welding screen diy?
- Thread starter wazzabie
- Start date
Bogie1632
Well-known member
If sparks from your welder or grinder are going to hit it I'd say no. It can melt and/or catch the tarp on fire, but that all depends on the material your tarp is made from. They do also make fire retardant tarps but a proper welding screen can be had pretty cheap now days (under $60 with a frame) and likely last you a lot longer.
V/R
Bogie
V/R
Bogie
I don't care if holes get burned into the tarp. I do care if it catches on fire. I have a welding blanket to protect the vehicle. the tarp will be behind me hanging maybe 4ft behind
vavet
Well-known member
I remember being the unit fire marshall when I was in the Army. I had to walk through the living quarters (tents) with the fire department. Our soldiers were allowed to create "rooms" for themselves using blankets, but they had to be out of combustible materials, like a wool blanket. Plastic/nylon tarps, ponchos, etc were not acceptable. The reasoning was that the plastics would melt and cause severe burns on the skin if there was a fire. The combustible materials could be brushed off or extinguished.
nadogail
Well-known member
You can make a wind screen from a Harbor Freight tarp but, ...............
They do sell welding screens just the orange or clear plastic heavy duty...
or the screen with the frames as a kit. Tiltman brand I think all over ebay/amazon.
or you can use the $30-ish dollar welding blanket from HF.. it's pretty decent quality.
or the screen with the frames as a kit. Tiltman brand I think all over ebay/amazon.
or you can use the $30-ish dollar welding blanket from HF.. it's pretty decent quality.
One idea I've had (but never tried or tested) is to make weld panels/blankets out 24oz woven fiberglass bulk rolls. It's fairly inexpensive when compared to the price of an individual blanket, but I'm not sure if there are any special properties/coatings/weaves that differentiate the two materials (weld blanket vs regular fiberglass). I suppose it wouldn't be too much work to just get a piece and do some experiments.
Bill Bowman
Well-known member
Might be uncomfortable when you try to sleep on it later on. Maybe a few holes, but surely going to be some welding and grinding klinkers on it.
XJSuperman
Well-known member
I ignored this thread originally because I thought it was going to be pretty common sense, but I forgot that GJ tends to overthink everything.
Is it a good idea? Sure, welding screens are almost always a good idea, esp near kids, pets, neighbors, whatever.
Should you worry about what material you use? (tarp, sheet, cardboard, etc) No. Here's why:
-You should always have a fire extinguisher on hand while welding anyways. And you are welding on a vehicle, so you ABSOLUTELY need one within reach.
-You say you'll be outside, so you have a significantly lower chance of burning down the house or garage.
A plastic tarp is better than a bedsheet. A real welding screen is better. You can even get them on a wheeled frame to roll around.
Is it a good idea? Sure, welding screens are almost always a good idea, esp near kids, pets, neighbors, whatever.
Should you worry about what material you use? (tarp, sheet, cardboard, etc) No. Here's why:
-You should always have a fire extinguisher on hand while welding anyways. And you are welding on a vehicle, so you ABSOLUTELY need one within reach.
-You say you'll be outside, so you have a significantly lower chance of burning down the house or garage.
A plastic tarp is better than a bedsheet. A real welding screen is better. You can even get them on a wheeled frame to roll around.
ive removed all gas from the vehicle. it has new gas lines and tank that never seen fuel. when I welded in the past I had two fire extinguishers and a water hose at the ready.
i think i will drain the ****** fluid just to be safe. it needs to be changed anyways.
i think i will drain the ****** fluid just to be safe. it needs to be changed anyways.
sberry
Banned
If the ready made wasn't so cheap and right it would be a different matter, be different if the other was free too I spose. I should get one for grinding, sometime light and moveable.
ZRX61
Well-known member
That's why ya never fly wearing nylon clothing. If you have to take the slide to exit you will have melted plastic stuck to your ***.
Pressingonward
Well-known member
I just bought a pair of welding screens from my local welding shop. About $40 each. No frames, just the screen material. I plan to hang them in a corner of the shop to wall it off and keep sparks contained.
kaymccampbell
Well-known member
I hang a couple of the HF welding canvases. They were cheap and they work.
inexpensive weld blankets are typically neoprene coated fiberglass - the nice ones are carbon fiber.
