Learning to weld questions

[Alloy]

Like many other things. Some people are less sensitive or more sensitive to it.

That could be it but 20-30 people I know have done the the same thing and not been sick. People would get sick (one guy had a cigarette hole in his respirator) welding galv or cad plated metal. I was wondering if it might have been old alum, TIG welding, different alum grade, acid washed alum or Argon asphyxiation.

 

[Alloy]

Flux core are always ugly! Going gas is a game changer as long as there isn't wind. I've build cardboard wine shields when I had to weld outside. I just started playing around with my Tig. I did trade work for a water cooled Lincoln 255. It's a whole different animal!

There's a fux core that uses a CO2 shielding gas that lays down like butter. Suppose to be flat and horizontal but I've used it for verticals.

 

[Alloy]

There is also a product that you can spray on the weld area to keep the spatter from sticking. I have not tried it, I just use a heavy twisted wire wheel on the angle grinder.

Depending on the product there some nasty stuff created when it's burned.

 

[Alloy]

...and if you will be using a grinder or cutoff wheel please keep the perpendicular handle on. If you want to know why let me know and I can show you first hand experience from my camper build thread.

The handle helps but direction of cut is more important. I've seen wheels shatter and grinders spin out more than one person's hands who were holding both handles because the grinder was pushing towards them.

The grinder should always be pulling away.

Here's an example at 1:05.

 

[pith helmet]

I know two experienced people with really nasty angle grinder injuries in the last couple years. One almost lost the use of his hand from a wheel disintegration and the other was sitting under a trailer with an 8” grinder that jumped off and pulled into his leg right above the knee. It was real ugly.

 

[Alloy]

I know two experienced people with really nasty angle grinder injuries in the last couple years. One almost lost the use of his hand from a wheel disintegration and the other was sitting under a trailer with an 8” grinder that jumped off and pulled into his leg right above the knee. It was real ugly.

There was a guy using the trigger lock on an 8" grinder when he blew the breaker. He left the grinder with the disc sitting on the floor and went to reset the breaker. Just so happen that 2 people were near the grinder when the breaker was flipped.

I will not use any hand tool that stays on when the trigger is released. I remove the trigger locks because I had them engage without knowing it.

 

[Alloy]

Small hand angle grinders are by far the most dangerous machines in my shop!!! I won't let anyone use them unless I KNOW they have years of experience with them!

A couple of good precautions:
* Only use "top shelf" cut-off wheels.
* Cut to your side, NOT in front of your body/ face.
* Make sure the is no one close to you cutting.
* Always wear safety glasses (of course) and if you are using a wire wheel... Safety glasses AND a face shield!
* If "things" start going south... DITCH THE TOOL! Buying a new hand grinder is MUCH cheaper than a trip to the local emergency room!

Die grinders a another tool that that is dangerous. When the burr grabs the tool goes in the opposite direction which will squish hands and remove fingers if caught between the tool and the metal.

 

[1000arms]

I know two experienced people with really nasty angle grinder injuries in the last couple years. One almost lost the use of his hand from a wheel disintegration and the other was sitting under a trailer with an 8” grinder that jumped off and pulled into his leg right above the knee. It was real ugly.

Right here on this forum too:

ITTOG's Truck Camper Build (was 6' x 12' Trailer Conversion)

You do realize that a V8 is a serious downgrade...lol. You'll have far less power when you need it, it will be downshifting more often, and to top it off it will have to spin at 4,000+ rpms to get the job done. I've towed the same exact enclosed trailer with a 5.0 and 3.5, the 3.5 did every...

expeditionportal.com

 

[ITTOG]

Tight here on this forum too:

ITTOG's Truck Camper Build (was 6' x 12' Trailer Conversion)

You do realize that a V8 is a serious downgrade...lol. You'll have far less power when you need it, it will be downshifting more often, and to top it off it will have to spin at 4,000+ rpms to get the job done. I've towed the same exact enclosed trailer with a 5.0 and 3.5, the 3.5 did every...

expeditionportal.com

It was neat peering into my leg and seeing the muscles and tendons.

 

[1000arms]

It was neat peering into my leg and seeing the muscles and tendons.

... Yeah, shock can do funny things to people. ...

 

[pith helmet]

It was neat peering into my leg and seeing the muscles and tendons.

Nothing like a crash course in anatomy to make the lessons stick.

 

[Deleted member 12023]

I've welded both alum and mild steel for 8-10 hrs with no mask in compartments that are filled with welding smoke and never been sick. Wondering what you did differently than what I've done.

Sorry, just saw this. It was a 3 day stretch of welding old 3/8 aluminum with helium argon mix. I work with some guys who paint without a respirator and "feel fine", doesn't make it safe.

 

[DirtWhiskey]

On welders there are some amazing Chinese units that are very compact and cheap do to inverter technology advances. I just picked up it yes welder 205 tig that does AC. I'm serviceable with Mig and flux core very excited to start to learn TIG.

I read somewhere that angle grinders are the number one source of long-term injuries in home shops. I have no idea that's true. But a couple things really help. First be afraid. Fear is a great motivator for safety. Grinders can **** UP. First thing I do with an angle grinder is zip tie the changing fork tool to the plug. That way nobody can use the tool to change wheels without unplugging it first. Again never change out the wheels if it is plugged in. Second be very careful about overheating the disk. Slow controlled cuts, never forcing it. Most cut off wheels fail due to overheating. Third I think it's very useful to get a unit that has variable speed. Always verify the speed ratings of whatever wheel you're working with.

 

[WOODY2]

On welders there are some amazing Chinese units that are very compact and cheap to the inverter technology advances. I just picked up it yes welder 205 tig that does AC. I'm serviceable with Meg and flux core very excited to start to learn TIG.

I read somewhere that angle grinders are the number one source of long-term injuries in home shops. I have no idea that's true. But a couple things really help. First be afraid. Fear is a great motivator for safety. Grinders can **** UP. First thing I do with an angle grinder is zip tie the changing fork tool to the plug. That way nobody can use the tool to change wheels without unplugging it first. Again never change out the wheels if it is plugged in. Second be very careful about overheating the disk. Slow controlled cuts, never forcing it. Most cut off wheels fail due to overheating. Third I think it's very useful to get a unit that has variable speed. Always verify the speed ratings of whatever wheel you're working with.

Pretty sure IMHO that I'd do things a little different, different strokes you know.

 

[Alloy]

Sorry, just saw this. It was a 3 day stretch of welding old 3/8 aluminum with helium argon mix. I work with some guys who paint without a respirator and "feel fine", doesn't make it safe.

Burning off the oxidation on old aluminum produces more ozone and there's whatever else the alum absorbed.

I've met a few painters that were zombies after years of painting and working around thinners. Respirators don't remove isocyanates

When painting I wear a SATA air replacement system.

https://www.sata.com/en-amn/product...hoods-respiratory-protection/sata-vision-2000