Extractor/Ventilator fan ?

[GRW]

I bought a standard size cheapie fan off ebay that fits the flexi aluminium duct.
It was meant to be reversible but wasn't- however it wasn't too hard to simply turn the fan/motor around in the cylinder to make it extract.
I've fixed the fan up as an extractor and run the ducting so it draws air from above the workbench - and I run it when welding and grinding.
It doesn't shift a ton of air, but it does seem to have a positive effect.

(I have a plastic tub lid off something which conveniently wedges into the ducting to close it off when not in use).

 

[W.olly]

I bought a standard size cheapie fan off ebay that fits the flexi aluminium duct.
It was meant to be reversible but wasn't- however it wasn't too hard to simply turn the fan/motor around in the cylinder to make it extract.
I've fixed the fan up as an extractor and run the ducting so it draws air from above the workbench - and I run it when welding and grinding.
It doesn't shift a ton of air, but it does seem to have a positive effect.
View attachment 373948
(I have a plastic tub lid off something which conveniently wedges into the ducting to close it off when not in use).

Atlast.

Now that is what I was thinking. Using one of them extractors and semiflable ducting. Just finding some.

If I get the biggest extractor with a recducer to gain more suction maybe draw more air as in suction not amount.

 

[GRW]

Search ebay for:

Aluminium Semi Rigid Flexible Duct Cooker Hood Kitchen Extractor Fans 4" 5" 6"

I used the 6", as I found a 6" fan.

Cheers, G.

 

[Agroshield]

Correct advice is always available by PM

More useful to the wider forum community, rather than PM stuff which only two people ever see, could you please post a link to a best practice document from a suitable site?

If that only provides 'fume extraction 101', at least it would be a reliable source for more in depth reading if anyone is interested, particularly on the complex (one-size-does-not-fit-all) nature of the problem and solutions.

 

[Parm]

More useful to the wider forum community, rather than PM stuff which only two people ever see, could you please post a link to a best practice document from a suitable site?

If that only provides 'fume extraction 101', at least it would be a reliable source for more in depth reading if anyone is interested, particularly on the complex (one-size-does-not-fit-all) nature of the problem and solutions.

Simple answer is no

Thanks

 

[Parm]

I bought a standard size cheapie fan off ebay that fits the flexi aluminium duct.
It was meant to be reversible but wasn't- however it wasn't too hard to simply turn the fan/motor around in the cylinder to make it extract.
I've fixed the fan up as an extractor and run the ducting so it draws air from above the workbench - and I run it when welding and grinding.
It doesn't shift a ton of air, but it does seem to have a positive effect.
View attachment 373948
(I have a plastic tub lid off something which conveniently wedges into the ducting to close it off when not in use).

Nice effort but that will be mostly ineffective for welding fume, infact it may even increase the potential for exposure.

Totally useless for grinding extraction

 

[Morrisman]

Search ebay for:

Aluminium Semi Rigid Flexible Duct Cooker Hood Kitchen Extractor Fans 4" 5" 6"

I used the 6", as I found a 6" fan.

Cheers, G.

I use the old 8" extractor from when I changed out my kitchen window. It's in the back wall of my workshop, and the window is cracked open in front of me, so a continual gentle draw of air past me to reduce the smoke and fumes. It's not massively effective at moving air, but better than nothing.

 

[Robotstar5]

20 years ago this was the fume extraction in a production welding booth, the company was pretty good on H&S, regular LEV checks etc., but as @Parm knows, things have moved on since then.

I used to hate the service schedule as it meant digging out all the nub ends as it was a non-smoking factory

 

[Parm]

20 years ago this was the fume extraction in a production welding booth, the company was pretty good on H&S, regular LEV checks etc., but as @Parm knows, things have moved on since then.

I used to hate the service schedule as it meant digging out all the nub ends as it was a non-smoking factory

View attachment 373973

This is good solution

 

[James1979]

20 years ago this was the fume extraction in a production welding booth, the company was pretty good on H&S, regular LEV checks etc., but as @Parm knows, things have moved on since then.

I used to hate the service schedule as it meant digging out all the nub ends as it was a non-smoking factory

View attachment 373973

Where does that go? Straight to air or through some sort of scrubber?

 

[Robotstar5]

Where does that go? Straight to air or through some sort of scrubber?

Straight to air

 

[bricol]

I have an in-line fan pulling in air from outside, flexible ductwork to get it above my head where I'm welding

I bought a standard size cheapie fan off ebay that fits the flexi aluminium duct.
It was meant to be reversible but wasn't- however it wasn't too hard to simply turn the fan/motor around in the cylinder to make it extract.
I've fixed the fan up as an extractor and run the ducting so it draws air from above the workbench - and I run it when welding and grinding.
It doesn't shift a ton of air, but it does seem to have a positive effect.
View attachment 373948
(I have a plastic tub lid off something which conveniently wedges into the ducting to close it off when not in use).

