Fume Extractors are the time-proven way to scrub the worst bits from the gases around the work area, and recycle the air so that outside make-up air isn't required, with the attending ductwork involved. In Ye Olden Days there were few crappy fume extractors: you either paid a lot of money for ones that worked, or you made do with a dryer duct to the outside and a muffin fan, and paid to heat/cool the make-up air. There were few crappy bench-top units around. Today, you can choose from hundreds of sub-par bench-top fume extractors, most of which do little but recirculate the air with no or very little scrubbing involved.
I like to buy top-quality, used tools, so I bought a Pace ARM 250 8889-0255, a model made around the turn of the century but for which filters are still available, a model that has been updated since with "soft" controls but internally using the same blower and filtering over the years. In Pace's product lineup, the same filter cube consumable is used in the 105, 150, 200, and 250 models. Pace is a leader in electronics manufacturing and repair equipment. These units weigh 32-35 lbs each, so sturdy. This line of fume extractors is (was) made in the US and meets the MIL-SPEC of the era. So, I bought one via eBay. Actually, I bought three . . . let me explain.
- Pace ARM EVAC 8889-2555, ARM EVAC 200 8889-0205, and ARM EVAC 250 AE250
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The same physical filter fits all three:
- HEPA filter for Pace ARM EVAC 105, 150, 200, and 250 models fume extractor, pricing
- Pace_HEPA_Filter_8883-0922-P1_for_105_150_200_250_01b.png (578.23 KiB) Viewed 129 times
As those models use the same physical filter, the differences between the models is primarily in the blower capability, the number of blower speeds, the ability to remotely control or monitor the blower speed and filter condition, the number of hose inlets, and "filter calibration" which is a feature using a pressure differential sensor across the filter to initially record the hose/duct/filter resistance and then monitor and display on a 5-LED graph the increasing filter resistance to airflow as the filter loads up. Neat.
To buy the 250 base unit unit today is around USD$2,150 + tax. Naturally, there are (expensive) optional add-ons, too.
Remote Control 8884-2250, NLA
The older ARM EVAC units are equipped with a port to connect a wired remote control console using standard DE9 ("DB9") extension cabling.
- Pace wired remote controller 8884-2250
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- Pace wired remote controller 8884-2250
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- Pace wired remote controller 8884-2250
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The newest version of some models have BT (wireless) remote, but it's unclear if the newest models of the 250 have any remote capability at all. Some seem to have wired ports, others don't, and the remote controller console hasn't been available for sale for many years.
This plugs to a port on the rear of the older 250, and disables the speed control on the front panel.
- Pace ARM EVAC 8889-2555 rear view w/rear exhaust
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Flex Arm Hose 8886-0750-P1 (semi-rigid)
This is the pose-able hose for use near the work. This comes with the base unit when new, but for some reason is often not offered when you buy a unit used.
- Pace Flex Arm 8886-0750-P1, pricing
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Flex Arm Bench Mount Bracket Kit 8886-0745-P1
If you don't want the base unit on your bench top, you can locate it somewhere else, and use this 8' of ESD-safe hose plus a bench clamp adapter to move the base unit away from your work area somewhat.
- Pace Flex Arm Bench Mount Bracket Kit 8886-0745-P1, pricing
- Pace_ESD_Flex_Arm_Bench_Mounting_Bracket_Kit_8886-0745-P1.png (416.81 KiB) Viewed 129 times
Silencer Cart 8885-1225-P1
This is a shallow box on plastic casters, lined inside with acoustic foam. The base unit sits atop this and a baffle is moved from the base unit's bottom to its rear, so the base unit then exhausts downward into this box, which redirects air through a foam maze and out the sides and rear, reducing noise. And the casters make it easy to move around, say to roll it back under the workbench during normal use, but pull it out for servicing.
- Pace Silencer Cart 8885-1225-P1, pricing
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- Pace Silencer Cart 8885-1225-P1, side view
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- Pace Silencer Cart 8885-1225-P1, top view
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- Pace Silencer Cart 8885-1225-P1, bottom view of plastic casters
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- Pace Silencer Cart 8885-1225-P1, disassembled
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- Pace Silencer Cart 8885-1225-P1, disassembled
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- Pace Silencer Cart 8885-1225-P1, with bottom of a base unit sitting on top of it
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The base unit's feet are spaced to fit inside the 3/4" holes in the corners, allowing the base unit to sit down on the Cart's gasket. All three of the base units I purchased has all or some of the self-adhesive feet missing, so I installed bolt-on replacements via Amazon, and used #8 screws and nylock nuts to affix them. I used the top of the Cart as a template to drill the holes, because they do need to be pretty close to match the holes in the top of the cart, for the gasketing to work. And nylock nuts so the feet aren't squashed by over-tightening. I installed these feet on all three units and they work well.
- Rubber feet, 3/4"Ø x 17mm H
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- Rubber feet mounted with #8 x 5/8" screw, nylock nut
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- Rubber feet installed, baffle not moved yet
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So . . . I bought the newer 250 because it came with the optional Silencer Cart, and the Seller would not sell the Cart separately. Then, when it arrived, I found that the 250's base unit's lower baffle hadn't been moved from the bottom to the rear, so the base unit was rear exhausting anyway [rolleyes]. So, here I've moved the one on my keeper:
- Stock: baffle on the bottom, rear exhaust
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- For use with Silencer Cart: baffle moved to cover rear exhaust of base unit
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And I bought the 200 because it has a fresher-looking filter, but importantly it has the Flex Arm set that the other two are missing, and also the Bench Mount Bracket setup w/8' hose. It was a bit dirty . . . actually the inside looked like a dryer vent and took quite a bit to get clean, but what looks like dust on the outside . . .
- Flex Arm & Bench Mount Kit
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- Flex Arm & Bench Mount Kit
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. . . was actually like glued-on. That was a half-hour armstrong work to clean.
- Pace ESD Safe Flex Hose w/cuff, 3" x 8', and Flex Arm set
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- Pace Bench Mount Bracket 8886-0770-P1
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The older unis use PoziDriv screws, not Phillips. Fortunately, I have PZ1, PZ2, and PZ3 bits. The bottom covers use PZ2 and are self-threading machine screws; the top of the Silencer Cart uses PZ1. The newest unit, the AE250, had Phillips head sheet metal screws, not quite as nice as the machine screws on the older units.
So, I have one keeper, the older 250 with the remote controller, now with a fresher filter, and the Flex Arm set plus the Bench Mount and 8' hose to connect it all, and the Silencer Cart. And the 200 & newer 250 are listed for sale -- with new rubber feet installed.
- The three ARM EVAC units I bought to pull this off
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I hope to sell the two unused base units for ~$400 each, making my cost -- aside from my time -- around $800 at the end.