In recent articles is explained how you can best solder. What these articles don't tell you yet is that when soldering with both lead-containing and lead-free tin, it is important to extract the fumes.
All soldering tin contains components that can cause problems for your health when heated. This is why it is important to ensure proper extraction of the fumes and substances that are released during soldering. This article describes the need for healthy soldering and shows solutions that can deliver it.
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Health monitoring
Penetration depths
The warning labels on medicines are not there for nothing, cigarette packets are stickered with warnings and soldering tin nowadays comes with a safety sheet. We come into daily contact with substances where inhalation can lead to problems. This also applies to fumes that are released during soldering. As with all safety warnings, it is important to read them, but be aware that they exaggerate the data.
FluxIn both lead-containing and lead-free tin, flux is present in the mixture. Flux has been added to make it easier for the solder to flow, allowing for better adhesion and more reliable soldering. However, the vapour released by heated flux is not as good. This can lead to asthmatic symptoms, and in severe cases even feverish symptoms that can last up to 48 hours. It can even lead to permanent damage to the lungs when exposed for a longer period of time.
Lead Lead-containing tin also contains natural lead. This is a common good, it can lead to various problems such as allergic reactions to the skin, is harmful by inhalation, harmful to the unborn child and can even lead to sterility. Keeping away from pregnant women is not an unnecessary luxury.
Prevention is better than cure
Do we all have to stop soldering? With the right extraction, this is not necessary. The smoke released during soldering consists of 99.5% particles and 0.5% gas. This means that a very large proportion of the harmful components can be filtered out with the correct extraction. In an ideal situation, the gases are also filtered out, but to place a Weller Zero Smog at a 936 station is also a bit out of proportion.
Smoking exhaust to prevent
Generally speaking, there is a smoke extractor available for every budget. There are also several methods of extraction.
Air displacement solutionThe cheapest method consists of a fan with an active carbon filter. This solution is available from about all brands that do something with soldering. We have our own ZD and Aoyue in the collection, but Weller also makes this equipment. This method has two main advantages, it is cheap to buy and maintain, and it is mobile and compact. However, research has shown that this option may not offer sufficient protection for an avid solderer. The active carbon filter only filters the larger particles out of the smoke. The rest is sucked away from the user, but simply blown into the room, which in most poorly ventilated rooms still leads to an excessive concentration of particles in the air. In addition, the position of the extraction is of great importance in terms of effectiveness. In case of sporadic soldering in a well-ventilated room, this solution offers everything you need to work effectively and safely. | |
Point-ExtractionIn the case of the Aoyue 2703A+, for example, but also at various other stations, it is possible to use a tube to directly extract the smoke at the soldering point. This method captures almost all particles and gases when used properly. This makes this method very effective. However, as in the case of air displacement, the filtering is not sufficient for smaller parts and gases. So it has the same restrictions, but better performance because a much larger part of the smoke is displaced. | |
Extraction with movable tubeThe professional solution is a cabinet containing a pump and a battery filters. The aforementioned Weller Zero-Smog is a good example of this. These extractors are large and capable, but also a lot more expensive than the aforementioned solutions. These extractors often have a combination of one or two particle filters, after which the airflow is sucked into a HEPA filter where even the gas particles are filtered out. This makes it by far the best solution available for a home user, with flexible tubes available for these extractors, installation and use is easy. |
Premium solutions
It can of course always be crazier, such as perforated desks where the vapour is sucked down, or complete housings in which work can be done. These solutions are intended for industry and less suitable for the hobbyist solderer, or for the prototype department in a company.
Smoking or filtering?
To conclude the story, the question is whether it is necessary to order a soldering fume extractor. Due to the health consequences, it is certainly advisable to purchase a smoke extractor. Which option is best depends on use, but any extractor is better than none. Our collection of smoke extractors can be found in the relevant and .
