Fume Extraction Welding: The Complete Guide

Do You Have to Change Your Current Welding Setup for Fume Extraction?

Fortunately for you, the answer is no! You can use the same procedures and protocols, and systems you were previously using in your MIG welding operation and seamlessly integrate fume extraction into it. 

A general rule to follow is the higher the amperage used the more you will release welding fumes into the welder atmosphere. Likewise, some welding processes create more fumes than others. 

Do you have to buy new equipment for fume extraction? 

Yes. But that doesn’t mean the welding parameters or setup is changed. You would have to look into purchasing a vacuum system and a smoke extraction gun to make the full commitment and develop an engineered solution, as is typically recommended. Otherwise, there’s no change to the way you currently weld that you’ll have to do other than introduce and use the right equipment for capturing those harmful welding particles.

If fume extraction at the source is not a viable option with a fume extraction torch, fume extraction arms are another source capture route to go that will improve air quality for your welders and staff. As a complementary piece to an extraction arm, respiratory masks can give additional coverage and protection for your welder. Ideally, however, you want to take action as close as possible to the source to prevent weld fumes from spreading. The more localized, the better. As localized fume extraction solutions become less feasible, more general solutions become possible. 

>>>Blog Article: BINZEL Basics for Fume Extraction

Respirator Masks

When choosing a respiratory mask, at least in the United States, it must be approved by the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH). Typically, when dealing with welding fumes, you will consider either half-mask respirators, powered-air-purifying respirators (PAPR), and supplied-air respirators (SAR). When using these types of masks, remember that cartridges and filters have to match the contaminant it is protecting against and be changed periodically. 

Respirators also are typically last resort solutions and should be used when engineering control systems – like ventilation control through fume extraction torches and systems, are not feasible, per the Centers for Disease Control. Reason being is while they may be more cost-effective alternatives to combat welding fumes, they are best utilized in combination with an engineered solution and not as the sole means of protection against hazardous fumes.

Test Fitting for Your Respirator Mask

When using a respiratory mask, consider fit-testing to ensure the snuggest fit possible, and checking to make sure your welding doesn’t have any heart or lung conditions that could make wearing a respirator dangerous. OSHA, in fact, has a mandatory medical evaluation questionnaire for OSHA Respirators, so make sure your welding operators complete this before fitting them with a mask.

Is Fume Extraction Really that Much of a Health and Safety Improvement?

Absolutely. The health improvement using fume extraction is undeniable. One study from the University of North Carolina found manganese concentrations reduced by up to 50%, so the health improvement for the welder can be quite significant. Even the most modest of results in this study showed a 20% reduction in manganese concentration.

Results are always dependent on the metal involved, the welder position, and the weld in question (whether it’s inside, outside, in an enclosed space, etc.). 

How much of an improvement will always depend on the equipment investment made and the types of metals welded. It also depends on placement – where the fume extraction system is placed relative to where the welder breathes. 

Often times this is done in error, and fume extraction as a result is not as effective as it otherwise could be because the welder is positioned in the plume. 

III. Fume Extraction Welding Solutions

First, let’s reiterate that no matter the fume extraction system you choose, you don’t have to change your welding procedure or welding machine. The only change you will be making is using a new welding gun and utilizing a fume extraction system – whether centrally located or portable/mobile – to have fume extraction in your operation should you decide on a source capture solution.

The welding positions your welders currently perform won’t change and the welding procedures you currently have in place will not need to be altered just because you’re using fume extraction. It’s a very common concern among those considering the switch, but we can tell you from our years of introducing fume extraction solutions to a variety of end-users that none of them have had to change their positions or their operations to accommodate it.

Here we will cover each of the options you have at your disposal for fume extraction, their pros and cons, and what considerations you should make for each.

You want to make sure the gun you select has three things going for it:  

1. The gun is going to be as light and comfortable as possible
2. The gun extracts smoke properly
3. The gun allows the welder to access the same welding positions as before

Welder Access

For welder access, typically the feature for a fume extraction gun to evaluate most closely is the torch neck angle. The better and more natural position the welder is able to take, the more comfortable he or she will be and the more smoke will be captured. 

When evaluating fume guns, the most effective torch neck angle from our years of on-site evaluation is a 60-degree torch neck. Anything lower – such as a 50-degree angle – will cause the welder to have to lift the torch unnaturally to capture smoke effectively – reducing their job performance and the performance of the fume gun.

