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Fleabit peanut monkey
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Mig welding without an eye shield
If I keep the burning tip covered by the copper shield (with respect to eye location) on the gun tip how much trouble am I asking for?
This was for a crack in a muffler pipe where I build the weld to bridge for a crappy old car. I am not a welder but I can throw molten metal on things. Is this an absolute no-no? I just did it and I don't have spots in my eyes but that don't make it ok.
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1981 911SC Targa |
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10-20-2018, 01:56 PM
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The 9 Store
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Wilmington, DE
Posts: 5,335
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A cheap helmet is $25-50. Still works to protect your eyes. Why would you take a chance.
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All used parts sold as is. |
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10-20-2018, 02:08 PM
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Unregistered
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: a wretched hive of scum and villainy
Posts: 55,652
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Many years ago my eyes got flash-burned from an arc. Basically retinal sunburn.
Imagine having sand packed behind your eyelids. It took several hours for the symptoms to get really bad, and about 2 days to go away. Lets see if your eyes still feel fine in a few hours. It sounds like you may have gotten away with it, but we are talking radiation that has the potential to damage tissue and eyes don't get better, they just get worse. |
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10-20-2018, 02:17 PM
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Fleabit peanut monkey
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Deal is I have one of those fancy ones that are clear until the instant the arc starts.
Honestly, I think I need the helmet and some kind of flame thrower light that very well illuminates what I am welding on. That is the root cause (for my casual approach). I live by one of those head band lights that are rendered useless by the helmet. A tripod halogen light?
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1981 911SC Targa Last edited by Bob Kontak; 10-20-2018 at 02:23 PM.. |
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10-20-2018, 02:20 PM
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Registered
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Did that fixing the exhaust on our Highlander.
That night my eyes hurt so bad the wife took me to the ER. Welding flash is VERY uncomfortable........don't do it.
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Pete 79 911SC RoW "Tornadoes come out of frikkin nowhere. One minute everything is all sunshine and puppies the next thing you know you've got flying cows".- Stomachmonkey |
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10-20-2018, 02:22 PM
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Fleabit peanut monkey
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Quote:
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1981 911SC Targa |
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10-20-2018, 02:24 PM
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Brew Master
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Are you having difficulty seeing what you're welding once the lens goes dark? If so most auto darkening lenses have a darkness adjustment along with a response time for going dark. I don't have a high dollar helmet but I can adjust the tint on the lens to a comfortable level for seeing where my weld is.
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Nick |
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10-20-2018, 02:54 PM
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.
Posts: 20,954
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Auto-darkening helmets are cheap these days.
about $40 at home depot/lowes/harbor freight/amazon..... https://www.homedepot.com/p/Smarter-Tools-Auto-Darkening-Welding-Helmet-ST-1S/203003331 https://smile.amazon.com/Darkening-Protection-High-Impact-Resistant-Polyamide/dp/B07CKYNFKW/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1540078346&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=welding+helmet&psc=1
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The truth is that while those on the left - particularly the far left - claim to be tolerant and welcoming of diversity, in reality many are quite intolerant of anyone not embracing their radical views. - Charlie Kirk |
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10-20-2018, 03:33 PM
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Registered
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Oh! You can change your name to Ida Burnteze.
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poof! gone |
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10-20-2018, 03:44 PM
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UnRegistered User
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Quote:
Arc (sun)burn on the skin is bad enough. The eyes? You kind of need those right to the time that you don't need them anymore.
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Bill K. "I started out with nothin and I still got most of it left...." 83 911 SC Guards Red (now gone) And I sold a bunch of parts I hadn't installed yet. Last edited by billybek; 10-20-2018 at 06:29 PM.. |
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10-20-2018, 03:47 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Marysville Wa.
Posts: 22,428
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I use a stubby LED flashlight in my left hand to help see where I want the weld to go. They come in a 3 pack at HD for cheap. With an auto dark helmet of course. Defiant brand.
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https://www.instagram.com/johnwalker8704 8009 103rd pl ne Marysville Wa 98270 206 637 4071 Last edited by john walker's workshop; 10-20-2018 at 04:08 PM.. |
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10-20-2018, 04:05 PM
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ALWAYS wear protection for your eyes while welding! I had flashburn three times, I would not wish the pain on even my most hated enemies.
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A nose heavy airplane flies poorly, a tail heavy plane flies once. |
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10-20-2018, 04:13 PM
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I burned my eyes just by being nearby and having all that bright light bouncing about the room. Felt like sand in my eyes.
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poof! gone |
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10-20-2018, 04:25 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: NY
Posts: 6,916
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Quote:
I did it once when I was young and dumb. Big bucket of no fun whatsoever. Buy a self dimming helmet. Cheaper than a pair of glasses and more protective. |
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10-20-2018, 04:29 PM
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FUSHIGI
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: somewhere between here and there
Posts: 10,735
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can does not equal should
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10-20-2018, 04:55 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Lake Oswego, OR
Posts: 6,060
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Prior career, I worked for the largest US bike frame manufacturer at the time. A co-worker went to Taiwan to check out the way they did things.
Here is what he told me back in the 1990's: No lens, helmet or any PPI. Weld for a couple weeks and after a while you burn out the middle of your retina. Hurts at first. Sounds like BS today but I believed it as truth until writing it just now. Yikes!!! |
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10-20-2018, 05:21 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Valencia Pa.
Posts: 8,847
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Yeah man, dont even take a chance , it is one of the most painful things I have ever experienced.
I was about 18, and got an old broken mig given to me. I got it to work, and decided to have a go at welding up a frame section on my old pick up truck. It was my first time welding, and I was having a very hard time. I found it much easier without the helmet on. I just tried to squint my way through it . I was down for 2 days, in just awful pain, like sunburn on your eyeballs, with sand mashed in . There was never a second when it did not hurt. It was so bad, I could not even sleep. I make repairs like this all the time. Just take your time. If it takes a few tries to get it closed up so be it. Getting up on the top can be a pia . Sometimes, you can take the pipes out of their hangers and get an extra inch or 2 and that can make all the difference in the world Good luck buddy, hope your eyeballs don't start hurting. From what I remember, it was several hours before the pain set in .
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No left turn un stoned |
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10-20-2018, 07:38 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Dec 1969
Location: chula vista ca usa
Posts: 5,697
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This sounds like the others who ask for medical advice about a broken shoulder, or brain surgery or possible knee replacement…..I'd say go ahead and do it and then get your wife to type in a response for all of us and maybe include a picture of what your eyes look like?
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10-20-2018, 08:12 PM
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Detached Member
Join Date: May 2003
Location: southern California
Posts: 26,964
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Yikes! that is crazy even thinking of not using protection. We required the use of UV screens because of passers by who might look for a few seconds.
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Hugh Last edited by Hugh R; 10-21-2018 at 09:43 AM.. |
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10-20-2018, 11:06 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 18,680
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Buy one of those Honeywell pipeliner hoods. They come with a number 10. Non auto darkening so no arc flash.... I recommend spending the extra 20 bucks for the 1CR ratchet head band. Still could be had for around 60$ on fleabay.
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dolor et pavor Copyright |
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10-21-2018, 03:38 AM
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1981 Porsche 911 SC Targa
1979 Porsche 911SC
1985 Porsche 911 Cab
1983 Porsche SC
1979 Porsche 911SC
