Balaclava

[TimeRich__]

Just a mention to recommend Nomex Balaclava's for welding

I had to do my first bit of 'upside down' welding back in the autumn, to the NSR Cill of the car (as Avatar pic), saw the potential for a hole in my face if something went wrong; and considered buying myself a 'full face' helmet (I've got one of those 'sideless' ones).

However, I rejected this idea on the basis that such a mask is just too bulky & restrictive and instead ended up buying a Nomex Fireproof balaclava marketed to Stock Car racers and the likes and approved by the FIA body that controls that sort of racing: it did me nicely, which did include one instance where an errant spot of weld gave me a slightly warm cheek for a moment (no evidence of it on the balaclava).....

....saying that, worth a mention also that the stray blob was primarily a result of me 'hurrying' & not removing the blob from the tip of the wire before I sparked up.



NB: I note that at least one seller on the usual internet auction site sells the single layer one, which is NOT approved, I'm talking about the double layer one here.

 

[the snooper]

ive had them in my ears and all over, they hurt

 

[nickk]

in my first year of welding i was in the rear arch of a l/rover doing the usual + member/chassis extensions & blobs of weld dropped into my groin-painful burns & scars in the pubic area resulted ,i was the butt end of jokes,district nurse would come out twice a week to strip wash me & apply dressings after that i used to cover up with a fire blanket

 

[wristpin]

Way back one of our college lecturers who was building his own steel hulled boat was gas welding or heating a bit of tube and failed to notice that the flame had travelled down the tube and set fire to the crotch area of his overalls. In relating this misfortune he informed us that he had to receive first aid from "my lady wife , who as you know is a doctor".
As you may imagine it was the cause of much raucous "sympathy" from the assembled student mob.