MIG Welding Safety
Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 8:37 pm
After watching a dreadfully dangerous YouTube video clip about DIY welding, thought I would post some very basic MIG welding safety tips.
1: Do NOT assume MIG welding is really easy and try to dive right in. At the very minimum, have an experianced welder show you the basics. Any decent welder will start with basic safety.
2: MIG welders give off UV radiation much like a sun bed. So ALWAYS wear a full face helmet and cover up all exposed skin to prevent skin cancer, don't forget your neck.
3: If welding under a car, wear ear defenders, the full ear type as used by the guys who guide aircraft about during taxi. No MIG welding isn't noisy, but welding splatter than rolls into your inner ear burning as it goes, is extremely painfull, and can lead to permanent hearing loss in the effected ear
4: Know the material you are welding. If it's galvanised DANGER! Welding galv steel gives off toxic heavy metal fumes, this can be FATAL unless proper ventilation is used.
5: Always have a proper fire extinguisher close by.
6: Remove all flammable material from the welding area, weld spatter can travel a fair distance. Make sure any fuel tanks are well away, and preferably outside the building you are welding in.
7: Some professional welders do fine detail work without a helmet. You may have seen this on various TV shows. They 'sight' the weld then close their eyes as they make the spot weld, then open their eyes to inspect the weld, before moving on to the next weld. Do NOT try this, better to buy an auto welding helmet and save your eyes for other things. Arc eye is extremely painfull, and in some cases causes permanent eye damage.
8: Allow plenty of work breaks. Restorations can be frustrating, and if you get tired, you make mistakes.
9: Make sure both sides of the job being welded is clear of flammable materials. It's all too easy to start a small patch under a car, only to discover the carpets are on fire inside the car.
10 Never take shortcuts on something you are not sure of. If in doubt, get professional advice.
1: Do NOT assume MIG welding is really easy and try to dive right in. At the very minimum, have an experianced welder show you the basics. Any decent welder will start with basic safety.
2: MIG welders give off UV radiation much like a sun bed. So ALWAYS wear a full face helmet and cover up all exposed skin to prevent skin cancer, don't forget your neck.
3: If welding under a car, wear ear defenders, the full ear type as used by the guys who guide aircraft about during taxi. No MIG welding isn't noisy, but welding splatter than rolls into your inner ear burning as it goes, is extremely painfull, and can lead to permanent hearing loss in the effected ear
4: Know the material you are welding. If it's galvanised DANGER! Welding galv steel gives off toxic heavy metal fumes, this can be FATAL unless proper ventilation is used.
5: Always have a proper fire extinguisher close by.
6: Remove all flammable material from the welding area, weld spatter can travel a fair distance. Make sure any fuel tanks are well away, and preferably outside the building you are welding in.
7: Some professional welders do fine detail work without a helmet. You may have seen this on various TV shows. They 'sight' the weld then close their eyes as they make the spot weld, then open their eyes to inspect the weld, before moving on to the next weld. Do NOT try this, better to buy an auto welding helmet and save your eyes for other things. Arc eye is extremely painfull, and in some cases causes permanent eye damage.
8: Allow plenty of work breaks. Restorations can be frustrating, and if you get tired, you make mistakes.
9: Make sure both sides of the job being welded is clear of flammable materials. It's all too easy to start a small patch under a car, only to discover the carpets are on fire inside the car.
10 Never take shortcuts on something you are not sure of. If in doubt, get professional advice.