No more arc welding

[BobRip]

I was feeling kinda of dizzy last Friday (5/4/07) and ended up in the hospital. After several days of testing, I was told I needed a pace maker. And then a friend mentioned than you probably cannot arc weld if you have a pace maker. I confirmed this with the doctor and the pace maker tech representative. There were no options (well, yeah maybe death), so now I have one.

I guess I need to switch to gas welding. What are the problems with this? Is it pretty equivalent in capacity to arc welding and as versatile and as easy to use? I have a small unit which I have not used except for heating metal to bend it. Do I need a larger unit to weld 1/4 inch plate? What are some good references?

Can I put on a shield of some kind to block the magnetic field and still use the MIG welder?

 

[KentT]

I was feeling kinda of dizzy last Friday (5/4/07) and ended up in the hospital. After several days of testing, I was told I needed a pace maker.

Wow, sorry to hear that, Bob, but am glad to hear they're got you "regulated" now. My sister, 2 years older than I, has had a pacemaker for at least 10 years now. It cramps her style a bit, but it has certainly helped her overall health...

I can't address your specific questions, because I don't own nor can I operate a "smoke-wrench"...

 

[MadDogDriver]

Glad to hear you're doing well and that the pacemaker insert went well. I'm also glad you didn't ignore the symptoms and got it taken care of quickly. Too many of us try to tune out what should be telltale signs of our body "talking" to us for a variety of reasons.

As your doctor has probably already told you, there are several changes to where and what you can do now that you got that ticker helper. My Mom has had one for over 20 yrs (she's 90 and going strong still), and my Dad had the microwave oven tested for leaks as just one of the precautions. Eventhough the new models do a good job of containing the RF it's still possible for leaks, especially if the door has been jarred. Just saw that there's possibly a problem playing your IPOD and having a pacemaker.

I'll leave the welding Q/A to the experts here as my welding expertise is very limited.

 

[BobRip]

Wow, sorry to hear that, Bob, but am glad to hear they're got you "regulated" now. My sister, 2 years older than I, has had a pacemaker for at least 10 years now. It cramps her style a bit, but it has certainly helped her overall health...

I can't address your specific questions, because I don't own nor can I operate a "smoke-wrench"...

I think overall this is a blessing and I am glad to be alive with no strokes. I just have to adapt, and I will. Just need a little help from my friends here. Life is good and I thank God for the excellent medical care that I have been given. Now I have three weeks of recovery while the cut heals. Also there is a lot of medicine to take.

 

[DieselPower]

Gas welding is a art (or it should be). It's been a few years since I gas welded anything. The most I have done recently is some brazing. If you plan on gas welding 1/4 inch plate then you are probably going to need a larger tourch set up with the correct tourch heads. All I can say is practice, practice, practice.

You bring up a good question with the shielding. I wounder if you could use one of those lead X-Ray vest and still arc weld. The doctor or pacemaker tech would probably be the best ones to ask.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Gas welding is a art (or it should be). It's been a few years since I gas welded anything. The most I have done recently is some brazing. If you plan on gas welding 1/4 inch plate then you are probably going to need a larger tourch set up with the correct tourch heads. All I can say is practice, practice, practice.

You bring up a good question with the shielding. I wounder if you could use one of those lead X-Ray vest and still arc weld. The doctor or pacemaker tech would probably be the best ones to ask.

Youve got the right idea with shielding, but ElectroMagnetic energy from an arc is nearly all in the conventional RF range. The tactic would be to reflect or shunt the energy-a Faraday cage and then some, rather than absorb as done with x ray. I think it would be a dangerously touchy setup to shield a body reliably EVERY time. I have some people I know with EMInterference/EMSusceptability experience. Ill tickle their brains a little. Im sure youd need to know the EMS spec of the pacemaker then compare it to the spectrum and intensity of energy from the arc, then characterize the sheilding. Ill get back on this next week.
larry

 

[Barryh]

I was feeling kinda of dizzy last Friday (5/4/07) and ended up in the hospital. After several days of testing, I was told I needed a pace maker. And then a friend mentioned than you probably cannot arc weld if you have a pace maker. I confirmed this with the doctor and the pace maker tech representative. There were no options (well, yeah maybe death), so now I have one.

I guess I need to switch to gas welding. What are the problems with this? Is it pretty equivalent in capacity to arc welding and as versatile and as easy to use? I have a small unit which I have not used except for heating metal to bend it. Do I need a larger unit to weld 1/4 inch plate? What are some good references?

