SB Metalman
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Arc Eye The noo!
- Thread starter skylinegtrgsl
- Start date
Slightly off subject i know but im sorry
I too like SB metalman managed while cutting the front off an old fiesta to get a shard of metal stuck in my eye ball just on the edge of the coulored part so the rusty ring showed up nicely.
they had to dig it out with a needle and a vibrating bur, it was very intresting seeing me pull away everytime the doctor cameat me with the needle
I too like SB metalman managed while cutting the front off an old fiesta to get a shard of metal stuck in my eye ball just on the edge of the coulored part so the rusty ring showed up nicely.
they had to dig it out with a needle and a vibrating bur, it was very intresting seeing me pull away everytime the doctor cameat me with the needle
SB Metalman
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Oh Jimi I am so with you on that. We do our very best not to flinch then the moment they come at you ..... its so horrible what they did to you, sounds grim. good story for us to tell though. I think there is a thread on here somewhere 'accidents Ive had' if not someone might start one eghugh or maybe not. I just rembered trying to fix a gash on my wrist I did with a chisel I tried to super glue it together and glued my fingers to the cut. lol
Quote" I'm not accident prone, honest".
Quote" I'm not accident prone, honest".
SB Metalman
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Avoiding arc eye
Does anybody know the minimum lens number thats safe. My spare mask is a hand held number 10 lense, but its difficult to see to start a weld with a live gasless torch like mine. I mostly use a solar powered auto mask but in confined spaces the hand held is really usefull. is it possible to go a shade or two lighter and still avoid Arc eye?
Does anybody know the minimum lens number thats safe. My spare mask is a hand held number 10 lense, but its difficult to see to start a weld with a live gasless torch like mine. I mostly use a solar powered auto mask but in confined spaces the hand held is really usefull. is it possible to go a shade or two lighter and still avoid Arc eye?
SB Metalman
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thanks for the reply
Thanks shenion for your quick reply.
I dont suppose you know if there is such a thing as mig welding goggles/spectacles?
I have a leather welding balclava to protect my face. They would be for getting into tight spaces like inside wheel arches and spare wheel wells in the boot/trunk
Thanks shenion for your quick reply.
I dont suppose you know if there is such a thing as mig welding goggles/spectacles?
I have a leather welding balclava to protect my face. They would be for getting into tight spaces like inside wheel arches and spare wheel wells in the boot/trunk
There is a type of welding helmet known as a 'monkey mask', it's a leather hood with either round goggle type lenses or rectangular standard welding shades. Try a google for suppliers or the shop on the uk welder forum sells them.
I've never really had it, but I do flash myself very often. Sometimes 5 times in a day, I always hit the pedal when trying to reach that awkward postion while playing with tungsten lengths etc.
It stop me been able to see for a few seconds but never hurt at night. (touch wood).
It stop me been able to see for a few seconds but never hurt at night. (touch wood).
SB Metalman
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I Had a look at Monkey mask's
Nice one. I googled 'monkey masks' Thats the very thing. I didn't know thats what they were called. I love to learn new things. It looks like they are not massively expensive either, I have gone off topic a little and should cross over to welding helmets and equipement posts, however I was trying to avoid arc eye in a confined space so it relates a bit. Is this a thing weldequipe would supply I wonder. I love this site you guys are the tops cheers
Nice one. I googled 'monkey masks' Thats the very thing. I didn't know thats what they were called. I love to learn new things. It looks like they are not massively expensive either, I have gone off topic a little and should cross over to welding helmets and equipement posts, however I was trying to avoid arc eye in a confined space so it relates a bit. Is this a thing weldequipe would supply I wonder. I love this site you guys are the tops cheers
DannyJigg
Member
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- 15
On my first try welding I managed to give myself a bit of arc eye. Long story short, I was trying to tack a length of bar to a horizontal but didnt have any clamps for the job. Only having the use of a hand held shield, and not having the use of a third hand, I struck the weld while looking away. There was a bit of a 'pop' where it had blown a hole in the base piece so I turned to look for the problem - before I had broken the arc... I have since invested in some clamps and an auto hood. Lesson learned.
