welders burn

[Tim]

what works best face feels like a christmas tree

[catfishblues]

A good helmet. What the hell were you thinking? It's like staring at the sun for a few hours! A welder will give you a sunburn quicker than about anything. Wait until about 3:00 when you wake up and feel like there's sand in your eyes!  Slice some potatos and put them on your eyes when this happens. As for the face, maybe some aloe. And don't cheap out on the helmet. Either get the $25 Jackson fixed-shade or spend a couple hundered on a Miller (my fave) or similar helmet. And don't strike another arc until you've got a hood. Even tacking will burn you up quick-like. Get some canvas sleeves when you go to get the helmet, too.

[Tim]

I had a helmet I was just tacking the sheetmetal on the rockers and well I don't notice any redness but it feels like a windburn....first time welding noob ftl

[catfishblues]

I had a helmet I was just tacking the sheetmetal on the rockers and well I don't notice any redness but it feels like a windburn....first time welding noob ftl

Don't do that again. This'll be a lesson. Go to the local community college for your next lesson. You'll spend about $65, and it'll be the best money you've ever spent. Trust me. it's what got me into the industry. And let us know how your eyes feel in the AM.

[Tim]

Don't do that again. This'll be a lesson. Go to the local community college for your next lesson. You'll spend about $65, and it'll be the best money you've ever spent. Trust me. it's what got me into the industry. And let us know how your eyes feel in the AM.

my eyes feel fine...I closed them...its just my face I ain't that dumb

[catfishblues]

my eyes feel fine...I closed them...its just my face I ain't that dumb

You got lucky. Eyelids are thin, and the UV light WILL penetrate them, even if they're closed. It's a really bad practice to get into. If you think you're going to be doing a lot of welding, go ahead and get a GOOD auto-dark. Not a Horrible Freight helmet. You'll thank me later. If not, get used to flipping the hood a lot when you're tacking. It's not worth the risk.

[redidbull]

I had a helmet I was just tacking the sheetmetal on the rockers and well I don't notice any redness but it feels like a windburn....first time welding noob ftl

I did the same thing and was yelled at by catfish, sammi davis, and others.    Real bad idea to do. Now when I tack and don't want to put the helmet on I put my big fat face inside the helmet and hold it with my free hand. Jim

[catfishblues]

I did the same thing and was yelled at by catfish, sammi davis, and others.    Real bad idea to do. Now when I tack and don't want to put the helmet on I put my big fat face inside the helmet and hold it with my free hand. Jim

Yup. And you, Sammi_davis, and many others here know me as a big 'ol teddy bear, but I'll get gruff when it comes to things like this. Welding is too dangerous not to be taken seriously. Cancer, blindness, lung and nerve damage are real issues when it comes to welding, and can come on quickly. Ask Sarge how that works. He'll tell you all about his health issues from a career in welding. Also, the things you weld may save or take a life someday, be it your own or somebody else's. So yeah, I get gruff on this board, but I think it's necessary. Call it tough love. 

[Errol]

You got lucky. Eyelids are thin, and the UV light WILL penetrate them, even if they're closed. It's a really bad practice to get into. If you think you're going to be doing a lot of welding, go ahead and get a GOOD auto-dark. Not a Horrible Freight helmet. You'll thank me later. If not, get used to flipping the hood a lot when you're tacking. It's not worth the risk.

I don't mean to hijack or anything but I have a Harbor Freight auto darkening helmet i haven't noticed my eyes hurting or anything whats bad about them? am i putting my eyes at risk?

[catfishblues]

I don't mean to hijack or anything but I have a Harbor Freight auto darkening helmet i haven't noticed my eyes hurting or anything whats bad about them? am i putting my eyes at risk?

They work, just not well. Their face coverage is poor, they don't get very dark, and even new, they're not very clear. Try a good helmet and you'll see what I mean. Every aspect of my Miller is better. Fit. Comfort. Clarity. Find the thread in here by Sammi Davis where he was looking for a new helmet. All you need to know is there. Yes, it cost almost four times as much, but it was well worth it. And I plan to spend it again when I need one for the house.

[MalfunctionJunction!]

Just my 2 cents.
When 2 of my helmets went down in 1 week I wound up with the large view electronic from Northern Tools and Equipment and couldn't be happier.
The view is HUGE, fully adjustable shade, delay,sensitivity, etc.
Fits great and feels good. I can't say enough positive things about it.
I would have to say the only thing is it is not as rigid as all others I have had in the past but this actually helps in tight quarters.
On sale I think it was $109.00.

