How to avoid overspray? Options

[doug_b_928]

I'm sorry if this is a silly question/topic. I'm still in the researching stage for my restoration. I was at the local autobody supply store yesterday and was asking them about spraying epoxy primer with a gun vs. using etching primer in a rattle can. I don't have a gun and have never used one. I know Jeff Hail's thread says to spray epoxy primer after each area is repaired. They said that either way (i.e., even with a rattle can) there is an issue with overspray. I don't have a dedicated shop and there is literally no place at my house where I would want overspray. They told me a story about overspray going hundreds of feet. So, I was thinking that what I could do is have a tarp on the concrete under the car (plan is to make a bench a la Hail) and drape a poly tarp over the car. I can't tape poly to the ceiling to make a pseudo paint booth because the garage door would hit it when it's open. I suppose I could make a makeshift poly tent that fits under the garage door. But, I would think that lack of ventilation would be a big problem. Would this work? Be too unsafe? Better to rent a workspace and do all the metal work/priming elsewhere? Your thoughts and experiences would be helpful.

[914GT]

I think you just need to use some good judgment, and cover up things of value even if just from a spray can. If you have another car in the garage, move it out or cover it with plastic. With a small gun that has the pressure dialed down a bit, and just covering some welds or small areas, you won't have a fog of spray all over the place like you can get when painting a complete car. Cover adjacent areas with plastic or tarps, cover anything you don't want any dust or uncatalysed primers settling on. Maybe I'm not explaining this well, but spraying a couple of welds or bare metal areas will keep the overspray concern close to where you are working. But if you are spraying complete panels at high pressures you will trash everything in the garage if it's not covered up, and you don't have some kind of controlled ventilation.