hearing protection while OA welding?

[garage-ist]

just got my torch set up and i dunno if it was the vapors (i kept my garage fairly well ventilated) or the barely audible high pitched roaring whistle that did it (i'm betting on the latter) but now my ears are popped! never thought i'd need to get ear plugs for a torch.. has anyone ever experienced this? every time i yawn or blow my nose i feel like i rip open a door for bugs to come right in to my skull.. i've already purchased some plugs off of ebay - wondering if this will go away or if i'm going to be helenkeller-ing for life
thanks

 

[speed bump]

On a straight acetylene torch I have considered hearing protection because it can get kind of loud but for OA once I turn the oxygen on and get it setup right its not that loud.

 

[stevejh82]

If the gas is coming out of the tip fast enough to make that kind of noise, you should use a larger tip. I'm assuming you are talking about a welding/brazing tip with one orifice. You don't want that much volume/cfm because it won't allow the weld puddle to pool properly. A larger size tip would allow more heat with less volume/cfm, even if the pressure is the same, thus developing more heat in the weld zone.

 

[Paladin]

It can't hurt! Always take care of your hearing. Trust me, I just got fitted for my first hearing aid today...

 

[goodfellow]

Too much pressure at the tip. Use a larger tip or cut back on the gas. O/A welding should not make a lot of unbearable noise. Something is wrong. Are you sure your flashback valves are properly installed?

 

[Merkava_4]

Too much pressure at the tip. Use a larger tip or cut back on the gas. O/A welding should not make a lot of unbearable noise. Something is wrong.

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