Faqs
Does Paint Pockets® only work on paint?
Paint Pockets can be used on any number of coatings. We have had success in businesses that spray clear coat, top coat, stains, adhesives, lacquers, powder coating and of course paint.
How long will Paint Pockets last in my spray booth?
There are too many variables unique to each business, unique to each spray line and even unique to each finish to allow for a prediction of the change-out schedule. Typically, Paint Pockets filters last from 3 to 5 times longer than most filters to which we are compared. It is for this reason that the Paint Pockets Company offers a free trial program in which a first full set of Paint Pockets filters is provided at no cost to the user.
No, however what is critical it that the "Diamond Pockets" are visible to the sprayer. Installing the Paint Pockets backwards gives you no more life than the competitive, shorter-lived flat filters.
As a note, we do have some users who believe that having the "Diamond Pockets" oriented horizontally in a vertical filter wall seems to hold more overspray although laboratory tests have not yet proven that this orientation has any impact on the holding capacity of our filters.
It's exactly the things you don't see that should make you want to change. Examples of things you don't see when you switch to Paint Pockets are; a.) you don't see the spray finish line down as often for filter changing, b.) you don't see employees being paid to change filters more frequently, c.) you don't see as many dirty filters going to the waste disposal facility, d.) you don't see frequent invoices for large quantities of spray booth filters.
How do I install/support the Paint Pockets overspray filters?
Paint Pockets can typically be installed like any other pad or blanket filter. Pads can be installed on wire grids by simply impaling the top tips of the grid into the backing of the Paint Pockets or Paint Pockets blankets can easily be hung from impaling pins and other clamping means at the top of the spray booth filter wall opening. However, for ease of installation and removal, and near total elimination of potential filter bypass, Paint Pockets Company recommends full perimeter framing of each blanket filter using the patented "Zipper"™ mounting channel. By creating a perimeter frame using the "Zipper", Paint Pockets can be easily and securely rolled into the mounting channel, it is easily rolled out of the channel, all edges are perfectly secured eliminating almost all potential filter bypass, and individual blankets are easily and independently changed if one blanket tends to load faster that other blankets in the spray booth.
Can Paint Pockets filter blankets be overlapped?
Yes, they can be overlapped in the traditional manner. However, as discussed above, Paint pockets Company recommends installing the "Zipper" mounting system as a means of eliminating this wasteful overlap and reducing the risk of filter bypass that's always possible when filters are haphazardly overlapped.
Can Dirty Paint Pockets filters be land filled?
In general, if you currently landfill your dirty filters, the answer is yes. Paint Pockets filters are produced using 100% polyester fiber that adds no known amounts of undesirable chemicals to the solid waste disposal process. In fact, a recent chemical analysis of the Paint Pockets filter found no detectable amounts of TCLP metals or Extractable Organic Halides. If your current dirty filters are land filled, there's no reason to believe that Paint Pockets would change this process. However, regulation and processes vary by location. Check with your local regulators and waste disposal service before ever making changes to your waste disposal process.
Can dirty Paint Pockets filters be incinerated?
In general, if you currently incinerate your dirty filters, the answer is yes. Paint Pockets filters are manufactured using 100% polyester fiber that add no detectable amounts of undesirable chemicals to the incineration process. If your current dirty filters are incinerated, there's no reason to believe that Paint pockets would change this process. However, regulation and processes vary by location. Check with your local regulators and waste disposal service before ever making changes to your waste disposal process.
How can I tell when it is time to change my filters?
Most spray booths are equipped with manometers or similar pressure drop measuring devices to measure the resistance to airflow across the filters installed in the booth's filter wall. Paint Pockets can be used (and should be used for maximum economies) up to the resistance limit (sometimes referred to as "delta P" or pressure drop) established for the currently used filter. Since some businesses change on a fixed schedule (i.e. every 8 hours of once a week) it is good to remember that Paint Pockets generally lasts from 3 to 5 times longer than other filters and as such, the fixed schedule will need to be altered and re-established. As an alternative, many businesses leave filter changing up to the operator in the spray booth. In these cases, it is critical that the operator be informed of Paint Pockets' longer life advantage and is a part of the decision to switch to Paint Pockets. If these operators are left to their old habits, they may change out the Paint Pockets well before they are ready to be changed simply because of their appearance. Since Paint Pockets filters will hold a lot more overspray the operator should not look to the aesthetics of the filter but instead should be aware of the booth's pressure drop measuring device and maximum limits for the booth and as a rough indicator should observe that the overspray cloud is disappearing in a timely manner. As a reference, spray booth designers and or manufacturers build their booths to provide the necessary airflow up to a maximum pressure drop across the loaded filters. Therefore, for a properly installed spray booth, you should consult your booth documentation when determining a proper changeout routine. Additionally, local, state and federal environmental or work safety regulation may influence the airflow requirements in a spray finishing operation. Please consult with the appropriate authorities.