>>>Blog Article:  4 Problems with Fume Extraction Guns and How to Solve Them

Welding Torch Consumables – Where the Value Is

Also, look at your consumables. The better the consumable, the more value you will get out of the torch. Consumables with a tapered front end, for instance, would always be preferable because of the ease of maintenance and improved access.

You also will experience less spatter build up because coarse threading resists binding and stays concentric with the tip holder. Look for the quality of the consumable. Copper, chrome, silver, and nickel all are considered high-grade consumable materials.

And the more malleable the metal the better the performance.

>>>Blog Article: How Fume Extraction Guns Work

How Do You Test a Fume Extraction Gun Against Your Current MIG Gun?

We recommend a simple comparison test. Take a normal MIG torch and weld regularly to see the current level of smoke being emitted. Then, try the fume gun in the same position welding the same piece and make sure it can do what you want. If you want to try out different fume guns, go for it! Then, choose the one that extracts the smoke better. You’ll be able to literally see the difference, as the better fume extraction MIG guns remove the fumes right at the arc.

Robotic Welding Fume Extraction 

Health hazards created by welding fumes and the associated safety problems of affected workers can also be prevented in automated welding processes – notably robotics. With welding fume extraction in robotic welding, there are several methods available for manufacturers looking for comprehensive solutions. 

Conventional Robotic Fume Extraction Applications

Conventionally, the use of fume extraction in a robotic application involves some method of enclosing the robotic weld cell, configuring some sort of ducting grid, and exhausting weld fumes to a collector unit within or outside the plant. 

For manufacturers who weld large customized parts or need to use an overhead crane in order to lift out parts, these methods aren’t possible and normally the best option is to utilize fume extraction solutions that recirculate air throughout the plant. While this is possible and sometimes seen as an acceptable solution, weld fumes still are passed through the plant and workers are exposed with little means of avoiding it.

All of these solutions are likewise significant plant upgrades in order to accommodate. Significant investments in air filtration equipment and ducting plus a possible reorganization of the shop floor is required to accommodate a fume extraction retrofit of such magnitude. Unsurprisingly, not all manufacturers can afford the amount of retrofitting, downtime, and plant equipment all at the same time. 

With manual welding fume extraction, machined parts, cables, hoses, and fittings all work to restrict the flow of smoke from the neck of the welding torch to the back end connect into the extractor unit.

With robotics, you are installing an extraction kit separate from the welding torch cable, meaning there are no obstructions that restrict the flow of smoke to the extraction unit. This means that while with manual welding for fume extraction it is necessary to pull at least 50 inches of water column in order to adequately capture the smoke, for robotic fume extraction as little as 20 inches of water column can collect >95% of the weld smoke at the source and save your workers from having to inhale weld fumes.

Source Capture Robotic Fume Extraction Advantages

The clear advantage for an at the source robotic fume extraction solution is that the system is a lot smaller, a lot less expensive to build, and a lot less cumbersome. With an extraction unit at the source, you don’t need a big cage around it, which allows not only for a significant amount of cost savings but also for the system to be a lot more flexible, especially when welding big parts. 

In robot cells, longer distance gaps often have to be bridged. Several robot torches, each equipped with an extraction kit, can be connected to a centrally located fume extraction system. This method is perfect for reliable, accessible, and safe extraction during MIG welding at several workplaces. This type of fume extraction is used, for example, in the general manufacturing, heavy mechanical engineering, construction, and industrial energy applications.

Just as in manual welding, fume extraction does not disturb the welding process in a robotic welding area. In certain positions, it can happen that when welding fumes are extracted, shielding gas is also extracted from the welding process. In the worst case, this can mean porosity in the welding seam. To prevent this, the extraction performance must be adjusted. Especially in the case of direct extraction, the reduction of the extraction power is the only way to avoid pores in the welding seam.

Robotic Fume Extraction: Low Vacuum vs. High Vacuum Extraction Systems

Low and high vacuum systems are terms that are used often when you are consulted on fume extraction possibilities. In a robotic setting, it’s important to know the differences between the two and what one offers over the other. 

