Anatomy of a Prep Station
The function of a Prep Station is to provide a clean working environment for preparing an item for painting and to prevent sanding and grinding dust from contaminating the work environment. A prep station works by circulating air down over the item to be painted. The air then flows through a grate in the floor under the item to be painted. Air is continuously re-cycled in the manner through the filter system.
- Overhead pads (being either intake panel filters or cut pads) are, as the name implies, located in the overhead section of the prep station. Their function is to spread air flow evenly over the item being painted and to remove the finest of particles that may get past the primary filters. BoothFilterStore.com offers a wide range of overhead pads (DS-560, ZR-1 and Series 65) for use in your prep station.
- Under-grate roll filters, more frequently called paint arrestors or exhaust filters, are located in the floor and collect grinding sanding dust, primer and paint overspray. BoothFilterStore.com offers a wide range of paint arrestors (XD-22F and RD-15F) for use in your prep station.
- Primary (bag / pocket) filters are located in the main housing of the prep station and filter the air before it enters the overhead pads. Pocket filters, which have a significant amount of filter media surface area, are recommended. BoothFilterStore.com offers a wide range of primary prefilters (high efficiency and medium efficiency).
