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Smoke the Solder or Fume Hood?

post #1 of 58
12/13/04 at 7:52pm
Thread Starter 
Burning flux and solder is some pretty nasty stuff.

Do you smoke the solder, or do you use a fume hood?

If you use a fume hood, what kind?

Maybe a DIY solution?

I made a makeshift spray booth out of cardboard and a shop vac once for painting. I don't think I'll go that route for soldering, but I do have left over ducting material and 120mm fans. A HEPA filter or two in place and I should be golden.

Or Leaded, depending how effective it is.

The lazy part of me wants to just buy Metcal's fume hood. Ugly, but effective.

-Ed
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post #2 of 58
12/13/04 at 10:00pm
I solder in my garage with the door open, although if it's cold I shut it and wow solder makes you feel weird, lol.
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post #3 of 58
12/13/04 at 10:04pm
i smoke them. whats a fume hood?
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post #4 of 58
12/13/04 at 10:13pm
I didn't vote in the poll because my choice isn't there: I use a small fan on my bench that pulls air across the soldering area. I find that to be preferable to pointing the fan across the soldering area, because then things don't get blown around.

If you want to get fancy, there are small "fume extractors" that are basically a fan plus a filtering mechanism.

A fume hood is a little overkill for soldering.
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post #5 of 58
12/13/04 at 11:39pm
Thread Starter 
I guess I should've revised the poll option.

I really meant anything to get fumes away from your lungs. Be it, fan, fume extractor, fume hood, hepa filter, monkey with a paper fan......

-Ed
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post #6 of 58
12/13/04 at 11:46pm
I stab some solder(silver of course) into my hot iron and inhale the fumes. Ahhhh. Actually I just work in my room. No ventilation. Are there many harmful effects from doing this?

JV.
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post #7 of 58
12/13/04 at 11:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lil_JV
I stab some solder(silver of course) into my hot iron and inhale the fumes. Ahhhh. Actually I just work in my room. No ventilation. Are there many harmful effects from doing this?

JV.
You can get lead poisoning,...right? I mean, it is lead solder, lol!
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post #8 of 58
12/13/04 at 11:56pm
Yes, I am sure if you breathe it in all the time but it's not like I'm inhaling the stuff.....or eating it. I swear I don't do either!

JV.
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post #9 of 58
12/14/04 at 12:22am
If you worry about inhaling lead vapour it's not likely. Unless your soldering iron is set way too high (>1000ºC anyone?!?!) you will not be soldering anywhere near the boiling point of lead.

There is some harm from the flux vapours, they may contain VOCs, you should consult the MSDS that came with your materials. You all have that, right?
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post #10 of 58
12/14/04 at 12:23am
I do absolutely nothing.

I'm sure stuff is irritating and prolonged exposure can cause troubles with respiratory system. I wouldn't think you'd get lead poisoning though - you're melting it, not evaporating it.

That doesn't mean you shouldn't do anything. I simply have no space to place the fume extractor were I to buy one.
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post #11 of 58
12/14/04 at 12:55am
I use a air purifier, while soldering in combination with a mini USB Ionizer /Air Purifier.
Air purifier


USB Ionizer


Nice review for the Ionizer can be found here
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post #12 of 58
12/14/04 at 2:20am
don't breathe solder. But I don't think you need a hood. sitting in front of a small fan is fine. Ones in assembly areas aren't much different except for a foam filter being placed in front of the fan.
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post #13 of 58
12/14/04 at 3:00am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by cottonbuds
Nice review for the Ionizer can be found here
Actually, most ionizers output too much ozone, which can cause more respiratory problems than flux fumes.

Well, flux fumes are pretty nasty too.

But I kind of have a fondness for the smell..........

-Ed
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post #14 of 58
12/14/04 at 3:12am
i am actually pretty anal about what i do and do not inhale. Solder fumes are pretty high on my list of what not to inhale. I usually crack a window or solder in the garage. Ever notice that solder fumes seem to always drift toward your eyes and face? It never seems to drift away from you for some reason, especially when you desperately need to inhale air.
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post #15 of 58
12/14/04 at 4:43am
i was soldering in my room.. made a few amps this way and the fumes were making me feel very sh***y.. ive stopped making amps altogether because i have nowhere else i can work..
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