Comments on: Toolmonger’s “Doh!” of the Week: Welding Safety http://toolmonger.com/2006/08/28/toolmongers-doh-of-the-week-welding-safety/ All tools. All the time. Your source for news, information, and reviews of hand tools, power tools, and tools of all kinds. Mon, 08 Sep 2008 04:27:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Pat http://toolmonger.com/2006/08/28/toolmongers-doh-of-the-week-welding-safety/#comment-4912 Pat Sun, 26 Nov 2006 21:11:21 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2006/08/28/toolmongers-doh-of-the-week-welding-safety/#comment-4912 I work for a welding supplly house so i should know better but... We were testing a new machine before the customer picked it up and i decided to run a few quick beads. I was wearing boots and shorts at the time and let me tell you, you'd be surprised how fast you can untie and remove a work boot with a piece of slag stuck in it. The burn took 3 weeks to heal,my pride...? still waiting. I work for a welding supplly house so i should know better but… We were testing a new machine before the customer picked it up and i decided to run a few quick beads. I was wearing boots and shorts at the time and let me tell you, you’d be surprised how fast you can untie and remove a work boot with a piece of slag stuck in it. The burn took 3 weeks to heal,my pride…? still waiting.

]]> By: Thinkerer http://toolmonger.com/2006/08/28/toolmongers-doh-of-the-week-welding-safety/#comment-1530 Thinkerer Sat, 30 Sep 2006 15:35:21 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2006/08/28/toolmongers-doh-of-the-week-welding-safety/#comment-1530 I was in high school in the early 1970's...the early polyester years. The early polyester was both hideous and not fire retardent. In shop class, one of the cooler than cool started welding with a leather apron that didn't cover his bell-bottom pant legs from the sparks, which promptly ignited his trousers. No serious injury, but no end of laughter either (and a good lesson). Wear cotton or wool or other self-extinguishing and non-melting material. I was in high school in the early 1970’s…the early polyester years. The early polyester was both hideous and not fire retardent. In shop class, one of the cooler than cool started welding with a leather apron that didn’t cover his bell-bottom pant legs from the sparks, which promptly ignited his trousers. No serious injury, but no end of laughter either (and a good lesson). Wear cotton or wool or other self-extinguishing and non-melting material.

]]> By: Mike (aka Murphy'sSidekic) http://toolmonger.com/2006/08/28/toolmongers-doh-of-the-week-welding-safety/#comment-776 Mike (aka Murphy'sSidekic) Thu, 31 Aug 2006 04:22:11 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2006/08/28/toolmongers-doh-of-the-week-welding-safety/#comment-776 I've done the "I just need a tack there, and that's all" weld before, but once it bit me back. I was rushing, and needed a quick tack. Didn't even think about clothing, but I did grab my mask. Quick tack, then bam, arm was killing me. Looked over, and my nylon golf shirt had a hole the size of a quarter in it, and it was growing. Not much fun to pull molten plastic off your skin - wear your leathers! I’ve done the “I just need a tack there, and that’s all” weld before, but once it bit me back. I was rushing, and needed a quick tack. Didn’t even think about clothing, but I did grab my mask. Quick tack, then bam, arm was killing me. Looked over, and my nylon golf shirt had a hole the size of a quarter in it, and it was growing. Not much fun to pull molten plastic off your skin - wear your leathers!

]]> By: Tom http://toolmonger.com/2006/08/28/toolmongers-doh-of-the-week-welding-safety/#comment-742 Tom Wed, 30 Aug 2006 05:37:07 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2006/08/28/toolmongers-doh-of-the-week-welding-safety/#comment-742 Friend used to weld for years with mask but shirt open. Got repeat "sun" burns and died of skin cancer that started at his open shirt. Friend used to weld for years with mask but shirt open. Got repeat “sun” burns and died of skin cancer that started at his open shirt.

