I’ve read the orchid archives on ventilation etc but was still
puzzling about how to install ventilation over my bench for
soldering. Recently a table top fume extractor for electronic
soldering was pointed out to me. I like it because there is no
installation required and its somewhat directional. I think the CFM
looks good too. I was wondering if anyone had tried this animal and
with what results? Specs and a link are below.
Fume Extractor and Filter Absorbs noxious lead fumes using removable
activated-carbon filter and a high efficiency fan Aerodynamic hood
design for effective removal of solder fumes 115 CFM operates
continuously (as long as the switch is on) 49db fan
6.4"W x 4.6"D x 7.9"H, 4.6 lbs
22 watt, 120vax @ 60 hz
Related Article:
Home made Soldering Station Venting System
by Alan Lewis
This kind of device is really not applicable to torch soldering. Its
filter is made from plastic foam with carbon in it and is not really
safe to have it in close proximity to the torch flame as it is very
flammable. Imagine a burning filter with the fan pulling air through
at a high velocity, it would be a large blow torch! This type of
filter is meant for the fumes generated by lead soldering of
electronics parts with an electrical soldering iron and is not all
that effective for that application either. For our purpose it is
really best to vent the fumes outside with the appropriate type of
exhaust fan system.
Jim Binnion
James Binnion Metal Arts
Phone (360) 756-6550
Toll Free (877) 408 7287
Fax (360) 756-2160
@James_Binnion
Member of the Better Business Bureau
I have been using a www.vaniman.com system it has a hepa filter to
remove odors, you could vent it ot the outdoors if you like. Mine
works best this way for small soldering and odors, I have
airconditioning so I do not want to remove the inside air all the
time. I use the fish mouth attachment upside dowm and it woks great,
similair units from stuller and such. This one is used in dental
mostly. very quite
Hepa is fine for particulates , but it won’t do a thing for the
fumes. So as far as soldering goes, it really isn’t doing much. You
need to use activated charcoal or vent it.
Let me give a bit of simple advise for all those concerned with
soldering fumes. While it is true that some of the stuff we burn is
not healthy for us, the amounts that we are burning are very small in
a small shop environment. The most basic air circulation system will
take care of these fumes, unless you are truly burning quantities of
the stuff. I have a simple fan on my bench, like the ones used to
cool computers. They are very quiet, and move air away from me. As
the fumes are dispersed into the room, the number of parts per
million of the nasty stuff decreases to a safe level. So, try this
simple test in your shop: place a TINY piece of incense next to the
piece that you are going to solder. As you solder, be sure to hit the
incense with your torch. If you immediately smell incense, you are
definitely also breathing in harmful fumes. If not, you’re OK.
Again, if you are burning up lots of nasty stuff, you will need to
vent this somewhere else besides the room you are in. Venting it
outside only lets the parts per million expand to a safer level. Wood
smoke from your fireplace (or campfire) is not healthy either, so you
vent it away or stay out of the smoke. I am saying all this because
beginning metalsmiths are reading this forum and wondering what they
must purchase to keep themselves and their families healthy and safe.
Before you invest lots of money in trying to filter the air around
your workbench, just do this simple test. Remember that even the
tiniest bit of incense is more concentrated than the cadmium or
fluoride fumes from your soldering. Keep fresh air in the room, keep
your big nose off the charcoal block, and don’t lick the flux brush!
And stop polishing everything at your bench!
If you are sensitive to the fumes, or just paranoid, spend the money
on a real filtering system, not a dust filter. Personally, I find the
fumes OUTSIDE my studio to be far more harmful than the ones inside,
and driving to work is probably the riskiest thing I do every day.
Douglas Zaruba
33 N. Market St.
Frederick, MD 21701
301 695-1107 @Douglas_Zaruba