Fumes

[Nivag]

Hi All, recently I have had a chest infection/virus and this has got me thinking about good protection from fumes. I currently leave the garage doors open and wear 3M 9925 FF2 disposable respirators. However, I am seriously considering a 3M Adflo auto darkening mask with built in positive pressure area around the nose and mouth. Apparently they now do a model which you can use for grinding/cutting as well. The blower unit mounts fits on your waist via a belt.
This seems to me to be a more convenient method of protecting oneself than a normal fan and "elephant's trunk" ducting as you have to remember to position the later wherever you end up welding. Also, I am working alone so I only need to protect myself, unlike a fab-shop environment where you have to think of the effect on others.
I am mainly welding steel with MIG and MMA. I want to be safe but also need to spend wisely as these masks are over £500. Also, my current 3M autodarkening mask (the one with the "mechanical skull" murals on the sides) is very new and only had little use (could be up for sale soon). It is very good but can't easily be converted to the Adflo system.
What do others on the forum use? Am I being overly cautious in specifying the Adflo system for basic home/DIY/hobby use?
Thanks for your views, Nivag.

 

[Sparkey]

DROOL!!!!
You have a speedglas graphic edition and you allready want to sell it??????
I am green with envy!!!
My birthday is coming up soon...
Hehe, lol sorry bout that!

The adflo is a great piece of kit tho, but unfortunately very expensive too...
I'm not sure if you can justify it for DIY use....

PS: drop me a pm if you really want to sell your bucket.....wonder if it would be expensive to send it to France......

 

[Hitch]

There are plenty of cheaper alternatives, from the likes of parweld, jackson, esab...
99% of the time i just use disposables.
Do you really do that much welding it becomes an issue? Maybe with MMA i suppose it would.

 

[pedrobedro]

I would be hesitant to spend £500 on a ventilation unit for occasional diy use when a simple particle mask would probably be adequate for the amount of use you will get out of it. Stick weld outside or put a fan behind you and blow the crap away from you, a fan heater left on cold would do the job.

 

[blenkie1]

I think you are being overly cautious. I work in a fabrication shop every day welding and grinding with no ventilation system other than to open the doors. Thats ok in the summer but the winters a different story. It can get that bad the dust can dim the lights. Just try and keep the doors open and wear a mask and you should be ok. The worst things I find is grinding/welding paint. Serious things like Aluminium and stainless you should have some ventilation though again we weld/grind aluminium most days with nothing other than a mask. The worst thing I have been affected with is galvanized metal. I have had fume fever several times from this and its not nice. Its like a really bad flu, aching joints, severe shivering, and feeling cold. usually only lasts 24 hours

 

[Fazed]

The Adflo/Speedglas is a fantastic bit of kit but at £600-odd is overkill for occasional use. Look at the Esab Origo-tech (about half the price). I use one at work and although it's not on a par with the Adflo, it's good for the money. It's a bit clunky and definitely built down to a price, but I've been using one for 3 months and haven't had any major issues with it.

 

[astro_al]

I have an adflo and like it a lot (get more than one batt if you weld a lot). Look on ebay for a cheaper one. Al

 

[Nivag]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I think I have become a bit paranoid but have had the chest infection/virus for about eight weeks and if this is what breathlessness feels like I want to do everything possible to prevent it.
I am still pondering the Adflo but will continue with the 3M masks and a fan behind me (as suggested).
Many thanks, Nivag

 

[Faaluke]

You think a chest infection is bad.... i've had a lot more issues with my chest :P But all I do is have garage door open, and a side door so air can flow through. Then I just increase the gas flow to compensate (shielding). No problems yet, any slight irritant and I have a coughing fit and i've yet to cough while welding. Though I'm only using MIG, MMA i'd probably be doing outside anyways. (that's stick welding right?). I do have a 6000 series 3M mask with dust filters, and another with vapour/dust filters. Use the dust ones when grinding / cutting metal. Unless you can see clouds coming off the weld i'm sure it will be ok. Just have a small breeze flowing through in my opinion.

 

[Gordon Hunter]

My wife is a respiratory physiotherapist. She deals with folks who have lung / heart transplants and respiratory infections / failure.
An alarmingly high proportion of her elderly patients gasping for breath were involved with automotive repair at some point (some even just hobbyists). A lot of people seem to think it's ok if you can't see it and just open the doors when grinding / welding. But the unseen particles hanging in the air that you are breathing in will coat the inside of your lungs. Like smoking, it can come back and bite you when you are older.

I restore classic cars for a living now and early on, after one long grinding session was coughing up orange coloured fluid in the night.
The question is how much are your lungs worth to you?
Regular grinding without proper protection and certainly welding for prolonged sessions over a period of years is even worse than smoking.
(I am an ex-smoker myself and don't want to judge others, but the facts speak for themselves)
I bought an Adflo because I will often spend a couple of hours welding inside a confined space in a vehicle. They are brilliant, but Hideously expensive.
In the past I have used seperate goggles and a 3m respirator for grinding, but still got sparks in my eye. I switched to using goggles with face protection like in the previous posts, but now I just keep the Adflo on and lift up the welding filter.
One chap I work with uses a Machine mart full face respirator when grinding (cheap and totally effective).
Hope this helps.

Gordon

 

[novo]

As already stated, take care of your lungs. Remember, your lungs are like a sponge & you cant wash them out.Imagine the dirt & fumes that get trapped over a lifetime.This is from someone who has had respiration issues.I'm 64 & i'm starting to wish i had taken more care in the past.Just take care.

 

[madkayaker]

You could get a proper fume extractor for that kind of money

 

[cumbriasteve]

If you want to know some of what you are breathing in, find a ledge in the workshop and run your finger along it and see the black muck you pick up.

I have chest issues as a result of years of part time welding and celly spraying, the last chest infection I had required antibiotics and the Doc suggested I should perhaps start to think of a new retirement hobby that does not involve fumes and dust.

So... I don't agree with those that state you are being over cautious, perhaps your suggested expense is not required but the fact you are thinking of the possible damage is a good thing.

 

[Wookster]

Just bought a Safir respirator off fleabay and am looking for advice as to what filters to fit.
For welding & grinding I'm fitting their high efficiency EN143 filter, but wonder is there is a better option for removing underseal etc with a heat gun.
Does anyone know what kind of fumes are given off, so that I can pick the correct filter.
Options are organic or inorganic vapours and fumes.