OTC Insights Team
Established in 1963, OTC Industrial Technologies is one of the largest industrial distributors & service providers in the United States. We're committed to seeing industrial operations advance through expert technical solutions & unmatched support using our years of experience.
Choosing the right paint booth for your industrial or manufacturing needs can have a lasting impact on your profitability, productivity, and the health and safety of your workers.
The right booth, selected to support your operations and meet your requirements, can increase operational efficiency. You’ll get more product out the door at a higher quality. The wrong booth type can leave your team scrambling to fill orders and struggling to make up for inefficiency.
Selecting a new paint or spray booth
Many factors should be considered when selecting your paint booth, including size requirements, paint type, airflow style, and ventilation capabilities.
Spray paint booths that utilize a crossdraft, downdraft, or side draft airflow remove harmful chemicals and paint residue through specialized exhaust filtration systems. Selecting the proper airflow style for your paint booth helps your business perform optimally by avoiding setbacks and ensuring a high-quality paint job for your parts and products.
Amongst these airflow types, a crossdraft (or cross flow) booth is one of the most popular options available because of its economical cost and ease of use.
What are crossdraft paint booths?
Crossdraft booths are popular amongst small business owners because they offer an economical means to a top-notch finished product.
Crossdraft booths provide a simplified design that requires significantly less material than other airflow booth types and can be mounted at any floor level. When properly maintained, crossdraft booths can provide the same quality finish as other high-end booths at half the cost.
Because of their economic advantages and ease of use, crossdraft booths are the most widely used paint booth style.
How a crossdraft paint booth works
A crossdraft booth works by drawing air horizontally over the painted product.
Crossdraft booths move the airflow from the front of the booth and exhaust it out of the back, providing a continuous flow of clean, contaminant-free air. They have filters on both the intake and outtake sides, so the incoming air is clean and free of contaminants, and the outgoing air is collected and exhausted from the shop area.
Advantages of a crossdraft paint booth
In addition to the cost savings, cross flow booths are an attractive option for manufacturers because of their ease of use and their easy installation.
The simplistic design requires minimal training to operate effectively. Additionally, when properly used, these booths require little maintenance and are easy to repair. When used in a clean environment, these booths provide the most cost-effective route to a top-quality final product.
Cross flow paint booths are incredibly versatile and are used for a variety of applications, such as:
- Large truck paint finishing
- Automotive repair and refinishing
- Industrial parts and equipment finishing
- Sanding and wood applications
- Airplanes and the aviation industry
- Boats and other water vehicles
They are commonly used in the automotive and trucking industry because of the cost savings and industry-standard safety environment.
Disadvantages of crossdraft paint booths
With the cost savings and ease of use of a crossdraft paint booth, it is easy to understand why they are such a popular choice. However, the simple design means there are potentially critical downsides to consider when making your booth selection.
Crossdraft booths must be cleaned and sanitized regularly to avoid the risk of cross-contamination. Unlike more robust booths that utilize multiple exhaust systems and additional filtration, crossdraft booths are at risk from contaminants and overspray, which can wreak havoc on your paint job.
Superior spray control and methodical cleaning are required to ensure you get the best results in your crossdraft paint booth.
Because of potential overspray and contamination risks, cross flow paint booths may not be the best option for industries that require high-volume output. Before deciding that a cross flow booth is best for your business, consider consulting an industry expert who can weigh the pros and cons of each airflow construction to determine which will work best for your needs.
Getting started with crossdraft paint or spray booths
OTC can help your organization select the proper paint booth to maximize your organization's painting process effectiveness. Our powder and spray booth experts understand the leading industry paint booth options and can help you select a product that will work best for your manufacturing or industrial needs.
Get in touch with an OTC expert today.