Tyconway

Hey, I've got a question about tig welding, concerning safety. Back in September, I had been doing a lot of welding, both tig and mig. I was doing some welding on a frame rail which had some power steering fluid on it. I cleaned it with brake parts cleaner. Not thinking much about it but later on realized I had picked up a chlorinated brand of cleaner. When welded on it makes a chlorine gas which can kill you. I did have a seizure that night not long after I welded over that area. the seizure happened in my sleep so i have no idea how it started or anything. I just remember being woke up by the paramedics. So I have been extra careful now when welding. I have had a few times where I have felt light headed and somewhat confused, like cant get my train of thought, Like in a daze, like you can't shake it off. It has happened after welding for a long time, (tig welding) I run a gas lens and on around 25cfm, I have a miller helmet, but I was wondering if breathing argon like that could cause the symptoms, or the auto darkening on and off maybe messing with my eyes. Either way its a scary feeling. The only other thing I can say for sure is that I've been hungry when this has happened. Like i get busy and just forget to stop and take a break. Has any other welders every had symptoms like I am describing? I know there are some on here who do way more welding than I do who could give their opinions.
Oh by the way , the only time this has really happened is welding 304 stainless, I am welding downpipes so I am doing alot of welding over and over. When doing mild steel i have been taking brakes, not near as long run continuous beads, also not as much argon.

But on the brakes parts cleaner, i simply didn't realize i had picked up a chlorinated brand.
It will never happen again, but I'm concerned with breathing argon / stainless fumes.

weiRtech

I used to get bronchitis twice a year. I stopped using thoriated tungsten, bought a dedicated tungsten sharpener that keeps the dust down and haven't had bronchitis since. some tungsten dust is actually radioactive!

that was about 5 or 6 years ago. it is unlikely that you are breathing argon from welding. I would think any related off gas from welding is going to be insignificant compared to the dust you are breathing in from cutting, grinding, etc.

I NEVER USE CHEMICALS to clean what I am welding. I've read about the brake cleaner horror stories. I don't even use acetone, varsol or alcohol to clean what I weld, regardless of base metal. I just don't like the extra step or the risk of grabbing the wrong bottle and prefer to use ss wire wheel/brush to clean what i'm welding. i'd much sooner take a carbide burr or hand file to clean up what i'm welding to remove any contaminated/dirty material.

take care of your health, some things are very difficult to recover from.

aaron

Tyconway

Yea true didn't really think about the saw dust. I usually never use an abrasive saw unless i'm cutting stainless and it does put off a lot of crap in the air when cutting.

weiRtech

i'd be more concerned about dust from grinding tungsten. thorium is radioactive in dust form.

aaron

RACEPAK

anyone use solarflux? how toxic is that $hit?

Tyconway

Yea true...

I think my batteries in my helmet are going bad or i had the sensitivity turned down too low and the arc flashes just messed with my head. I feel like i have eye strain / migraine headache today. Just gets me concerned getting a dizzy feeling after doing some welding. Its just odd that I've been welding alot of mild steel and it just did it when i did the stainless. I was trying to eliminate out possible causes of what could of messed me up.

HellaFab

make sure your helmet has a low enough sensitivity and a dark enough shade as well. I had an OLD Lincoln helmet that I retired because I was periodically getting flashed. not worth it.

Spent $300 on a Miller Digital Elite and use the Xmode. never have been flashed even if the sensors don't get the light (uses high frequency to run, great outdoors too)


set your delay long after the weld-it makes a difference and when welding stainless you hold your hand there anyways with post flow. that red hot puddle is actually blindingly bright when the arc is done-especially on heavy aluminum welds (contrary to what you would think)

davegt27

You need to look at the MSDS (material safety data sheets) which of course is getting a new name SDS (safety data sheets)

The SDS should be in the right to know area of your shop or you can just google Argon Gas

http://www.airgas.com/documents/pdf/001004.pdf

Biggest problem I had was using the Harbor Fright auto darkening helmet
When I tried to TIG weld---my eyes hurt so bad I haven't tried to tig weld since
Talk about putting the fear of God in you (I did have it set for max)

