Wanting to build a welding fumes exhaust vent-any ideas?

Alan K · Jan 11, 2016

Has anyone built anything for their shop to vent welding fumes outside? I have an idea on how I might try to build a unit. I am thinking to possibly make something other than an overhead unit as it pulls the fumes towards you on the way out.

PJH · Jan 11, 2016

I have an attic fan in my shop for summer cooling. I'm sure you know how they work, drawing a vacuum in the room and exhausting into the attic and on outside. I can't run it all the time in the winter, of course, but I can bump it on for 30 seconds and clear the shop of all smoke (after cracking a window open). The heat goes out with the smoke, but my shop furnace burns wood, and it recovers quick and cheap. I don't weld right under it, so in the summer it works nice to leave it on and it pulls the fumes away. Winter, not so nice to leave it on, ha. Shop is small, about 30 feet X 30 feet.

Any time you pull a vacuum inside a building, there's danger of pulling fumes back down your chimney. A wood furnace will let you know quickly that you need to crack a window open, but I'm not sure you'd notice a problem with a gas furnace as quick. That being said, a fresh air intake designed to work with your exhaust would be necessary if your shop is tight.

Brendon Warren · Jan 11, 2016

Maybe you could find yourself a used range hood out of someone's kitchen. They come all wired up and even have an outlet and a light. I have one here but haven't hooked it up yet to try it out.

Gary from Muleshoe · Jan 11, 2016

If you could find an old restaurant range hood it would be ideal for what you are wanting.

Mike M · Jan 11, 2016

I mounted an exhaust fan in the side of my building. I think it was the kind sold for livestock buildings it is about 18" around , and has spring load lovers on the outside. Crack a window open on the other side and draw the fumes out.

Geo-TH,In · Jan 11, 2016

I installed a gen-air range in house. The exhaust fan was so powerful, it would pull gas fumes down the chimney into the basement filling the house with CO.

The issue I see with exhausting welding fumes, it will require one large exhaust fan to get it all.

As for me, I just weld outside, put a fan behind me and blow fumes away. Don't weld much in winter.

If all your welding were done on a table, check out how gen-air ranges are made. The one bought 25 years ago has exhaust vent in center of range, no hood. 5 inch blower fan. My gen-air has an electric grill so fan was designed to pull hard, unlike over head hoods.

Blackhole49 · Jan 11, 2016

How does this happen in an "all electric house" you claim to have?

Blackhole49 · Jan 11, 2016

Next to the entrance door of the front barn, I have an exhaust fan in the wall. It has an insulated door over it on the inside. In the rear of the barn, I have an insulated door to the attic that I open when I run the fan in the winter. Works good for welding, exhaust and painting.

Hoenes · Jan 11, 2016

On my sons' shop we used an attic type "roof top" exhaust unit salvaged from a job. He mounted it in a side window opening. Ordered the louver on line (no springs, just air pressure opens the slats) very reasonable. Draws good.

Wanting to build a welding fumes exhaust vent-any ideas?

Alan K

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PJH

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Brendon Warren

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Gary from Muleshoe

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Mike M

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Geo-TH,In

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Blackhole49

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Blackhole49

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Hoenes

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