Going back to the grated potato thing, I remember seeing a program on TV a while ago that said a bandage with a poultice of grated potato is good first aid for a scold. Something to do with the water content and the starch absorbing heat more efficiently than just water.
However, I will agree with the previous posts. Get something cold on your eyes a.s.a.p and if unsure, get it checked someone medical.
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DannyJigg
Going back to the grated potato thing, I remember seeing a program on TV a while ago that said a bandage with a poultice of grated potato is good first aid for a scold. Something to do with the water content and the starch absorbing heat more efficiently than just water.
However, I will agree with the previous posts. Get something cold on your eyes a.s.a.p and if unsure, get it checked someone medical.
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DannyJigg
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had it years ago when I first had a go at welding... wont forget it either... like has been said didnt feel to bad in the day but later that night... holy moly !! couldnt sleep .. had to keep a damp flanel over my eyes.. seemed to ease it a little....
dont do much welding tbh only now and again and the odd flash here and there but never had any probs since.
dont do much welding tbh only now and again and the odd flash here and there but never had any probs since.
pedrobedro
Man at Matalan
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Wear some safety specs under your mask, even clear ones will stop the UV which is what burns your conjunctiva and causes the soreness. It's just like sunburn but much more tender as it's your eyes' protective layer. You can't keep your eyes open and it hurts when you close them like having sand in them.
xboxjoner
Member
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- 73
had arc eye several times, some will say stupid and I agree....but the last time was about 16 years ago when I welded up a mk2 escort, a trip to eye hospital and a patch on both eyes for three days, I'd never had pain like that before and they didnt know if I damaged my eyes permanently but all was ok.. lesson learnt havent done that again, YOU ONLY GET ONE PAIR OF EYES LOOK AFTER THEM !!!!! 
Wolfy Wolf
Member
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- 27
I have to dissagree with at least one post, (cant remember who it was from cos this thread is epic) whoever it was said "Dont waste A&E's time because it will go on its own"
If you get flashed and you feel the gritty feeling (your conjunctiva across your eyeball breaking up under your eyelid), If it lasts longer than 24 hours get yourself down to A&E, Reason; you may have corneal burns, now when you weld there are several gasses emitted from the process that are not exactly sterile, the material you are welding is not sterile, the wire/electrode is not sterile, the dust kicked up is not sterile, if any of that crud gets in your eye and into that burn you are 50% more at risk of getting an infection.
Im sure all you coded guys n gals know this next bit, but for the beginners ----
METALS. These are some of the toxic metals:
• Stainless steel contains nickel and chromium, which can cause asthma. Nickel and
chromium 6 can cause cancer. Chromium can cause sinus problems and “holes” between the
nostrils.
• Carbon steel contains more manganese than some other metals do. Manganese can cause
Parkinson’s disease, which cripples the nerves and muscles.
• Zinc in galvanized metal or in paint can cause metal fume fever. It feels like the flu and
goes away in a few hours or days after exposure ends.
COATINGS and RESIDUES
• Lead (in some paints) can cause lead poisoning — headaches, sore muscles and joints,
nausea, stomach cramps, irritability, memory loss, anemia, and kidney and nervous system
damage. If lead dust goes home on work clothes/shoes, it can make your family sick, most
of all your children.
• Cadmium (in some paints and fillers) can cause kidney problems and cancer.
• Other coatings may contain isocyanates, which can cause asthma; one type (TDI) may
cause cancer.
SOLVENTS
• Welding through or near some (chlorinated) solvents can produce phosgene, a poisonous
gas. The gas can cause fluid in the lungs. You may not notice the problem until hours after
you quit welding. But fluid in your lungs can kill you.
GASES
• When carbon dioxide is used for shielding, carbon monoxide can form and kill you.
Carbon monoxide can form also in oxyacetylene welding.