This was my first time tig welding besides in a class room setting
My new $2600 TIG welder has been sitting ever since then ha ha

Anyway you need to see a doctor no advice on a Forum is going to help you
When you do go take a copy of the MSDS/SDS

Good luck
davegt27

abnaasefmb

My day job was optometry. I once had a dude come in all kinds of jacked up. He was working on a lowrider frame and was using sunglasses to weld. Big *** dude just sobbing like a baby. It is basicaly a sunburn to the retnia, it elevates the inner occular pressure and the body just kinda freaks out. Your eyes will feel like you just have piles of sand and if often produces projectile vomiting in extreme cases, like my lowrider friend. Take away lesson from that patient was; always wear your welding helmet.

v8killaz

id def wear as breathing mask of some sorts and would recommend it to any welder. and not a dust mask an actual respirator. 3m makes some small ones that will fit under the helmet.

breathing in all that dust and whatnot cant be good long term. I know when I use to work as a tig welder I would get short of breath from breathing the fumes all day long. I welded alot though going though a tank in one day.
I stopped working as a welder because of that reason just too much dust and fumes
although ill always love to tig weld. like an art

Engloid

You should be able to weld for the same length of time you read, without getting eye strain. For example, if you can read for 4hrs without problems, you should be able to weld that long without problems. If you can't weld as long as you can read, you may have some problems with your welding lens. See below..

I would never recommend a cheap POS auto darkening hood from HF or any other equivalent. They may say ANSI on them, but that just means the DESIGN is in accordance to an ANSI standard. However, these cheap junkers are made in China and the company that makes them may not even know what ANSI means...it's just part of what they are copying from somebody else. For all they know, it may say "the best lens in the world." I would never trust my eyes to one of these things. I have a Miller Digital Elite. They are not cheap, but the day I start getting strained eyes from welding with it, I will destroy it.

HellaFab

+1.

I usually run the variable lens as dark as I can while still seeing what Im doing. It lets you weld longer with no strain.


With my digital elite on X mode, it seems like I cant set the delay long enough for when Im welding really hot- stuff like aluminum especially- even with the delay turned right up.

McRussellPants

Don't use an Auto lense if you're not gonna dump 4-500 into it. I only use my elite for cages.


I use alcohol to clean parts, takes longer to dissipate than brake clean but it won't ruin your day. I've been welding from the house more on my car and even if I let the brake clean dissipate for 4-5 minutes it will still choke you out and feels really unhealthy.

I also avoid welding on zinc as much as possible, theres only so much you can do though.

sleepencivic

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3M-Industrial-Market-Center-25-3301-10SW-Adflo-Powered-Air-Purifying-/171230809030?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27de26cbc6

worth every penny!!

Tyconway

I have a nice miller auto darkening lens helmet... Since its warmed up outside, i open the doors up on the shop and welding with good air flow in the shop, I haven't had any episodes or anything along that nature. I've been extra careful when welding stainless now. Just must of got a hold of some bad stuff somewhere that became toxic when I welded over it.

Tyconway

Do you own one? and how long have you had it?

Tyconway

Checked my helmet and the delay was set to min. turned it over to max and its alot better, you are right about the puddle being bright as it cools.

OneBadTurboCRV

I own the Miller model that comes with the air purification fanny pack. It only comes out when I am welding stainless. It is REQUIRED where I work when welding stainless to wear the purification hood. Stainless steel (among others) emit toxic fumes and shouldn't be breathed directly. It has been known to screw with the nervous system among other parts of the body. It is some nasty **** - you should see the filters after a day of welding stainless. Given, I mainly stick weld but just sharing my experience.

I am extremely surprised you didn't notice your delay was turned all the way down right away. Just how long have you been welding?

sleepencivic

yes I work for shop that does a lot of welding inside of cars, I have been using the mask for 3-5 years I haven't had a issue with it...its nice to weld all day in a car and not feel like crap from the fumes...