Check Your Welding Helmet Shield

by Mike

Thanks for the welding tips. Spring is here and I do not get to weld much in the winter due to the cold.

It is nice to be reminded about safety. For us hobby welders it is important to check our shields for scratches to protect the eyes.

Also make sure your gloves are in good shape...the metal gets hot. And do not forget what the UV ray can do to your skin. I have seen someone blistered, ouch. I do not look good.

Thanks again. I like your new letter and the site as well.
Good luck.
Mike.

Always check your pockets

by ricky robot
(sharon, pa.)

In 1978 I was going to a vocational school for welding. It was an all around three year course, that taught just about everything. We had "a lot" of safety meetings, but one film really sticks out in my memories. It was supposed to be an educational film on I think carbon/arc, but it turned into a safety film when the bic lighter in his shirt pocket exploded. You would think I would quit smoking immediately but I didn’t I just am careful. I always check my pockets before I weld. It only takes one spark to get inside your clothes and it only takes a second to check your pockets. I know I've had to do the spark dance before myself. I wish I could have found the film I think anyone that smokes and welds should see it.

Slag In My Boots

by fashawwelding.com
(Macedon, Vic, Australia)

We've been in the industry for a while now, but I'll never forget the first (and last) time I forgot to pull my overalls out of my boots. Slag in boots hurts. Come a way since then and now have a welding company in Macedon, Victoria. Cheers!

Use Flashback Arrestors!

Make sure you use a torch with flashback arrestors! I learned about that when I had a flashback happen to me. I lit the torch, adjusted the flame, and it shot back into the handle and reignited. There was an explosion that severed the torch body from the hoses. The hoses were whipping around like an unmanned fire-hose with flames shooting out of them. I reached over and closed the valves on the bottles. That's another thing, don't open the valves more than a full turn. You'll be glad you didn't crank them wide open when you have to shut them down quick! Hope this helps someone.

Fire Retardant Jacket or Coveralls?

by Steve Sanderson
(Toronto,Ontario)

Should you wear a fire retardant jacket or coveralls? Here's what happend:

I am new to welding but have been turning wrenches and playing with cars for some time. I would always change into my coveralls and they naturally got oil and greased saturated. A couple of weeks ago I was welding brackets on a motorcycle frame and before I knew it I was on fire. The boys at the shop put me out with cold coffee and we had a good laugh. I've invested in a welders fire retardant jacket now. No harm no foul, just a quick lesson for me.

Avoid Sparks and Use Earplugs!

by Rod Hancock
(Nanaimo, BC, Canada)

I learned a long time ago if I am welding or cutting in any position above my head to make sure I use earplugs.

You haven't really lived until you have experienced a small glob of red hot metal bouncing around in your ear.

To add insult to injury you usually bang your head, hands and arms trying to move and get rid of the spark.

I also use a shade 5 in a full face welding helmet if oxy-fuel cutting overhead.

Hunting Knife Trouble

by John

This is not really a safety story but more so of common sense. I'm only a average welder on my good days and am still in high school, but any ways I was at my dads shop making a hunting knife when I snapped the handle of my knife, and the only welder he has is just a plain arc welder and I feared that would be to hot. so the next day in my welding class i asked my teacher if I could bring the knife in and use the tig welder. She said yes so the next day I brought it in and fixed and ground it down. About three minutes until the bell rings i manage to be screwing around and snapped the handle again. so my last hour class i asked my teacher if I could go to for the shop class for a couple minutes to fix it. so i get down there weld it back and not feeling like going back to class stayed and improved my knife. well apparently my teacher thought a couple minutes was up so they called me to the front office. My luck when they did I was behind the grinder and couldn't hear it. So another 20 minutes later the knife was on the table and i was looking at it. When out of no wear my principal shows up. He says " well do you know your teacher is looking for you", "no why", "Well right now you have a deadly weapon and are loose in the school and no one knows were your at", "really" "really so you better get to class".... now this may not sound like a serious story but this scared the SH*T out of me at the time so always be friends with the man in charge which because I was a freshman at the time and had done nothing to make him hate me yet I was getting off easy.

I Didn't Know I Was On Fire!

by Trevor
(Montrel Canada)

Always weld with your welding jacket. I was welding very nicely with smaw and didn't know was on fire. Luckily I caught the flames in time on my shirt, from then on I always wear my jacket.

Welding Safety Tips I Learned The Hard Way

by Jim Bob
(TEXAS)

Just a couple of welding safety tips I had to learn the hard way!! lol

Be sure what your cut off does not drop on you, or bounce onto you! (A piece of 4 inch pipe bounced onto the arch of my boot, bout broke my foot) funny now, not then.

Don’t wear ANY frayed clothing (it catches fire like gasoline!!(The heel of my pants were frayed about 2 inches, I was on fire to my knee when I noticed the heat!)

Safety flaps on boots that "LACE UP"(got dingle berry down in my lace up boots!!)

Neck protectors when welding OVER HEAD!!(Nickel sized berry down the front of my shirt)

I laugh now, but it was sdlkjfhiethngiealygf when it happened!!! Let’s weld something!!!
jimbob