Stick welding smoke

[Chris P]

I'm just curious how hazardous the smoke for arc welding is? My wife gets pretty annoyed when I forget to open the garage door while I'm welding. I know its not good for me, but is it really dangerous?

[Glenn]

The same rule applies for welding as for blacksmithing, you can smoke, just do not inhale.

Look up the MSDA sheet for the rod your are burning. Lots of nasty stuff being produced.

General MSDS index

MSDS 6013

MSDS 7018 MR


From the Miller Website

*Welding produces fumes and gases. Breathing these fumes and gases can be hazardous to your health.
FUMES AND GASES can be hazardous.

* Keep your head out of the fumes. Do not breathe the fumes.

* If inside, ventilate the area and/or use local forced ventilation at the arc to remove welding fumes and gases.

* If ventilation is poor, wear an approved air-supplied respirator.

* Read and understand the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) and the manufacturer’s instructions for metals, consumables, coatings, cleaners, and degreasers.

* Work in a confined space only if it is well ventilated, or while wearing an air-supplied respirator. Always have a trained watchperson nearby. Welding fumes and gases can displace air and lower the oxygen level causing injury or death. Be sure the breathing air is safe.

* Do not weld in locations near degreasing, cleaning, or spraying operations. The heat and rays of the arc can react with vapors to form highly toxic and irritating gases.

* Do not weld on coated metals, such as galvanized, lead, or cadmium plated steel, unless the coating is removed from the weld area, the area is well ventilated, and while wearing an air-supplied respirator. The coatings and any metals containing these elements can give off toxic fumes if welded.

[james gonzalez]

Stick welding fumes have been linked to Parkinsons, I believe.
Do not weld without ventilation. A weld fume respirator too.

[Thomas Dean]

Originally Posted by Chris P

I'm just curious how hazardous the smoke for arc welding is? My wife gets pretty annoyed when I forget to open the garage door while I'm welding. I know its not good for me, but is it really dangerous?

The more cromium in the material/welding rod the worse it is. Any Stainless welding have plenty of ventilation. They don't put the warnings on the boxes for nothing. You have a wonderful wife that wants you healthy. VENTILATE! Or buy a hood that has filtered forced air supplied to you...They are expensive, trust me on that one!

[Chris P]

Originally Posted by Thomas Dean

The more cromium in the material/welding rod the worse it is. Any Stainless welding have plenty of ventilation. They don't put the warnings on the boxes for nothing. You have a wonderful wife that wants you healthy. VENTILATE! Or buy a hood that has filtered forced air supplied to you...They are expensive, trust me on that one!

So, because my wife loves me so much, now she wants me to at least consider getting one of these hoods... I've looked into a couple and yes, they are expensive. Does anyone have any suggestions to a good one?

[triw]

Go and get on your knees before you wife and thank her for loving you enough to get on your case. Also thank God he gave you such a great wife.

[ThomasPowers]

The problem with a lot of this stuff is that it's not immediately toxic and so folks are tempted to push the envelope a bit to save time, money or just bother. However a lot of it is cumulative and with no good way to get rid of it once the damage is done.

Sure we're all imortal when we're young; but do you really want to be a physical wreck before you are 50? You might die young but you won't leave a good looking corpse!

The time to worry is when your wife suggests spending your PPE money on a fast motorcycle and beer; *then* it's time to review your will and make sure all your tools will go to your good buddy Thomas!

[Chris P]

Originally Posted by triw

Go and get on your knees before you wife and thank her for loving you enough to get on your case. Also thank God he gave you such a great wife.

Every day.

So no specific suggestions regarding a good respirator?

I and thought something like this:
3M Adflo PAPR High Efficiency Multi Gas and Vapor System with 3M Sp
but I wasn't sure if this was over kill or maybe something cheaper could be had and still achieve the same results.

Thanks for the replies and advice so far

[Glenn]

Good things can be said for working outside and plugging in a BIG fan to blow the smoke away.

[Bentiron1946]

Well now's a fine time to tell me I should not have inhaled or maybe I should say "I smoked but did not inhale." I don't remember welding in any really very tightly enclosed spaces with my stick welder. Any of the shops that I welded in had big roll open doors and high bays and back then nobody but nobody worried about the smoke. If I knew getting old was going to be this tough I'd a done nothing!