Extractors

[Archie]

Ok. So how important is fume extraction? Obviously anyone H&S minded is going to tell me it's absolutely essential but I'm hoping I might get a sensible response around here!

I've just started thinking about getting some sort of extractor cos I always seem to have a nose full of foul black stuff after a good days welding/tinkering in the barn and I'm sure it's probably not good for me!

I wouldn't normally worry but as I'm now doing quite a bit of welding (a couple of weeks at a time) it seems like more of an issue.

Am I worrying unnecessarily or do I need to splash out on some kit?

Any ideas greatly appreciated.

 

[Sparkey]

How about a fan? (just a simple one you use around the house too)
be sure not to blow your shielding gas away tho!
At least like that you keep the fumes out of your face....
sparks

 

[Archie]

Good point. Sounds much cheaper. Only thing is, it's not a massive space so after a while aren't I just going to end up circulating the fumes? Or is it not really a major issue? Cheers, Sparks!

 

[Sparkey]

well it depends on what you're welding... if it's galvanised or painted or if there's oil or grease on your parts,you don't want to sniff that for too long!!
Can't you open a door or window to get the fumes out?

 

[Archie]

Well certainly not galvanised and generally not painted but quite often oil. Maybe I'm just being wet.

Oh, and I normally have the windows open anyway, unless it's freezing cold!

 

[Sparkey]

Well certainly not galvanised and generally not painted but quite often oil. Maybe I'm just being wet.

Oh, and I normally have the windows open anyway, unless it's freezing cold!

If the windows are open you'll blow the fumes out with a fan....
oil fumes eh? i sniff that all day long!!! didn't do me no harm...yet.. Haaaahhhahahahaaaaaaaaa!!!!! in our factory they already think us welders are crazy in da coconut, we always blame the fumes we're sniffing...

I welded some galva the other day on the farm, it was raining so i had to stay in the workshop with the arc welder, so i opened the door but still the fumes stayed in a bit... i can assure you i felt a bit qweezy later that night..
i'm making fun of it now, but be carefull with that! you can become quite sick of it!!
sparks

 

[Sparkey]

See you around Archie, have to go to work now!
Sparks

 

[rusty69bus]

on the bay 290231732095

 

[Archie]

oil fumes eh? i sniff that all day long!!! didn't do me no harm...yet.. Haaaahhhahahahaaaaaaaaa!!!!!

No. None at all...

Seems like a fan'll probs do the trick then. Interesting aside, what's in angle grinder dust?

 

[shenion]

Here, I try to keep doors/windows closed. Keeps the mosquitoes out Or it it hot outside and have A/C on.

I have a 24" box fan that I tape a 20x20 HVAC air filter to the input side. I use the 3M Allergan type.

You would be amazed at how much it picks up. Painted an LN-7 wire feeder with my HVLP gun. The HVLP guns do not have much overspray and I was only painting basically a 1' cube; still when done I looked and the air filter was solid red.

Not a professional fume extractor, but it does cut down on the amount of dust in the garage.

MIG welding I usually just use th fan for short jobs. Open door and use fan when doing arc welding or larger MIG jobs..

 

[Archie]

Cheers, Rusty. I think if I do splash out I'd rather go for something that doesn't involve filters though. I have a suspicion they probably aren't cheap!

24" is pretty big, Shenion. I would be shocked if it didn't extract quite a bit! Is it not quite noisy?

 

[shenion]

On low you can barely hear it. On high it is not bad.

Both my welders have 16" fans in them. They came from a shop that must have done construction equipment and hydraulics. There was 1/8" of black oily slime covering the entire inside. Looked like a mix of Georgia clay and oil. Took hours of work to clean them out.

On the Lincoln from the same shop, I gave up trying to hand clean it. Took out the electronics and sprayed the inside down with degreaser and a a hose.

All 3 were "non operational" because they never did any maintenance on them. All took basic cleaning and simple repairs to get back to snuff.

Both welders I kept, suck air in the bottom and out the back. I was tempted to fit a 16"x25" filter in the bottom to keep them clean inside. Should be just about the right size. I use the box fan instead as it is easier to move near source of dust.

