Q's about arc welding

[dpopiz]

1. how does it work exactly? from what I understand, you clamp one electrode onto something you're trying to weld, and hold the other in your hand. when you want to weld something you press the two pieces together and stick the other electrode in there to create a circuit (and consequently a lot of heat) correct?

2. is arc welding dangerous? if you were to touch any part of your body to the piece of metal you're welding, you'd get about 50 amps running through you body (and thus DIE).

3. how bad is arc flash? what would if feel like if you accidentally welded briefly without a mask?

 

[MikeMike]

1. basically how it works

2. no because the current wants to go through path of least resistance, your body has more resistance than the path through the metal to the ground.

3. it can be bad, ive watched my father weld, im not close, but im not super far away, it can burn your eyes for a while. ive never had it, i normally turn my eyes away or cover them, but my father had it once and it can get really really bad.

MIKE

 

[DaTT]

I hear arc flash.....or welders flash, can be very painful. Always wear a mask to avoid such things.

 

[CycloWizard]

Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1
2. no because the current wants to go through path of least resistance, your body has more resistance than the path through the metal to the ground.

This isn't really true. It will split up in proportion to the resistance of the available paths, so you could still get screwed up pretty good if you're not very careful.

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: CycloWizard

Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1
2. no because the current wants to go through path of least resistance, your body has more resistance than the path through the metal to the ground.

This isn't really true. It will split up in proportion to the resistance of the available paths, so you could still get screwed up pretty good if you're not very careful.

uh... normally when welding things you can hold onto them and everything, ive tried, its a bitch that mask makes it sooo hard.

MIKE

 

[Kermy]

Originally posted by: dpopiz
1. how does it work exactly? from what I understand, you clamp one electrode onto something you're trying to weld, and hold the other in your hand. when you want to weld something you press the two pieces together and stick the other electrode in there to create a circuit (and consequently a lot of heat) correct?

2. is arc welding dangerous? if you were to touch any part of your body to the piece of metal you're welding, you'd get about 50 amps running through you body (and thus DIE).

3. how bad is arc flash? what would if feel like if you accidentally welded briefly without a mask?

3. Arc flash isn't bad as long as you look away as soon as it happens. I flashed myself 2 times in a row doing TIG welding. Sometimes it doesn't affect you but other times after it happens your eyes will feel like there's sand in it. It'll eventually go away though.

2. Arc welding isn't dangerous as long as you take precautions. Wear your leathers and helmet!

1. Like the others said, that's basically it. But there are different methods of arc welding that have their quirks. Some doesn't require the electrode to physically touch the part(s).

 

[CycloWizard]

Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1
uh... normally when welding things you can hold onto them and everything, ive tried, its a bitch that mask makes it sooo hard.

MIKE

Yeah, the masks are impossible to see through until the thing gets going. Just want to warn him to play it extra safe and not do anything that could decrease his resistance. 😛

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: CycloWizard

Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1
uh... normally when welding things you can hold onto them and everything, ive tried, its a bitch that mask makes it sooo hard.

MIKE

Yeah, the masks are impossible to see through until the thing gets going. Just want to warn him to play it extra safe and not do anything that could decrease his resistance. 😛

i know there are masks that will immediately darken, but they are costly. we have a small welder at home. i need to learn to use it more.

MIKE

 

[BadNewsBears]

Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1

Originally posted by: CycloWizard

Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1
uh... normally when welding things you can hold onto them and everything, ive tried, its a bitch that mask makes it sooo hard.

MIKE

Yeah, the masks are impossible to see through until the thing gets going. Just want to warn him to play it extra safe and not do anything that could decrease his resistance. 😛

i know there are masks that will immediately darken, but they are costly. we have a small welder at home. i need to learn to use it more.

MIKE

Tap electorde to metal to strike arc, hold back a bit and weld.

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: BadNewsBears

Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1

Originally posted by: CycloWizard

Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1
uh... normally when welding things you can hold onto them and everything, ive tried, its a bitch that mask makes it sooo hard.

MIKE

Yeah, the masks are impossible to see through until the thing gets going. Just want to warn him to play it extra safe and not do anything that could decrease his resistance. 😛

i know there are masks that will immediately darken, but they are costly. we have a small welder at home. i need to learn to use it more.

MIKE

Tap electorde to metal to strike arc, hold back a bit and weld.

i know how to do that, my problem was with keeping an even flow, and keeping my line of weld where it is supposed to be. keeping the "orange, away from the blue" took my mind off of where i was going with the weld.

MIKE

 

[nocash]

Ive welded alot and took it classes in college. Always wear a helmet when stick welding, and leathers. As for shocking yourself i have never done that, its pretty safe. Id be more worried about burns from the hot metal then the electric. And good to wear tightly laced high boots. Nothing like getting some hot slag in your boots and dont know it til is burnt in good. The arc is bright enough to get you sunburned, so watch your eyes, getting flashed isnt too fun.