Low vacuum and high vacuum systems refer specifically to static pressure. If you are able to install large ducts, you can take the traditional route with a big blower that will extract thousands of cubic meters (or feet) of air through the hood. The advantage of this is because you are using a low static pressure – i.e. low vacuum – the systems are closer to what people have traditionally been familiar with through mechanically engineered HVAC systems, vacuum systems, etc. 

What it means in terms of fume extraction for welding is that you need high volumes of air to be moved, and needing to throw the air outside means incurring an expense to take hot air in the winter and move it.

If you need to bring cold air back in the plant during the summer, there’s likewise a cost to condition air back into the plant to make up for the same amount of air you are extracting out of the plant area. The air circulated back into the plant needs to not only be fresh air but also conditioned to a thermostat setting. The cost of moving such high volumes of air, as expected, can be high month over month.

A high vacuum system uses less flow at higher vacuum pressure. Because the static pressure and velocity of air are higher, you don’t need a big hood or arm to use a high vacuum system. Typically, you will be closer to the source of the smoke with high static pressure as opposed to ventilating a large hood with a low vacuum. 

This allows for smaller devices focused on where the smoke is created as opposed to large devices. With low vacuum fume extraction solutions in an industrial welding automation setting, you are using large systems positioned further away from the arc and extracting the contaminant mixed with the air. As a result, you have to use more air and use more volume to remove welding fumes as opposed to addressing the most contaminated location of the process.

Source Capture Filter Cleaning & General Maintenance for Robotic Fume

Welding fume and the gases contained must be filtered so that nothing harmful ends up in the air. In robotic welding, these filters should be able to clean themselves. In an automatic cleaning process, the pressure difference between the clean air side and the dirty air side is measured. If there is a pressure difference, an impulse comes and compressed air is blown in to clean the filter. 

In an ideal world, this process run would happen while the vacuum system is still in operation extracting fumes from an active robot cell. This is a great advantage as there is no downtime due to cleaning times for the filter. 

In addition to the automatic cleaning of the filter, there are other maintenance and cleaning tasks that have to be performed manually. The extraction nozzle and the hoses should be cleaned regularly so that they do not clog. The dust drawers must also be kept clean and the carbon brushes must not be worn.

Source Capture Robotic Fume Extraction Challenges

That doesn’t mean robotic fume extraction at the source is not without challenges. Mounting an extraction kit to a robot presents it’s own set of unique challenges. Making efficient use of the mounting provision for a 6-axis robot while allowing for the extraction hose to rotate and move in relation to the cable is critical for effective fume extraction that doesn’t fail constantly. Being certain the extraction hose is optimally positioned to capture the smoke is another key consideration. 

Like with manual fume extraction, the design of the shroud fittings must lend themselves to capture the smoke without interrupting the process. Ensuring the extraction kits avoid causing unnecessary robot crashes and give the robot torch front end access to the part are other critical factors to consider when looking at robotic fume extraction at the source.

Source Capture Robotic Fume Extraction Considerations

If the health of the workers is a priority and if you are interested in welding fume extraction for robotic welding, the most important key data you should request for information is the dimensions and characteristics of the equipment, the electrical data, the performance, and the filters used. 

With this information, it is possible to connect your own welding process with the possibilities of robotic fume extraction. The installation of a fume extraction unit is relatively simple and quick and does not take much longer than 1-2 hours.

Mechanized Fume Extraction for Hard Automation

Mechanized welding systems are used in simple automation processes where it is possible to apply repeatability mainly in plate, beam or pipe welding. These systems seek to reproduce the operations performed in manual welding situations.

Mechanized systems require less equipment investment over robotic processes and are widely used in more open areas rather than closed cells. Tractors or stationary systems are used for welding joints. Another use is the application of welding on large workpieces.

In mechanized welding, the welder manipulates the equipment or torch for adjustments, control and visual monitoring of welding.

In automatic welding, the welder/operator is exposed to welding fumes and the use of personal protection is mandatory. Even if the environment is well ventilated, fume exhaustion is recommended, as in these actions the exposure of the welder is direct in addition to the passive exposure by people passing through the environment where the welding is being performed.

Mechanized Fume Extraction Considerations

It is important to consider clearance issues with extraction systems that are mounted onto the welding torch as opposed to being part of the tool itself. As these systems are part of the torch neck, considerations like tractor or gantry speed, for instance, don’t carry much influence on the effectiveness of smoke capture.

