We have no idea how well this diy fume extractor works, but it sure does look great! We’ve been thinking that it’s time to stop trying to blow away the solder fumes while working on project and this might be just the kind of motivation we need. The 6″ cube doesn’t get in the way of your work, and since it includes a carbon filter it should keep the smell of burning flux to a minimum.
[Jeff’s] project basically brings together a 120mm PC cooling fan with a power source. The fan mounts inside of a steel enclosure he picked up from Digikey. The face plates that come with it were modified to accept the fan, as well as the grill hardware that goes with it. Before assembling he painted the box with some Rustoleum “Hammered” black spray paint. This gives it a texture that will hide any imperfections in your application.
We’re a bit hazy on how this is being powered. It sounds like he’s plugging the cord into mains but we don’t see any type of regulator to feed what must be a 12V DC fan. There are build instruction available but they didn’t clear up our confusion.
The link says it’s an AC powered fan. You should be able to get something similar at a surplus store or the like.
Or any plumbing/AC store. They’re very commonly used to ventilate a toilet when you flip the light switch on.
From the build article the fan is a 120Vac unit so no regulator needed.
I just use PC fan connected to old cellphone charger (~9V)
110v AC powered fans at 120mm are common. I use two in my solid state amplifier design.
I built mine similar: i used an old computer PSU case and its fan powered at maybe 15V to get more power.
Cheap and good enough.
Also did something similar, with an AC 110V fan and the case of an old computer PSU. Should add some filters, but at least the fumes are directed away from my nose and the cose was nothing but reused parts.
…but I love the smell of burning flux…
me too. :)
Me too…too bad it probably fries your brain cells :/
Me three.
colophony is not really harmful, those modern fluxes are really bad.
I wish I’d known about that before I got hooked.
Ha! I didn’t see your post! I’m glad other people like the way flux smells!
This is a fumes filter, not an extractor. To extract the fumes you actually need to redirect the fumes somewhere else.
He’s extracting them from the vicinity of his bench and redirecting them to behind his bench.
No, the carbon filter absorbs them. I have a commercial unit that does basically the same thing, it sucks the fumes into it, and they pass through a carbon filter, then clean, breatheable air comes out the other side.
But I _like_ the smell of burning flux!
And the occasional smell of burning fingertips as you pick up the soldering iron by the wrong end. Or is that just me?
You can find 120v ac fans this size even at Radio Shack. I needed a quick way to cool an amp, and was able to get a fan just like the one shown for cheap, in town no less.
Wow, ain’t that lethal! never ever plug anything straight to power outlet! always use fuse and transformer. What if the fan goes short? the house is on fire… duh
No, these older generation (like me) mains fans were “impedance protected”; even stalled they don’t draw excessive current. Electrical failure must happen but I’ve replaced many of these for shot bearings and never seen an electrical failure. It is marginally more likely that an isolation transformer would itself short to ground, but that’s pretty rare too.
If the metal case is grounded, as it should be, the mains circuit protection will pop. Most household appliances don’t have fuses, and even heating devices only have thermal fuses. A cable gland entry is a wise idea however.
This thing NEEDS a fuse added, and also a proper cable gland instead of just tying a knot in the mains flex.
Horrible design philosophy there, regardless of how “pretty” it may be.
A knot is fine. I’ve seen UL listed products with knots to restrain cords. Why does it need a fuse? Where you plug it in will be fused enough. Well, it should be. A device fuse only protects the device from damage, if something happens to this device you’ll be out a fan anyways.
The really big question is why does anyone need a flux fume extractor? I’ve been overcome by flux and it doesn’t happen off the end of a little soldering iron. Just like no one ever died of smoke inhalation off burning one incense.
There’s even something named “Underwriter’s Knot:”
http://forums.qrz.com/showthread.php?104018-Lamp-cord-for-twinlead/page3
That knot is approved by the UL for use in electrical appliances. Adding a rubber, wire grommet to any through hole is a good idea to prevent chaffing.
done well job
This is a great build. Much better than what I did.
http://www.mobilewill.us/2012/08/diy-fume-extractor.html
I might have to rebuild mine.
Don’t take fumes lightly. I have Parkinson’s disease and it isn’t funny. There is research which attributes the disease to heavy metals and who knows what fumes,
.. JIM