Do MIG welder's stink?

   / Do MIG welder's stink? #1  

marrt

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Ok, here's a dumb question for you. How bad do MIG welders stink? I've never been around a welder but I have a need for one. I was thinking about picking up a MIG welder and learning how to weld. However, I understand they are very sensitive to wind and I live in a very windy area. So, I would use the welder in my woodworking shop. I'm curious though...will it "stink up" my shop with smoke?
 
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   / Do MIG welder's stink? #2  
No, migs are not like stick welders. I weld in my shop all the time with no problems, almost no smoke and smell. The reason wind is a problem is the sheilding gas gets blown away.
 
   / Do MIG welder's stink? #3  
I've got a Lincoln 180 and whenever I weld outside in the wind, I use the flux core wire. It does not take long to switch.
 
   / Do MIG welder's stink? #4  
I've got a Lincoln 180 and whenever I weld outside in the wind, I use the flux core wire. It does not take long to switch.

I do the same thing. Flux core makes a little more mess, but you are outside so it does not matter.
 
   / Do MIG welder's stink? #5  
If you weld inside you can use solid wire with gas,no excess smoke or stink.
 
   / Do MIG welder's stink? #6  
errr... but you do need fresh air circulating.
 
   / Do MIG welder's stink? #7  
Ok, here's a dumb question for you. How bad do MIG welders stink? I've never been around a welder but I have a need for one. I was thinking about picking up a MIG welder and learning how to weld. However, I understand they are very sensitive to wind and I live in a very windy area. So, I would use the welder in my woodworking shop. I'm curious though...will it "stink up" my shop with smoke?

You will surely have smoke and iron dust. No way around it. Welding is melting materials and they do create some smoke. You will eventually notice the smoke on the walls..It's worth the trouble though.
 
   / Do MIG welder's stink? #8  
grsthegreat said:
errr... but you do need fresh air circulating.

No, not for practical purposes anyway. Argon and CO2 are not going to cause problems at the slow release rate associated with welding. Besides, even if you leave a window or garage door open there won't be enough of a breeze to blow away the shielding gas unless there is a storm outside.
 
   / Do MIG welder's stink? #9  
No, not for practical purposes anyway. Argon and CO2 are not going to cause problems at the slow release rate associated with welding. Besides, even if you leave a window or garage door open there won't be enough of a breeze to blow away the shielding gas unless there is a storm outside.

Im not too worried about the shielding gases, im more concerned with the gases associated with the melting metals. I have a neighbor thats a retired union welder, and hes all messed up with bad eyesight and bad lungs from welding.
 

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