When using a source capture solution for a mechanized or hard automation process, you usually want to have the torch angled somewhere between 0 (or 180) and 30 degrees to optimally capture the weld smoke. 

Fume Extraction Systems – Central & Portable

To do smoke extraction at the source with a MIG gun for manual or robotic source capture applications requires a high vacuum system. Whether it’s portable or central or mobile, if it isn’t a high vacuum, it’s not going to effectively collect welding particles and you’ll still be subject to the same amount of health risk as before. 

When we say high vacuum systems for fume extraction welding, we mean high static pressure with low flow, and that is in contrast to fume extraction arms, where you’ll be looking for an arm that produces very high flow with low static pressure.

How Much Power Do You Need?

The most important thing to remember when looking at a fume extraction system is you will need to achieve a minimum amount of power from the system in order to effectively capture welding smoke. You can have more than the minimum up until the moment the fume gun begins to extract shielding gas. Fifty (50) inches of water column (12.4 kilopascal) should be a minimum baseline for your manual fume extraction systems regardless of which type of solution you choose, and the aim should be anywhere in the 80-90 range (20 – 22 kilopascal). 

Are Portable or Central Systems Better?

The choice of a portable or central or whatever depends on need. If you have a stationary welding system, you can use a portable or singular unit. However, if you have more than one station, a central vacuum or multi-gun station is best. The central vacuum system is easier for the welder to connect to and it is easier to maintain.

Portable Fume Extraction Systems

Portable fume collections systems are good and generally less cost if you want to install it yourself and need to move to different locations to perform welds while still needing to maintain fume extraction. However, maintenance is more frequent as a result. This is because portable systems will have their own filter and motor which is usually smaller. 

For instance, there will be filter cleanings and replacements as part of owned stand-alone multi-gun units, and also depending on the number of manifolds the unit has there will be performance trade-offs.

Too many guns attached to the unit could mean not enough power from the extractor system, and sometimes there will be the risk of too much performance from the extractor unit, so it will suck shielding gas from the fume gun and cause porosity. 

Central Fume Extraction Systems

Stationary is in many ways maintenance-free for the welder and is more a plant manager's responsibility. The welder gets to spend more time welding. Performance is more reliable and stable. Central fume collection stations almost always come with a larger motor and filter so there is less filter changing – just plug the fume extraction gun to the central system and weld. For the welder, there’s typically more convenience with central systems. 

Central systems have an unlimited capacity as well – there’s no limit to the size of a central system. If you have a large plant operation with 40 or more handhelds arcs, you can get a system that can accommodate that if you want to go totally to fume extraction. There’s also less noise for the welder because the vacuum is located at a distance. 

LEV Systems / Fume Extraction Arms

Local welding fume extraction with fixed or movable extraction hoods and arms can be an easy and inexpensive introduction to fume extraction system. The health of the welders can be protected with just a small investment for a local extraction solution. 

How Much Fume Extraction Can LEV Arms Produce?

If the welding fume extraction hoods are correctly positioned, they can extract up to 100% of the welding fumes. However, that doesn’t mean the welder isn’t exposed to the welding fumes while welding. While the hood may be able to capture a very high percentage, the hood can’t always be placed between the welder and the process.  

On average given welder habits, you can expect 70% extraction of welding fumes using an introductory system such as an LEV arm. With local extraction the possibility remains that welding fumes linger in a plant and workers are still exposed.

Source Capture vs. Localized Ventilation:  The Trade-offs

Fume extraction arms are good examples of the tradeoff between performance and health benefits. Fume extraction arms are effective when they are positioned properly, but for them to work as effectively as the can, the hood has to be close to the weld and the welder cannot place themselves between the hood and the weld. In theory, it’s easy to use, but in practice, it’s very common to see the welder between the arc and the hood breathing in the fumes before the hood captures it. 

There is a difference in percentage capture in a practical sense as well when it comes to fume extraction arms compared to source capture extraction. For instance, say you have a hood system and a source capture system and both capture around 90% of the weld fumes. 

Even with an identical rate of capture, these two scenarios are not the same, because in reality with extraction arms the smoke is still traveling through the welder’s breathing zone on it’s way to the arm vent unless both the welder and the extraction arm hood vent is in the proper place at all times. 

