Welding Tips and Tricks

Yesterday I read about a guy who got sick from stick welding. I started asking questions, and I was told that TIG and MIG can give off stuff one should not breathe. I already knew about zinc fumes, but apparently there are other things, like chromium and nickel.

Is it worth it to get safety gear for MIG and TIG? I've seen supplied air rigs that include auto-darkening helmets. They look like they would not be fun to wear. Allegro makes a bag sort of thing you wear under your own helmet.

After reading up on the fumes and gasses that are made and generated from welding, I got a little nervous. I read up on allowable exposure limits and went with a 3M PAPR with the flip up shield. I love it. Its comfortable and easy to get along with. I did try the under the helmet filters and did not like them. Its great now that its getting hotter out. Keeps you nice and cool. One recommendation I do have if you go self powered is get the add on charcoal filter for orders. I would of ever thought of it. The filter sits right above tour ass and when you fart, guess what? face full of fart.

BONUS!

Depends on what kinds of materials you are working on and where you are at. If you have a decent sized shop with some doors and windows and some fans-probably not. If you are doing work in a small shop with poor ventilation it might be the way to go. If you want fairly cheap protection you can get the 3m half mask respirator that fits under most helmets. I just got one after I was running a lot of self shielded flux core outside of the booth and wore a cheap cloth dust mask and when I was done it was just pure black after an hour.

I just read that cheap N95 masks are good enough for chromium.

Chips O'Toole wrote:I just read that cheap N95 masks are good enough for chromium.

Just priced these at Bakers Gas & Welding Supply, 10 pack (Miller brand) at $45, Amazon (3M brand) at $16

N95, if they fit good, are sufficient for hex-chrome and most other welding fume. Even the megacorp that destroyed us a few years ago considered them adequate, and they were safety ASSHOLES.

Steve

Just came to think about hex chrome will be banned in Europe on September 21 this year. How would that impact welding? Any new products to be launched soon?

AndersK wrote:Just came to think about hex chrome will be banned in Europe on September 21 this year. How would that impact welding? Any new products to be launched soon?

An interesting article on that ban: http://www.galvatek.eu/2016/12/15/as-of ... treatment/

Coaters have indeed been working hard the last year's to comply with new regulations. Yellow chromating is almost gone now. Hard chromium plating will have an exception a few years more, too difficult to fully replace yet.

I was more thinking about the welding fumes, has to fall under the same regulations.

Hex-chrome! The next Asbestos! Get it while supplies last.

Poland308 wrote:Hex-chrome! The next Asbestos! Get it while supplies last.

I want mine to be GMO and MSG on the side, thanks

LtBadd wrote:

Poland308 wrote:Hex-chrome! The next Asbestos! Get it while supplies last.

I want mine to be GMO and MSG on the side, thanks

I second that. But without the MSG. (himalayan pink sea salt please)

electrode wrote:

LtBadd wrote:

Poland308 wrote:Hex-chrome! The next Asbestos! Get it while supplies last.

I want mine to be GMO and MSG on the side, thanks

I second that. But without the MSG. (himalayan pink sea salt please)

Sea salt has been found to contain nano-plastics http://grist.org/article/theres-plastic ... tudy-says/ The only way to not die of some form of chemical pollution is to get off this planet so to Hell with filters and PPO...take it like a man you sissies