Do you need solder fume extractor?
1 Answer. Personally, I would always go for a fume extractor. For irregular soldering, most people don’t use one, but really if you want to reduce the long term health risks then it is always better to get an extractor rather than just try to blow the fumes away.
What does a solder fume extractor do?
How Solder Fume Extraction Systems Work. The fan motor in the solder smoke extractor pulls air in, driving the tainted air toward the extractor. The air is brought in, caught by the filter, and the clean air is then sent out through the vent which will lead either back into the work area, or outside.
How bad is solder fume?
Irritation – as a result of direct or indirect contact with resin-based solder flux, symptoms can range from simple eye or nose irritation to more severe airborne contact skin diseases. Solder fume can also cause other illnesses such as chronic bronchitis, chemical hypersensitivity, chest pain, headaches and dizziness.
Is it bad to solder inside?
Soldering with lead (or other metals used in soldering) can produce dust and fumes that are hazardous. In addition, using flux containing rosin produces solder fumes that, if inhaled, can result in occupational asthma or worsen existing asthmatic conditions; as well as cause eye and upper respiratory tract irritation.
Do solder fumes linger?
All solder fumes can cause occupational asthma and other health problems (leaded and lead-free) if used for long periods at a time. The best solder wire contains something called Rosin that helps the solder flow when hot. This causes asthma if you are over exposed and is irreversible.
How poisonous is solder?
As a result, the health effects of soldering have been well studied in order to better protect workers from potential harm. It turns out that solder fumes can be toxic to humans and prolonged exposure to them can cause serious chronic health problems and make other chronic conditions worse.
Can you solder without ventilation?
Soldering Safety OSHA OSHA legally enforces the permissible exposure limit (PEL) to help provide safe working environments. OSHA recommends employers to use ventilation or fume extraction systems at the source to restrict exposure to harmful soldering fumes.