An airbrush that’s connected to an air compressor will provide a quick method of applying paint by atomizing the liquid, meaning it breaks the paint into tiny droplets, then sprays it onto any surface. You can find the airbrush useful for a ton of different paint projects but they’re commonly used to apply makeup on skin, watercolor on paper, and paint figurines.
You may already be aware that spraying paint in a regular paint sprayer, an HVLP or LVLP-sprayer, can cause unwanted chemicals to linger in the air, but is it the same with the airbrush?
You should always wear a mask when airbrushing, regardless of where and what you are spraying. Failing to wear a mask will cause you to inhale atomized paint which can lead to several health-related issues, ranging from mild to severe. Your best option is a mask with two cartridge filters capable of filtering the chemicals that your paint contains, this should be researched before purchasing the filters.
For those who have airbrushed before, I’m sure you’re well aware of how rapidly paint can set on the cup and needle opening of the airbrush and how difficult it is to get rid of them?
Those stains of paint were just small particles floating in the air while, meaning they are the same kind of particles that you inhale when airbrushing without a mask.
Imagine a slow build-up of paint inside your lungs. No thank you. Even if masks weren’t as inexpensive as they are today, you should still be able to justify the purchase of a good mask before you start airbrushing. Believe me, it’s a lesson that you don’t want to learn the hard way.
What Kind of Mask do You Need When Airbrushing?
For those who make the transition from painting with a brush to airbrushing, the hazards associated with spraying paint and what protective gear one should wear might not be obvious.
There is a good portion of non-toxic airbrush paints available on the market today but the dangers still remain as the paint’s toxicity isn’t the only harmful thing about spray painting, which I initially thought. But no, as it turns out, inhaling paint particulates is as much of a danger as exposing yourself to the chemicals, as the lungs cant process them.
There’s one simple way to avoid all of this and that’s wearing a mask. The right kind of mask. Anytime we’re talking about safety, the price shouldn’t really be a deal-breaker but in this case, we’re in luck as most masks come at a reasonable price for the function they provide.
There are different types of masks and filters, capable of filtering different variations of particles, vapors, and gases. When it comes to airbrushing, you want a mask with filters capable of handling both the particles and the fumes.
There are two masks that I would recommend using as they have all the qualities I’m looking for in a painting respirator. Some of those qualities include;
- The mask has to be NIOSH-approved and it should be made clear that the mask can be used when spray painting. The mask should have a NIOSH-rating of at least N95. Without the rating, there’s no way to know if the mask’s ability to filter out particles has been tested.
- Mask ratings come in three letters: N, R, and P. They’re used to determine the mask’s resistance to oil.
- N – Not resistant
- R – Partially resistant
- P – Resistant to oil
- The mask should, preferably, be manufactured by a well-established company as it is much easier to get a hold of replacement parts for popular masks both locally and online.
- The mask should not have sharp edges and fit comfortably, even when it’s worn for a long period of time.
- Replacement filters should be available separately to avoid having to buy new masks every time the filters are in need of replacing.
- The mask shouldn’t fog too much. It can be quite frustrating to have to handle a constant build-up of fog in the middle of spray painting.
The first one is a NASUM 201, which is inexpensive, fits very well and comfortably, and has filters capable of filtering out both particles and fumes. The mask’s filters can be replaced once they’ve lost their ability to filter out the bad stuff.
The second mask that I’ve been using quite a lot over the years is the 3M Half Facepiece 6300. It’s a reusable mask with replaceable filters. These masks will keep the headaches at bay and protect you from more serious ailments further down the road.
Is Airbrushing Dangerous? Why Do I Need a Mask?
Airbrushing and other methods of spraying paint can be dangerous, but the dangers they pose can easily be reduced and even neutralized by wearing a mask and applying the paint in a well-ventilated room. To understand why there’s a need for a mask when spray painting, let’s look at the process from another perspective.
The need for a respirator when airbrushing stems from two primary things that occur when airbrushing.