• The welding arc can form ozone and nitrogen oxides from the air. MIG and TIG welding
make the most ozone, most of all when aluminum is welded. These fumes irritate the eyes,
ear, nose, throat, and lungs and can damage the lungs.
• Some nitrogen oxides can cause fluid in the lungs.
above bullets taken from CPWR
And i was worried about going blind from a 1/2 second flash
If you get flashed and you feel the gritty feeling (your conjunctiva across your eyeball breaking up under your eyelid), If it lasts longer than 24 hours get yourself down to A&E, Reason; you may have corneal burns, now when you weld there are several gasses emitted from the process that are not exactly sterile, the material you are welding is not sterile, the wire/electrode is not sterile, the dust kicked up is not sterile, if any of that crud gets in your eye and into that burn you are 50% more at risk of getting an infection.
Im sure all you coded guys n gals know this next bit, but for the beginners ----
METALS. These are some of the toxic metals:
• Stainless steel contains nickel and chromium, which can cause asthma. Nickel and
chromium 6 can cause cancer. Chromium can cause sinus problems and “holes” between the
nostrils.
• Carbon steel contains more manganese than some other metals do. Manganese can cause
Parkinson’s disease, which cripples the nerves and muscles.
• Zinc in galvanized metal or in paint can cause metal fume fever. It feels like the flu and
goes away in a few hours or days after exposure ends.
COATINGS and RESIDUES
• Lead (in some paints) can cause lead poisoning — headaches, sore muscles and joints,
nausea, stomach cramps, irritability, memory loss, anemia, and kidney and nervous system
damage. If lead dust goes home on work clothes/shoes, it can make your family sick, most
of all your children.
• Cadmium (in some paints and fillers) can cause kidney problems and cancer.
• Other coatings may contain isocyanates, which can cause asthma; one type (TDI) may
cause cancer.
SOLVENTS
• Welding through or near some (chlorinated) solvents can produce phosgene, a poisonous
gas. The gas can cause fluid in the lungs. You may not notice the problem until hours after
you quit welding. But fluid in your lungs can kill you.
GASES
• When carbon dioxide is used for shielding, carbon monoxide can form and kill you.
Carbon monoxide can form also in oxyacetylene welding.
• The welding arc can form ozone and nitrogen oxides from the air. MIG and TIG welding
make the most ozone, most of all when aluminum is welded. These fumes irritate the eyes,
ear, nose, throat, and lungs and can damage the lungs.
• Some nitrogen oxides can cause fluid in the lungs.
above bullets taken from CPWR
And i was worried about going blind from a 1/2 second flash
BRODTuning
Member
- Messages
- 128
been welding for a few years myself but always been around it regularly from a young age due to my grandfather owning a welding/fab businessand always been aware of arc eye.
Ive been flashed many many times but i had never experienced arc eye untill the other day!
This week ive been working in the workshop so others are welding around me and i got flashed a few times with the mig and a few times with the tig also got it from it reflecting ,i didnt really feel anything but then in the afternoon i got a gritty sensation in my left eye ,i thought i just had something in there but after a few hours of prodding my eye with my finger
it was still there so i washed my eye out,still there ....i just tryed to forget about it and got on with things and it went that night.
Then upon reading this thread ive come to realise i have now suffered arc eye haha,glad i didnt get it any worse and i will be a bit more carefull in the future
Ive been flashed many many times but i had never experienced arc eye untill the other day!
This week ive been working in the workshop so others are welding around me and i got flashed a few times with the mig and a few times with the tig also got it from it reflecting ,i didnt really feel anything but then in the afternoon i got a gritty sensation in my left eye ,i thought i just had something in there but after a few hours of prodding my eye with my finger
it was still there so i washed my eye out,still there ....i just tryed to forget about it and got on with things and it went that night.
