Welding w/o ?

[dragoneggs]

Not your normal welding post but changing up things a bit... I was practicing on some scraps after finally making a 240v pigtail so I can run my Miller 211MVP on 220v instead of 110v. Long story but shop wiring isn't yet where it needs to be. Anyways... I remember watching a few youtube vids when I got my MIG and noticed some guys chose not to wear gloves. I admit, I have been sloppy and laid a couple beads without proper protection as MIG seems so benign vs. stick.

Tonight I was practicing supporting and rolling my hand to get a straight consistent bead and didn't realize I put my left pointer finger in the trail of the puddle! I happen to be trying out my brand new fancy gloves that I found at Puget Sound Energy Safety days that I had to have... here is what I did to them on first wear!



Anyways to the point... the metal gets hot... Kevlar fiber gloves took a beating but no burn for me. Note these are not welding gloves but supposed to be high heat/fire/arc resistant for lineman. I am now wondering if I was using a cheaper HF glove I would have realized I was supporting my arc on the hot metal in the first place? But please wear gloves when welding... even if it is only MIG.

And for those with a good eye... apparently I don't one let alone two... can critique my weld.

 

[Shield Arc]

Pacific has a good house brand welding glove. They are around $10.00 a pair. When you walk in the front door, they are on the far left wall, right up close to Larry's office. They are blue in color, and say Pacific on them.

 

[muddstopper]

I'll admit, I dont always wear a pair of gloves. I usually will wear one glove on my left hand. I like to use my left hand to steady my other hand. I'll lay my hand/arm/wrist on the metal and hold or prop my other hand as I weld. I simply shake to much otherwise. If your going to lay your hand on the metal, it better have a glove on it. One of the worse habits I have is actually holding the rod when stick welding. If i dont, I cant keep the rod in the puddle. This practice will burn up a lot of gloves and I have received a few blisters because the glove gets so hot. I have a drawer full of right handed gloves, not so many left handed ones.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Not only do you need to wear gloves to protect your hands from the heat and sparks but more so for the UV light protection. UV light really damages the skin cells and promotes skin cancer.
Wear your gloves AND a thick cotton shirt, neckerchief etc to keep all the UV light off your body.

I really hate to see those idiots on TV welding and or grinding with no gloves and a T-shirt and no safety glasses. Some even weld without a welding helmet. Even short time UV exposure can blister your eyeball.

I prefer a full face protective shield when grinding just in case a grinding disc shatters or the grinder hangs up and kicks back into your face. Having worked construction for 45 years, I have seen many potentially deadly issues with grinders that were averted by a full face protective shield.

 

[flusher]

Not only do you need to wear gloves to protect your hands from the heat and sparks but more so for the UV light protection. UV light really damages the skin cells and promotes skin cancer.
Wear your gloves AND a thick cotton shirt, neckerchief etc to keep all the UV light off your body.

I really hate to see those idiots on TV welding and or grinding with no gloves and a T-shirt and no safety glasses. Some even weld without a welding helmet. Even short time UV exposure can blister your eyeball.

.

Right on. I see those TV guys making tack welds with no hand or face protection--just shut their eyes momentarily while the arc is on. Years of this adds up to late life melanoma. Another example of Darwinism in the workplace.

 

[ericher69]

About two months ago I decided to just tack weld something quick with no gloves and power squint-not smart I agree!

Well I received my lesson almost instantly; the mig wire started the arc and must of had poor ground when it stubbed the puddle and proceeded past the steel right into my unprotected thumb!

Nice third degree burn instantly! No bleeding at least.

Wear ALL your protective gear when welding, grinding, cutting including an APR with P100 filters.

Sent from my iPhone 5s 64Gb using TractorByNet

 

[dragoneggs]

Another tip... wear some decent socks and shoes. Not the rubber Crocs that are perforated with breathing holes. The grinding sparks have a habit of finding their way in the holes. Don't ask! :fiery: :yell:

 

[flyerdan]

If you do a lot of welding, one of these aprons is nice. I'm left handed, and my coveralls took a beating from the grinder flinging sparks back at me when I couldn't direct them away. Frayed coveralls catch fire quite easily, and it's a lot easier to patch the apron. I'd cut the bottom off and sew it on to double the area at table height, and add a pocket with the leftover fabric.

 

[PILOON]

What I'll never do again!
Years back I was welding the underside of a trailer tilted in such a way that it sloped down towards me.
Was wearing loose clothes.
Some of the sparks/slag rolled down and ,you guessed, went into my shorts and settled in my most sensitive parts.
I danced, hollered and dropped my shorts 'til things cooled down.
Lesson learned!


PS, don't wish that on anyone.

 

[Shield Arc]

PILOON that happened to me on my second or third job right out of high school. Except I was 65-feet in the air leaning back in a safety belt, standing on a 2" x 2" angle iron.:shocked: