We use cookies to make your experience better. To comply with the new e-Privacy directive, we need to ask for your consent to set the cookies. Learn more.
The Importance of Fume Extraction
In such a time where we have to worry about the air we breathe it’s important that we do as much as we can to protect ourselves. Good ventilation, along with other preventive actions, keep us safe and when you’re soldering, desoldering, or doing some rework, therefore it’s important to take some precautions.
Now, solder isn’t the problem, but rather the flux within the solder that is to blame. Most solder is made up of tin and lead, and most solders contain flux within the solder, aka flux-cored solder.
As the flux vaporizes while you solder, it creates a smoke that is a complex mixture of gases and particles. These flux fumes are known as Colophony which can contain harmful chemicals such as Methane, Carbon Dioxide, and Formaldehyde.
Many of these chemicals are known to cause cancer and other harmful respiratory issues but fear not for there is a solution to this issue. Fume Extractors and Smoke Absorbers are key to keeping you safe while you solder.
Here at American Hakko Products, Inc. we offer both, fume extractors, and a smoke absorber, but what exactly is the difference you may be wondering? The short answer is that a smoke absorber simply takes the solder smoke and pulls it away from you while a fume extractor sucks up the solder fumes and pumps out clean air.
The HAKKO FA-400 is an example of a smoke absorber. The unit has a single fan which absorbs the fumes from the solder through a replaceable filter and blows them away from your work area. The filter will catch some of the heavier elements within the fumes and over time will need to be changed. This method however should be used near a window or open area to work successfully as within a closed-off space, the fumes would simply build up and fill the room you’re working in.
A more effective solution would be using a Fume Extractor, such as the HAKKO FA-430. The FA-430 has a 3-layer filtration system made up of a pre-filter, a main filter, and an activated carbon filter. The rating is greater than 98% at capturing particles as small as 0.3 microns.
 C1571 Duct Kit
|
 HAKKO FA-430
|
 C1572 Duct Kit
|
The filtration system absorbs the soldering smoke and fumes and pumps out clean air making it vastly more effective at keeping the environment around you breathable and clean.
Your health is a serious matter that should be taken seriously, and that’s why we design our products with you in mind, to help aid you in the soldering, desoldering, rework, and hot air process.
We’ve covered both our smoke absorber and fume extractor in more depth in one of Eye On Hakko videos which you can watch on our YouTube page @HakkoUSA, and be sure to sign up to our Hakko Tips E-newsletter to stay up to date with the latest news from Hakko.
For additional information or to schedule a Demo of these products, visit us at www.HakkoUSA.com or contact us at 1-800-88-HAKKO (42556) and at [email protected].
-HakkoUSA.