Extraction Arm Drawbacks & Considerations

With fume extraction hoods, one major drawback for these units is the filter size is typically very small compared to at the source solutions. Another is the quality of their build. It’s not uncommon to see extraction arm units with housing that is plastic in make. This is typically a bad sign for a portable unit because they lack the same durability as a steel constructed unit and also don’t do as well with limiting noise in the shop. 

Arm mount position is similarly important. Think about the flexibility you would want to position an extraction hood. The more reach an arm is able to achieve, the better the welder will be able to position the hood vent to the correct spot. In a real-world application with larger, longer parts this still becomes difficult to execute because you depend on the welders to move the hood vent with them as they weld the part.

Suction Distance & Power

Suction distance is another feature and potential drawback for fume extraction hoods. Suction distance allows for the hood vent to be positioned farther away from the welder while still allowing it to properly remove weld fumes. 

Most portable fume extraction hoods struggle to reach beyond 900 CFM (1500 m3/h). Ideally, you would want to power of the motor and blower to exceed 1000 CFM (2000 m3/h) in order to work effectively. An arm positioned too close to the welder limits the welder’s access to the weld and produces poor welder habits that will unnecessary expose them to weld smoke.

Lastly, make sure the fume extraction arm is properly specified to adequately reach the weld and that they filter is the right one for your process. These are the two biggest considerations to make when evaluating an LEV extraction system for your process.

Fume Extraction for TIG Welding

TIG welding produces the least amount of harmful fumes compared to other forms of manual arc welding as shown in the graph below. That said, it does produce significant amounts of ozone and nitrous oxide both of which are irritant gases. Ozone is a particular cause of dryness of the throat, tickling, coughing or a tight chest especially when TIG welding stainless steels and aluminum.  

Welding Stainless Steel with TIG

The harmful fumes created when welding stainless steel is believed to have serious effects on the health of welders and people in the welding environment. Chrome & nickel fume is highly toxic and can damage the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs and is carcinogenic. Because of the hazardous substances that develop during the welding of aluminum materials, protective measures must be taken.

So, what are the options?

Fume Extraction Options for TIG

Unlike MIG welding guns, on-torch extraction isn’t currently available for TIG torches. Other forms of extraction have to be used when welding high volume production with TIG, especially on stainless steel or aluminum parts.  The current forms of fume extraction available when welding with TIG are:

• Magnetic Fume Nozzles
• Extraction arms/hoods (LEV Systems) 

>>>Blog Article: Fume Extraction Units - Telling a Good One from the Rest

In the UK, for example, it is recommended that LEV hoods be at least 6 inches above the weld for it to effectively remove welding fumes. But some countries don’t have such recommendations or best practices. If in doubt, consult an industrial hygienist or your company’s Safety Officer.

They can be used flexibly at almost any manual welding workstation and for all welding, cutting and grinding applications. The extraction unit is also suitable for particularly cramped and hard-to-reach areas with poor lighting conditions and tasks where a standard welding torch without extraction is required.

IV. What Are the Regulatory Requirements for Fume Extraction?

V. Fume Extraction: Frequently Asked Questions

Is it more strenuous on my welders even if it’s healthier?

This is a great question because there are fume extraction guns that can be heavy and bulky to handle, which can affect welders’ stamina. But, even the strain of using a fume extraction torch would depend on the gun you’re changing from and the smoke gun you’re picking, because there are fume guns out there that achieve the same feel and handle as most MIG guns on the market. 

It’s also a matter of welding positions. Overhead and vertical welds by their very nature are more straining weld positions than horizontal or down welds, so heavier fume extraction guns could be more strenuous and adversely affect performance because if the welding gun isn’t positioned properly it won’t capture the fume as much as it could.

However, these concerns and the guns’ performance again depends on the MIG gun being switched from and the fume gun in question. Take a demo and see if the difference is real.

You can find plenty of MIG guns out there with the swivel at the base of the cable, and there are plenty of cables out there that weigh the same as many non-fume extracting MIG torches on the market. Do your research and talk to your welding supplier or a qualified rep.

Do fume extraction guns use different consumables?

The only additional consumable a fume extraction gun requires is the fume shroud.

Other than that, you’re using the same setup as a regular MIG welding gun: diffuser, tip holder, contact tip, and nozzle. 

Consumables such as the diffuser, tip holder, and contact tip are the exact same for regular BINZEL MIG welding gun as our fume extraction torches (nozzle may vary depending on fume extraction gun model). And for most other manufacturers it is also the same.

