Hi, just ordered a shiny new Portamig 235 from Weldequip for working on my motors and general projects such as a cart for my lawn tractor etc. Done some mig welding last year on my Suzuki Samurai where the underbody was totally rotten. I had the body removed from the chassis and was welding with the body lying on it's side which was quite easy to do. But now I need to weld underneath my Mazda with the car up on ramps. I 'm looking for advice on PPE and any handy tips to do this. I've ordered and ESAB origo welding helmet which comes with gloves and I'll be wearing flame proof overalls which I use for work offshore and my chainsaw boots. But I'm worried that some of my neck/ears/scalp will still be exposed, is there some sort of welding hood I can wear under the helmet to protect my scalp and neck. I think that would be covered from head to toe but can anyone recommend anything else, apron?
- Thread starter mibazza
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Cheers guys, I'll go pop up to the storeman and see if they have any balaclavas in stock just now, owing to the -20 degree windchill outside today I have every reason to be asking for one! And if not the ESAB one on ebay looks the part so I'll order that if offshorefreebies.com can't come up with one, I would have thought flame retardant wouldn't be good enough tho if a blob of weld lands on it, wouldn't it be better to be leather so that it won't burn through?
Leather and half the price of the ESAB one http://http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Premium-Leather-Welders-Welding-Hood-Shoulder-Cover-Fully-KEVLAR-Stitched-/281055128068?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item417030ea04
mike 109444
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Try to raise yourself up off the floor (I use a wooden duck board) because when the blobs of weld fall they will hit your protection, land on floor and snuggle under you for warmth!!
If on a duck board they will have achance to roll away. Try to position youself such that if the bit you are welding should happen to blob and fall it won't fall streight onto you. Also have a clear path to get out from under ASAP to get to the damp rag/bucket of water/fire extinguisher when you smell something? burning.
Been there still doing it
If on a duck board they will have achance to roll away. Try to position youself such that if the bit you are welding should happen to blob and fall it won't fall streight onto you. Also have a clear path to get out from under ASAP to get to the damp rag/bucket of water/fire extinguisher when you smell something? burning.
Been there still doing it
AndyStobbs
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Have taken to wearing a thick rubber sheet as a smock myself. Are you going to be having vehicles high enough to stand under, or lay under?
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octo0072000
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washing up liquid bottle filled with water to put out the odd fire and smoking undies
Thanks for all the advice coming in, I'll keep a bucket of water handy in the garage and I've also got a dry powder extinguisher in the house which I'll take out when welding. I'll also try and make sure my body is not directly under the weld, but the car will be on standard DIY'er vehicle ramps so I'll be lying under the car and I'm not exactly slim so getting completely out of the way may be difficult. It's also a wooden garage, so I'll maybe invest in a permanent extinguisher for out there.
Try to get the vehicle as high as you can, even if you have to move it outside for some jobs. It's much easier welding side-on to the job than directly underneath it. I always tried to use commercial axle stands where possible, and a hi-lift jack. Better to have one end/side high enough to work in comfort, than have both ends/sides equal height and have to lie close under the job.
to sign off on it.
Badger1bear
If your not on fire, then your too far away
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wheres ya sense of adventure
bluebobtail
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Hi,
Do you disconnect the battery and ECU when welding.
Its always best to i was told. Save sending a spike through it.
Do you disconnect the battery and ECU when welding.
Its always best to i was told. Save sending a spike through it.
AndyStobbs
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Problem is with modern vehicles, by the time you disconnect every module you could've done the job.
Then, by the time you've done the job and plugged it all back in, you find a string of error codes.
Best to exercise caution, as mentioned by somebody else in another similar thread, place your earth clamp close to your work, and on clean metal. Also those battery protector things are good.
Then, by the time you've done the job and plugged it all back in, you find a string of error codes.
Best to exercise caution, as mentioned by somebody else in another similar thread, place your earth clamp close to your work, and on clean metal. Also those battery protector things are good.
