My home office/workshop does not have a fan, so I’m looking to build a fume extractor. The installation has to be removable as I share the space with another person.
So far, I’m thinking of using this flexible 6" diameter vinyl duct:
and I’ll need a quiet fan ( 6" or 150mm diameter preferably ) and an intake hood that I can probably make out of plywood. I would put the other end of the duct outside the window.
As I don’t want the fumes to be blown back in, or rain or cold air, I’ll need a board to cover the open window area except for a hole for the duct.
Has anybody built something like this and have ideas/suggestions/photos to share?
It is soldering fumes. Carbon filters are not enough as they only extract odors (Volatile Organic Compounds, smelly chemicals) leaving behind the particles ( smoke, fumes ). The particles are dangerous as they contain the lead and rosin.
I figure I’m better off blowing the fumes out the window
Attach a hepa filter of some kind? Just think that’s a better idea (only slightly) then blowing lead into the atmosphere. As it could also double as an air filter during none soldiering hours.
I would have to build a shroud to direct the suction towards the work surface.
The carbon filter is expensive $15 and under normal use it lasts about 100 hours. I haven’t had to change the HEPA filter, it is supposed to be “lifetime”, but I suspect that if I start using it for soldering, I’ll need to replace it. They are about $60.
After all that, I wonder if I’m better off building a filter system like the one used for the laser.