Welder's Flash

[shotgunfatcat]

Well, I was welding last night, and low and behold I got welder's flash pretty bad. Yes I was trying to use a helmet as much as possible, but my auto-darkening helmet's battery was dead, and I was mainly tack welding.

So, what do any of you guys do to sooth the pain? I know they have prescribed drops for such an instance, but any home remedies?

 

[OccupantRJ]

Irish potato cut in half and placed on the eyelids while lying down, is what the welders I always worked with said to do.

 

[shotgunfatcat]

Wow, irish potatoes. I think I will have to get some later. I did a google on it and it seems this is a good option.

 

[Professur]

If it was only a dead battery on your mask, you were still fully protected against UV by using it. The cheapo Northern Tool AD has no battery. It gets all the power it needs from the flash itself. Might be worth picking one up as a back up.

 

[sberry]

Wear saftey glasses.

 

[arkangel06]

Wear saftey glasses.

 

[mjb]

No home remedy works like what the doc will give you. Pontocaine or Atropine work way better than potatoes.

There is also the risk of infection depending on how bad it is.

Good luck!

 

[jvitez]

Advil 600 mg every 6 hours plus Tylenol Extra Strength 1000 mg every 6 hours. You can take both at the same time in full doses because they work by different mechanisms.

Artificial tears might be somewhat helpful too (Visine, Murine, etc).

 

[londonsteve]

Be a man, take beer

 

[jvitez]

Be a man, take beer

I don't know if pouring beer in your eyes would help. Might you see funny for a while. And when your eyes start to hiccup.......

 

[shotgunfatcat]

Thanks for the help guys, I was using a helmet that doesn't use batteries (have both, I mean who doesn't), but the tacks I was making made it real hard to even use it (piano hinge on a tool box). a couple of the tabs broke so I was fixing it, had to be real close to even see what I was doing (I have UV burn on my face too).

I don't think I have ever gotten it this bad before. But on the upside, no spots and the pain is going away (I was closing my eyes and looking away as much as possible), just a little blood shot and itchy. And I took 600 mg's of advil. I know the Tylenol trick too (my mom is a trauma coordinator/RN).

I still want to try the potatoes, maybe next time.

 

[Professur]

Next time???

 

[jvitez]

Next time???

It's what happens when you pour beer in your eyes, feel better, and start to weld again.

 

[shotgunfatcat]

Next time???

Yeah, you know after I finish the job tonight. I think maybe I will use some torch goggles instead, or maybe just some safety glasses as stated above. I will put on some spf 50 too!

The above statement is not true....I will just go out and get some batteries.

 

[t100]

what helmet were you using? I use both Miller Elite and Speedglas 9000x, both use batteries and it will tell you when battery is low.

 

[dragginbalz]

....I don't think I have ever gotten it this bad before. But on the upside, no spots and the pain is going away (I was closing my eyes and looking away as much as possible), .....

You learned first hand that your eye lids are no match for that damn UV!!!

Next time??

It only took one good one for me to learn my lesson! I wasn't even welding!!

 

[srmofo]

I hate flash, I dont weld often and I have only had it once. Feels like your damn eyelids are made of sandpaper.

 

[arkangel06]

I had it once it sucked.

 

[nismomans13]

i would start with not looking at a computer screen to post here...haha, then put potatoes on my eyes.

 

[MattT]

Yeah, you know after I finish the job tonight. I think maybe I will use some torch goggles instead, or maybe just some safety glasses as stated above. I will put on some spf 50 too!

The above statement is not true....I will just go out and get some batteries.

Not sure about safety glasses but I've used sunglasses before and they blocked the UV for small jobs where I couldn't use a nod down helmet. For Arc and Mig a handheld shield can also come in handy when you can't nod down a helmet. Adding SPF 50 ain't a bad idea either.

And keep spare batteries on hand for everything you need. Button cells I just add to my McMaster list when I use the last spare.

 

[solarcabin1]

any potato will work and it works well. Just slice it and cover eyes and it will clear it up

 

[Professur]

I've seen used, but never seen for sale, a tiny shield that clips to the torch. Anyone seen these for sale?

 

[slipknot]

I've seen used, but never seen for sale, a tiny shield that clips to the torch. Anyone seen these for sale?

i have one it works great when i need to get super close to stuff. but when it comes to stick my fav the helmet i bought was a auto dark solar and it's starting to **** unless i have an abundant supply of light around i've cleaned inside and out of it. only had it for a year or less

 

[blaze_125]

I've seen used, but never seen for sale, a tiny shield that clips to the torch. Anyone seen these for sale?

Seen them on Ebay a while ago when I was shopping for a hood.

 

[shotgunfatcat]

what helmet were you using? I use both Miller Elite and Speedglas 9000x, both use batteries and it will tell you when battery is low.

Don't use it everyday, so it told me it was low by not turning on.

I hate flash, I dont weld often and I have only had it once. Feels like your damn eyelids are made of sandpaper.

Exactly, It is a thousand time better today though, only thing that hurts is there is a bit of strain in my left eye, and I have a bunch of crusties.

I had it once it sucked.

It happens to the best of us.

i would start with not looking at a computer screen to post here...haha, then put potatoes on my eyes.

I work at a computer, kinda screwed there, and they might wonder why I have potatoes on my eyes and not working.

Not sure about safety glasses but I've used sunglasses before and they blocked the UV for small jobs where I couldn't use a nod down helmet. For Arc and Mig a handheld shield can also come in handy when you can't nod down a helmet. Adding SPF 50 ain't a bad idea either.
And keep spare batteries on hand for everything you need. Button cells I just add to my McMaster list when I use the last spare.