Can I put on a shield of some kind to block the magnetic field and still use the MIG welder?

Glad you nipped it and your feeling better, I'm sure you will adapt. Where there’s a will there’s a way. Your health is more important than any welding. I would stay away from the Arc all together, and do your research on gas. You may find it has its advantages and you like it much better. Now stay off your feet and get some rest the welding will still be there when your feeling better.

 

[JD-Beach]

Wow, BobRip, Sorry to hear about the health incident, but glad to hear about your progress. We all hope and pray for your speedy recovery and hopefully you'll soon be back in the seat. I always enjoy your contribution to this site and look forward to your posts on a daily basis. Get well soon,

JD-Beach

 

[BobRip]

Wow, BobRip, Sorry to hear about the health incident, but glad to hear about your progress. We all hope and pray for your speedy recovery and hopefully you'll soon be back in the seat. I always enjoy your contribution to this site and look forward to your posts on a daily basis. Get well soon,

JD-Beach

Thanks JD and everyone else for their replies. I suspect that I will completely drop arc welding, but there is an outside hope that someone has addressed this and has a good solution. Obviously it is not worth much or any risk to my health. I am feeling good and I suspect that my energy levels will be higher than ever. I have been having some symptons for a couple of years and got tired easily. Now I know what caused this. I am told that the first person to ever have a pace maker, installed in 1958, is still alive today. I therefore intend to live another 50 years. Hey, it could happen.

Take care,

 

[Barryh]

Thanks JD and everyone else for their replies. I suspect that I will completely drop arc welding, but there is an outside hope that someone has addressed this and has a good solution. Obviously it is not worth much or any risk to my health. I am feeling good and I suspect that my energy levels will be higher than ever. I have been having some symptons for a couple of years and got tired easily. Now I know what caused this. I am told that the first person to ever have a pace maker, installed in 1958, is still alive today. I therefore intend to live another 50 years. Hey, it could happen.

Take care,

Hey ... go for another 70 why not? I'll be very interested in your finds on gas welding myself, as I used to do a little of it in high school along with arc, and from what I remember I rather enjoyed it. I have a lot of things that need welding myself. Taking it to be welded will get very old very soon. I could be out there today working on my PT projects instead of waiting for the welder to get done. So keep us posted on your finds with the gas. I may just follow your lead sometime in the near future.

 

[cqaigy2]

Youve got the right idea with shielding, but ElectroMagnetic energy from an arc is nearly all in the conventional RF range. The tactic would be to reflect or shunt the energy-a Faraday cage and then some, rather than absorb as done with x ray. I think it would be a dangerously touchy setup to shield a body reliably EVERY time. I have some people I know with EMInterference/EMSusceptability experience. Ill tickle their brains a little. Im sure youd need to know the EMS spec of the pacemaker then compare it to the spectrum and intensity of energy from the arc, then characterize the sheilding. Ill get back on this next week.
larry

Bob, glad to hear you are doing ok!

On the arc welding thing, I'd think the problem is any voltage/current that could interfere with the heart beat that's created with the pace maker and damage to the pacemaker itself. The voltage could be induced via RF or by contact with the electrodes on the arc welder. Now i don't know if i've ever induce a voltage inside my body from arc welding, but some years ago, i did light up a friend of mine that was playing around and reached in to move the thing i was going to weld as i dropped my helmet. At the same time i stuck the stinger on his hand. My buddy was ok, but his mom was kinda mad because the jolt threw him back against the shelves that had a bunch of tasty home canned peaches.

I haven't done any gas welding in many many years, but one thing i do remember is you need pretty big tips to weld 1/4" or better.

 

[MossRoad]

Sorry to hear that you shouldn't arc weld, anymore. Gas welding is fun. It takes a bit of practice, but I find it more artistic and more satisfying than arc welding. Arc welding seems like brute force, to me, while gas welding is peaceful. Look into a Henrob (I think that's what it's called) torch. I don't have one, but if I were in the market for a new torch, that's what I'd be looking at. Shop around for the best price.

Henrob 2000 welder or Henrob torch - quality welding and cutting of metal.



As for your pacemaker, if you have an iPod, you may want to check out recent reports about them interfering with pacemakers, too.

