If you weld, you should read this...

[ForcedFirebird]

Acetone is one of the few chemicals that leaves virtually no trace at all. I have seen that article pop up on several forums.

I am guilty of spot/tack welding with my eyes closed, and also wear shorts (under the desk) while welding.

Got "uv burn" once though repairing the exhaust on my truck. It was high enough for me not to have to jack it up, but had to reach at a weird angle. With a t-shirt on and the angle, the entire inside of my arm was burned lol. Live and learn.

[geoffinbc]

I am a journeyman welder and I wear all the gear all the time. Your number one articles are obviously a welding helmet with a shade 10 or better but most people skip over the respirator. Even an N95 mask you pick up at your local hardware store will help ALOT but for full protection you should wear a 3M or NORTH half mask with P100 filters on it.

Now if you are just tacking something in then your not going to die. And maybe you could get away with a full day of welding with nothing more that a helmet and gloves. Hell I know guys that weld all their life and don't wear a respirator and they are still alive. But when I hear them hacking all day and looking like an 80 year old when they are only in their 50's is makes you aware of the damage that is done. Its just like smoking.

As for the Posgene gas. It is one of the thing you learn in trade school. If you have to degrease for some reason then just use alcohol. It works well and evaorates fast. Anything else like dirt, rust or milscale just grind or wire wheel it off.

[robertisaar]

then just use alcohol. It works well and evaorates fast.

and assuming ethanol, it doesn't smell too bad when burned...

[pocket-rocket]

Well, posting this has people thinking and that was the whole point of it. I would rather hear you guys chime in the keel over I've done my part to pass along the information

[Joseph Upson]

Don't play games with UV radiation from welding. Even if you are subjecting yourself to small amounts of exposure. If it's too intense for you to look at without eye protection it's too intense to expose your skin to. Remember sunlight contributes the most to skin cancer for the general non welding public. It only takes a flash of exposure to alter DNA linking in the skin and it is the cumulative effect over time that can predispose you to even greater risk. It doesn't have to burn you to be harmful.

Skin cancer incidence is increasing, don't use your tools to help it along. We have enough on our plate as it is with the exceptionally high probability that several of us are going to develop prostate cancer if we live long enough.

[IsaacHayes]

UV will go right through your eyelids as well... If at night after welding street lights have a halo or look cloudy, that's UV damage to your eyes.

The ozone from welding is nasty too, I'm not sure filters will filter that out, maybe if it reacts with the carbon in a filter since it's unstable it would.. Hmm. Ozone will make your throat sore/raw just like breathing burning tires at the racetrack. I've had sore throat from ozone from my high voltage experiments. It's best to keep air circulating. The sweet smell can be addicting though... lol

The damn elevators at work though you go inside and about die the ozone build up inside is so great. It burns my eyes and lungs. UGH.