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8 DIY Welding Fume Extractor Plans to Assemble Yourself (With Pictures)

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welding fume extractor

Have you tried hooking up a fan to blow welding fumes away? That’s an easy first step, but it might not be the solution you’re looking for. The best way to extract fumes when working on a welding project is using fume extractors.

Today, we have a list of DIY welding fume extractor plans that you can use. They need both welding and carpentry skills to assemble. You can use them to make your welding work safer and cleaner! Keep reading to learn more!


The 8 DIY Welding Fume Extractor Plans

1. Powerful DIY Fume Extractor by Instructables 

Materials Needed: Activated carbon filter, DC fan, M4 nuts and bolts, and a DC jack
Tools Needed: Soldering iron, glue gun, screwdriver, and a 3D printer link
Difficulty Level: Moderate

If you want a more powerful machine that does more than blow smoke away from your welds, try this DIY fume extractor design. It uses two fans; one is for sucking in air, and another for blowing out smoke particles. Also, it has an activated carbon filter that traps 99% of harmful fumes before they come back into your workspace again.

It is made from high-quality materials for durability and longevity. The only thing you need for assembly is a screwdriver and other basic tools, such as a glue gun and a soldering iron.

This extractor is suitable for all types of welding work, including MIG and TIG welding. It uses a 12-volt DC motor and an air pump to create negative pressure inside the enclosure. Attach a vacuum cleaner hose to the exhaust port and start your work. Then, turn off the motor or unplug it from the power supply when you’re done with your project.


2. Welding Fume Hood Extractor by Instructables 

Welding Fume Hood Extractor by Instructables 
Image Credit: Instructables

Materials Needed: Mini fridge, 4-inch PVC pipe, power switch, drainage hose, blower motor, and an air handler
Tools Needed: Drill, screwdriver, adjustable hole saw, and a utility knife
Difficulty Level: Moderate

This welding fume hood extractor has a simple hood that you can mount directly to the welding table, a workbench, or even just the wall if that’s where you want it. It’s one of the easiest DIY projects on the list.

If you’re working with large pieces of steel, this will not be adequate for removing all of the welding fumes from your work area. To remedy this problem, you can assemble two of these and mount them together. You can also assemble a larger one.

It will draw smoke and fumes out through a fan so that they can be released outside. This way, you won’t have any harmful smoke or fumes in your workspace. Also, it makes working much easier and safer for you.


3. Portable, Easy, and Cheap VENTED Fume Extractor and Fume Box by Instructables 

Portable, Easy, and Cheap VENTED Fume Extractor and Fume Box by Instructables 
Image Credit: Instructables

Materials Needed: A plastic container, hot glue gun, a hose, a DC fan, a piece of craft foam or foam weatherstrip for the box
Tools Needed: A saw, and a Dremel or a knife
Difficulty Level: Advanced

The Easy, Cheap, and Portable VENTED Fume Extractor and Optional Fume Box is one of the best fume extractors that you can make for your garage. Besides, it’s cheap to build, which is a bonus. This design is excellent for people who want a small, portable solution that doesn’t take up any space and can be stored away when not in use.

This design uses a standard dust mask and an air-tight plastic storage container to create a vented fume extractor. The plastic box acts as a filter to trap particulates from the air stream before entering the mask, so it reduces the amount of particulate matter in your breathing zone.

This design also works well for welding indoors or outdoors when you don’t have access to power outlets nearby.


4. DIY Portable Fume Extractor by Instructables 

DIY Portable Fume Extractor by Instructables 
Image Credit: Instructables

Materials Needed: Duct, metal duct, metal duct connector, fans, and an under-the-bed storage bin with hinges
Tools Needed: Drill and a utility knife
Difficulty Level: Easy

A DIY portable fume extractor is a must-have for any welder. It allows you to take your welding projects outside, in a garage, or even inside the house. It’ll help you remove those pesky fumes when welding or cutting metal. If you are a hobbyist, it’s also an excellent idea for you because it’s simple and easy to assemble.

This welding fume extractor provides a cheap filtering system for a MIG welder. It will eliminate the need for respirators or other safety gear during welding operations.

Place it as close as possible to where the fumes are released but ensure it’s not so close that it gets damaged by sparks or other hot objects flying around in the area you’re working on.


5. Shop Air Filter Fume Extractor Combo by Instructables 

Materials Needed: A tunnel fan, fine mesh fabric, wood glue, small pin nails, wire cables, screws, and four small blocks of wood
Tools Needed: Table saw, miter saw, and a jigsaw
Difficulty Level: Moderate

The Three-Way Shop Air Filter Fume Extractor Combo is an excellent choice if you want to use a shop air filter as a fume extractor. This unit is designed to work with a standard four by 20-inch ductwork system. It should be more than adequate for most welding applications.

The kit comes with everything you need to assemble it. All the instructions are included in the package as well. It’s perfect if you want something that will get the job done without spending too much money on it.

