constantly plagued by dust during my builds and it obviously has a negative effect on the paint job. What tips/techniques do you all use to keep dust away? I cover my models when I am not currently working on them, but somehow dust still gets in there. I work in the basement so I know that it inherently dusty.

Anyone have any good tips?


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Dust
PostPosted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 10:48 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2007 9:20 am
Posts: 438
Make sure you're completely enclosing the space you are storing the model. Also make sure the storage space is as small as possible. If a big space you are trapping dust each time.

I dust a model before painting and then blow dry air through the airbrush to blow of any missed dust before appling paint.

I also have found less dust in my paint when I can paint outside, but depends on your environment.

_________________
http://www.f-16.net
http://www.c-130.net

Building:
1/48 Lancaster (HK)
1/350 Akagi
1/350 IJN Kongo


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Dust
PostPosted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 11:18 am 
Offline

Joined: Thu May 30, 2013 1:50 pm
Posts: 1980
I buy a plastic model case for the ship before I start building and store the model in it between work on the kit. Of course, most of my ships are 1/700, or smaller ships in 1/350, so there is a variety of car-size show cases, and larger ones by Trumpeter and Merit available. If you're doing a 1/200 Bismarck...well that's a different story! :wave_1:


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Dust
PostPosted: Thu Oct 16, 2014 12:08 pm 
Offline

Joined: Tue Jan 18, 2011 10:46 am
Posts: 641
All the above, plus use of tack rag on occasion. Also, you may wish to wipe down surface to be painted with rubbing alcohol on a lint free cloth.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Dust
PostPosted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 7:10 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2012 2:05 am
Posts: 84
Location: Germany
Thanks for the tips! One idea I had was to avoid using cardboard boxes the shield the model. Perhaps they have small fibers that can come off? Anyway, I think plastic is probably the best. I could always wash the platic box when needed.

Does anyone have experience with using Tamiya's anti-static dusting brush?


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Dust
PostPosted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 10:33 am 
Offline

Joined: Thu May 30, 2013 1:50 pm
Posts: 1980
Putting a dusting brush, or even feather duster, anywhere near a completed ship model with rigging, etc., is looking for trouble! :big_grin:


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Dust
PostPosted: Sat Oct 25, 2014 9:08 pm 
Offline

Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2012 4:19 pm
Posts: 87
i used tupperware or take out container.... :cool_2:


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Dust
PostPosted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 7:57 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 03, 2007 10:39 pm
Posts: 769
Location: Westminster, Colorado
You need to keep your painting area as clean as possible. I've talked to some guys that have built boxes around their paint extractors and paint inside those boxes. I for one don't have that kind of room. It's been suggested to me that starting your paint extractor and letting it run for 30 min or so before painting helps. Maybe but I know looking into the lights when I do that there's still small particles floating around in the air. You just can't get away from it completely. I think the key is to keep your paint area clean and cover your subject as quickly as possible. I have some plastic drying boxes where I put my models and I think that has done more to help my results than anything.

Dave


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Dust
PostPosted: Wed Oct 29, 2014 5:23 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2012 2:05 am
Posts: 84
Location: Germany
Thanks everyone for the tips. I do think plastic boxes are important as you can wash them so there is no dust build up. I recently started using plastic sushi take-away boxes for my smaller parts. They have small ribs at the bottom to help stop the parts from rolling all over the place. (Of course tape works, too.)

Really cool would be some kind of work bench that is hinged, so you can fold down the backboard to cover your work. Too bad I am not good with woodwork!


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Dust
PostPosted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 9:36 am 
Offline

Joined: Thu May 30, 2013 1:50 pm
Posts: 1980
Maybe a sterile environment such as an aero-space lab? :big_grin:


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Dust
PostPosted: Fri Nov 21, 2014 10:58 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2007 12:34 pm
Posts: 518
Location: Smithfield, Virginia
A subject near and dear to my heart - and a constant source of annoyance. Lately I have been trying some things that seem to be working for me. I offer them here as a work in progress because they seem to work so far, but I haven't gone through an entire year's cycle of climate in my hobby room.
One: I have a dedicated air filter that filters dust particles out of the air. I situate it such that it exhausts (cleaned) air toward the mouth of my spray booth from 18" away.
Two: I start the blowers in my spray booth several minutes before I start to paint.
Three: I have a small humidifier that generates moist air that blows into the air filter. Static electricity is greatly reduced as humidity increases. Cold weather generally results in drier air and therefore more static electricity.
Four: Before placing the work in the booth, I go over it slowly with a Zerostat (here's a link to it - not shilling for Amazon, just showing the product: http://www.amazon.com/MILTY-ZEROSTAT-AN ... B0033SHDSS ). After using the Zerostat I gently dab a tack rag (from your local paint store) on the surface of the work to pick up any dust or lint. The Zerostat does not necessarily cause the dust to fall off, but it stops the dust from clinging. Having used the Zerostat on the work, it seems to keep further dust from landing. I also give a once-over to the spray booth itself before painting. I have a PVC rest that I put my wrist on when I spray and I have tested that with a bit of aluminum foil - foil attracted to it before Zerostat, neutral afterwards, so I know it's working.
This set of steps increases the workload a bit. Getting dust on the work, and any remedial work to remove / repair it is far more work in my experience.

_________________
Some people make you happy, then they leave.
Others make you happy when they leave. (apologies to Oscar Wilde if he ever said anything similar, of which there is some doubt . . .)


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 6 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 9 guests


You can post new topics in this forum
You can reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group