Then upon reading this thread ive come to realise i have now suffered arc eye haha,glad i didnt get it any worse and i will be a bit more carefull in the future
Reflected arc can be pretty bad as well, I once put half of my factory where I was working at off work due to welders flash. My normal welding job was to build tractor frames and buckets. I was the only welder employed there, anyway got a repair job in one day which wasn't the norm for me. It was a a dozer ripper blade that had snapped in half, about 8" thick and I think approx 18" to 24" wide, can't remember exactly as it was about 35 years ago. But it was big and a rush job, took two days to weld it up using 2-3 reels of 15Kg wire.
Anyway we got the thicker wire out and after it had been prepped on the O/A profile cutter I was given the job to weld it. So after cranking up the amps and welding solidly all day long, I went home. Next day a few of the other staff didn't turn up to work, I finished it that day and went home, came in the following day and there was hardly anyone there. So I asked what's going on.
Because I had been welding on the floor the UV light was bouncing straight up onto the reflective insulation foil off the ceiling as well as off the concrete and walls, bouncing around the factory and gave them all arc eye. I was fine as I had my helmet on all day. But there were machinists and fitter and turners all working within 60 feet from me who weren't wearing googles or anything. Normally I was shoved in a little corner against a wall, shielded and screened off from everyone, but this time I was in the middle of the factory.
Now this was an extreme case, but afterwards I always thought about what the accumilated effects of less powerfull but constant doses of UV light over the years was doing to the other workers eyes over that long period of time. Makes you wonder though.
Anyway we got the thicker wire out and after it had been prepped on the O/A profile cutter I was given the job to weld it. So after cranking up the amps and welding solidly all day long, I went home. Next day a few of the other staff didn't turn up to work, I finished it that day and went home, came in the following day and there was hardly anyone there. So I asked what's going on.
Because I had been welding on the floor the UV light was bouncing straight up onto the reflective insulation foil off the ceiling as well as off the concrete and walls, bouncing around the factory and gave them all arc eye. I was fine as I had my helmet on all day. But there were machinists and fitter and turners all working within 60 feet from me who weren't wearing googles or anything. Normally I was shoved in a little corner against a wall, shielded and screened off from everyone, but this time I was in the middle of the factory.
Now this was an extreme case, but afterwards I always thought about what the accumilated effects of less powerfull but constant doses of UV light over the years was doing to the other workers eyes over that long period of time. Makes you wonder though.
pedrobedro
Man at Matalan
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Light doesn't bounce, light reflects (sorry, pet hate). The welders institute infers that anyone within 2 metres of the arc needs the same level of protection as the welder, anyone over 30 feet away will only be dazzled. Many years ago I used to work on an arcair machine and management in their wisdom sent someone in to monitor the process. I sent him back out as he had no protective gear and he came back with a green screen glass to look through, no screen just the glass. He watched for a couple of hours and went away to fill in his report on whatever they wanted to know. Next day he came back with red skin and two days later he was peeling like nobody's business on his face and hands
Sorry, I wasn't being accurate regarding "bouncing", but I think readers would have understood what I was talking about, but regarding people only being dazzled if over 30 ft away, I think half of the factory workers where I worked at would disagree on that one. I think that The Welders Institute would most likely be referring to momentarily looking at a flash and not the accumilated effect of being exposed to high UV levels for 8 hours a day
You got to love management, I bet you were snickering the whole time while that guy was watching you, holding the lens in front of his eyes and knowing what was going to happen.
Ive had arc eye twice now and its painfull, if you get a good blast then you feel like your face is on fire after some hours mine was about 12pm and the missus put wet towels on my face which dried out rather to quick for my liking, its like having bad sunburn and the last time i had it i had to wear 2 patches on my eyes for a week i looked stupid walking around with the patches on wearing sunglasses while it was raining 
it sounds like you were lucky, im not sure how many times your eyes can put up with a real dose of arc eye and i really hope i never find out, although i still take risks and tack without the mask on which really i should know better.
Now i am going to have to make sure from now on that i use the mask every time i weld
it sounds like you were lucky, im not sure how many times your eyes can put up with a real dose of arc eye and i really hope i never find out, although i still take risks and tack without the mask on which really i should know better.Now i am going to have to make sure from now on that i use the mask every time i weld
