Cheap smoke absorber

[toli]

Hi Guys,

Lately I've been soldering more than usually, and its really about time I've got myself one of these smoke absorbers. I don't want to spend lots of money for a Hakko branded unit, the way I see it its just a fan with a  carbon filter, and I shouldn't have to pay more than 50$ delivered for such a thing.

Anyway, I've seen this one on eBay. Its 40$ delivered, and seems to be similar to the Hakko 493 physically, so getting replacement filters will probably be easy. Anyone has any experience with that unit? Is the fan very loud? Is it any good? Should I avoid it? Any better recommendation for a reasonable price?

BTW, I know I can just make one myself, but I don't really have the time right now, and it probably won't save me that much money anyway.

Thank you for your help

[StubbornGreek]

I know you just said you didn't want any DIY solution because it will take up time and be just as expensive but a 120mm pc case fan will only cost you a few dollars and it runs off of 12V.

[toli]

I'm aware of that, but I simply don't have the time to play with that right now. If 40$ gets me a reasonably good smoke absorber which also allows tilting and looks like a well made product (instead of something I've put together with very limited time and will looks like cr*p) I don't mind spending the extra $'s. I have lots of projects on my queue so that time is better spent there.

[notsob]

I don't see any details of it's physical size or power connection  - does it need an AC cable or what - all it has is wattage at 50 or 60Hz

[amyk]

It's a fan with a filter on it.

If you already have the pieces, it'll take much less time to make one than buy that one and wait for it to arrive.

[toli]

thank you all, but as I already mentioned, I won't build one of these. I was hopping someone will have some thoughts about the unit I linked to, or a different unit that is reasonably good and won't cost much.

notsob, the size of he filter and the package is listed, so I can guess the size of the unit itself
The filter is listed as 13x13x1 which is exactly the same as the Hakko A1001 (the filter used in the 493). So it would be safe to assume the size of the unit is similar to the Hakko 493 (which looks the same from pictures).

[Psi]

I've seen large sheets of black charcoal filters for AC units for quite cheap. ( like 600mm x 600mm x 10mm for $5 )
Maybe you could adapt one of those with a PC fan.

[Rick]

I know you just said you didn't want any DIY solution because it will take up time and be just as expensive but a 120mm pc case fan will only cost you a few dollars and it runs off of 12V.

I have never used one before so I don't know its construction. How would you place the carbon filter? Just behind the fan (adhering to it) or do you leave a space between the fan and the carbon filter?

[StubbornGreek]

I know you just said you didn't want any DIY solution because it will take up time and be just as expensive but a 120mm pc case fan will only cost you a few dollars and it runs off of 12V.

I have never used one before so I don't know its construction. How would you place the carbon filter? Just behind the fan (adhering to it) or do you leave a space between the fan and the carbon filter?

If you'd like to use a filter, you can place one on the 'outside' of the fan (the face closest to you). Most case fans have a little directional arrow on their frame to note which way the air is channeled (not that you couldn't tell by just running it), you'd want the filter on the backside of those arrows (i.e. the intake, not the exhaust).

[Rick]

If you'd like to use a filter, you can place one on the 'outside' of the fan (the face closest to you). Most case fans have a little directional arrow on their frame to note which way the air is channeled (not that you couldn't tell by just running it), you'd want the filter on the backside of those arrows (i.e. the intake, not the exhaust).

That's interesting... Thanks.
I would think the filter would be placed behind because if you put it before the fan, it would limit the air flow, the air suction capacity, wouldn't it?
When you hold it before your face and if it blows air towards you, then the side facing you is the exhaust side right? I have an 8 cm PC fan, I have just tested it. Otherwise there is no arrow whatsoever on it... 

[SeanB]

Best with a filter is to use one a little larger than the fan ( as it is a restriction) with a flange to adapt the dimensions of the filter to that of the fan and to space the filter at least the fan thickness away so that the air flow into the fan can be more laminar.  So with an 80mm fan a 120mm filter and a box to match them dimension wise, or a box with the fan on one wall and the filter on the other, box otherwise sealed.

[Yaksaredabomb]

Poor toli, haha.  We're absolutely determined to convince you to diy.

I can understand something prebuilt that you can throw in a box and not worry about it coming apart would be more appealing.  PC fans also don't tend to be all that powerful and there may not be enough suction to really pull the smoke over through the filter with one of them anyhow unless you have one specifically made for higher CFM vs to be quiet.

I don't know anything about the smoke absorber you linked to but want to say good luck anyhow.  Hopefully all the diy advice will be helpful for other people.

Jacob

[StubbornGreek]

Rick, yes, the side blowing air at you is the exhaust. The airflow is restricted (pretty much equally) no matter which side of the fan you use the filter on (personally, I don't bother with the filter as the fumes are blowing away from with with the fan.

SeanB mentions a very useful technique of allowing a small distance between the fan and the filter which restricts less cfm. Add a shroud to this arrangement and you're in business.

jneumann, some pc fans are more effective than others. Something other than cfm to consider is air pressure. 120mm x 38mm generally give better air pressure even though their cfm rating may be lower.

@toli, your question isn't being answered within the parameters you mentioned (no diy). If you have an extra $40 burning a hole in your pocket, I don't see why the ebay listing wouldn't suit your needs. It does look a bit like the Hakko but looks don't mean much.

