| Welding requires common sense when it comes | | | | When it comes choosing your welding gloves |
| to safety! The warning labels that the equipment | | | | always buy them from a welding supply store! |
| manufactures post need to be followed with no | | | | First hand, every pair of welding gloves I have |
| exceptions! Unlike most other trades where you | | | | bought from a store that was not a welding |
| can get away with bad safety practices, welding | | | | supply store was a waste of money! Cough up a |
| will injury you without exceptions. | | | | little extra cash and you will save yourself time |
| Some of the basics of safe welding are: | | | | and money wasted on these so called bargains. |
| - Have a good fitting welding helmet with the | | | | Leather boots are also a big deal when it comes |
| proper shade lens. | | | | to welding! You want your boots high enough for |
| - Leather welding gloves designed for welding. | | | | your pants to overlap them. Just try to weld |
| - Clothes made of pure cotton or are designed | | | | wearing a pair of sneakers and you will see how |
| for welding. | | | | fast a spark will find its way through your |
| - Leather boots that are high enough for your | | | | sneakers, then past your socks, and finally burn |
| pants to overlap them. | | | | you! |
| - Make sure you have a safe work area with | | | | Finally make sure the area you are welding in has |
| good ventilation and nothing flammable or | | | | good ventilation and is free of flammable or |
| explosive nearby. | | | | explosive substances! To start some welding |
| The most obvious piece of safety equipment is a | | | | processes produce toxic fumes and require good |
| welding helmet. When it comes to welding helmets | | | | ventilation or a respirator. One of the major |
| these days they are all good. What you need to | | | | concerns in welding has to do with shielding |
| pay attention to is how well the helmet fits and | | | | gasses. Argon for example can fill a room like |
| always choose the proper lens shade for what | | | | water and suffocate someone without them |
| you are welding. If you fail to use a welding | | | | having a clue what is happening! Many welding |
| helmet or even the wrong lens shade you will get | | | | processes produce sparks of molten metal that |
| flashed! Flash burn takes only a few seconds of | | | | are always hitting you and the floor. Just imagine |
| exposure to blister your eyeballs and burn your | | | | how quickly a flammable or explosive substance |
| skin. My favorite part of getting flash burn is you | | | | will ignite! Then there is the possibility of electric |
| won't know it until it is too late! It's like going to | | | | shock! Most welding processes use electricity and |
| the beach on the first day of summer and not | | | | the electrodes holder is a real live wire. |
| wearing sun screen. Oh yeah, you know the | | | | In the end welding can be dangerous but common |
| feeling later that day or night when you realize... | | | | sense and following the rules will protect you. The |
| That's it! | | | | most important thing to do is follow what the |
| Clothing is another major piece of safety | | | | manufactures recommend! No excuses just do it! |
| equipment. Many times the clothing you wear | | | | If you are not sure just ask your welding supply |
| may not be designed for welding. In that case | | | | store and they will be more than happy to explain |
| 100% cotton with no fuzz on it will do. | | | | things to you! |