Do fume guns capture the welding gas?

Fume guns have been really sensitive to creating porosity from the vacuum sucking up the shielding gas and replacing the gas with oxygen. This in the past has caused a lot of bad welds and a lot of reworking which undercuts the investment into fume extraction guns and extractor systems.  

You want to make sure all the vacuum you apply is not reaching the zone where the shielding gas should be. If you measure turbulence near the end of the shielding nozzle, then your flow is too strong or your shroud too close the welding operation.

Do fume extraction guns connect to my welding machine?

If you use an industrial welding machine, such as a Millermatic® or a Lincoln® Power Mig® or a welding machine of similar amperage rating and capacity a fume extraction torch is easily configurable for such a machine. Any Euro-style machine can also be easily fitted to a fume extraction torch.

The only types of machines that would be difficult to fit a fume extraction gun to would be a portable style or hobbyist welding machine. 

If you use a fume extraction gun, you have to pair it with a fume extraction system, ideally one that is suited for your welding parameters.

How long the cable covers last on fume extraction guns? Do they catch on fire?

The durability of the outer hose varies. It ranges.  But it is a special material that is resistant to heat spatter and UV. Eventually, it will need replacement like all welding cables, but it does hold up to the normal industrial environment. There are extra protection covers you can use to put over the outer hose as well to give it extra life and protection.

Are some filler metals not good fits when it comes to Fume Extraction?

In short, no. Fume extraction guns handle any wire – whether flux-cored, metal-cored, or solid wire. However, depending on the wire used there can be more smoke produced, which is a consideration and an item to evaluate as you look at all the options with fume extraction solutions. With metal-cored and solid core, you will be looking at higher parameters normally as well as hotter gas mixes, which will translate to faster traveling smoke and more difficult welding positions to do fume extraction with for a source capture solution.

Metal-cored presents one of the common misconceptions of fume extraction welding. For some, it is believed that welding metal core wire with a clean gas mix (i.e., CO2) creates a ‘clean’ smoke that doesn’t need fume extraction. This is a common myth. Toxic particles will still be released into the atmosphere from the base metal and from the wire as it melts to join into the weld joint, and without proper fume extraction equipment and procedures in place, your welders and the rest of your workers will breathe it in and be adversely affected by it.

Flux-core wire produces a very thick and visible smoke when being welded with. It also releases a lot of particulates into the atmosphere that you would want to catch at the source so as it wasn’t breathed in by your workers. Flux-core also is generally used for low parameter welding, which makes it very easy to extract at the source because lower parameter means slower smoke travel. 

Is flow adjustable for fume extraction systems?

Yes, some systems do offer adjustable or dual-flow set-up. Check with whichever company you consult with on fume extraction solutions to see if they offer it. 

Fume extraction units for ABICOR BINZEL's fume extraction systems do have an adjustable flow feature.

What’s the maximum flow for fume extraction systems? What’s the right flow?

Any fume extraction arm would be in the range of 1000 – 1200 m3/h flow. Some arms go lower. These systems will ideally have higher flow and lower static pressure compared to solutions you would pair with fume extraction torches. Remember with fume extraction system flow is the key performance metric. 

Portable fume extraction systems are measured on static pressure more than flow. For a portable fume extraction system, the typical range is anywhere from 50 – 100 CFM (85 - 170 m3/h). 

An important item to consider is that the flow mentioned in most product catalogs assumes zero restriction, which is not a solution based in the real world. There is no good and simple answer for what your flow is going to be once you connect a fume extraction gun to the system. These results typically sit on a flow curve.

Since the torch is typically a very restrictive tool, keep in mind you will need a unit able to produce a high static pressure to overcome a torch’s restrictions.

VI. Conclusion

Today you want your workforce to be in a safer, healthier environment.

Healthier welders mean happier welders, which fosters better performance for your operation.

There have been a lot of options introduced to the market for fume extraction, and there are many ways to introduce fume extraction into your plant no matter the number of arc stations you have or the budget you’re able to dedicate towards it.

If you’re still skeptical, ask your welding supplier to provide you a demo or a trial with a fume gun in your own work environment and see if there’s a difference. 

It’s no risk!

Chances are you’ll be surprised, and may look at fume extraction in a whole new light.