Miss the Pontiacs
Well-known member
My parents were heading out to a dance. My Dad got me to polish his shoes. I had lit the polish on fire to make it softer and easier to apply. Someone hit the table, the flaming polish went flying through the air. Dad was wearing a nylon type sock had them kind of melted to his skin.
No dancing that night.
No dancing that night.cvairwerks
Well-known member
A good friend lost his wingman during a landing accident. Wing punched out and landed ok, but tangled in the chute lines and was drug into the grass fire that was started. This was in the days of nylon flight suits. Base fire crew was on him in less than 45 seconds, but was too late.
sberry
Banned
Gonna drain the ****** fluid and hang a blue tarp up?
I welded on thousands of cars. I set one on fire. It was kind of junk but I was working on a door post and we made some kind of mistake in the location and without considering it I picked up the Plaza and cut it out, blew fires in between the panels and some insulation went fast. We extinguished it but it burned the paint off the quarter in about 30 seconds.
Biggest danger is hitting a vapor line and in today's cars some fuel lines.
I remember 1 time I did a frame repair for a bud, he was about 3/4 jagged but I looked, double checked. Triple, wasn't a line in sight. Do the job, sit around a while, he tears out, calls me in half hour, mf,, you set my car on fire,, I said,, no ****, said it was flaming coming in his drive. I said,, no way,, no how.
Calls me the next morning, says he found some wire or some **** he forgot to secure that dropped down on the exhaust.
sberry
Banned
Set myself on fire a lot, just did it recent. Just washed rather new bibs and welded a stripped locknut on, was a fast deal and the gob of plastic went right to the cuff, whoosh, bout as fast as I ever had it happen. Burned a lot of gloves, jackets especially early on, matches in pocket a couple times, a couple never knew till went to use them.
sberry
Banned
Seen paper started with a grinder, they are worst as it's often away and not first thought that something may catch fire.
zippyslug31
Well-known member
Funny, I've been thinking about putting together some screens for the "metal corner" of my shop. I have one of the HF welding blankets and usually lay that in the direction of any grinding sparks, but it's relatively heavy; does seem to work well however.
As a more movable screen, I was thinking about creating a couple of lightweight frames (probably out of 1x2 wood) and screwing on some of the left over tin from the pole barn. The screens would be upright with castered legs so I could move them around. I may also attach the screens together with a long piano hinge. My thinking here is that I want them to be lightweight, storable, and quickly deployed in whatever direction I need them.
Just an idea for ya... I have yet to try to build this myself so not sure how well it will work.
As a more movable screen, I was thinking about creating a couple of lightweight frames (probably out of 1x2 wood) and screwing on some of the left over tin from the pole barn. The screens would be upright with castered legs so I could move them around. I may also attach the screens together with a long piano hinge. My thinking here is that I want them to be lightweight, storable, and quickly deployed in whatever direction I need them.
Just an idea for ya... I have yet to try to build this myself so not sure how well it will work.
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
Just go to your local welding supply company and pick one up. You can get just the flame retardant screen for around $35 bucks, or you can get the complete screen and frame from anywhere from $60 on up. Just do Google search for "welding screen"
XJSuperman
Well-known member
You're joking now right?
twistedstang
Well-known member
I think this entire thread is humor pointed at the people that ask a question, get several good replys, but just waits for someone to finally agree with their half assed plan.
XJSuperman
Well-known member
That thought was beginning to cross my mind as well. We're being trolled.
cstmg8
Well-known member
I can't believe how reasonable these are:
https://www.curtain-and-divider.com...KaN9IfUVSDwwXU8LZhSecST2J8VGl4w0aAqkhEALw_wcB
I just priced out an 8'x8' corner 72" tall for $91.
I also like that you can get full tinted for better lighting/visibility in your welding area.
https://www.curtain-and-divider.com...KaN9IfUVSDwwXU8LZhSecST2J8VGl4w0aAqkhEALw_wcB
I just priced out an 8'x8' corner 72" tall for $91.
I also like that you can get full tinted for better lighting/visibility in your welding area.