RoadTest: Fume Extraction Unit for soldering applications
Author: dougw
Creation date:
Evaluation Type: Independent Products
Did you receive all parts the manufacturer stated would be included in the package?: True
What other parts do you consider comparable to this product?: Metcal BVX-101
What were the biggest problems encountered?: There were absolutely no problems.
Detailed Review:
Introduction
I am extremely interested in road testing this fume extraction system because I regularly perform hand soldering in a poorly ventilated area and I have an allergic reaction to solder fumes.
My soldering station leaves me particularly vulnerable because I use a stereo microscope that is positioned directly over the soldering activity, placing my face very close to the fume source.
Although I try to avoid solder fumes as best I can, the Weller Zero Smog EL Kit 1 will most certainly be a vast improvement over my current methods.
This is not just a fun product to play around with, it will actually result in a healthier working environment.
Unboxing Video
The Problem
Soldering and heated flux can result in airborne particulate and chemicals such as formaldehyde, toluene, isopropyl alcohol, butyl alcohol, and hydrochloric acid.
These sound bad, and they are definitely not good for people. They can lead to all kinds of symptoms including:
If lead solder is used, excessive exposure could result in lead poisoning which has symptoms like: loss of appetite, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, constipation, headache, abdominal cramps, nervousness, and insomnia. Lead is absorbed through the mucous membranes of the lung, stomach, or intestines and then enters the bloodstream.
The base product found in conventional flux is called colophony, which is the translucent amber-colored rosin obtained when turpentine is distilled from the resin of pine trees. Colophony has been widely used in soldering processes for many years. Most fluxes also include organic amine hydrochloride, an activator that helps clean the soldering area. When heated, it releases hydrochloric acid and other gases containing benzene, toluene, styrene, phenol, chlorophenol and isopropyl alcohol.
Threshold values for some of the VOC’s that exist in soldering smoke fumes.
Chemical | Threshold Mg/m3 |
Chlorophenol | 0,5 |
Formaldehyde | 0,6 |
Glutaraldehyde | 0,8** |
Benzene | 1,5 |
Phenol | 4 |
Ethanolamine | 8 |
Hydrochloric acid | 8** |
Acetaldehyde | 45 |
Styrene | 90 |
Toluene | 200 |
Isopropanol | 350 |
Acetone | 600 |
Average threshold value per day:
** Maximum threshold value for 15 minutes
My symptoms from solder fumes include sneezing fits, runny nose and eye irritation.
All of this means solder fumes are not healthy and I have needed a fume extractor for decades and I am very happy to have one now.
The Solution
The Weller Zero Smog EL Kit 1 includes 3 filter systems to ensure harmful solder products are removed from the air:
The Weller Zero Smog EL Kit 1 includes a 4 speed brushless turbine to collect and filter air at up to 190 m3 per hour:
System Performance
I am fortunate in having access to some nice instrumentation that will allow me to measure both the air flow of the system and the sound levels it generates.
Volume Flow Rate
The Weller Zero Smog EL Kit 1 nicely exceeds its volume flow rate specifications.
Air Flow Rate Near the Nozzle
The Weller Zero Smog EL Kit 1 has good flow rates near the collection funnel, but it makes a difference how it is positioned.
Sound Levels
More Sound Level Measurements
The Weller Zero Smog EL Kit 1 is far less noisy than a normal vacuum cleaner. The sound levels are quite tolerable and easily allow conversation to take place.
Fume Extraction
The fume extraction performance is outstanding, effectively collecting air from an entire large working envelope.
Conclusions
I am impressed with the performance of this fume extractor, it has a large comprehensive filter, a quiet turbine with a very nice flexible hose and funnel nozzle and it extracts fumes from a very workable envelope.
This device is going to make my working environment much healthier and I couldn't be happier about it.
I enjoyed doing the review - it actually gave me a much better understanding of what this device can do and how to use it effectively.
Do not wait as long as I did to address the issue of air quality at the solder station.
Relevant Links:
The Weller Zero Smog EL Kit 1 road test page
The Weller Zero Smog EL Kit 1 web page
Weller Zero Smog EL Kit 1 Quick Start Guide
Weller Zero Smog EL Kit 1 User Manual
Weller Zero Smog EL Kit 1 datasheet
Top Comments
Wow, that extractor really sucks!!!
Hi Doug,
Thanks for the great review on the Weller unit. I am not sure what the long term effect of solder fumes and lead poisoning are. There has been very few days in the last 50 years where I did not…
That's really impressive. I had one of the earlier models of this in my office before we moved to working from home, it was good but that looks way better. I currently have one of the cheap desk mounted…