The fan is quieter than the welders It is a cheap indoor fan designed for household use. The good 3M filters cost about as much as the fan

 

[Archie]

I hadn't though about that. The fan in the back of my welder makes the most god-awful racket already so I suppose another isn't going to make much difference!

 

[shenion]

The Lincoln I had was a R3S-325, probably near identical to your CV-400. The Miller and Airco have near the same size fan. The Airco will need new bearings, it makes a nasty rattle spinning up. Amazing it still runs well after 35 years

Argh, I just realized I threw out a 220V fan from an outside A/C unit. Now I remember why I had it sitting around, I bet it was the right size.

I should add a box fan with an HVAC filter will not remove any noxious fumes, it is only to reduce the amount of dust in the air. Works well for its purpose.

My garage is very dirty, painting is difficult to keep dust out. The fan does help keep the dust down.

 

[Archie]

Yeah. The pic looks pretty similar. Fortunately, no rattle here. The last welder rattled a lot and drove me nearly insane (there you go, Sparks, that's my excuse ).

The dust in the barn is quite a problem due to a) the amount of use the chopsaw gets, and b) the old corn crusher which is used every now and again to crush the horse feed. The vents on the back of the welder get caked in it so I ought to give it a clean every so often. I think some sort of extractor may be the way to go.

 

[Robotstar5]

The dust in the barn is quite a problem due to a) the amount of use the chopsaw gets, and b) the old corn crusher which is used every now and again to crush the horse feed. The vents on the back of the welder get caked in it so I ought to give it a clean every so often. I think some sort of extractor may be the way to go.

Or invest in an air fed mask?

 

[Archie]

Good suggestion. I've considered it but again I'd be reluctant to buy the filters or wear the thing!!! I can't believe a home brew/second hand extractor is going to be any more expensive than an air-fed mask. Plus it's not just me in there so that would only benefit me.

I think I just need to decide whether I'm spending enough time welding/cutting metal that I am in danger of poisoning myself or suffering some other unpleasant ailment!!!

 

[Robotstar5]

I think I just need to decide whether I'm spending enough time welding/cutting metal that I am in danger of poisoning myself or suffering some other unpleasant ailment!!!

The only problem is, some of these ailments only show up years later when it's too late to do anything about it.
It's much safer to assume you have a problem and protect against it.

Just wait 'til you start getting involved in risk asessments, then the fun begins!

 

[Archie]

I remember something about Risk Assessment from school. COSHH or some such sh1t!

 

[billythefish]

I was a Health and Safety Inspector before I took early retirement and where it was possible, fume extractors were used plus local exhaust ventilation when all welding took place.
If you have a large barn with the windows and doors open, you could as one person suggested use a fan over the area where the plume of gases gather during welding.
The following might help members to understand what can happen if exposed to unsafe methods of welding.
Lung Cancer is related to exposure to certain metals, especially nickel and chromium which are found in different grades of steel.
Metal fume fever from nearly all metals during cutting and welding, can cause vomiting, chills and headache. Effects may be delayed several hours and last 24 hours. Zinc fume from galvanised iron is most severe, though copper and tin fume are nearly as bad.
Fume poisoning- from such metals as lead, zinc and cadmium, can enter through the nose and mouth through smoking or eating with contaminated hands. Continuous exposure may lead to long term blood disorders, nerve damage and kidney disease.
Gases and Fumes Fluoride emitted from coating on low hydrogen rods can damage the lungs and cause general poisoning.
Ozone, a highly toxic gas, produced from any arc-type welding, can cause long term respiratory problems. Ozone has a characteristic irritating pungent odour and can cause short term headaches and nausea.
Heated coatings and paints can release toxic substances such as cyanide, formaldehyde and isocyanates.
Fluxes may give off hazardous substances when heated. A Material Safety Data Sheet should be obtained from suppliers to determine hazards of each flux.
I hope all that reads this understand that it is always better to know the consequences rather than suffer because of ignorance.