Solder Fume Extractors

Thread Starter

bwilliams60

Joined Nov 18, 2012
1,442
Hi Guys,
I was wondering if anybody knows of a good affordable tabletop fume extractor for soldering stations that I can purchase here in Ontario. I will need about 15 of them so cost is important and the biggest thing for us is that we need them to be self-contained if possible, meaning I don't want big hoses or anything going to a central extraction system. Does anybody have any experience in this area? Thank you in advance. Sentry?? I should mention that they are being used in a classroom setting so they have to be fairly decent.
 

mcgyvr

Joined Oct 15, 2009
5,394
How fancy do you want to go?
Some "fume extractors" are little more than a fan with a filter infront of it. like this FA-400
http://www.hakko.com/english/products/smoke_absorber/desktop_type/
some have a "box" that houses the filters with 1 or 2 hoses coming out that can be routed to the extraction site/desk. like this http://www.hakko.com/english/products/smoke_absorber/air_purifying_type/

We have "production" units from Hakko and Pace and they work great but replacement filters aren't cheap at all and they really need to be maintained/replaced every year or so depending on usage.
a bunch here with pricing from as little as $60 USD to $1000+
http://www.techni-tool.com/Fume-Extraction
 

ErnieM

Joined Apr 24, 2011
8,377
Long time ago we got some units similar to the FA-100, just a fan with a filter that purports to contain some carbon to absorb the fumes.

Did they really work? No air tests were ever made. They did seem to draw smoke from the operators when on the work bench, which made them happy.

 

kt0218

Joined Mar 17, 2014
2
I would recommend the Hakko FA-400. It's fairly small and doesn't involve hoses or anything like that. Its also reasonably priced under $100 and filter refills are about $25 which isn't to bad either. This one is a little more versatile than other smoke absorbers because you can you can use it either vertically or horizontally. Which is what I liked about it, and what made me purchase it.
http://www.gotopac.com/FA400_Solder_Smoke_Absorber_s/3125.htm

I know if you go with anything larger those involve hoses. Hope that helped you out. :)
 

Stuntman

Joined Mar 28, 2011
222
I've found a small personal fan on low blowing across the work does an excellent job.

I have a fume extractor at work. It seems to have to be close to the workspace to do any good while the fan can be a ways away and work just as well, if not better.

I can tell you that I have on more than one occasion felt the effects of too much solder fumes. Using the fan I can solder all day without issue.
 
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