DIY Solder Fume Extractor with Active Carbon Filter

[@ctrlaltrees]

Just going back over some of your old videos, I could definitely do with building one of these. Great guide! It's much smaller than I expected from the thumbnail. Also always nice to spot a fellow Really Useful Box enthusiast in the wild. 😏

[@TheDigitalOrphanage]

Cheers Rees. Definitely have something if you're doing more than just the very occasional soldering. You'll really notice the difference both in smell and not getting a face full of fumes. If I was soldering all day long it might need to be bigger or I guess I could just change the filters more often. Mine's a halfway house between big under desk versions and those small single filter in front of a fan designs.

[@ctrlaltrees]

@@TheDigitalOrphanage I think something like this would be the ideal size for my needs. I'm not sure I rate those single filter designs, this one seems like it would have a lot more suction.

[@mrbig6718]

Man this is awesome,you make me wish I could use both my arms,great stuff!

[@Notmy00000]

🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@Handlebrake2]

How's it been going? I hear carbon filter isn't enough, I hear it only gets rid of the smell but not all the toxic chemicals. Would it be better to just exhaust the smoke outside with a pipe?

[@TheDigitalOrphanage]

Still works for me for the amount of soldering I do. I've changed the filters and I'm still fit and healthy (touch wood). However, if you can vent it completely away from where you're working, that would always be preferable.

[@RCSRetro]

You pushed the filters into the box so that the fumes are actually bypassing the filter. You need to attach the filter to the lid so the only way for the fumes to go is through the filter.

[@TheDigitalOrphanage]

It was a large doubled-over piece that makes a tunnel inside. But when you make yours, it can be however you like.

[@flojotube]

@The Digital Orphanage - QUESTIONS: 1. Why did you choose to use a massive PSU to power this as opposed to a more simple wire splice into a spare 12v transformer wall plug we all have lying around? Are there benefits to doing this or were you just looking for something to weigh the unit down a bit? 2. Did you consider adding a portable DC capability to this system so that you can use it on the go by tossing in some cells? 3. Is there any method you’re aware of to detect/test the level of contaminants collected BY THE FILTER to determine when it needs to be changed? How do you usually decide this? 4. How long do these carbon filters last before needing replacement? Can they be cleaned somehow? 5. Is there anything you’d have done different since building this?

[@TheDigitalOrphanage]

Hi and thank you for watching. Some great questions and I'll do my best to answer them below. Have fun making one of your own and improving on what I did! 1) In my box of power supplies this was the smallest that was 12v with a current output that equalled or exceeded the fan I wanted to use. I also remember thinking that having the PSU inside the box could help it last longer as the airflow would keep it cool. But if you've got a spare 12v wall plug type with high enough current output then go with that. 2) Not really as I'd always imagined using it with a mains powered soldering iron. I took it with me to the museum once so it has been on an outing once :-) 3) No, not that I know of. I'm expecting there will be a smell from the exhaust if the activated charcoal stops being effective, but as I have quite a large amount of it in mine I haven't noticed it yet with the amount of soldering I do. If the filter gets clogged with dust etc. you'll notice it doesn't suck the fumes from quite as far away, so that is another point to replace the filter. 4) See 3 above. 5) The "Really Useful" boxes are great but I hadn't realised they don't make a proper seal around the lid. That's why I used all that silicone sealant in the rim of the lid to make it seal. There are some large electronics project boxes with a full weather seal that might have been better, although probably more expensive.

[@GrandHighGamer]

Should throw a HEPA filter in there too. Carbon is good for only some of the fumes, and may not touch some of the fine dust particles that the fan is going to be throwing back up into the room.

[@TheDigitalOrphanage]

Hi thanks for watching. Would you recommend pre or post the carbon filter? The way I constructed it there's room for either. Currently I have arranged it so that there's a double layer of carbon filter but could replace one with a small HEPA filter from a vacuum cleaner. Would need to test it doesn't restrict the airflow too much though as no where near as powerful as a vacuum cleaner. For the amount of soldering I'm doing, it seems to be doing it's primary job well and getting rid of the fumes and the smell.

[@MarcAntoine01]

@@TheDigitalOrphanage I was going to type this when you showed the filters, pre carbon filter for me would allow the carbon to be used for longer

[@TheDigitalOrphanage]

Thank you for watching too! I have some spare Dyson DC02 filters, I might see if one of those works and do a short follow up video.

[@Jay-fp8iy]

Outro music please? I know the song but can't for the life of me remember what it's called. Thanks!

[@TheDigitalOrphanage]

Hi, thanks for watching. The outro music is a small section from "AI 2" by Vibe Mountain, and is available from the KZbin audio library (kzbin.infomusic). You can also find it via a search of KZbin.

[@murdoc4794]

Came for the content, stayed for the music. Good editing, good music. Jarring modem sound at the end. Excited to be subscriber #8!

[@TheDigitalOrphanage]

Welcome and thank you for the encouraging words. Not only are you subscriber #8, but you take the crown for the first comment on any of my videos! :-) The music comes from the vast selection of copyright free music that KZbin makes available to content creators. The track I used is called "Voyage" by "Density & Time" and just seemed to click with my footage. After that I just let the beat and pace guide my cuts. Would it be useful if I list any music I use in the video details? Fair comment about the modem sound, I'll consider what to replace it with on future videos. It's actually part of the tape loader header of Target Renegade for the ZX Spectrum and is meant to invoke nostalgic feelings about the 8 bit days. I wasn't sure though if the volume was too loud or if everyone would recognise the noise. It's great to get feedback and I hope you enjoy my other videos and my future work.

