Welding Fumes

A cautionary tale of my own stupidity.

It was cold in the workshop and the heat was slowly brought up to sensible with a fan heater. Ok so far. I am in the process of making the driving trolley wheel / axles and am stick welding the wheels to the axles before finish turning them to size. Perhaps consumed 8 or 9 rods and started feeling quite feint.

I staggered from the workshop and sat down on the step before I fell down. It took me an hour or so before I was back to something like normal.

Sometimes the warning labels on the box should be followed !!

Mr Stupid

You are lucky. Glad you are OK. Are there any symptoms of metal fume fever apart from feeling faint? If so, do see a doctor. May I suggest welding in an open door or outside under an overhang roof or similar? Not fun in the cold but you have to stay out of the fumes when welding, as much as possible,

I'm pleased you have lived to warn the rest of us ! Whilst the fumes from the burning flux/coating are not good for you the biggest hazard is from metal fumes or any coatings which ARE HIGHLY TOXIC ! If working inside then a fan facing away from the work and towards an open door will help remove the fumes or work outside. A friend of mines son has just spent £420 on an air fed helmet to try and avoid this problem.

Make the best of Christmas, Noel.

I would imagine it’s the flux that causes the problems. I would love a heated workshop but heating one occasionally means too many condensation issues soI wear lots of clothes and keep moving.

Ashley

Yes, certainly a cautionary tale and good that you could tell it.

My workshop is so well sealed (and not that spacious) that I generally even cut dry or arrange ventilation, and rarely use an open flame in there (and not for long!). Even the surface grinder is going to be vented to the outside.

Welding is most certainly off-limits within the confines of the workshop and if a plasma cutter ever graces my collection that, too, will be outside the machining area.

Avoid welding anything with galvanising on it. The zinc fumes are very bad indeed. I always do any welding outdoors, if nothing else it annoys the neighbours, but at least it's well ventilated

The first thing I noticed when I gave up the stick inverter and took up gasless mig was a lot less smoke

As an apprentice i was gas welding repairs to galv frying baskets. I was poorly for 2 days with galv poisoning. Boss never told me to wear a mask & try not to breath fumes. He never paid me for the 2 days loss of work either. Git.

Steve.

I believe that hazard is now formally recognised for trade H&S, where exposure times are likely to be far higher than in our home and club workshops. Some flux fumes can be carcinogenic but that might depend on type and total exposure.

I think clubs are now advised to follow suit with at least ensuring adequate ventilation - it certainly makes sense to do so anyway whether at home or club.

Hi, of course the best thing to have is proper fume extraction either to the outside or into a self contained filtered unit. In a work place it is law to have such a system that protects workers from breathing in fumes, Regulations Welding outside is better but doesn't entirely eliminate you breathing in some fumes, especially if there is a bit of a breeze in the wrong direction. The regulations apply to MIG and TIG welding as well as Stick.

Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 21/12/2020 00:04:56

A million years ago....well the early 70s, I used to work at Vosper Thornycrofts shipyard in Southampton. Even in those far off times welding of galvanised steel was a no no. It simply didn't happen. Parts that required galvanising and welding had their manufacturing process arranged so that all welding was complete before galvanising.

cheers

Bill

Good to here that you are okay.

A company that I do work for has over the last few years started to provide the air fed visors as part of on going H&S requirements. Nobody (including the welders themselves) was particularly keen but now they are a normal part of daily routine.

It has always been my understanding that any metal vapour is bad but apart from zinc on galvanising I have never really bothered with any extraction. That said I don't do much welding but will be more mindful in future.

Regards.

David.

You know these comments about zinc and galvanising are so true but it is interesting to note the wider contradictions. We all accept, I am sure the restrictions on welding galvanised material. However I am a carp welder but bought my first MIG set from the welding specialists in Copnor Road Portsmouth in 1995. I was also sold a couple of aerosol cans. This was to be sprayed on the seams and areas to be welded as this helped us rank novices to get better results.

Main component of this spray? ZINC!.

Once the main transformer failedon the MIG set, I binned it bought a cheapo stick welder and avoid welding as much as I possibly can.

Edited By Ian B. on 21/12/2020 08:13:09

Working at the grotty end of the motor trade in the 70's and 80's I saw a couple of times wire coat hangers used a a substitute for proper gas welding rod when the late night emergency job had to be got out.

Sitting there with a squeezy bottle of water to firewatch while the welding was done, my abiding memory is of the stink and the spitting!

+1 for the air fed visor, I have had a Sundstrom helmet for a couple of years and its the best thing since sliced bread, has a clear lexan visor under the welding visor so can be used dual purpose for grinding/ metal prep. & welding.

Gren.

I've got a piece of my own in the next MEW. Casting brass and I stress using a flux cover to stop the zinc burning off - as well as using a mask and working outdoors. You only need to see the white smoke billowing from molten brass once to realise breathing it is not a good idea!

Neil