Minor Break - Fume Extractors Recommendations (w/ Dang I'm Gettin' Older on the side)

gtfields13

gtfields13

Well-known member
I've finished off my lead-free solder spool with my recent building spree. So I pulled out my other "NOS" solder, and realize I am switching to old-school 63/37 lead solder.

I am weeks away from a milestone birthday, and having no desire to breathe leaded particulates (I aim to protect my neurons any way I can) I am putting down my iron and ordering a fume extractor. Given my workspace, I am thinking of something a bit beefier than the basic Kotter. Does anyone here use a FumeClear FC2001S or have a recommendation?

As I was looking at current lead-free solder options, I also had a "Dang I'm Old" moment of sticker shock. Turns out that if I had a time machine, I'd jump back maybe 30 years, and buy up solder rolls at Fry's (and maybe some other components). Last time I bought solder, I paid 9.89 for a roll that is over $60 at Mouser today...

(I also have no idea why I've been using 95Sn/5Sb solder for the last year - the diameter seems too fine for plumbing work, but that seems to be the intended use)

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Apparently around 10% of people are "super smellers", meaning they can smell things most people can't. Unfortunately I'm one of them. There are many things you don't really want to smell and I don't want to get into that too much but yes blood has a very distinctive smell but a lot of folks can't smell it. Solder fumes don't bother me smell-wise but I definitely don't want to breathe them in. I use a little blue Hakko fan. It doesn't always get all the fumes but it does pull them away from my face.
 
HamishR said:
Apparently around 10% of people are "super smellers", meaning they can smell things most people can't. Unfortunately I'm one of them. There are many things you don't really want to smell and I don't want to get into that too much but yes blood has a very distinctive smell but a lot of folks can't smell it. Solder fumes don't bother me smell-wise but I definitely don't want to breathe them in. I use a little blue Hakko fan. It doesn't always get all the fumes but it does pull them away from my face.
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My wife is (I suspect) a super smeller. Affectionately a "wolf nose" after her pregnancies. Makes me really aggravating, because I imagine I am pretty average.
I do think that science has learned a lot about how particulates can be harmful, somewhat independently of their chemistry.
 
I'm still on the lookout for a better fume extractor myself.

I also use the little blue Hakko, but can't say I'd recommend it... it's better than nothing I suppose. I mentioned this in another thread, but the residue buildup on the back side of the unit tells me the charcoal filter isn't catching everything that is passing through it (which is only a portion of the fumes coming from the iron)...

Personally I think the ideal solution would be something that vents to the outdoors. I am seriously tempted to install a range vent hood above my work area. An added bonus is that a lot of them include a light.
 
Ideally... Sure, I'd like something with a light and a flexible tube which meant I could always position it directly over the soldering and take all fumes outside. Doubt it's gonna happen though!
 
I primarily focus on keeping the smoke out of my face holes.

I’ve tried a few different things, but only had luck when I could keep the work very close to the air mover.

Mostly I just use this thing I cobbled out of junk from the town dump 🤣. Little DC fan adapted to a piece of loc-line on a magnet base. Arduino just for the 5v. 3d printed adapter from the loc-line nozzle to the fan bolts.

The flex arm lets me put the fan right where the smoke is - usually up next to the vise, but also works good if I’m soldering in an enclosure.

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HamishR said:
Apparently around 10% of people are "super smellers", I'm one of them.
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You are definitely a super smeller
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Just stumbled across some fancy downdraft tables, primarily for woodworking or welding, sign me up.

Ok, they're over $10K, so don't sign me up just yet, but man.... :oops:

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Applications​

  • Soldering Dusts
 
Robert said:
Just stumbled across some fancy downdraft tables, primarily for woodworking or welding, sign me up.

Ok, they're over $10K, so don't sign me up just yet, but man.... :oops:

View attachment 111097

Applications​

  • Soldering Dusts
Click to expand...
Around here a few of the more uptown sailboard makers had whole rooms with downdraft ventilation/exhaust systems. I’ve been contemplating a DIY desk build for a long time and have a stash of freebie bass amp fans that might be enough to make a viable one if it’s not too big.
 
The weather is decent enough here (Austin, TX) that I can do most of my soldering outside on the porch.

If I had to stick to indoors only, I’d probably combine a stand-up fan strategically pointed at the general area (to waft stuff away from me) with a small exhaust fan on the work surface.
 
Robert said:
Just stumbled across some fancy downdraft tables, primarily for woodworking or welding, sign me up.

Ok, they're over $10K, so don't sign me up just yet, but man.... :oops:

View attachment 111097

Applications​

  • Soldering Dusts
Click to expand...
I feel like a visit to the pvc pipe section of home depot could get you close to this without most of the cost. I used a fan like this when we were doing some crazy stuff at work but there are smaller options as well.

What worked for me was building a hood out of a home depot bucket (but set up horizontally) that I essentially worked inside of. It sucked (literally)

It seemed like the tube didn't pick up air pressure until halfway inside the bucket. The depth at which it started to actually work seemed to be half the diameter of the opening. I wonder if the round baffle in the middle of the input cone in the device you linked is supposed to help with that
 
My workbench just doesn't have a ton of room for a suction hose and nozzle, which likely would keep getting in my way anyway.
So - and I hesitate to suggest this after all the Covid drama - but another approach might be wearing a particulate mask.
Not the cheap blue disposable ones (although likely better than nothing, but maybe a modestly-priced 3M filter mask like is used for painting.
Just a thought ...
 
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I have the Fumeclear FC100A. I'm averaging about 15 pedals a week right now (11 pots ea) and since my office doesn't have windows that open this was a non negotiable for me. It works great! Not too loud that I can't listen to podcasts with a small speaker while working. Zero regrets. Plus I bought this vintage chest from across the street to prop it up to standing height.
 
UtilityBeltFX said:
View attachment 111139
I have the Fumeclear FC100A. I'm averaging about 15 pedals a week right now (11 pots ea) and since my office doesn't have windows that open this was a non negotiable for me. It works great! Not too loud that I can't listen to podcasts with a small speaker while working. Zero regrets. Plus I bought this vintage chest from across the street to prop it up to standing height.
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This is exactly what I was thinking about. Thanks for the real-world feedback. I like that it has both particulate and carbon filters.
 
I use this Kotto joint. I do have to move the hose pretty close to the soldering situation at hand to, er, maximize suction, but it's solid enough.

I also am wary of inhaling chemical shit so I'm always masked up during soldering seshes in addition to wearing safety glasses as well.

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