Is tig welding bad for your health?

[Joe 90]

I've recently been enquiring about tig welding machines or training and got different advice. I'm interested in being able to make stainless steel exhausts and customer water rails and pipes for engines out of aluminium. The first person I contacted said just buy a cheap hitbox tig welder at £300 as that was what he was using to train people and he'd give me a day's training. The second person said no you'd need something around £1600 just for the welder and he didn't train anyone for tig anymore as it was dirty welding and more dangerous with the fumes etc and didn't recommend it but if I really wanted too I'd be better getting a training course through a college.
Is tig welding bad for you? Do you need breathing masks to do it? Is it something I can learn myself or does it really require proper training? And is a cheap machine a waste of time for hobby use?

 

[addjunkie]

It’s probably the cleanest, most refined form of welding. Can hurt your bank balance as good kit can be expensive. It can be learnt, with video, and a bit of guidance, but its not quick

 

[DaveB]

All welding processes generate fumes which are dangerous.

If you want guidance on good practice and legal requirements look at the HSE website.

 

[chrismac]

It is certainly a different world now regarding PPE / RPE and air fed masks are mandatory in the workplace if adequate ventilation is not supplied, I have been welding a long time, and only used to weat masks when on mig or duel shield, now research has proven TIG welding stainless steel is just as bad for your health although it looks clean, air fed most of the time now.

 

[Smallfry]

All welding processes can be injurious to health, but if you are sensible with adequate ventilation and PPE you will be fine.

Most people who weld, both professionally and hobbyist, sometimes don't do as we should, I'm sure most on here, myself included are guilty at times.

Obviously if you are doing it all day, every day, exposure risks are way higher.

 

[Brad93]

Welding of steel IS a known source of Manganese, Boron and other heavy metals.

Aluminium welding IS a known source of Ozone, which is a strong oxidiser (free radical?) Probably not great for your lungs at all.

Stainless welding IS a known source of hexavalent chrome, a carcinogen.

 

[Erie Fred]

I've recently been enquiring about tig welding machines or training and got different advice. I'm interested in being able to make stainless steel exhausts and customer water rails and pipes for engines out of aluminium. The first person I contacted said just buy a cheap hitbox tig welder at £300 as that was what he was using to train people and he'd give me a day's training. The second person said no you'd need something around £1600 just for the welder and he didn't train anyone for tig anymore as it was dirty welding and more dangerous with the fumes etc and didn't recommend it but if I really wanted too I'd be better getting a training course through a college.
Is tig welding bad for you? Do you need breathing masks to do it? Is it something I can learn myself or does it really require proper training? And is a cheap machine a waste of time for hobby use?

Didn't you ask this last year ?

 

[Dieselman 63]

Working with metal, you’re going to get some of this stuff on you, on your skin, on your clothes, in your lungs. If this is a big enough concern, I’d recommend not getting into the industry. If you are doing commercial welding you’ll be using air fed equipment as employers want you to remain healthy as much as you do.

When I worked in the marine industry the amount of oil was insane, it was almost like a mist that would settle on your skin. I found using a sauna once a week was really good, plus good for mental health doing the plunge pool. A minute in 5°c water really requires some meditation!

I like what I do and I do a job which ties into my personal interest of general engineering and machinery rebuilds. Find what drives you and excites you, and follow that.

 

[jo1010]

Yes. So to be clear I'm posting the results from my AI assistant search on the topic...

 

[carbon]

As you have stated you want to weld aluminium I don’t expect the cheap machine has an AC output which is required.

 

[BrokenBiker]

As you have stated you want to weld aluminium I don’t expect the cheap machine has an AC output which is required.

I have a £300 hitbox tig that is ACDC, works just fine

 

[charlysays]

Unless you're doing it day in day out, you should be ok with something like a moldex compact abek1p3 half mask. They just about fit under a welding mask. Make sure you're clean shaven that morning for a good seal.
Generally keep your head out of the fume plume. Having a door and window open for some gentle through draft is a good idea. For hobby based use you'll be fine with the above.

 

[Radar 3]

Use a 3M 9925 mask.

 

[jo1010]

....ok with something like a moldex compact abek1p3 half mask. They just about fit under a welding mask.

Yes! ....if it's bulky with the p3 filter added (for particulates) you might check to see if it's really beneficial (I'm not totally sure). But remember eyes are still exposed with a half mask, so they could admit toxins through their membranes

 

[charlysays]

Yes! ....if it's bulky with the p3 filter added (for particulates) you might check to see if it's really beneficial (I'm not totally sure). But remember eyes are still exposed with a half mask, so they could admit toxins through their membranes

It's an all in one semi disposable mask so no extra bulk added. You can't smell anything when wearing them, not even with your head in a cloud of smoke so for the diyer they should cut the exposure by a huge margin. Interesting re eye membranes. Whilst definitely a possible route of exposure it's gotta be fairly minimal compared to respiration. Something else to read up on for me!
I've tried wearing my full face respirator behind a welding mask and it doesn't work sadly

 

[jo1010]

...It's an all in one semi disposable mask so no extra bulk added.

Ah gotcha, I didn't realise how the mask was configured - on the 3m stuff I use for spraying (in a rural environment) you can add p3's on top of the abek1's - but it gets very bulky and wouldn't fit underneath a welding mask. Your mask sounds ideal, and mouldex is reputable

 

[Joe 90]

Didn't you ask this last year ?

No. Why what's your concern.

 

[Joe 90]

S

Yes. So to be clear I'm posting the results from my AI assistant search on the topic...View attachment 500729

So is that saying any respirator mask that is pp3 will be OK for little use.

 

[Erie Fred]

No. Why what's your concern.

That's what I was asking......are you asking the questions ?

 

[jo1010]

So is that saying any respirator mask that is pp3 will be OK for little use.

No. Pp3 is for particulates (ie dusts etc) not gases - although a pp3 filter used on top of an abek1 for example could enhance the life of the abek1 filter by keeping it cleaner