The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop PLEASE buy a welding respirator.

I have long been wearing a respirator when welding. If someone is welding anywhere near by me I will put my respirator on. This is SERIOUS stuff guys!

A little basics:

If you are welding ANY metal on late model cars, you are welding "galvanized" metal. The galvanizing process is where the metal is coated with a "sacrificial" metal. This sacrificial metal is designed to fail, instead of the metal it is protecting.

Galvanizing uses Zinc as it's sacrificial metal. Weld thru primer is 90+ ZINC!

Think about this, welding "Fumes" are airborne particles of METAL! When you are welding, you aren't breathing in harmless "smoke", you are taking into your lungs METAL.

The helmet I prefer has little room for a respirator so I have used a 3M disposable vareity for years. They cost about $22 each. But I recently found that they have one available for only about $13.49 available at your local ACE hardware stores part number 8515.

PLEASE guys, pick yourself up one of these masks and when not in use put it in a zip lock bag. And don't get it mixed up with a simple dust mask, it looks pretty similar. Don't be thinking that a regular old dust mask is going to do the job, spend the bucks and get the real thing.

[img]https://www.conney.com/wcsstore/Conney/images/fullsize/z58338.gif[/img]

TURN ON THE FANS!

And get air movement, pickup a box fan that you can set near where you are working to make some air movement. You don't want the fan blowing on your work, that will blow away the shielding gas. Just setting it on the floor blowing "by" the work area will do wonders.

This is not for "comfort", this is serious business and your health may be at risk if you don't follow the simple rules of keeping air movement and wearing protection! PLEASE, you don't want to jeopardize your future health on some stupid car! You become an old man faster than you can imagine! Don't be stupid when you are young and feel invincible.

Edit: I want to make something clear. I presented this as a "future" health sort of thing because so many young guys think they are invincible and will abuse themselves thinking "old age" is something a million years away. This in no means makes zinc fumes like asbestos and not harmful without years of exposure. Zinc fumes can KILL YOU in ONE exposure!!! ONE time welding up a floor inside an inclosed car in a garage and your loved one could find you knocked out and near death with damaged lungs that will NEVER repair! THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF!!!

Brian

I use a supplied air helmet. We have an air conditioned room that we in which keep our welding stuff in to control the humidity. We have two supplied air pumps. One is nothing more than a glorified vacuum cleaner, the other is an oil less compressor. We place them in the cooled room. The cool air is nice when you are welding. When we bought ours, they were around $600. Looks like hey are higher now. http://www.envirosafetyproducts.com/product/3M-Fresh-Air-II-Supplied-Cool-Air-System.html

Thank you for the advice.

I am an Older Guy who wants to get older.

Thank you, again.

I'm justing starting to get into welding, great time for this thread. I picked up a box of these : http://www.amazon.com/MSA-Safety-Works-10005043-Respirator/dp/B0000DEZN6 , will they be sufficient?

NO NO NO, those are simple "dust masks" and NOT for welding.

Brian

wow, how can zinc kill you in one welding session? i hate cutting galv metal, it will give me a headache if i breath too much of it. i always try to wear a mash or at least hold my breath if i just need to cut a small piece or two. i bet you would have to go lay down with a headache before you would die from it though.

Follow this link and find out how ONE time can kill you!
This is SERIOUS stuff, holding your breath doesn't cut it, and if you are getting a headache you are DAMAGING YOUR BODY!

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10397

Brian

One of the reasons why I no longer weld for a living. The other was seeing all the old fellas (old to me any way) who were getting close to retirement age not able to see anymore. I still weld a little for myself but that is it.

I don't think anything but supplied air protects you from zinc fumes. It has been over 50 years since I struck my first arc. In those days I thought I was invincible. I thought if I lived to be 30, that would be long enough. I have changed my mind about a lot of things. A lot of people my age have a miserable life because of how they abused their body. So far I am fortunate enough that I can still tinker on my jalopies. At my age I take every precaution to try to make the show last a little longer.

I am going to follow Brian on this one.

I will look for the mask and put a fan in my shop. I am a zit here and a tack there welder. I will never do more than that. I wish that I could find a good rust free 5 window cab so that I would not have to weld. I would trade my welder for that cab. But it is not happening.

Oh. I have yet to strike my first arc.

I will take advice and do the best that I can.