[@Alexandra-Rex]

I was thinking of having a tube out the window, but this is much more practical as my desk isn't so close to the window. Will definitely make a box instead of a long tube now. Thank you =)

[@TheDigitalOrphanage]

Yes, same with my workbench. I would have had to drill through the wall.

[@CRG]

Very nice, after doing a fair bit of soldering at the weekend on a c64 I could really use one of these. Feeling inspired to have a go at making my own.

[@TheDigitalOrphanage]

Definitely worthwhile and it also helps with seeing what you're soldering as it sucks the vapour/smoke out of the way. You'll see it in action again in my next video which is rendering as I type.

[@todologic]

Nice one. How do you know, exactly, when filters need to be replaced? Thanks.

[@TheDigitalOrphanage]

You can either replace them on a time interval, say every sixth months, or you could just go by increasing smell or if the smoke isn't being sucked in as well. If your work area is dusty it's more likely you'll need to clean or replace the filter at the intake point as it will get clogged with dust.

[@todologic]

@@TheDigitalOrphanage Thanks!

[@stevenA44]

This is so much better than the one I just watched, where a guy took a HUGE plastic storage bin and made one. He went way overboard in my opinion. This is the perfect size I think.

[@TheDigitalOrphanage]

Thank you for watching and for the kind words. The filter has worked well since I made it and makes my hobby soldering more enjoyable. If I were to be soldering all day long as a job I would want something bigger possibly but for me this is perfect and easy to move or remove if I need more desk space. Have fun making one yourself.

[@stevenA44]

@@TheDigitalOrphanage You're welcome. Well if you ever want a bigger one, then you should make the one he did, because it's huge and not at all portable! LOL I'm guessing it was around 3 ft x 2 ft x 1.5 ft?? Way to big for what I wanted. He also put a good sized vacuum type thing inside it. I'll see if I can find the video again and link it to you so you can see it. I do hobby soldering so I don't do it a lot, so your version is more like what I am wanting, plus I want to make a couple of extra ones from some friends that are getting into soldering.

[@stevenA44]

@@TheDigitalOrphanage Here's the one I was talking about. Watch it and tell me what you think. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJXVd6ardsigapo

[@TheDigitalOrphanage]

Ah, good ole JW, I too watched his video when I wanted to make my own. I think he does a lot of soldering on his channel and his is a DIY version of the type Louis Rossmann would use in his repair shop every day. For something that's running most of the day you'd want bigger activated carbon filters and a pre-filter to filter out normal dust. It would act as a general room filter too, and you would not want to clog up the carbon filter with ordinary dust. Mine's larger than the normal hobby filters as they are pretty much just a fan with a square of filter in front of it. Make one and see how well it works for you.

[@FDSeoul]

Nothing better IMO than repurposing and engineering your very own DIY project at home. Very nice and the best part of it all is you know where each and every part comes from and how they are held together for better or worse.

[@TheDigitalOrphanage]

Thank you for watching and I totally agree. I break down scrap things into useful parts and store like items together so I can find them just when I need them for a project or to fix another thing that's broken. Thankfully they don't take up too much space in the garage. It's also nice to be able to help others, like my father and father-in-law, repair stuff with my recycled parts store. Reuse, Repurposed, Recycle!

[@Command37]

please what is the brand and model of the yellow rotary tool featuring the springy power cord you cut the hole with?

[@TheDigitalOrphanage]

Hi Command37 and thank you for watching. The yellow tool is a "RotaCraft Variable Speed Mini Rotary Tool Kit" which is a low cost "Dremel" type tool, handy for all sorts of tasks. I use it to cut the holes with straight sides by using the small cutting discs it comes with. I also use the sanding drum to clean up some of the edges. The large hole was cut with a normal drill and a hole saw of the correct size. It probably would have been just as easy to use the small cutting disc though. Here is an Amazon link to it amzn.to/2Ih2ed0 (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)

[@Command37]

Excellent man, thank you for your prompt reply and helpful link! How does that Amazon Associate program work? I have a seller account, can I also participate in this program?

[@TheDigitalOrphanage]

You're welcome. Both good questions and as I've only just joined them I don't know the answers. You can read up on it on their website though. affiliate-program.amazon.co.uk/

[@pvtryan785]

Where would you store the fumes afterwards? I’m trying to do some stuff with plastics however I don’t want the toxic fumes being exposed to me or the environment

[@TheDigitalOrphanage]

Hi, thanks for watching. The activated charcoal impregnated foam absorbs the fumes until saturated. Then it needs to be replaced. If there are particulates you might need a HEPA filter too.

[@pvtryan785]

The Digital Orphanage thanks for answering me. Sorry if you already answered this as I was doing other stuff while watching

[@flojotube]

@@TheDigitalOrphanage - hey brother! Your extractor tutorial is among THE BEST on KZbin - I’ve watched FAR TOO MANY @ this point & can say this WITH AUTHORITY. It’s also VERY VERY IMPRESSIVE to see you replying to comments a year after a video was published. I see great things in your KZbin future for sure.... With that, I’ve got a couple of questions... I’ll post them in a separate new comment in the main section for all to see..... CHEERS!!!

[@TheDigitalOrphanage]

That's very kind of you to say that. Hopefully you'll find my answers to your questions useful in improving on what I did.

[@carloscaro5882]

Nice shirt

[@TheDigitalOrphanage]

Thanks, it's a Chunk T-Shirt and they do some nice Star Wars ones (www.chunkclothing.com/). I don't think they still sell this Highschool Year Book "Class of 1977" one though.

[@alfonsot2269]

la musica cual es ing

[@TheDigitalOrphanage]

Voyage (Density & Time) kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaSqfJ2hl5mCidU