It would help to a point using sun glasses, but not recommended
Spare batteries are on the list.

 

[Davo J]

It's been a long time since I had one,(maybe I have learn't, lol) but with mine I always wake up in the middle of the night felling like someone has thrown a handful of sand in my eyes. All I have ever done is make myself go back to sleep as nothing seems to sooth it. It's always painful the next day but it goes away by the day after that.
I come from a family of boiler makers and they have used the potato's over the years from flashes from 300-400amp welders, mine is only up to 200amps.
Though I have had a bad flash off even a little 110amp mig.

Dave

 

[slipknot]

btw northern tools has it in their master cat haven't checked online yet

 

[e-tek]

I used a battery helmet once, then the next time the batteries died. Returned it and bought a no-battery helmet - WAY better!

 

[jhn9840]

Aspirin,tylenol for pain relief. Any otc eye drops for moisture. All but the worst cases are cleared up in 24 hrs or so. It's not something that should happen repeatedly or you can end up damaging your cornea's among other eye problems.

jhn9840
John

 

[ZRX61]

Systane is your friend

 

[kool55]

I bought the $99 Northern helmet a year ago when my Jackson started acting up. So far its been great.

 

[t100]

Don't use it everyday, so it told me it was low by not turning on.

both have indicators will blink when battery is low. in the case of Miller, if the battery is good, when turning it on, the lense will flash(turn dark and off) twice.

 

[drmarkr]

No home remedy works like what the doc will give you. Pontocaine or Atropine work way better than potatoes.

There is also the risk of infection depending on how bad it is.

Good luck!

Atropine? No, this is not an anesthetic. It is an agent to dilate the pupil, used to facilitate a better examination.

Topical anesthetics are the drops you want, but (most) docs aren't going to give them to you to take home. The rationale is that keeping your cornea completely numb exposes you to the risk of damage that you wouldn't even feel. When I see this in the ER/UCC, if I have a tube of the drops with a small amount left, I'll give it to the guy....but I make him promise to keep the eye patched for 24 hours so he won't accidentally rub it and scratch the hell out of his cornea. You could do this and not even know it happened.

Why would I go against the normal rec's and do this? Before I went ot college/med school, I worked in motorcycle shops and machine shops, and had welding equipment in my family shop that I used from about age 12. I KNOW what flash burns feel like, and what the sleepless night is like when you have a burn.

The good thing is that the cornea heals very, very fast. Within 24 hours the symptoms are gone. If they last longer than 48, get your fanny back to the doctor because there's something else (infection?) going on.

 

[blue dog]

Are you guy's being serious regarding the potato slices? or is candid camera going to be hiding in my shop if ever try this. And who keeps potatoes in there shop?

 

[Ozwelder]

If you have UV burn on your face your shield was not in place.Its that simple. A shield with an inoperative lens ,or not(due to battery failure ) cannot pass UV rays. Its a solid sheild. UV rays will not transmit through the lens,operative or not.Its pure physics.

Its fairly obvious that your shield was not in place for at least some of your arc time anyway.I would hazard a guess and suggest you may have been spot tacking without the helmet.I have been guilty of that too and paid the price you are paying.

Welders are always advised in OH &S instruction to wear safety glasses.A pair of clear plastic safety glasses WILL STOP transmission of the UV rays to your eyes.

I have checked that statement with my own ophthalmologist and he confirms it.Wearing safety glasses under my helmet I have not had a flash in years as I have had to wear prescription (safety) glasses under my helmet to achieve decent vision.

I have been kicking backsides in my classes for 30 plus for those that are too smart to wear the eyeware PPE.

For pain relief go to the ER .

Cheers
Oz

 

[blue dog]

Ozwelder, are you a welding instructor?

 

[Ben Iv]

Go and get some Refresh Liquagel eye drops best thing i have found. Ive been working in a steel shop for over 10 years ive burnt my eyes a few times...lol Im much better about tacking with my hood now a days, especially working with fluxcore.

 

[Ozwelder]

Ozwelder, are you a welding instructor?

Only since 1980


Oz

 

[Mustangmike]

Only since 1980


Oz

All welding Q&A to Oz from now on

 

[shotgunfatcat]

If you have UV burn on your face your shield was not in place.Its that simple. A shield with an inoperative lens ,or not(due to battery failure ) cannot pass UV rays. Its a solid sheild. UV rays will not transmit through the lens,operative or not.Its pure physics.

Its fairly obvious that your shield was not in place for at least some of your arc time anyway.I would hazard a guess and suggest you may have been spot tacking without the helmet.I have been guilty of that too and paid the price you are paying.


I didn't have one in place, I was welding piano hinge tabs (about 1/4 wide tabs) kinda hard to hit that when you can't see, which is why I was upset about the dead batt.

Welders are always advised in OH &S instruction to wear safety glasses.A pair of clear plastic safety glasses WILL STOP transmission of the UV rays to your eyes.

I did not know this, my normal glasses probably magnified the UV rays

I have checked that statement with my own ophthalmologist and he confirms it.Wearing safety glasses under my helmet I have not had a flash in years as I have had to wear prescription (safety) glasses under my helmet to achieve decent vision.

I have been kicking backsides in my classes for 30 plus for those that are too smart to wear the eyeware PPE.

For pain relief go to the ER .

I don't like visiting my mom at work, she gets mad at me when I see her there.

Cheers
Oz

Thanks for your words of wisdom, I appreciate the help from everyone.