Solder Smoke - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: HarryWeston
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 20, 2013, 05:43:11 pm
content: Hello. I have just come home from hospital having suddenly passed out, and then diagnosed with a chest infection (pneumonia) that sent my blood pressure plummeting and my temperature soaring. I had been doing a lot of soldering. Now I find that solder smoke can cause all sorts of nasty respiratory problems, and have had to promise my wife that I won't do any more until I have really good fume extraction installed. I'd like to see Dave do a blog on this -- is there a good but reasonably cheap solution for hobbyists?

author: smashedProton
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2013, 05:54:45 pm
content: hack up a 230mm computer case fan to blow air across your bench. If you have pegboard on the back of your bench, you can put them behind to blow it directly away from you. pretty slick

author: Astroplio
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2013, 06:23:42 pm
content: Sorry to hear about that, I hope you get well soon.For all those who will read this post, I think it would be valuable to know the conditions under which you were soldering, what kind of solder were you using, how often, etc. Any windows in the room where you solder? What kind of ventilation is available?Now, about a fume extraction, if I were you, especially after this incident, I wouldn't ask about a "cheap solution", but for the most effective one for your needs.Eye protection, burns prevention and respiratory issues should be a priority, how else can you enjoy your hobby! After all you will only spend once for it, go with the best solution you can afford!

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2013, 07:15:14 pm
content: Also keep away from lead-free - the fumes are much nastier than leaded.

author: SLJ
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2013, 07:17:06 pm
content: Here's a recent discussion on fume extractors:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/cheap-smoke-absorber/

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 20, 2013, 07:30:12 pm
content: In a well ventilated area, blowing the smoke away usually works much better than extractor fans with activated carbon filters. The extractor fans have to be very close to the joint to be effective.Are there really studies showing a link between pneumonia and flux vapors? I wouldn't expect extended exposure to high concentrations of flux to be healthy, but pneumonia isn't the first that comes to mind. Pneumonitis sounds more likely, but is usually linked to heavy metals or caustic chemicals. I'm by no means an expert on this subject, however. Maybe an allergic reaction to the allergenic rosin-based flux? Non-rosin fluxes might help in that case, although in general the water soluble fluxes are nastier.

author: RCMR
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2013, 08:09:58 pm
content: Quote from: HarryWeston on January 20, 2013, 05:43:11 pmSame thing happened to me about 40 years ago. Not at all pleasant!Now I take more care not to breath in the fumes from soldering.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2013, 08:22:18 pm
content: Similar to welders cough from prolonged exposure to weld vapour.

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2013, 09:40:50 pm
content: First question is, what type of solder flux were you actually using? Do you have a manufacturer's part number for the particular solder?

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2013, 11:07:43 pm
content: It's a difficult subject to give definitive answers because everyone is different.Some people are just more sensitive to the fumes than others.But i agree with everything said above.-Have a fan blowing air across the work area.It will carry the fumes/smoke away. Without a flow of air like that the fumes and smoke are drawn towards your nose as you breath in.This is especially true if you like to work close to the PCB as i do.-Have a window open, this will ensure the air in the room is exchanged between outside and other rooms of the house. That way the fumes don't just build up in the room.-Use leaded solder, as said above, lead-free has nasty chemicals in it.You can also buy leaded solder with less active flux which works perfectly fine for most tasks.If you have issues with one brand of solder try another. It maybe a specific solvent your body doesn't like.-Drink water.When you're dehydrated it much harder for the body to flush chemicals out that it doesn't want, which causes problems.It's handy to have a water bottle at the desk anyway, you can also wet the solder sponge.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2013, 11:32:35 pm
content: I use the "fan blowing air across the work area" technique and find it very effective.It doesn't need a very powerful fan, just a gentle air current. I looked at different options and ended up using this on its lowest speed setting:Travelon 3-Speed Folding FanIt works out just right to waft the solder fumes away from my nose without creating a hurricane.

author: george graves
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2013, 03:29:24 am
content: OP - by any chance have you been milling, drilling or cutting FR4?

author: Fsck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2013, 04:23:10 am
content: I just solder by an open window (~1m away) and a free-standing large household fan sucking air past the table and directly exhausting outside. (probably around 2500CFM)As the others have said it makes a world of difference for ROHS solders, but also works well for leaded, though overkill compared to what others here are doing.

author: smackaay
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2013, 05:07:44 am
content: I was having some issues with smoke one day so I made the most redneck solution. I cut the tip of a sock off and put it on the end of a ~20mm fan.http://youtu.be/JpA_447i5ZQ

author: HarryWeston
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 21, 2013, 02:23:23 pm
content: From Harry Weston, original post. Many thanks for all those suggestions. I am in U.K. and use lead solder, 60/40, to BS219KP with 4-core flux to BS441 class 5A Grade2,. I work in a room about 4 by 3 metres, 2.5 metres ceiling, usually with the windows shut, and a Maplin N33CH fume extractor, which sits on the bench, with a fan and a charcoal type filter. In this weather I keep the windows shut. So, I expect the danger to be the acid gases that are not filtered out.I am thinking of building the extractor into a hood over my work, with a duct to outside the house, via another extractor fan in the window. I would prefer a compact filter system that would removeallthe nasties without the need for ducting to the open air.

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2013, 02:37:27 pm
content: I would have thought that your pneumonia was incidental to your soldering and not as a result, it may have aggravated the condition but unless you are doing one hell of a lot of soldering with an excessive amount of flux your set up should have been sufficient.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2013, 04:08:10 pm
content: Cooker hood and ducting to outside through the wall would work as well.