[T4P]

Well, actually. These clones only cost 10 bucks
Higher static pressure is good in sucking air away from filters but they are more useful for trying to push air through a filter
That's what centrifugal fans are for but hey, they just use a Sunon 120mm x 38mm 220-240VAC fan and get the job done
I had in the past crafted my own, with a 30CFM 75x30 squirrel fan as the exhaust fan and a 80mm x 25mm 41CFM fan as the intake fan but it went well but eventually it did look like crap because it was done with cloth tape and some cardboard with a little bit of sliver spray paint but eventually it became useless from being clogged and thus i took out of the fans, pity i did actually bodge my own PWM fan controller into it
Still, good lesson.
I wouldn't bother with smoke absorbers anymore, just need a fan to blow it from one side - like dave says, but i eventually saw a FA-400 (clone, duh) for about 12 bucks

But these are china prices, not elsewhere

[Rick]

PC fans also don't tend to be all that powerful and there may not be enough suction to really pull the smoke over through the filter with one of them anyhow unless you have one specifically made for higher CFM vs to be quiet.

That's true I think, but I am planning to buy a 120, 140 or 200 mm one (the 80 mm one was just from an old PC for testing) and I shall inquire about the blowing force...

I shall give it a try when I am free, for fun.

Actually the cost of the fan+the filter+the box would be about  $40 or may be more...  + the time spent building it.

[SLJ]

I just use a 12V DC fan from an old PC power supply.  I put banana jacks on it and use a bench power supply to control the speed and airflow.  Old dead PCs aren't hard to find to pull the fans out of.

[Astroplio]

Hi guys!

Since a couple of people are interested in building their own fume extractor, I would like to show you my project and offer some tips:

As you can see, I used some scrap wood I had in the basement (screwed and nailed it in a rush, glue can work also but I didn't want to wait for it to harden ), a power PC fan 12cm (do not use a "silent" PC fan), a repurposed AC/DC supply, and the only thing I bought was the carbon filter 13cm x 13cm.

Pros this design: the filter can be removed for easy replacement/cleaning from dust and hair if needed
Cons: it needs more elevation; a pair of legs H-shaped would be nice about 2-2.5 inches high so you can work more comfortably with PCB's

I had no problem with airflow whatsoever but I should point out that my DC source is closer to 13VDC, so a bit higher than the rated 12VDC for these PC fans.
Also from my experience working with this DIY fume extractor I should point out that IMHO it is only sufficient for hobbyists working with small PCB's. If you plan to work with PCBs double the size of the fan, yeah you should probably get a better more powerful extractor, or you will need to move it around all the time so it will catch the fumes. But again... I haven't had the chance to test it under these conditions yet, seems logical anyway

George

[JuKu]

I have the fan linked in the first post; different brand, but the same unit. It runs on mains voltage, as guessed. It is loud enough that you'd turn it off when you don't need it, but tolerable. The hood around is good, the sucking range is surprisingly good, you don't need to have it right at the iron tip, some 20-30cm is sufficient. For any fan, having a base is important; you want the fan at arms reach, so when you grab your iron, you just turn the fan on, lift it by your work and tilt it as needed. Any more than that, and it is more a nuisance than help. I wouldn't bother with DIY, YMMV.

[David_AVD]

There's no shame in not being interested in a DIY solution.  Spending the $40 and getting on with life is perfectly valid.

I have a similar unit to the first one linked to and it works fine.  Picked it up for $25 off Gumtree (new in box).

[toli]

JuKu and David,

Thank you both for these replies. I'm glad to hear it a reasonable quality unit, I'll order one this weekend

[T4P]

I had no problem with airflow whatsoever but I should point out that my DC source is closer to 13VDC, so a bit higher than the rated 12VDC for these PC fans.

Not a issue for the fan, slightly better ones can run up to 14v forever or most of them are rated to 13.2V

[HooRide]

I was recently playing with the idea of making a fume extractor and while researching table top units I stumbled upon commercial grade units with tubes and a vacuum/filter unit which seems nice when you have limited work surface area.

They don't seem terribly hard to make and don't seem like they're worth $750+ USD http://www.practicaltool.com/catalog/images/wfe2eskit1.jpg

Here's a source for the tubing: http://www.mcmaster.com/#duct-hose (any of the bend-and-stay tubing)

[nanofrog]

I was recently playing with the idea of making a fume extractor and while researching table top units I stumbled upon commercial grade units with tubes and a vacuum/filter unit which seems nice when you have limited work surface area.

They don't seem terribly hard to make and don't seem like they're worth $750+ USD http://www.practicaltool.com/catalog/images/wfe2eskit1.jpg

Here's a source for the tubing: http://www.mcmaster.com/#duct-hose (any of the bend-and-stay tubing)

I've been thinking about the same thing, as I have an old Honeywell HEPA Air Purifier I could use to make it (if it's not too big, as it was the largest they made at the time). Stopped using it years ago due to the filter cost (over $100USD back in the '90's), but a recent check on Amazon for pricing shows they've come down quite a bit (~half the cost for the one I need).

Using the link you gave, I like the idea of using this as the hose, and they even have a round nozzle (funnel shape). http://www.mcmaster.com/#duct-hose/=jy6hsd

[reagle]

I've tried using these cheap units in the past and anything over a few solder joints is basically going right in your lungs. What I did find much more effective was a  Metcal tabletop units http://www.okinternational.com/product_fume_bvx/bvx_100
That's a bit more $$, but may give you an idea of what does work

[prenato]

I just use a 12V DC fan from an old PC power supply.  I put banana jacks on it and use a bench power supply to control the speed and airflow.  Old dead PCs aren't hard to find to pull the fans out of.

I've posted this before, but here's my "PC-supply-based" implementation:)

http://paulorenato.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84:fume-extractor&catid=4:projects&Itemid=4

Paulo