Fume Extraction

[Nivag]

Has anyone designed and built there own fume extraction system for a standard double garage? I am thinking of some solid ducting up in the trusses (hip roof on garage), some flexible "elephant trunk" ducting down to the bench area (maybe two places just to be sure) and a grill in the soffit outside plus a fan of course.
thanks, Nivag
p.s. it's not nice leaving the doors open in the very cold weather we have been having!

 

[brightspark]

Has anyone designed and built there own fume extraction system for a standard double garage? I am thinking of some solid ducting up in the trusses (hip roof on garage), some flexible "elephant trunk" ducting down to the bench area (maybe two places just to be sure) and a grill in the soffit outside plus a fan of course.
thanks, Nivag
p.s. it's not nice leaving the doors open in the very cold weather we have been having!

a good extracta will soon pull cold air in and remove any warm air thats allready there

 

[chunkolini]

Yep, Brightspark, I can vouch for that.
What I tend to do is wear a mask and do all the dirty work with the fan on, give it a few minutes and heat it up again. Maybe go for a cuppa while it warms up again.
A proper extractor fan changes all the air in the space.

Chunko'.

 

[Nivag]

Makes sense Brightspark. Chunko's solution is what I have in mind because the actual welding part of any home fab job (creating the fumes) is usually only a small portion of the overall time.
I have also thought about getting one of those small Sealey space heaters. Another idea is to heat the incoming replacement air with a radiator (my garage is integral to the house and close to the CH boiler) but that is all getting a bit posh and complex for occasional use.
thanks both, Nivag

 

[Nivag]

Spoke with Nerderman as they have been doing this for 30 years in UK. Very helpful. They would typically use a 160mm diameter ducting and a 0.5HP fan. Telescopic arm mounted on the wall to support the duct/inlet sounds good. First I need to clear some space!
I have the metal for a rather nice new welding bench but want the fume extraction in before I weld it all up.
Nivag

 

[dave_sussex]

Spoke with Nerderman as they have been doing this for 30 years in UK. Very helpful. They would typically use a 160mm diameter ducting and a 0.5HP fan. Telescopic arm mounted on the wall to support the duct/inlet sounds good. First I need to clear some space!
I have the metal for a rather nice new welding bench but want the fume extraction in before I weld it all up.
Nivag

Do you have a fan?, i have an as-new in-line ducting fan if you're interested, will check out the spec of the fan if you like? Won't want that much for it.

 

[dai]

Yep, Brightspark, I can vouch for that.
What I tend to do is wear a mask and do all the dirty work with the fan on, give it a few minutes and heat it up again. Maybe go for a cuppa while it warms up again.
A proper extractor fan changes all the air in the space.

Chunko'.

could you not use a infared heater and heat up just you and not the airspace??

 

[Nivag]

Thanks Dave, yes spec of fan would be useful. Looking for inlet/outlet of circa 160mm diameter and power of circa 0.5 HP.
Dai, yes good idea. Will look into this.
thanks Nivag.

 

[Nivag]

Have contacted Nederman, Plymovent and Westermans International (secondhand extraction kit). Nederman sales repersentitive coming to see me soon. They supply a kit with a filter to reduce the cooling effect which Brightspark mentions above.
Perhaps I am a bit paranoid about this fume extraction issue, but Hexavlent Chromium sounds nasty especially after you have watched the film Erin Brochavitch (good filem BTW).
Nivag

 

[steve.h]

i made myself an extractor with a carbon filter. a 3 ft long box 12 inches square, has a 2 ft carbon filter and a 4 inch 200m3 extractor (left over from a previouse hobby, dont ask), i drilled loads of holes on one panel at the filter end, the box now sits on the opposit side of my welding table pulling the fumes away from me then have some ducting taking the air away from the work area.
you can find the filters and extractors on fleabay or any hydroponics shops for around £80 for both, much cheaper than the sealey units etc

 

[Nivag]

Thanks Steve. Sounds good. Does this arrangement take care of all the nasties as far as you know (ozone, metal particles, etc)? Do you vent from your unit outside or allow from filter back into the shop?.
Nivag

 

[DazUK]

Try the portable Miniveyor Air VAF-300 fans. You can rig one up in your garage and vent the fumes out using the supplied flexible ducting. R-Tech Welding have just taken them on and will be happy to supply you.