Welding Tips and Tricks

Hey there,

I had a questions from a bloke regarding ESAB Coreshield 8 wire. He said about it causing birth defects and cancer, I have a feeling that this is " the labeling boogey man" stating the worst case scenario, but just incase it isn't, is it really that much worse than any other wire? And if so, is there a better/ safer alternative? I read that Hobart XLR-8 is in the same class?

Mick

Instinct ( no scientific back up ) tells me this is pure bullshit - here in the UK we are saddled with the worst of every stupid Euro regulation that Brussels can invent & the warning labels on anything now are laughable if it was'nt plain sad - all welding consumables for some time have this blanket warning on as they give off fumes - said fumes over a prolonged time & used in confined spaces are obviously not good for you - they try to word the warnings so that the manufacturer is not liable for any insurance claim because naturally we all have massively powerful fume extraction - weld in aircraft hangar size buildings & wear air fed respiration ! ( yea right ) - of any process cored wire gives off the most volume / density of fumes therefore it is the worst offender - I seriously doubt that any given make is worse than another - just take reasonable precautions.
I'm fairly sure I'm not going to give birth with or without defects ! & all welding fumes are considered carcenogous - if it worries anyone that much - quit welding / ban all cars / crop spraying / paint products / aerosols / red meat ( list goes on ! )- live on lettuce - yea - we all got to die sometime! it could be tomorrow - or it could be another 50 years. - I would say don't snort asbestos is still valid though - so when your an apprentice blowing trailer brake drums out should be avoided if possible.

Noddys right its all bad for you. If your really concerned get a safety mask. In my exp the worst stuff comes off the base metal paint, dirt, asphalt, galvinized and any number of things depending on where and what your welding. I dont know any old welders who dont have breathing issues. Plus the 2 packs of smokes and pint of whisky a day didnt help them lol.

Hey,

Thats pretty much what I thought. Thanks for the opinions. Problem is, when people believe these warnings and they to to work scared that they are going to sprout a second head from their old fella.

Mick

Well at risk of drifting off topic - if you did grow a " second head " I reckon you'd get some well paid work in the " entertainment industry" - welding could become just a hobby ! - heck - you might even make more $/ hour than Otto !
Did'nt risk posting a link here - but on another " special interest " website there's a woman with 3 boobies - do you suppose she welds with flux core ? !

We have our share of that bullshit going on...

There are a stunning number of products that are "Known to the state of Calilfornia" to cause cancer, so I dont use them in California.

Shakespeare was right... Let's kill all the lawyers, let's kill them tonight!

Steve S

Hey,

That would an added bonus to growing extra bits, but sadly the those problems are rarely that much fun.

Thanks fellas.

Come on guys you being very kind to California as every chemical including salt get the label. You can't take a breath in the state due to the crap that they put air and they worry about a welding rod. Born and raised SF and actually can read, write and add my toes together. OH that right I learn before the new reading and the new writing and someone above help me and the new math where 2+2 might not be four!

Comic Bo Burnham has a great little song called "new math"

Warning! "R" rated!

http://youtu.be/_nMFOPfvDlc