Solder Fume Sucker: ESD Material necessary? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: BurnedResistor
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2020, 04:05:27 pm
content: Hey All!I am finding myself assembling quite a few boards now, and am starting to worry about the large amounts of fumes I end up breathing in.As this is a hobby thing and I am a student, I don't have the cash for a 500-600Euro+ Air purifier setup.So I was just going to pump all my (fuming) problems out the window, with a relatively low cost diy setup consisiting of an inline fan, a few flexible pieces of tubing, and a desk arm.For the desk arm I was considering the Flexi-75 (aka Flexi 2 1/2") from loc-line.I can get a 2ft piece and a flat nozzle fairly cheaply:https://www.loc-line.com/product/81202-vacuum-hose-18-elements-2-5-id-2-1-ft-segment/https://www.loc-line.com/product/81204-6-x-3-5-rectangular-nozzle-pack-of-1/They also offer a black, antistatic tubing and nozzle option, that will probably run me 10Euro more:https://www.loc-line.com/product/81302as-anti-static-vacuum-hose-2-5-id-2-1-ft-segments/https://www.loc-line.com/product/81304as-anti-static-6-x-3-5-rectangular-nozzle-pack-of-1/Before I accidentally stumbled accross the second version, I did not even consider that ESD / Static was an issue with these fume-arms.I could get the antistatic version, but to because this will be in my room where I spent quite a bit of time, I really don't like the idea of a huge black snake and would much rather have the colorful arm.(silly, I know....)Besides, if i did go for the antistatick version, wouldn't I have to ground it to be effective? How would I make a good contact for grounding to mains-earth through a resistor? Plus that is another cable and a hassle....So I guess my question is: How much of a concern is ESD with a fume sucker? Do you find your arm touching your board a lot while working? Can you create a charge by holding/moving it? Could the airflow accumulate a charge?Thanks

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2020, 04:25:45 pm
content: Take a look at uninsulated flex air ducts, which are way cheaper than what you quoted. Get the foil over plastic kind and ground it.BTW, put the fan at the far end, that way you can use a much more powerful one without excessive noise.

author: BurnedResistor
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2020, 04:37:37 pm
content: Quote from: NiHaoMike on April 25, 2020, 04:25:45 pmI was planning on exactly that kind of setup for the ducting from the desk arm to the fan to the window.But I want some kind of rigid arm I can move around the top of my desk, which those ducts would not provide, I think?

author: BurnedResistor
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2020, 04:39:32 pm
content: Here is an image of the rigid arms, sorry if that was not clear in the first post.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2020, 04:46:17 pm
content: An airflow, especially one carrying any sort of particulates, even in small quantities, can induce a significant charge on surfaces insulated from ground. Assuming the antistatic nozzle is size-compatible with the ordinary vacuum hose, run a bare preferably tinned stranded wire or braid inside the hose back to the inline fan and ground it there. At the nozzle end, solder the wire to a piece of self-adhesive copper tape folded over the rim of the hose, so the anti-static nozzle makes contact with it.

author: BurnedResistor
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2020, 05:06:17 pm
content: Quote from: Ian.M on April 25, 2020, 04:46:17 pmThank you for the detailed description.I take it that the airflow creating charge would really make it worth it to go for the antistatic version.Exactly what I wanted to know, I am glad I asked.Thanks.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2020, 05:22:05 pm
content: Quote from: BurnedResistor on April 25, 2020, 04:37:37 pmMake a collar to attach it to a clamp arm of the kind used for photography work.