15 replies to this topic

[snickers]

I was scrapping some parts from an old CPU and got an idea when I removed the fans. I made this in an hour. You don't need much and many parts you might have or can easily buy them at the hardware store and Radioshack.This isn't a huge fan to ventilate a car after hot boxing in it. I mainly use it now for soldering, cutting plastics, and silicone fumes (unless you like the smell of vinegar). So what you'll need is
x4 Bolts with corresponding nuts
x1 12v DC fan
x1 5 1/2in X 3 1/2in piece of wood
x1 little less than 20 square inches of polycarb
x2 pieces of Wire
x1 battery charger/transformer that will supply 12v and the correct Amps for the fan
x1 Face mask air filter

Everything you need:


^Doesn't need to be this exact one, just need the same specs






So what you will want to do first is cut out you piece of wood to hole the fan


Next you want to cut out two pieces of polycarb to make a case around the wood. Make 2 hole in the front and back piece for air intake and outtake. Also drill a small hole in the back piece for your fan wires to fit through Drill 4 holes corresponding to the holes on the outside of your fan to mount it.


Push the 4 bolts through the drilled holes attaching the fan cover.


Place your fan in the "case" and make sure the bolts are lined up through the holes. Also, make sure you line the arrows up that are on the fan so it sucks in the fumes from the front.


Cut up your air filter mask to fit over your fan leaving some slack so it isn't push against the fan.


Place the back plate of polycarb over the back and pull the fan wires through the extra hole you drilled.


Solder the wires from your fan to the transformer/charger. You should preferably use shrink rap over the solder but I was out so I implemented with E-Tape


Attach the bolts on the back and Vuala!


Again, this won't completely take away the odor it will just reduce the amount of brain cells you are killing and stop irritability. Yes, I know you can buy similar fans at the store such as the one's you mount in the ceiling of the bathroom. I just made this with what I had so don't hate.
Flames, comments, questions, suggestions, ideas?
If you would like to buy it let me know.

[Kronos Nerf Mods]

How does this compare to wearing a respirator?

[snickers]

How does this compare to wearing a respirator?

A respirator is obviously much, much better. A respirator is a complete face mask that blocks out ALL fumes so your never even exposed to them. This is just to *help* get rid of the fumes, it doesn't annihilate them.

Edited by snickers, 18 May 2013 - 09:33 PM.

[Mully]

I prefer regular fans for this kind of thing, but this is a pretty cool little invention.
I know these things aren't particularly powerful, does the guard in the back affect it all?

Edited by Mully, 18 May 2013 - 09:41 PM.

[snickers]

I prefer regular fans for this kind of thing, but this is a pretty cool little invention.
I know these things aren't particularly powerful, does the guard in the back affect it all?

If you are referring to the metal guard in the front no, it is there more for looks. The mask filter (white) is the filter for the fan and you need it so this contraption serves a purpose. I have a huge fan I used to use but that just blew the fumes into the other room.


And yes, you could just do it oust side but I don't feel like setting up everything outside to solder a few wires.

[gehaga]

You should have the filter in the front so less fumes are pulled through the fan. The fumes can actually ruin your fan believe or not.

[ShaNayNay]

Again, this won't completely take away the odor it will just reduce the amount of brain cells you are killing and stop irritability.

Does anyone have any idea of the severity of inhaling pvc fumes and the chemicals and lead emitted while soldering? IF the brain damage at all significant? Any comparisons to other harmful things like hitting your head or consuming alcohol?

I have heard many a time that it kills braim cells, but never have I heard the severity.

[481IceDragon]

Does anyone have any idea of the severity of inhaling pvc fumes and the chemicals and lead emitted while soldering? IF the brain damage at all significant? Any comparisons to other harmful things like hitting your head or consuming alcohol?

I have heard many a time that it kills braim cells, but never have I heard the severity.

With soldering and solvents and such, it's more respiratory damage then brain damage.

[snickers]

With soldering and solvents and such, it's more respiratory damage then brain damage.