Thanks to all

It isn't anything to be afraid of, I don't want to stop anyone from welding. It isn't "that" big of a deal. Just like anything else, a little common sense and you will be fine.

Brian

I don't think welding plain mild steel is that harmful. I know a lot of old welders who are older than I am. I only wear a supplied air mask when I am welding galvanized. But I think supplied air is the only way to protect yourself when you weld galvanized.

Welding Hexavalent Chromium is a bad thing, too!

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/hexavalentchromium/index.html

What about just welding patch panels on one of these old trucks?

I want to use my little mig for just personal stuff. I don't believe I will go any farther that that in the welding trade.

I've taken a welding course at a local tech school. They tought me stick tig and mig. We even covered some metalology.
Common sense is your best friend when working on these old trucks especially when welding.

But for mild steel (patch panels, etc.) I tac weld with a welders helmet and make sure the area's well ventalated.

This is all you need to work on your rig. Now if your setting up shop to weld heavy metals, zinc, galvanized etc. more precation needs to be taken. Not to mention training.

Just my 2 cents.
HC

The old vehicles did not use galvanized sheet metal. However, many patch panels are galvanized, especially floor repair panels. If the panels are shiny and do not rust, they are galvanized. If they are painted or rust from being in a humid Environment, they are mild steel. Many later model vehicles use galvanized sheet metal especially in rust prone areas. Once you have smelled burning zinc, you will recognize it.

A number of years ago ( 25 plus ) I made and welded togather a large swing set for my kids. I used 1 & 1/4 inch galvanized pipe. The project turned out sweet, however I was sick for ten days after the fact. I even went to the doctor & when I told him what I had done he said the stuff would just have to work out of my system. I would get up in the morning and feel fine and about mid morning I would start running a fever and got that serious run down feeling for the rest of the day. I have a lot of respect when welding galvanized stuff.

hey, i'm all for being careful. i try to wear a mask when working with galv like i said. i actually hate the stuff and go out of my way not to use it. and i wasn't saying holding your breath was good enough, but it does help if all you have to do is cut one piece. i can hold my breath the time it takes to make the cut and step away and never even smell it. you couldn't do it if the piece was longer than a couple of inches. i have gotten a headache several different times years ago. i think the chances of galv metal killing you in one time is pretty darn low. is it worth taking a chance? no, but should people go around thinking it's that dangerous- prob not. that's all i was sayin.

I agree. You should have a respirator. I have been a welder for 20 yrs now and have only been using one for about 3 years.

It was welding fumes that drove me out of the metal shop and into the classroom. I was working at a fab shop as a punch press operator, but I would weld when they needed me to. I started getting sinus infections, and complained to the workers compensation board about the air quality. We had no exhaust fans. They did nothing, so I quit my job, got my teaching certificate and now I only suffer from exhaustion >_<.

Galvinize metal when welded produces Aresnic fumes and will dam well kill you. If you get a good dose of the Galvinizing fumes drink some MILK this will help rid your system of the taste and help in the headache dept. I fabracated for 41 years and have low oxygen levels in my body from not using a mask. I have one word to say to all who weld, Grind, chip or use a Air Chisle PROTECT YOUR BODY! I can remember coming home at night after using a Air Chisle sitting on my chair and all of a sudden be kind of shaking. Well that was my nerves jumping from all the Noise,Rust,Grinding Dust that we were breathing in and listening to. NO MASK OR EAR PLUGS FOR US AS THE COMPANY BOSSES DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO SPEND ON SAFETY EQUIPMENT ACCORDING TO THEM.
I EVEN MIXED ASBESTOS FROM BAGS INTO A DISHPAN AND WHEN YOU WOULD EMPTY THE BAG THE FIBERS WOULD BE FLYING AROUND BEFORE YOU ADDED WATER TO IT. This is why today I have some problems thinking you are invinciable. Please like someone said where your Protection ears,nose,eyes,gloves etc.etc.
62Blue
Don

One other welding safety issue is protection from the arc flash. I used to be a welding supervisor. The old timers would completely cover their bare skin so they would not get sunburn. They even buttoned their shirt collars all the way to the top to keep from getting burned on the neck. I always see pictures of amateur welders welding without gloves, or tack welding without a welding hood. The old time welders would not even think about using a auto-darkening welding lens because of the split second your eyes get the arc flash. A lot of people think an arc burn is no big deal and will go away in a few days. It will, but what about years down the road and skin cancer? Just some food for thought.