Paint Pockets patented design works because it provides superior depth loading of the filter. To use a flat sacrifice filter interferes with this process and prevents the desired depth loading. Paint Pockets was created to provide an economical replacement for these flat-faced filters and its economies are not fully realized when a sacrifice is used as a prefilter.
My Paint Pockets filter blanket hold so much overspray that they get very heavy. What can I do?
Paint Pockets Company recommends dividing your filter wall into smaller sections of manageable size using the Paint Pockets "Zipper" mounting system. The "Zipper" eliminates the need for wasteful overlap while significantly reducing the potential for filter bypass. Replacement blankets easily "Zip-in" and dirty blankets "Zip-out." Furthermore, if localized spraying prematurely loads certain areas of your booth, dirty blankets mounted in the "Zipper" can be quickly changed without disturbing less utilized blankets in other parts of the booth.
Spray finishing booths are designed to provide reasonably consistent airflow side-to-side and top-to-bottom. Mixing filters can affect the airflow balance of a booth. Air, containing overspray, may be drawn to an unexpected, or undesired areas within the spray booth causing inconsistent and/or premature filter loading. The only good test is a full booth of the same filter. Efforts should be taken to keep the number and type of parts finished, the finish sprayed and any other variable consistent between the Paint Pockets trial and the baseline test performed using your current filter. To assist in such a comparative testing, Paint Pockets Company will gladly provide a first full set of Paint Pockets filters as no-charge.
Although every spray finishing process is unique unto itself, Paint Pockets Company recommends trying a single overlaid Paint Pockets blanket in front of the other Paint Pockets blankets in the most used portion of the spray booth. This blanket can easily be removed without the need to install a new blanket. As an alternative, installing a Paint Pockets "Zipper" mounting system enables a single blanket to be removed and replaced without disturbing the other blankets. A full booth changeout is not required to get through the week.
It is! It is important to keep in mind that the time to changeout is significantly less for the competitive filter that it is for Paint Pockets. As an example, to compare the greased target at the end of the one day life cycle for a competitive filter to the greased target at the end of the 3 to 5 day life cycle for the Paint Pockets and conclude that less paint gets through the competitive filter in one day than gets through the Paint Pockets in 30 to 5 days is not to say that the competitive filter is more efficient. Obviously, at least 2 to 4 times as much overspray could penetrate the competitive filter in that one day and the target would still have less overspray on it than the Paint Pockets would have after 3 to 5 day. Additionally, it is important to note that most filters become more efficient as they collect overspray. To pull the Paint Pockets target after one day is to judge Paint Pockets during the worst efficiency portion of its life cycle even though the competitive has had the advantage of its best efficiency during the end of its life cycle. The closest one can get to a true test would be to compare both filters over the period of time equal to the greater Paint Pockets life cycle. In our example, this means you should leave the target behind the competitive filter for 3 to 5 days meaning 3 to 5 competitive life cycles. Then compare targets! Even then, every effort possible should be taken to control other variable in the process such as number and type of parts finished, type of finish sprayed (if multiple finishes are possible), etc.
In what sizes are the Paint Pockets available?
Original white Paint Pockets are available in standard pads of 20" x 20" and 20" x 25" nominal (30 pads/case) and blanket widths of 24", 30", 36", 40", 45", 48' and 60" with a standard length per package of 50 feet.
Paint Pockets Green (similar holding capacity, slightly less efficient) are available in pads, 20" x 20" and 20" x 25" nominal (40 pads/case) and blanket widths of 30", 36" 48" and 60' with a standard length per package of 60 feet.
Custom widths, lengths and pre-cut blanket sizes are available with a minimum order requirement. (Contact your Paint Pockets filter supplier; spray finishing equipment supplier, or Paint Pockets Company for details)
Does Paint Pockets® conform to the new EPA regulation, 40 CFR Part 63 Subpart HHHHHH?
Yes, Paint Pockets® does conform to the new EPA regulation. In fact, our independent laboratory test results actually states that on the top.
As a stand-alone filter, Paint Pockets® does not conform to NESHAP 319 standards. However, using Paint Pockets® 319XL™ system does qualify for both two stage and three stage systems. Please see our website for additional details or contact us for more information.
Converting from Pads to Rolls Pays HUGE Dividends!
Click here to found out how converting your booth from pads to rolls can save your company money, and how Paint Pockets® makes the process easy.