Welding Tips and Tricks

Hi all,

I’ve done a bit of welding and other forms of metal fab, however I’m fairly new to TIG. I’m working on a job at the moment that comprises steel and copper. Even just with the mild steel I’ve been welding I’ve been getting some respiratory issues & some (possible) mild MFF symptoms. I’m in Australia, & my TIG inauguration did coincide with the awful bushfires, so some of those symptoms may have also been a bit of smoke inhalation/terrible air quality. I’m prone to asthma and have a fairly sensitive respiratory system at the best of times.
I’ve got some good airflow in my studio & I've also started wearing a respirator. However, from what I’ve read copper fume exposure seems a bit more nasty, so I’m just trying to get a sense of what I’m in for, or if fume exposure is overhyped. Given the amount I’m welding at the moment, it doesn’t make sense for me to invest in a fume extractor, however if anyone’s got any other tips for how I could mitigate exposure, my poor lungs would be grateful.

Cheers

Using a small fan pointed away from you but close to your welding area, can help pull the fumes away. Low speed is good enough and about a foot or so away from the weld. That way it won’t pull your shielding gas away too fast.

tig can produce a fair bit of ozone. you may smell it from time to time.
its really bad to breathe it in and small amounts can cause problems if your really sensitive.

advice, the same as above.