Solder fume extractor - recommendations?

[dicky96]

Hi guys

I figured I'm gonna have to add a fume extractor to my shopping list.

To be honest I don't currently have one.

Starting as a hobbyist in the 70s, and then all through the 80s and into the 90s when I worked full time in electronics repair, in large workshops with 100+ repair engineers, I never even saw or heard of such as thing as a solder fume extractor. And that was leaded solder of course. To be honest I think you were breathing in more crap from the other engineers who smoked than you ever would from the soldering iron. In fact I kinda like the smell of flux.

But it seems these days the entire species have gone all soft and think everything we did in the 70s and 80s is gonna kill them.

But that is besides the point, I'm just mentioning.


So I never have a problem with fumes from my soldering iron. But when I use my hot air station I often have to go open the door for a while afterwards to clear the workshop a bit if I did a lot of rework - or for example after reclaiming parts off scrap boards.

And I have a BGA rework station coming - and I am pretty sure that is gonna need some sort of fume extractor, just to keep the room pleasant.

Looking around on ali and ebay there are loads of extractors around. I've also seen plenty of youtube videos showing how to build one out of everything from a shoe box to two plastic tubs.

I did a forum search here but it seems that while there was plenty of discussion whether fume extractors are just for Wusses, there was very little discussion on what type to buy if they are not

I want to use the extractor with this machine. It will have it's own dedicated bench in the workshop. Maybe I can mount the extractor to the machine somehow?

(interestingly in the video it does not seem to produce any fumes?!?)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71-DBp-cfmM


Off topic - I was also thinking of mounting something like a borescope to the machine so I can see the solder balls are melting under a BGA. It may help when setting up profiles. Maybe I can even get the borescope to display on the machines monitor screen when it's not in use by the alignment system.

[dicky96]

After posting on two forums and getting no replies I've come to the opinion that either

A. no one actually uses solder fume extractors
or
B. There is nothing of interest between the any of ones available to make them worth discussing

[vinceroger69]

paul made his own in this video it seems too work well
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZKpagOAxJU

[diif]

I'm in the process of making one. I have a 3" inline fan and some large loc line with a flange on the end. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Loc-Line-80.../dp/B01LYEMPY1

I need to make some sort of adapter and add a switch perhaps in the form of a foot pedal.

You can see the chip/processor sink slightly when the balls melt. The quality on the USB boroscopes is not brilliant, ok for peering in tight spaces, not really designed for high resolution close up.

[dicky96]

OK I'll watch that video. Possibly DIY is the way to go

I also already watched this one which seemed to work well

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdrFsuAcm48

In my particular situation, the workshop is in a shopping centre. Its approx 25 sq/m and I have no exterior windows, just the ones looking out into the centre corridor which cover most of the front wall, and the same with the door.

Next door to me is a cafe and people sit in the corridor, some in front of part of my windows so they are not gonna be too pleased if I make bad smells so to speak. I have no external doors, windows or ventilation.

I do have aircon (thank god) and that goes up to the outdoors above the false ceiling so I could possible vent fumes that way.

[megaraider]

Originally Posted by dicky96

Next door to me is a cafe and people sit in the corridor, some in front of part of my windows so they are not gonna be too pleased if I make bad smells so to speak. I have no external doors, windows or ventilation.
I do have aircon (thank god) and that goes up to the outdoors above the false ceiling so I could possible vent fumes that way.

DIY is the way to go...!
Can't imagine shopping mall without a ventilation system...
Possibly it has been removed (or uninstalled) previously. Having a cafe next door they ought to have ventilation, therefore the main ventilation pipe must run above your workshop false ceiling.

[caspian]

I recommend everyone to use a fume extractor. I described it in the following thread:
https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthread.php?t=73456

Once, I refused to use a fume extractor while soldering. Then, I felt bad in my lungs for a whole day.

[dicky96]

Originally Posted by megaraider

DIY is the way to go...!
Can't imagine shopping mall without a ventilation system...
Possibly it has been removed (or uninstalled) previously. Having a cafe next door they ought to have ventilation, therefore the main ventilation pipe must run above your workshop false ceiling.

The cafe have an external wall at the rear, as does my workshop. They vent that way rather than above my ceiling. I'm gonna have a look above the false ceiling as the aircon vents that way. Maybe I have some air ents up there. Bear in mind the Canary Islands are nearly in the tropics, and I'm at the southernmost tip of The most southern Island, so our shopping malls are a built lot more openly (natural air ventilation) than yours even in Portugal most likely. The cafe next door have to put parasols out over the table even in the aisle lol as there is so much glass and open spaces in the building

[megaraider]

@dicky96
Wow very sunny and hot in deed…
If the false ceiling fails the external wall might come handy.
As @@caspian pointed out a flexible pipe, widely available in several lengths and used in kitchens, is a good choice.

[eccerr0r]

I find that fume extractors are not necessary unless you're constantly soldering with rosin everywhere. The fumes contain almost no lead - that isn't the worry about fumes, it's the PAH's in the fumes that are no different than if you're smoking cigarettes. You can see the fumes, just don't suck it up if you're doing a little soldering once in a while. However if you're doing like hundreds of joints (MJ or not) day in and day out, go ahead and invest in a fume hood.

[dicky96]

I guess then the thing is to wait until the machine is here and see how smokey it is.

[stj]

not the machine, the type of flux you use.
if you buy that kingbo stuff you NEED a cooker hood or similar over the station!!

[dicky96]

I got some Amtech 599, on recommendation.

I do have some other fluxes too.. Mostly I use this when soldering.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electroni...2599ce67569ba5

I also melt a trough in the flux tin with my iron and dip my solder braid in it before desoldering. I find it really excellent but it does cause some smoke! I bought a tin a few years ago and still have loads left.

PS. When I first bought that, I genuinely thought it came from Lithuania

[stj]

that's polish, it's cheaper from TME,
but i dont like it - it's hard to remove afterwards.