]]> By: Eli http://toolmonger.com/2006/08/28/toolmongers-doh-of-the-week-welding-safety/#comment-737 Eli Wed, 30 Aug 2006 04:26:50 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2006/08/28/toolmongers-doh-of-the-week-welding-safety/#comment-737 Like I said, never try and weld together 55 gal drums (end to end) while sitting on them in shorts, it feels like you held the sun between your knees at the beach for a day. You walk bowlegged for a week and that's only if you put on enough burn cream. Like I said, never try and weld together 55 gal drums (end to end) while sitting on them in shorts, it feels like you held the sun between your knees at the beach for a day. You walk bowlegged for a week and that’s only if you put on enough burn cream.

]]> By: TL http://toolmonger.com/2006/08/28/toolmongers-doh-of-the-week-welding-safety/#comment-725 TL Tue, 29 Aug 2006 21:19:54 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2006/08/28/toolmongers-doh-of-the-week-welding-safety/#comment-725 Ditto the fire extinguisher advice. Once in my younger years I was sharpening a chisel on the stationary belt sander in Dad's shop. Until the smoke started it hadn't occured to me that Dad doesn't work with metal, or have a dust collection system. Sparks from the chisel were smoldering in the bed of sawdust inside the belt sander. My next unpleasant discovery was that the shop's 10 year old fire extinguisher had no pressure. A nearby cup of ice water kept it from actual flames, but the cleanup wasn't fun. Ditto the fire extinguisher advice. Once in my younger years I was sharpening a chisel on the stationary belt sander in Dad’s shop. Until the smoke started it hadn’t occured to me that Dad doesn’t work with metal, or have a dust collection system. Sparks from the chisel were smoldering in the bed of sawdust inside the belt sander. My next unpleasant discovery was that the shop’s 10 year old fire extinguisher had no pressure. A nearby cup of ice water kept it from actual flames, but the cleanup wasn’t fun.

]]> By: Dean http://toolmonger.com/2006/08/28/toolmongers-doh-of-the-week-welding-safety/#comment-711 Dean Tue, 29 Aug 2006 14:48:15 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2006/08/28/toolmongers-doh-of-the-week-welding-safety/#comment-711 When in summer school way back when, I managed to cut the tip of my left finger off with a utility knife while making a backgammon board. And if that wasn't bad enough, I then cut the tip of my right finger off. (I had to use the knife left-handed since my right finger was bandaged.) I did pass the class, mainly due to the teacher wanting me out of there ASAP. I used to build electric guitars so I used a router a lot. One major tip: ALWAYS make sure it's unplugged before you get anywhere near the bit! A router doesn't care if it's wood or flesh it's ripping through. Of course, everyone here has probably cut through a cord or two with a cricular saw. (I hope I'm not the only one.) I ran over my dog with a belt sander once. Plugged it in, and it was then that I found out that the trigger was locked and it was belt-side down. My dog refuses to come into the barn anymore. And wood tends to start on fire easily, (almost as easily as I do), so make sure you have the proper fire extinguisher handy. Make sure the extinguisher is charged and it's always a good idea to practice with one so you know what to expect when you have to use it. When in summer school way back when, I managed to cut the tip of my left finger off with a utility knife while making a backgammon board. And if that wasn’t bad enough, I then cut the tip of my right finger off. (I had to use the knife left-handed since my right finger was bandaged.) I did pass the class, mainly due to the teacher wanting me out of there ASAP.

I used to build electric guitars so I used a router a lot. One major tip: ALWAYS make sure it’s unplugged before you get anywhere near the bit! A router doesn’t care if it’s wood or flesh it’s ripping through.

Of course, everyone here has probably cut through a cord or two with a cricular saw. (I hope I’m not the only one.)

I ran over my dog with a belt sander once. Plugged it in, and it was then that I found out that the trigger was locked and it was belt-side down. My dog refuses to come into the barn anymore.

And wood tends to start on fire easily, (almost as easily as I do), so make sure you have the proper fire extinguisher handy. Make sure the extinguisher is charged and it’s always a good idea to practice with one so you know what to expect when you have to use it.

]]>