CLEANMIST
Choosing a welding fume extractor for your shop
Start with your welding process and duty pattern, then decide between a portable unit, a mobile unit and a centralised system. Share your process, number of stations and shift pattern so the extraction can be sized properly.
Capture fume at the arc, not in the room
Welding fume is classified by IARC as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1) in the IARC Monographs Volume 118 evaluation of welding. Capturing fume at the arc, before it spreads into the shop air and the welder's breathing zone, is the practical way to reduce exposure. General room ventilation dilutes fume after it has already passed the welder; source capture removes it at the point of generation.
Match extraction to your welding process
Fume generation differs by process and consumable, so the extractor duty has to match what you actually weld.
MIG / MAG (gas-shielded)
Common in fabrication and production work. Fume output depends on wire, gas and parameters; continuous production bays need extraction that can run full shifts. The FE 1500M brochure lists gas-shielded welding among the non-oily fumes it handles.
MMA / stick
Common in structural and site work. Coated electrodes produce visible fume that needs steady capture at the arc; the FE 1500M brochure lists electric (arc) welding in its scope.
TIG / argon-arc
Lower visible fume than stick or MIG, but still a fume source, especially on stainless work. The FE 1500M brochure includes argon-arc welding in its listed applications.
Grinding and cutting alongside
If the same station also grinds or cuts, mention it - mixed dust and fume duty affects filter choice and cleaning frequency.
Portable, mobile or centralised?
Portable - FE 1200M
1,200 m³/h airflow, 0.75 kW motor, 220 V / 50 Hz supply, 99.9% filtration, ≤72 dB, 360° flexible arm, manual cleaning. Suited to small and medium welding shops, on-site jobs and training institutes. Heavy-duty castors with brakes; compact 530 × 640 × 1000 mm footprint.
Mobile - FE 1500M
1,500 m³/h airflow, 1.1 kW motor, 220 V / 50 Hz single-phase supply, 99.9% efficiency at 0.3 µm with a PTFE flame-retardant cartridge, spark arrestor in the suction hood, self-supporting 2 m Ø160 mm arm, 90 kg. Suited to regular daily welding that moves between bays.
Centralised - many stations
When several welders work continuously at fixed stations, one centralised ducted system can serve them all. The Cleanmist ESP series brochure lists welding smoke among its applications, with washable collecting cells in the standard configuration.
Not sure?
Send your process, number of stations and shift pattern on WhatsApp. We will review the application before recommending a unit or a centralised arrangement.
What to send us before choosing
Process and consumable
Welding process (MIG/MAG, MMA, TIG), base metal and wire or electrode type. This sets the fume load and filtration duty.
Stations and duty
How many welders work at the same time, and how many hours per shift each station welds. Simultaneous stations decide unit count or centralised sizing.
Layout and reach
Bench or floor welding, approximate working area, and how far the arm must reach. The FE 1500M arm reaches 2 metres; longer or multiple points need planning.
Power and existing extraction
Both FE units run on 220 V single-phase. Tell us about any existing extraction or ducting so the new arrangement works with it.
Common questions about welding fume extraction
Is a portable extractor enough for a small welding shop?
It depends on how many welders work at the same time and for how long. The FE 1200M is intended for small to medium welding shops, on-site jobs and training institutes. If several welders work simultaneously, each station needs its own capture or a centralised system.
Do these extractors need compressed air for filter cleaning?
No. Both the FE 1200M and FE 1500M use manual filter cleaning, and the FE 1500M brochure states that no compressed air is needed.
Can one extractor serve two welding booths?
One extraction arm captures fume within its reach - the FE 1500M arm is 2 metres. Two booths working at the same time are better served by one unit each or by a centralised ducted system.
Are the filters washable or replaceable?
The FE 1200M uses a multi-stage arrangement of pre-filter, high-efficiency cartridge and activated carbon layer, with filter replacement for maintenance. The FE 1500M uses a PTFE flame-retardant cartridge with manual cleaning. Neither is described as washable in the brochures.
What power supply do these units need?
Both the FE 1200M and FE 1500M run on a 220 V, 50 Hz, single-phase supply.
Send your welding setup
Share your process, number of stations and shift pattern. We will review the application before recommending a portable unit, a mobile unit or a centralised system.
WhatsApp my welding detailsHealth classification: IARC Monographs Volume 118 - Welding. Product specifications from Cleanmist FE 1200M and FE 1500M brochures. Updated 30 October 2026.