Toy Inventor’s Notebook

STAIRWELL SPRAY BOOTH

Invented and drawn by Bob Knetzger

WHEN I WAS SETTING UP MY NEW GARAGE SHOP, I WAS WONDERING WHAT TO DO WITH THE TRIANGULAR SPACE UNDERNEATH A FLIGHT OF STAIRS. The odd shape didn’t lend itself to efficient storage, so what else would be good? I was tired of makeshift spray painting and had outgrown my desktop mini spray booth, so this upgrade was timely.

I measured the space and assembled a frame using 2×4s and wood screws. Its slanted top fits the stairwell space snugly so everything else is mounted inboard. The panels are ⅛" tempered hardboard screwed to the frame. The back panel is ¾" plywood with a hole cut out to accept a bathroom ceiling fan. I vented the fan to an outside wall with a flexible clothes dryer hose and vent. There are two stages of filtration: I stapled an inexpensive paper furnace filter over a sheet of fine filter paper (when they’re loaded with paint, just tear them both off and replace). Clamp-on spots provide plenty of light and a little bit of heat for drying paint. The lights and fan plug into a switchable power strip for instant on/off action.

This rig has worked out great for painting, adding filler putty, spray mounting, or any other stinky project. It’s tucked out of the way and offers plenty of storage on the shelf and underneath, too. What’s under your stairway?