Introduction: Fume Extractor

About: I like electronics.

When you solder, you melt tin, lead & flux. Flux is there to help the solder run, or flow, but also burns toxic. Not much, but toxic is still toxic.

This cheap & simple instructable will whisk away the fumes so you can work in a nice, clean environment.

These retail for several hundred dollars here in Australia, so you will save yourself a fortune.

Most of the parts can be salvaged from stuff.

Step 1: Parts & Tools.

You will need:

a plank of wood (anything works. Ply, MDF, whatever you have lying around)
2 fans (you can use more if necessary)
A Switch (I used a fan controller because i was going to make them switch on and off individually, but i
decided against it. i still used it though. Makes it look cool. any SPST will work)
A 10~14 v supply (DC, whatever amps your fans are.)
Wire
Heat shrink
Solder


Tools:
Soldering Iron
Wire Cutters
Drill
Drill Bits
Flat Blade screwdriver
Phillips Screwdriver

Step 2: Marking Everything.

Mark the holes of your fans & switch. when you do, look for a symbol on the fan. it will show rotation & air flow direction. these will help when marking stuff out.

Step 3: Modding the Switch

This step is only required if you are using the 3 speed switch. if you are. follow the instructions. if not, continue on.

Pull the knob off.
Then, remove all the stuff coming from the back of the switch. You should end up with something like below. if not, I can't help you.

You will have Common (or C) 1 (or M100) 2 and 3.

Step 4: Drill Vent Holes

I was unsure what to do here. If you have a finger guard for the fans, then cut out a big hole. if not, I just drilled lots of 5.5 mm holes. Works fine.

Afterwards, attach the switch.

Step 5: Fans

These two can go on now.

Just line them up with your markings, and spin the blades to make sure they don't hit on any oddball wood splinters. If so, clean up with a file.

Drill holes respective to the fan power wires. then, bolt everything down.

Work out your plug pack polarity & and mark that.

Flip it over.

Step 6: Wiring

Attach the negative fan wires together to ple plugpack. Then, solder and heat shrink them up.

Attach the positive coming from the plugpack to the common (or C) on the switch.

If you want your fan to come on in all 3 positions, Just link M100, 2 & 3 together with the fan positives.

If you are using a toggle switch or similar, Attach the negatives together as explained. then, attach the plug pack positive to the Common pin and the fan positives to the other side.

I hope the images help.

Step 7: Done!

Now plug in and switch on. the fans should instantly start spinning and air should move. Any sparks, smoke, fire, lights in THE WHOLE STREET DIMMING etc etc is a bad sign. recheck your work.

Enjoy a clean environment!!!

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