I just tried MIG welding for the first time this afternoon. I was using a low-end Lincoln Electric MIG welder with a flux-cored wire and no shielding gas. As I was showered with tiny bits of molten metal, two thoughts occurred to me:
1. Perhaps I should have stripped the paint from the piece of scrap that I was using for practice
2. There is no way that the "apron" I made from recycled denim was going to keep me from burning a nice set of holes in my forearms and shoulders.
So I came back to this forum and read the long thread on aprons. I'm fairly certain I need an apron, and I've already got a set of welding gloves that I got for $15 at the hardware store. But that left me wondering what on earth I'm supposed to do about my arms. I can't afford to go out and buy one of those full jackets, or a Nomex firefighter's suit. Anyone have suggestions for cheap arm-wear that'll help me avoid unwanted splatter tatoos?
Thanks for any advice.
Scott
1. Perhaps I should have stripped the paint from the piece of scrap that I was using for practice
2. There is no way that the "apron" I made from recycled denim was going to keep me from burning a nice set of holes in my forearms and shoulders.
So I came back to this forum and read the long thread on aprons. I'm fairly certain I need an apron, and I've already got a set of welding gloves that I got for $15 at the hardware store. But that left me wondering what on earth I'm supposed to do about my arms. I can't afford to go out and buy one of those full jackets, or a Nomex firefighter's suit. Anyone have suggestions for cheap arm-wear that'll help me avoid unwanted splatter tatoos?
Thanks for any advice.
Scott