Also with many adhesives, they cause reproductive harm. And Solder contains led and the fumes are led thus causing a horrible air borne mixture for your brain and lungs. Now I don't want the thread to turn into a "Stop using adhesiveness and cutting plastic, it'll kill you" type thread. I just thought of this simple intake fan and thought I would share it with you guys.

[Hammy]

I have done my fair share of soldering, and worked in environments with glue and industrial cleaning solvents. And I used to smoke when working.

And I am still kicking and solving Suduko puzzles after all of that many years later.

Anyway best to work in a well ventilated environment, and a fume extractor is not a bad idea.

[ShaNayNay]

UPDATE ON DANGERS OF SOLDERING
Looked into the health effects of breathing in solder fumes. This is what I learned:

-Lead will pretty much to every type of damage known to man to every organ of your body, so don't eat solder in large quantities.

-The fumes emitted while soldering are not lead, but actually the flux paste. Inhaling these flux paste fumes do not cause brain damage, but respiratory damage. Apparently overexposure will increase chance of asthma symptoms

-consumption or inhalation of solvent fumes can cause reproductive damage

TL;DR: No brain damage, solder fumes aren't as terrible as their rep but are still bad, don't eat solder.

Edited by ShaNayNay, 22 May 2013 - 12:56 PM.

[snickers]

UPDATE ON DANGERS OF SOLDERING
Looked into the health effects of breathing in solder fumes. This is what I learned:

-Lead will pretty much to every type of damage known to man to every organ of your body, so don't eat solder in large quantities.

-The fumes emitted while soldering are not lead, but actually the flux paste. Inhaling these flux paste fumes do not cause brain damage, but respiratory damage. Apparently overexposure will increase chance of asthma symptoms

-Did not read anything about reproductive damage

TL;DR: No brain damage, solder fumes aren't as terrible as their rep but are still bad, don't eat solder.

You get reproductive harm when using solvents and other adhesives. Soldering was just an option you could use the fan for. Look at the label warnings on PVC cement, liquid epoxy, goop, etc.

[blacklion]

I solder using this R95 mask/respirator I got at the Home Depot. It should give you some decent protection and it's very efficient in reducing the burning flux odor (which I really really hate). On top of this I solder with a fan right behind me so that the fumes disperse more quickly.

[snickers]

I solder using this R95 mask/respirator I got at the Home Depot. It should give you some decent protection and it's very efficient in reducing the burning flux odor (which I really really hate). On top of this I solder with a fan right behind me so that the fumes disperse more quickly.

Yes, fans work too.

The whole point of this thread is just to document what you could do with readily available parts and use as a minor replacement for things. Yes, there are many other ways you could go about protecting yourself from fumes, I know that. This is just a simple device I thought I would share with everyone that I made in my spare time with scrap parts. And I will only be using this for curing silicone domes anyways. (I will put a small plastic shoe box over the curing domes and cut a square out for the fan to fit in). I also just go outside when need to cut plastics or use solvents. This is just a minor alternative to those who don't have as many options.

[ShaNayNay]

You get reproductive harm when using solvents and other adhesives. Soldering was just an option you could use the fan for. Look at the label warnings on PVC cement, liquid epoxy, goop, etc.

I totally forgot about that. I do recall the back of my JB Weld stating it can cause reproductive damage.
I acknowledge that your fan is an all around product, I just loked into soldering as I haven't heard much about it. Great job by the way.

[orangeparkour]

Yes, fans work too.

The whole point of this thread is just to document what you could do with readily available parts and use as a minor replacement for things. Yes, there are many other ways you could go about protecting yourself from fumes, I know that. This is just a simple device I thought I would share with everyone that I made in my spare time with scrap parts. And I will only be using this for curing silicone domes anyways. (I will put a small plastic shoe box over the curing domes and cut a square out for the fan to fit in). I also just go outside when need to cut plastics or use solvents. This is just a minor alternative to those who don't have as many options.

The fan does not speed up the curing of the silicone domes does it?