I rent a small enclosed studio workspace that has NO means for ventilation to the outdoors. I work only with copper, bronze, sterling and fine silver. Currently I use only a butane torch (yeah, I know) with both wire and paste silver and copper solders.
Although I wear a respirator with combo fume/particle filters, I know that’s not ideal, so I’m looking at a self-contained fume extractor as an additional safety feature. SentryAir makes one for several thousand dollars that’s probably better, but I just saw this one from Otto Frei and wonder what you experienced folk think about it. Better than nothing or a waste of money?
https://www.ottofrei.com/Quatro-SPB-560-1T-K-SolderPure-Combo-Solder-Rhodium-Fume-Extractor
Hi Dan,
I was in your exact situation for a while and I used this: HAKKO Fume Extraction System with Duct Kit - RioGrande
It seemed to work very well, and was by far the most affordable fume extractor I found while researching. The one you are considering looks way better!
-Jenny
Hi,
I was just wondering…are you thinking of both a fume extractor for soldering fumes, etc…as well as a dust collector for bench polishing/ lathe polishing, etc…
Julie
I’m currently considering how to set up a fume extractor and dust collection in one because I’d like to avoid crowding my small studio. One idea I have so far is the get an in-line vent fan with a long flexible hose that I can set up on pulleys or bungees and place it close to one of my benches, depending on where I need it at the moment. Then put in a filter somewhere along the hose that would collect the dust. Does that sound like it might work or is there a better set up?
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Hi,
Have a peek in Jeffrey Herman’s shop…I seem to recall he had a similar flexible concept in use with his ducting…his studio is rather spacious, but you might get some ideas…regarding pulleys, bungies, etc…
Julie
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Thanks for responding, Jenny. I’ve seen this one too in my searching. How long did you use it?
Dan
Julie,
Particulates are easier to filter out. I’m more interested in a good gas/fume extractor to supplement my respirator which has combo fume/particulate filters.
Dan
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Ah yes, I’ve done my share of drooling over Jeffrey Herman’s workshop!
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I used it for about a year, but it still seems fine. I moved and have a window now, so it’s in storage.
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What an amazing shop. Thanks for sharing!
@DanViolette I made my own fume extractor system for around $100 that works awesome.
Heres the link to all the parts.
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/27Q6YCA4Y6PFB?ref_=wl_share
Super easy to do (make sure you buy all parts w the same inches). Put your fume extractor at your soldering area a bit above it. Put on your ducting. Then add your inline booster fan (this one is strong and quiet and has a switch knob you can put wherever) add yoyr 2nd ducting, then assemble your portable air window kit and run your ducting out. Boom, youre all set up.
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Yes, of course it’s easy to make an inexpensive solution if you’ve got ventilation; but you missed the point of my original post where I have NO option for venting to the outside - a completely different animal and far more expensive.
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DanViolette,
I don’t have an inexpensive solution for self-ducting jewelry ventilation, but the building that my school’s jewelry program has lived in for 60ish years, just closed for two years of renovations. We had to move to a new school building where external ventilation isn’t possible. I think we bought almost every Quatro self-ducting product that they sell. Solder Pures, Gold Vaults, their Burnout Vent system, an acid fume extractor, and a whole room air purifier. I’ve learned way more than ever before about ductless ventilation. I don’t have any advice about how to build your own self-ducting ventilation units, but if you have any questions about Quatro’s self-ducting products feel free to reach out to me individually and I’ll answer any questions that I can.
All the best!
Jeff
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Sorry about that @DanViolette , i had no idea you could do that, so im curious to know also as my space is super small.
Hello Dan,
Since it’s been nine months since your original question, I wonder what you decided upon or whether this question is still open. -royjohn
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Clearly the best and least costly solution is venting to the outdoors for those with that option. My workspace is in a large warehouse type building where I have no access to venting outdoors. I use non/less toxic fluxes and solders; I use fans to blow the fumes away from my soldering area and I wear a respirator fitted with fume filters. It’s less than ideal; buying a good ductless fume extractor could be my next move - or moving my workshop to a place where I can vent to the outdoors.
Since the most dangerous particle sizes are less than one micron, filters that filter out down to 3 microns (or even 0.3 microns) are insufficient.