Except that simply drags all the crap up past your head . . .

I have a similar arrangement, complete with tie-wraps (loose so I can move it around as needed) as a better than nothing, but I pull air in from outside and blow if down past me . . . other side of bench I have a similar duct coming down low, but the fan on the end is extracting. Pulling the fan switch turns both on - no point extracting if you aren't providing an air inlet.

And I wear a mask.
And move anything with even the remotest chance of not liking a welding spark . . . like a gas cylinder . . .

 

[Parm]

I have an in-line fan pulling in air from outside, flexible ductwork to get it above my head where I'm welding

Except that simply drags all the crap up past your head . . .

I have a similar arrangement, complete with tie-wraps (loose so I can move it around as needed) as a better than nothing, but I pull air in from outside and blow if down past me . . . other side of bench I have a similar duct coming down low, but the fan on the end is extracting. Pulling the fan switch turns both on - no point extracting if you aren't providing an air inlet.

And I wear a mask.
And move anything with even the remotest chance of not liking a welding spark . . . like a gas cylinder . . .

What you describe is just about the worst thing you can do and almost certainly will increase the potential for your exposure.

Local EXHAUST Ventilation is what is used to prevent or adequately control exposures to harmful substances

The clue is in the word EXHAUST

 

[dyno-tron]

Ventilation testing company fined for putting hundreds at risk | HSE Media Centre

press.hse.gov.uk

This is a good read, what happens with incompetent advice

I wouldn’t want to be them for the next 40 years due to the potential for civil claims

Considering the slating they got from HSE their fine was tiny, and if they get sued I expect their incompetence insurance will cover it. Not much of a deterrent :-(

 

[Parm]

Considering the slating they got from HSE their fine was tiny, and if they get sued I expect their incompetence insurance will cover it. Not much of a deterrent :-(

The fine isnt set by the HSE, its down to the courts and in accordance with the Sentencing Guidelines

https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.u...fety-and-Hygiene-definitive-guideline-Web.pdf

 

[GRW]

Nice effort but that will be mostly ineffective for welding fume, infact it may even increase the potential for exposure.

Totally useless for grinding extraction

I avoid grinding inside now as much as possible. As you say correctly the extraction does naff-all to help grinding dust.
Welding fumes.... well it does seem to help somewhat with clearing the air somewhat. If it's windy and I've pulled the door closed to weld, I run the fan and then I open the door as well immediately afterwards.
"Owts better than nowt" was my thinking

 

[Morrisman]

I avoid grinding inside now as much as possible. As you say correctly the extraction does naff-all to help grinding dust.
Welding fumes.... well it does seem to help somewhat with clearing the air somewhat.

It's a touch alarming when I see that fine black dust on every horizontal surface in my little workshop.

 

[DennisCA]

Personally, when I weld inside, I weld 99% at the table, if I weld anywhere else it's outside. So a fixed hood about there would work for me, I just have a 120mm hose actually with a fan meant for a car ventilation. It made a noticeable difference to me in getting fumes out of the room.

I bought a standard size cheapie fan off ebay that fits the flexi aluminium duct.
It was meant to be reversible but wasn't- however it wasn't too hard to simply turn the fan/motor around in the cylinder to make it extract.
I've fixed the fan up as an extractor and run the ducting so it draws air from above the workbench - and I run it when welding and grinding.
It doesn't shift a ton of air, but it does seem to have a positive effect.
View attachment 373948
(I have a plastic tub lid off something which conveniently wedges into the ducting to close it off when not in use).

I had a similar setup and it worked real well. I do most of my indoor welding in one spot. Otherwise I tend to go outside where I don't need extraction. Rebuilding it atm to make it take less space.

And yeah no grinding indoors! If I need to cut something indoors I will use the bandsaw.

 

[bricol]

What you describe is just about the worst thing you can do and almost certainly will increase the potential for your exposure.

Local EXHAUST Ventilation is what is used to prevent or adequately control exposures to harmful substances

The clue is in the word EXHAUST

You're going to have to explain why extracting contaminates close to one side of the only work area, while providing a clean air supply the other side that displaces the fume away from the sole worker, pushing it to the extract is a bad thing . . .

Before ensuring an air supply in, the extract did bug ger all - fume noticeably hung in the air, now it doesn't.

 

[Parm]

You're going to have to explain why extracting contaminates close to one side of the only work area, while providing a clean air supply the other side that displaces the fume away from the sole worker, pushing it to the extract is a bad thing . . .

Before ensuring an air supply in, the extract did bug ger all - fume noticeably hung in the air, now it doesn't.

Push pull systems are very complex and require very careful set up. Only ever seen these in use firing ranges. Spray bake have supply and extract but it’s not push pull

Control of contaminants is done with extraction