DIY Fume Extractor

I was tired of breathing solder fumes so I decided to make myself a fume extractor – in it’s simplest form a fume extractor sucks the soldering fumes up and passes them through a filter, in this case I used and activated carbon filter.

You can buy fume extractors from anywhere $30 to thousands but since I already had everything to make this (except the carbon filters and the tin) I decided to go the DIY route. The filters were $11 for a big roll (enough to cut a few dozen filters for this) and $3 for the tin.

Parts - small round tin, 40mm high speed fan, 12v wall wart, mini toggle switch, adjustable (gooseneck) lamp neck, carbon filter, and a pink pencil.

Parts - small round tin, 40mm high speed fan, 12v wall wart, mini toggle switch, adjustable (gooseneck) lamp neck, carbon filter, and a pink pencil.

The tin I found (at Fred Meyer) had a magnet glued to it that had to be taken off.

The tin I found (at Fred Meyer) had a magnet glued to it that had to be taken off.

The magnet peeled cleanly off.

The magnet peeled cleanly off.

Before I cut into the tin I drew out on paper how I was going to cut the fan opening.

Before I cut into the tin I drew out on paper how I was going to cut the fan opening.

I used blue painters tape so I could draw the cutout pattern on the tin. The darker lines get cut (used a Dremel).

I used blue painters tape so I could draw the cutout pattern on the tin. The darker lines get cut (used a Dremel).

Fan opening cut and mounting holes drilled.

Fan opening cut and mounting holes drilled.

I ran the power cable through the lamp neck.

I ran the power cable through the lamp neck.

I extended the leads on the fan and had to cut one corner off to get the fan to clear the neck bolt.

I extended the leads on the fan and had to cut one corner off to get the fan to clear the neck bolt.

All secure - I had to scrap the toggle switch because it broke :(

All secure - I had to scrap the toggle switch because it broke :(

I cut the carbon filters to fit inside the tin lid (popped out the plastic that was there). I found that layering two filters worked best for filtering while still giving enough air flow.

I cut the carbon filters to fit inside the tin lid (popped out the plastic that was there). I found that layering two filters worked best for filtering while still giving enough air flow.

Works like a charm.

Works like a charm.

I can clamp it to the base of my PanaVise or anywhere else I may need it to suck fumes.

I can clamp it to the base of my PanaVise or anywhere else I may need it to suck fumes.

2 responses to “DIY Fume Extractor”

  1. johnny126

    Where did you get that carbon filter?

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