Overspray
Overspray is a term used to describe the atomized paint particles that don’t land on the target but instead on the surrounding area. Overspray happens when you airbrush and that’s that. You can always expect a certain amount of paint to end up on things that weren’t supposed to be painted, but that were placed in the background.
Overspray also means that there will be excessive paint lingering in the air as you airbrush. You won’t be able to spot the small droplets floating in the air around you, but they’re there. Inhaling them is not something you want to do.
Using a mask will prevent that. When it comes to protecting furniture and other items placed in the same room, a spray booth is the way to go. They’re really great.
Spray booths are like tents designed to minimize the amount of overspray by catching all of the paint when it’s sprayed. While they may reduce the amount of paint particles lingering in the air, they’re best used to protect other items in your house.
Fumes
There is a wide range of different paints available, some of them are non-toxic while others contain higher levels of volatile organic compounds, also known as VOCs. Water-based paints, such as acrylics, will generally be less toxic than solvent-based paints, such as enamel paints.
You can also expect less odor from paint with lower levels of VOCs, along with fewer harmful fumes. These fumes will, in the long-term, have a negative impact on your health if you’re exposed to them.
Picking the right mask to protect yourself against toxins is important, and picking the right type of paint is just as important. It’s imperative that the mask’s filters and the chemicals in the paint match to ensure that you’re protected from them.
Remember; inhaling these fumes can be dangerous, and having them come in contact with your skin and eyes can cause irritation. Conclusion? Protect yourself.
Do You Need Ventilation For Airbrushing?
Yes, you should absolutely make sure that the space you airbrush in is a well-ventilated space to make sure the air circulates properly. The build-up of fumes and odors will be reduced as a result of letting fresh air move through the room. Opening windows, doors, and installing an industrial fan will provide the ventilation needed to minimize the build-up.
I do not recommend using a household-fan. The paint lingering in the air can make its way into the fan and, in some extreme cases, cause the fan to malfunction.
But you should still wear a mask, regardless of how much ventilation you can achieve. Ventilation by itself won’t do enough to protect you from headaches.
Airbrushing outside should provide enough ventilation, shouldn’t it? Yes, but you should still wear a mask. Paint particles and toxic fumes can be present and linger even when you’re airbrushing outside in the open air.
Do I Need a Spray Booth For Airbrushing?
You can airbrush successfully without a spray booth but investing in one will make the process much, much easier. Spray booths will cut down the time spent preparing the room you’re painting in substantially, and the time spent removing stains afterward by a lot more.
I don’t have a hard time justifying the purchase of a spray booth for myself, and that’s because I airbrush in our garage. Our garage is spacious, which is great when I’m airbrushing. However, as it turns out, my family expects our garage to function as much more than just a painting studio.
This has led them to place furniture, cars, tools, storage boxes, and other stuff in the garage.
This forced me to buy a spray booth as I just had too many items surrounding the object I was painting that I didn’t want to ruin with overspray.
In an area with the sole purpose of being a painting studio, you may not need a spray booth as the surrounding items are expected to be exposed to paint. However, in any other environment where overspray can cause a mess, I would invest in a spray booth.
Is Airbrushing Messy?
It should be noted that spraying paint is harder to control than it is when applied with a brush, which I doubt comes as a surprise. How much messier airbrushing is will depend on your approach, technique, expertise, and preparation.
The better you prepare, the more you can minimize the amount of time spent cleaning up the overspray. Picking a suitable space to airbrush in is important from a clean-up perspective. Smaller, more stuffed areas will most likely lead to more unwanted paint-stains, especially without a spray booth, whereas a spacious garage or backyard will provide enough space to protect the area surrounding you as you airbrush.
The airbrush itself will spray an atomized burst in the direction you are aiming the device but because the paint is atomized and the paint particles are sprayed in a gas-like form, it will be hard to keep the paint concentrated to a small target area. Of course, it can be done, but you shouldn’t expect to get 100% of the paint you airbrush to hit the target object.