 

[nocash]

And for how it works, fairly simple kinda strike the arc like a match to get the arc going. Then what you do is creat a puddle on the seam your welding, and move the puddle along the seam too hot and your blowing holes through it too cold your not getting big enough puddle to seal the 2 pieces so trick is to get temp just right really depends on metal type. usually have to make more then 1 pass. have to chip away the slag between passes, or get a really weak bond with slag in the middle not good. guess depends on what your working on. Can be pretty fun stuff 🙂

 

[JOJOBEAN]

Originally posted by: dpopiz
1. how does it work exactly? from what I understand, you clamp one electrode onto something you're trying to weld, and hold the other in your hand. when you want to weld something you press the two pieces together and stick the other electrode in there to create a circuit (and consequently a lot of heat) correct?

2. is arc welding dangerous? if you were to touch any part of your body to the piece of metal you're welding, you'd get about 50 amps running through you body (and thus DIE).

3. how bad is arc flash? what would if feel like if you accidentally welded briefly without a mask?

1. correct
2. it is not dangerous unless you turn it on and you physically grab the electrode end and the clamp end where you complete the circuit.
3. Flash burn is painful as hell, ive had it twice in the 7 years ive been welding. Basically a sunburn on your eyes, if your not careful your eyes will fuse to your eyelids causing even more problems.

 

[drum]

yeah, like nocash said, if you aren't wearing protection on your arms and face you will get a sunburn if you do it very long. if i'm just tacking something up I sometimes get lazy and shut my eyes instead of using a helmet. not smart! 🙂

 

[JOJOBEAN]

i know how to do that, my problem was with keeping an even flow, and keeping my line of weld where it is supposed to be. keeping the "orange, away from the blue" took my mind off of where i was going with the weld.

MIKE

what i always do is make either a half moon shape or circles. here you can see some of the things ive made with various types of welding methods mainly mig and arc welding, still trying to get a hang of tig that is damn hard.

my stuff link

 

[dartworth]

Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1

Originally posted by: CycloWizard

Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1
2. no because the current wants to go through path of least resistance, your body has more resistance than the path through the metal to the ground.

This isn't really true. It will split up in proportion to the resistance of the available paths, so you could still get screwed up pretty good if you're not very careful.

uh... normally when welding things you can hold onto them and everything, ive tried, its a bitch that mask makes it sooo hard.

MIKE

Just make sure your gloves aren't wet or soaked with sweat...I've gotten a few good zaps from this

ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz🙁

 

[ShotgunSteven]

Advice dispensed by a high school teacher of mine, if I recall correctly. When arc-welding, don't let the end of the rod get too near the zipper in your pants. Also, if you're welding with an oxy-acetylene rig, don't hold the sparker directly in front of the nozzle, spark from the side to ignite the flame. A girl with massive amounts of hair spray (think 80's hair) was made suddenly bald by the combination of backblast and hairspray.

 

[BadNewsBears]

Originally posted by: JOJOBEAN

i know how to do that, my problem was with keeping an even flow, and keeping my line of weld where it is supposed to be. keeping the "orange, away from the blue" took my mind off of where i was going with the weld.

MIKE

what i always do is make either a half moon shape or circles. here you can see some of the things ive made with various types of welding methods mainly mig and arc welding, still trying to get a hang of tig that is damn hard.

my stuff link

If your having trouble tig welding, I heigly recommend a henrob 2000 oxy/acet torch. Its a must have. I use to have a ton of little torches but now I can do it all, even weld 22 ga sheet metal, all the way up to 1/2'' plate! Crazy stuff!

 

[JOJOBEAN]

well im having trouble on just the aluminum part real hard to make a pretty weld with that junk.

 

[dpopiz]

so about the risk of shock:

1. which is true if you were to touch the object or tip while youre weldind, would NONE of the current go through you, or just a little bit of it?

2. You don't have to hold BOTH ends to get shocked right? I mean if you hold either side of the circuit and have a connection to the ground, then you'll get zapped right? because either side will have potential to want to go to the ground.

3. wouldn't it kill you if you got even a "partial" shock, like holding it while making dragging an arc? I mean those things are between about 10 and 60 Amps and 600mA is enough to stop your heart right?

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: dpopiz
so about the risk of shock:

1. which is true if you were to touch the object or tip while youre weldind, would NONE of the current go through you, or just a little bit of it?

2. You don't have to hold BOTH ends to get shocked right? I mean if you hold either side of the circuit and have a connection to the ground, then you'll get zapped right? because either side will have potential to want to go to the ground.

3. wouldn't it kill you if you got even a "partial" shock, like holding it while making dragging an arc? I mean those things are between about 10 and 60 Amps and 600mA is enough to stop your heart right?

you still have to deal with the natural resistance of your body however. and your body has a pretty high resistance within it.

MIKE