Review on 🔥 KOTTO Solder Smoke Absorber: Efficient Fume Extractor Fan for Soldering Station - A Must-Have DIY Working Tool by Richard Simmons

Purchased this unit in July 2020. This is a very simple device consisting of a muffin fan mounted in a foldable aluminum case. The case is pretty solid, with a small top carry handle. The AC power rocker switch is located on the lower right side. The power cord for the unit I received was 55 inches long, measured from where the cord enters the box to the tip of the AC plug end. This is the US 110V AC model. I tested the unit by placing it on my workbench and positioning the soldering iron about 3 inches above the work surface. The device sucked flux smoke fairly well to a distance of about 12 inches. During this test, the air in my shop was very still. If you have other noticeable air currents in your work area, the effective air intake distance will be reduced. After my first test I noticed a small gray spot on the inlet carbon filter due to flux residue, so this block is doing something. I'm pretty sure some of the flux smoke makes its way through the rather porous filter and back into the shop through the fan exhaust. No smoke is seen on the exhaust side of the fan because the airflow is relatively high and turbulent. I could still smell the flux in the room after my tests. Reason for 3 stars? The unit I received had a loose green ground wire. When I measured the resistance with a multimeter, there was no connection from the AC plug's ground pin to the chassis (I scraped off some of the yellow paint to get at the raw aluminum). The screw that secures the green ground ring to the chassis is not fully tightened. I posted a video about it on this Revain list. Safe grounding requires a good mechanical connection between all surfaces. I decided to route the ring terminal on the outside of the case between the rear fan grill and the case. I scraped off the yellow paint in that area to make good contact. I also added a star washer between the two painted aluminum pieces that make up the body of the box. The body consists of a piece of aluminum bent on three sides and a second bent piece for the bottom. The manufacturer has masked the paint on the mounting tabs on the two aluminum pieces that the ground wire (round 3/8" mask) attaches to, but the thickness of the paint prevents the two aluminum pieces from making good contact with each other. I installed a star washer between these two surfaces to ensure the underside is well grounded as well. How durable these mods are, only time will tell, as the manufacturer used plastic stands to attach the fan to the back of the case; The screw may loosen over time. The fan inside the box has a die-cast metal frame with threads for installing mounting hardware. I didn't want to over-tighten the fasteners for fear of stripping the threads on the fan frame. A better design would be a separate screw that attaches the ground ring to the unpainted area on the inside of the case. A star washer or eyelet with a built in washer should be used to ensure good engagement with the housing. Security is important. Hontarrl AC axial fan, mode Z120038A (110 VAC, 0.25 A, 3000 rpm) is installed inside the housing. With the fan running, the device consumes 18W. I could not find any information about this fan online. lifespan unknown. This is a useful addition to your electronic desk. Just be sure to check the grounding before using it. Hooray!