Thread: Arc Welding UV Radiation

Ive used the auto helmets a few times, but I always fog them up in between the lenses and cant clean them. Still should get one for the odd jobs it's a PITA with the manual helmet and old Buzzbox welder, love the old unit though still prefer it over the portable. Get the odd flash with the manual mask mainly when you forget where the rod is but most of the time get away unscaved.
Cheers Jim

good old ray burn

slice a tomato and rub it all over the burnt area, does wonders. the sooner you do it the greater the relief.

cold black tea can also bring some relief.

cold tea eye drops are also great if you get a "flash"

i had a couple of workmates sent out a job up in the Hunter Valley vineyards. They didn't have a welding mask between them
but they proceeded to take on a couple of hours welding between them using an old welding lens, held between thumb and forefinger because to go back into town to get a mask would of meant they wouldn't have made it back to the pub to watch the Melbourne Cup. 3 days on compo for the pair of them with welders flash.

Originally Posted by Stuck

i had a couple of workmates sent out a job up in the Hunter Valley vineyards take on a couple of hours welding between them without a welding mask but they did have a welding lens that they forged ahead with, held between thumb and forefinger because to go back into town to get a mask would of meant they wouldn't have made it back to the pub to watch the Melbourne Cup. 3 days on compo for the pair of them with welders flash.

Bahahah that's a great story, they could have at least rigged up a ned Kelly mask out of the carton they no doubt had in the back. Cut a hole, tape the lens on and go rob a stage coach!

That's as serious as a heart attack and I was understanding the pain. I've had welders flash before but the worst I've had was the result of not wearing a shirt and putting down about 4" of weld held in a bench vice resulting in blistering and peeling of the chest. Lesson learnt.

An optometrist once told me if you’re wearing glasses the harmful effect of weld flash is pretty much eliminated.

I’ve worn glasses pretty much since I started work and have never experienced weld flash........I’m sure there would have been times where I should have had some symptoms

Not sure if this works for standard non prescription safety glasses

Depends on the material the glasses are made of, whether prescription or safety glasses. While you are likely to be better off, I would not rely on it. Most modern safety glasses, and many prescription glasses, and all sunglasses, should have good UV protection, but I emphasise the "most" and "should".

in my experience if you do "flash" yourself the bad affects are somewhat nullified if you just slowly look away without shutting your eyes..

bloody hard to do but works well if you can do it...

a flash from welding stainless steel seems to be a lot more severe for some reason, not sure why but always affected me way worse.

I once welded a plate over a hole in the hull of a sinking vessel without a helmet and couldn't see well for about a month after the event...

wasn't much fun but it sort of had to be done in a hurry

slowed the water down enough that we could get a few of bags of concrete over the dam thing till we could fix it properly...