[Sarge]

Cheap helmets equal damage to your eyes in the long run. I'm half blind, most of that from welding with cheap equipment not being protected enough. All those imported knockoff helmets have the same flaw-insufficient coating on their lenses. My last cheapo got a replacement Forney lense, made a huge difference when welding 10+hrs/day.
For that burn, stick with good quality aloe products and apply it at least 4 times/day. Even after it feels better, keep up with the aloe for a few days-makes a difference. Also, and this goes for a lot of you, watch working around anyone that is welding. The last serious eye burn I got was from someone else welding off to the side, right eye now has a bad vision quadrant from that one single day and it was a mig at that.
Sarge

[catfishblues]

Thanks for chiming in, Sarge. I hate that you have to serve as a bad example, but I hope your experience can save a few eyes and cases of skin cancer. I know it's meant a lot to me. One thing I'd like to add is to get a set of good, UV blocking safety glasses and wear them all the time. Not only is it good practice, but it will help protect your eyes from light leaks and reflected rays while welding. Wear them even behind the hood, and run your hood as dark as you can stand it. With practice, you'll get used to it. I usually keep mine set to 12 or 13, if I'm MIGging. Pyramex Ztek or Radnor safety glasses are my favorites for safety glasses.

[Lizooki]

Also, and this goes for a lot of you, watch working around anyone that is welding. The last serious eye burn I got was from someone else welding off to the side, right eye now has a bad vision quadrant from that one single day and it was a mig at that.
Sarge

Good note.

When I was doing construction we built a building for a welding shop. A pre-fab steel building with GALVANIZED interior walls.
I asked the general contractor if he saw something wrong ... he said no.... I asked him if he would like to weld in a room full of mirrors.

[durnzuki]

Just be careful man.  I wear glasses now because of "Just tacking" metal with no helmet. 

[Scotty1000]

Skin that is burned from welding rays is 7x more likely to develop skin cancer. Even grinding without a respirator can have long term effects such as silicosis (depending on the level of grinding dust at your job). It is very important to gear up in this industry. It may not be noticeable tomorrow but if you get into a habit of doing it then a few years down the road it will get you.

[redneck909]

just tacking ends up as squinting running beads .. been their done that .. burnt my face so bad i couldnt open my mouth to eat for days ... drinking water from a straw for about 3 days actually .. another time i burnt my eyes so bad i had to go to the hospitable 2 times a day for drops in my eyes and i couldnt see for about a week and took about 2 and a half to 3 weeks to get over .... deffently always wear your lid man!!!!!

[redidbull]

I only do "hobby" welding so I have a good quality old school helmet. I had asked my Wife for a auto helmet and she went to the welding shop in town and realized they were a little too much for our Christmas budget. She bought me a good quality old school helmet with a big view. The helmet that came with welder had a small view. For the guy like myself and using a mig that doesn't light til you hit the trigger it may be a better idea to just get the old school type. Just my .02. Jim

[redneck909]

I only do "hobby" welding so I have a good quality old school helmet. I had asked my Wife for a auto helmet and she went to the welding shop in town and realized they were a little too much for our Christmas budget. She bought me a good quality old school helmet with a big view. The helmet that came with welder had a small view. For the guy like myself and using a mig that doesn't light til you hit the trigger it may be a better idea to just get the old school type. Just my .02. Jim

i got a old school helmet too .. i feel safer knowing its dark when i start and it dont have that split second between light and dark .... i use mine for tig, mig and arc welding .... for brazing i use dark glasses and acl. oxy. cutting i usualy dont wear anything witch is also a bad idea LOL

[Scotty1000]

acl. oxy. cutting i usualy dont wear anything witch is also a bad idea LOL

Ya the ultraviolet and infrared are at much lower levels in oxy fuel cutting/welding but they are still there. I couldn't imagine being blind.

[saleen9973]

Also make sure you wear the proper gloves. I made the mistake once of wearing a pair of utility gloves that only went up to my wrists and got sun burn bad on my fore arms. Now i have proper welding gloves that go up to my elbows. Also try putting some sun block on before you weld I know it sounds stupid but being safe is no joke.

[dadstoybox]

your eyes are gonna burn beyond beleife and it will make you sicker than a dog . nothing can make you as sick and miserable as welder eye burn. use a hood

[Errol]

Also make sure you wear the proper gloves. I made the mistake once of wearing a pair of utility gloves that only went up to my wrists and got sun burn bad on my fore arms. Now i have proper welding gloves that go up to my elbows. Also try putting some sun block on before you weld I know it sounds stupid but being safe is no joke.

X2 not for the sun burn for me but I made the mistake of wearing a pair of mechanix gloves.  I was switching back and forth since my welding gloves are to bulky to use with the grinder.  Synthetic leather pretty much instantly melts when you pick up a hot piece of steel leaving you pieces of melted plastic to pick out of your fresh burn.  I wont make that mistake again.

[Desert Zuks]

Yep, I use Mech gloves as well, but wear a leather apron to keep from igniting my clothes.  My first time out I used a cheap helmet and my eyes felt like needles stabbing them.  It sounds crazy but I put cucumbers on my eyes. It helped relieve the pain, its the same as putting aloe on burns. It helps!!!