The best type of shop air filter for a welder is the one that uses activated carbon. You can also find one that uses charcoal filters to trap particles and gasses in the air before they reach the filter itself. You should also choose an air filter with easy access to replacement parts. This way, you can keep it working well over time.


6. Homemade Welding Fume Extractor by Youtube 

Materials Needed: PVC pipe, duct tape, a long piece of galvanized steel tubing, bolts, a fan, and some wire
Tools Needed: An angle grinder, drill, jigsaw, and a screwdriver
Difficulty Level: Easy

If you’re looking for something simple but effective, a homemade welding fume extractor might be a good start. It’s one of the most popular DIY fume extractor options. Also, it’s cheap and easy to assemble. 

This extractor uses an air compressor to draw fumes from the work area into a carbon filter. It’s made of PVC pipe and duct tape. It works by pulling air into the top of the PVC pipe. Then, it pushes it out through holes drilled in the bottom.

The only downside is that it won’t be as powerful as other options. But, if you’re only doing occasional small jobs at home, it should do the trick.


7. Super Easy Budget-Friendly DIY Welding Fume Extractor

Materials Needed: Ventilation blower, flexible ducting, and duct tape
Tools Needed: A pair of scissors
Difficulty Level: Easy

If you are looking for a cheap, easy, and effective way to extract welding fumes from your welding area, this DIY welder fume extractor will do the trick. It is easy to assemble using inexpensive and readily available materials.

It uses some duct tape and a length of flexible tubing. The only cost is for the tube and the duct tape. So, it won’t break the bank at all!

The extractor works by sucking air from the welding area through a filter screen. The fumes then pass through an exhaust fan where it’s pushed out of the building through a flexible hose connection.

The filter screen removes dust particles from the air stream before reaching the lungs. This design is great for hobbyists who don’t want to spend much money on their first project.


8. DIY Fume and Smoke Extractor by Bbq grills plus 

Materials Needed: Attic fan, duct reducer, flexible duct, and a degree duct fitting
Tools Needed: Drill bit and a screwdriver
Difficulty Level: Moderate

The DIY Fume and Smoke Extractor works on the principle of air suction and filtration. It’s the same as most commercially available dust extractors. Also, it’s one of the simplest plans for building your welding fume extractor.

This welding fume extractor uses basic materials such as PVC pipe and aluminum foil for making the fume collector’s hood.

The airflow from the fan is directed into the PVC pipe that goes into the garage or workshop area. This way, the fumes can be expelled outside.


What are the Benefits of Using Welding Fume Extractors?

Welding releases harmful fumes and smoke into the air. It can be dangerous for both people and animals. There are many ways you can prevent this from happening, but one of the best ways is by using welding fume extractors.

Here are further benefits of using welding fume extractors:

Odor Prevention

Welding fumes have an unpleasant odor that lingers for days after you finish a project. Many types of welders use oxygen and acetylene gas during the process. Both gases have distinctive odors. A welding fume extractor will prevent this problem by removing all traces of these odors.

Health

Welding fumes contain toxic substances, such as lead, chromium, manganese, etc. These fumes can cause severe health problems if inhaled over long periods. Fume extractors are a sure way of mitigating these problems.

Productivity Levels

Welding without using fume extractors will reduce your productivity levels. It’ll take you longer to complete a task. You have to stop working now and then to catch your breath as you are exposed to these toxic vapors or gases.

Improved Visibility When Welding

One of the most common complaints by welders is that their vision becomes blurry when working with certain metals for long periods due to exposure to harmful fumes.

An extraction system will improve visibility by removing all traces of smoke from the area. It allows welders to perform their duties more efficiently with clearer vision and greater accuracy.

They Reduce the Risk of Fire Accidents

Fire is one of the most common causes of industrial accidents. Welding fumes can cause fire or explosion when they come into contact with combustible materials or vapors. Even small sparks from welding machines can ignite these hazardous vapors. You need to install a welding fume extractor to prevent this from happening.

These devices remove harmful fumes before they reach any flammable materials or vapors.


Conclusion

Welding fumes are a dangerous byproduct of the welding process. Welders should make a safety plan to mitigate these byproducts. You can assemble an efficient and effective welding fume extractor for any project size with these DIY plans.

These eight DIY welding fume extractor plans have something in common. They’re cheap to make, and they will get the job done. Choose one today, and your welding session will be a pleasant one with the unwanted fumes being taken care of.

Featured Image Credit: Mr.1, Shutterstock

Cameron Dekker
 

Cameron grew up in Allentown, Pennsylvania, a once-proud steel town on the Lehigh River, where he got a taste of TIG welding in his high school shop class. He holds certificates for Certified WeldingEducator (CWE) and Certified Resistance Welding Technician (CRWT) from the American Welding Institute. His interests include scuba diving, sculpture, and kayaking.