Study: iPods can make pacemakers malfunction - CNN.com

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

Look into a Henrob (I think that's what it's called) torch. I don't have one, but if I were in the market for a new torch, that's what I'd be looking at. Shop around for the best price.

Henrob 2000 welder or Henrob torch - quality welding and cutting of metal.

I have a Henrob, and found that with practice, I could do a decent job with steel and aluminum. I've not really practiced enough.
The Henrob is a pistol grip torch with very small flame, but welds and cuts surprisingly big stuff. Selection of rod and flux are important. When I got mine, it came with a pretty good video.

I am sure there are myriad good books out there. A source I'd recommend is EAA - Experimental Aircraft Association. I think if you can gas weld the fuselage of a tube and fabric airplane, you'll be able to weld nearly anything else.

 

[BobRip]

. Look into a Henrob (I think that's what it's called) torch. I don't have one, but if I were in the market for a new torch, that's what I'd be looking at. Shop around for the best price.

Henrob 2000 welder or Henrob torch - quality welding and cutting of metal.



As for your pacemaker, if you have an iPod, you may want to check out recent reports about them interfering with pacemakers, too.

Study: iPods can make pacemakers malfunction - CNN.com

I looked at the Henrod website and it looks good. The low gas consumption means smaller tanks and lower operating cost. I have not found a price yet for it. I will probably purchase something in the next couple of weeks. I have to take it easy for 3 weeks to let things heal. I have a two inch incision in my chest.

I saw the article on the iPods. I will be careful.

 

[MossRoad]

I once saw a guy weld a snuff can to a piece of thin sheet with a torch. THAT was impressive! I haven't gas welded in a long time. There's something about heating up two pieces of metal until they melt and then pushing that puddle of molten metal with the flame that is just too cool.

 

[Spiffy]

I looked at the Henrod website and it looks good. The low gas consumption means smaller tanks and lower operating cost. I have not found a price yet for it. I will probably purchase something in the next couple of weeks. I have to take it easy for 3 weeks to let things heal. I have a two inch incision in my chest.

I saw the article on the iPods. I will be careful.

Good to hear you're doing well! As far as going OA, there is nothing more flexible: cut, braze, weld, heat, solder: and can go anywhere without electricity! As the others said, there is an art involved [a bit rusty here too, though I think my arc welds look worse at that! ], but definitely satisfying.

Just glancing at the Henrob site, I'm thinking you could get a mid-range Smith or Harris set-up, so you'd already have the regulators. Then if the Henrob still looks attractive [never seen one before, but it certainly does], you can add that too!

Another option [but how about in addition to AO ]: what about a DC arc? No idea if it'd be safe, but I'd suspect any magnetic fields produced to be less risky than AC generated.

 

[cqaigy2]

I once saw a guy weld a snuff can to a piece of thin sheet with a torch. THAT was impressive! I haven't gas welded in a long time. There's something about heating up two pieces of metal until they melt and then pushing that puddle of molten metal with the flame that is just too cool.

MR, I'd kinda forgotten about how much fun it was to gas weld. No flux to worry about etc.

 

[BobRip]

Good to hear you're doing well! As far as going OA, there is nothing more flexible: cut, braze, weld, heat, solder: and can go anywhere without electricity! As the others said, there is an art involved [a bit rusty here too, though I think my arc welds look worse at that! ], but definitely satisfying.

Just glancing at the Henrob site, I'm thinking you could get a mid-range Smith or Harris set-up, so you'd already have the regulators. Then if the Henrob still looks attractive [never seen one before, but it certainly does], you can add that too!

Another option [but how about in addition to AO ]: what about a DC arc? No idea if it'd be safe, but I'd suspect any magnetic fields produced to be less risky than AC generated.

They seem to be concerned about any magnetic fields. They warn about strong magnets. I don't think DC would help. The cost of doing much experimenting is kinda high. My doctor was very admant about "NO ARC WELDING". No problems with gas weldiing.

 

[Gravy]

Bob,

There *might* be some form of electrical welding that would be safe with your pacemaker. I'd really prefer that you let somebody else do the experimenting. You've contributed a bunch to this forum, and I would like to see that continue.

Gravy

 

[BobRip]

Bob,

I'd really prefer that you let somebody else do the experimenting.

Gravy

That's my plan. I have been reading more about the Henrob and it looks very interesting.

It is alright to store gas cylinders in an attached garage, or would it be better to put them in the shed?