Do you use a respirator while tig welding?

[lalojamesliz]

I bought my tig welder almost a year ago and still haven't really practiced to learn on how to tig.
I definitely got the mig down ok just not the be best looking

I know tig welding is much cleaner and much less smoke but do you guys wear a respirator when you tig weld?
When I mig weld I usually have my side garage door and main garage door open with a fan going and a respirator.

 

[Firebrick43]

um, no, and don't know any who do

 

[2baditsnotachev]

No never have

 

[mark-NJ]

I wear a respirator when I weld...period.

Is it as important to do so with TIG as it is with stick? Likely not, but old habits die hard, and...speaking only for me...PPE and job safety is something that I take very seriously. So, yes, I wear one when I TIG (along with leather, ANSI Z39 safety glasses, welding cap under my helmet, etc.)

Something else to consider: You mention open doors, fans, etc. You really can't do that with TIG, as you'll blow your shielding gas away.

 

[laser3kw]

I have used positive air flow machines to keep the smoke moving away from me when I am concerned about the material's fumes.
With a little experimentation, you can make one with common garage items.

 

[lalojamesliz]

I wear a respirator when I weld...period.

Is it as important to do so with TIG as it is with stick? Likely not, but old habits die hard, and...speaking only for me...PPE and job safety is something that I take very seriously. So, yes, I wear one when I TIG (along with leather, ANSI Z39 safety glasses, welding cap under my helmet, etc.)

Something else to consider: You mention open doors, fans, etc. You really can't do that with TIG, as you'll blow your shielding gas away.

Yeah I know what you mean of blowing away the argon. I usually don't have the fan blowing in my direction, just to the side of me hoping it will pull the smoke away when I mig kind of like a vacuum.
I'm kinda big on safety also. Ear plugs and safety glasses while doing yard work and ear plugs or ear muffs, face shield and respirator (3m half mask and 2097 filters) while cutting/grinding
When I am mig welding I add a hobart welding jacket. It ***** because it's been hot lately but it has a bunch of small burns and my arms don't so that's why I wear it.

 

[lalojamesliz]

I'll have to look into a positive air flow set up. The best time this time of the year is in the morning but I've been viciously attacked in my garage the last time I opened my garage door in the early morning.......

Mosquitos! I truly truly hate them. Ha ha ha
I have a garage door magnet screen for my side door. The ones that have a strip of magnet in the middle and close after you walk through. I also have a large one that for the main garage door but I haven't put that up..... looks kinda funny but one day I will.

 

[laser3kw]

position a small fan facing away from the weld area (not blowing at it). Light a piece of cardboard and snuff the flame out so all you have is smoke rising. The smoke should rise up a couple of inches then drift toward the fan. Play with the distance to suit your needs. Once you figure out the distance, you can go back to it in the future.

 

[engineer2]

I've always wondered about those pictures of people TIG welding while wearing short-sleeved shirts.
When I was a teenager working in a factory I MIG welded for most of a day in a T-shirt (forgot my sleeves). I won't to that again!

 

[tjansson]

I do not. There's virtually no smoke or odor if you are welding on clean material and/or grind the paint off a couple inches from the weld. This thread does make me want to try a respirator when MIG welding. Normal 3m half mask with the thin filters fits under an average helmet?

 

[tdkkart]

You really can't do that with TIG, as you'll blow your shielding gas away.

Or MIG, for the very same reason.
Wanna know why your welds ****? Turn your fan off.

 

[corn chip]

you can never be to safe and thats the main thing to remember. i use 3m resp at home . at work i also use the same 3m resp. alternatively i use 3m papr welding helmet along with a fan.
some things to remember. tig welding on its own doesnt really produce any fumes but you may be welding very near paint, oil or a million other unknown chemicals . never clean your material with chlorine laced brakleener . it makes phosgene gas. i would not use any brake or carb cleaners actually. straight acetone is probly the safest.
fluxed processes produces alot of fumes . avoid breathing that stuff.
torch and plasma cutting also make alot of fumes you want to avoid.
grinding makes alot of metal airborne particles. if you like breathing that sort of stuff then have at it but you may regret it later

 

[lalojamesliz]

I do not. There's virtually no smoke or odor if you are welding on clean material and/or grind the paint off a couple inches from the weld. This thread does make me want to try a respirator when MIG welding. Normal 3m half mask with the thin filters fits under an average helmet?

That's what I use

 

[lalojamesliz]

I might have solved my mosquito problem, well it'll definitely help

 

[tarbellb]

Umm yes, I myself and lots do.

Guess what, melting man made materials and inhaling the fumes is bad for you... What@!

 

[matt_i]

I don't, this might eventually prove to be a bad idea. My exposure is pretty low though, just occasional projects.

Definitely less "smoke" from the process than mig or stick that I try to do outdoors.

Unless welding pre painted parts which I attempt not to do.

As mentioned the flux from silver brazing is nasty stuff.

 

[laser3kw]

here is another GJ'er that is looking for a similar solution for weld fumes.
GJ weld fume extraction post (link)

 

[American Locomotive]

If you have properly cleaned your parts, there should be little to no fumes at all from TIG welding. Just argon and ozone. Ozone is pretty bad for you, but there aren't any respirators that are going to remove ozone....

 

[Swervyjoe]

I've always wondered about those pictures of people TIG welding while wearing short-sleeved shirts.

I'll weld in short sleeves at the home shop. I'm not usually welding much or for very long.
At work it was left sleeve and tee shirt when MIG welding. Long sleeve shirt for TIG.

 

[Gerald O]

I gotta quit TIG welding in a t-shirt. My arms are tanned enough that they don't get UV burned. But I keep bumping into hot objects like the torch sitting in the holder on the bench, or a hot clamp, or even the work. Leaves some weird shaped brands.
Don't wear a respirator while welding but I do wear an N95 mask when grinding or sanding metal. Especially stainless steel because of the chromium. Heck I suit up when grinding that stuff.

 

[ive]

You know when your doing a chore at home and you decide not to put on proper footwear amd surely something drops on your exposed toe?

Well, that happens to your lungs too when welding.

 

[Craftfab]

3M half mask with 2297-P100 filters when Tig and Mig welding. Fits without issues under ESAB Sentinel helmet

 

[welder4956]

I don't wear a respirator for tig welding. But then again, I don't put my head directly over the puddle or turn my helmet in a direction that would allow fumes under the hood. Fumes coming off the tig puddle are hot, so they are rising and diluted by the surrounding air. Long as I don't need to weld any berylium, I should be OK. I'm glad people are thinking about it though and questioning whether they should.