Decent carbon filters for solder fume extractor?

[gizmo1990]

I've some large PC fans which I've chained together and plan on attaching some carbon filters to the back of to act as a diy solder fume extractor. Can anyone recommend an online shop/seller who sells the genuine article? There's lots available on eBay etc but I'd like to be sure that I'm getting filters which actually 'filter'.

I do have some of this
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/260987352067
but I'm not sure it would provide adequate filtering of solder fumes?

Any advice much appreciated.

 

[Sureitsoff?]

some commercial filters list having hepa H11 or H13 filter mediums. could you vent to outside? instead of filtering

 

[gizmo1990]

@Sureitsoff? Thanks for the reply. Are Hepa filters required for this type of filtration? I've read around and I kept hearing about simple carbon filter sheets which should provide the filter quality for solder fumes? I could absolutely just open the windows its just damn cold! Plus fumes never really always go out windows, they still end up loitering around a room. I'm not doing a lot of soldering, just hobby electronics stuff. So I just wanted a simple, non expensive solution.

 

[gizmo1990]

Found some! The Pi Hut had some. There are also some from RS Online, don't know why I didn't check there in the first place!

 

[RandomGrinch]

In our work environment, with factors such as employee health monitoring and HSE audits to take into account; our risk assessments don't allow soldering, without fume extraction to the outside, or HEPA filtered extractors.

The activated charcoal filters may be better than nothing in the home environment; but just looking at the big holes in the foam matrix, shows that they are not the best at capturing small particulates!

As @Sureitsoff? states, the absolute best way to deal with solder fumes, is to extract to the outside. This might be as simple as a tumble dryer tube, mounted on the back of your fans, and draped out of a window!

...and the carbon filter can still be useful...for capturing surface mount components that are accidently sucked up by the extractor!

Interesting video here?:

 

[SFK]

Gizmo,
For DIY bench top use I have a similar system to yours - for me to stop flux smoke raising into face and lungs. I only use activated carbon filters.

I tested range by putting soldering iron into flux to create smoke. And was impressed to see the smoke disappear as it goes though the carbon.

Did try a HEPA (flat paper filter) but that dropped flow rate and was therefore less effective at pulling the smoke away.

Of course as said - for me all for DIY application.

Sfk

 

[gizmo1990]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

@RandomGrinch Yeah this kind of thing certainly isn't for a professional workplace. But for light hobby work it should be sufficient. I might go down the route of the tube out the window but like I said, having the window open is damn cold! And energy costs what they are I'd like a solution which keeps me warm.

@SFK Thanks for that. Out of interest, do you place your fans in front of the filter or behind them? It likely makes no difference but thought I'd ask!

 

[RandomGrinch]

All the ones I have used (of that type), have the filter in front of the fan.

And if you have someone else around during a long soldering session, a second nose popping around the door, will quickly give you a good idea of whether the fumes have got overwhelming!

 

[SFK]

do you place your fans in front of the filter or behind them

I always try and put air fans in front of (before) the resistance (the tube). In part becuase I feel that fans are good at blowing, but not good at sucking.

However in this case I put the filter infront of (before) the fan. Simply because filter easier to remove and change.
In basic terms I made one of these out of scraps: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Funien-Extractor-Absorber-Adjustable-Soldering
(I also have a room extractor fan like in a bathroom).

Having looked for that link I saw these: have you seen these filters?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=solder+filter

SFK

 

[joe384]

I made one exactly like this guy (even put some leds on it as well like he did)

Can't remember if I put a filter in it but will certainly look at doing that if not.
Have quite a lengthy hose on it so that gets the fumes a good distance away.

 

[gizmo1990]

Thanks again for the replies everyone. I'd seen that DIY Perks one previously. He does some great stuff doesn't he. It's a little too much effort though currently when I have so many other electronic things to fix!

I went with some filters from pihut which ended up being ones from adafruit, which I'm chuffed about. I trust them so that's what I was looking for. Basically not getting some nameless Chinese filters which might be doing absolutely nothing. One alteration I have made is buying a cheap mic arm and just mounting one fan to it. It's looking like it will work really well and allow me to place the filter/fan wherever I like, really close to what I'm soldering.