Adequate Ventilation

[Minimichael]

I got a new multipurpose welder I'm excited to start practicing on, and I hope to turn this yard blower into my welding station exhaust system. This thing is loud as hell, but I'm going ahead because it's already just so all-in-one and it's been on the shelf for two years now and I was just welding some mild steel the other day and a little trail of smoke got under my hood and got in my eye, and it hurt and kinda stung later that night and I'm just too old for that sh!#. So this thing's already got in and out ports and it has a cord with an electrical plug. And once I conjure up a good exhaust hood to hang above the work area, this little diy super portable shop-exhauster will be nearly complete. All that should be left to do is find a couple proper hoses (ie, the vacuum side wants a 4.75 - 5" dia., while the blower port wants 2.75 - 3.25"). I'll post more as I progress.

 

[Denny]

I just breathe in the fumes, it’s hardly affected me at all.
I just breathe in the fumes, it’s hardly affected me at all.

 

[Sparkwizard]

Be aware that any wind near your puddle will blow away the shielding gas and ruin your weld.
Assuming you are using gas. If you are using flux core, you definitely don't want to breathe the fumes and a little breeze shouldn't hurt the weld.

 

[Hellion]

I love the over-engineered “noxious gas vacuums“ the pros use. Do they have a trade or industry name? They are quite a complex machine for what they are. The intake nozzle dangles down from above like a goose neck and stays where you put it but I don’t think they make much noise and the rpm is low to medium velocity.

Can you use a desk fan on low that blows lightly across your work area (or in the adjacent area) to do the same thing?

 

[Sparkwizard]

I use CO2 gas and I weld in my garage with the door down, 2 windows open. I have no problems with the fumes. I do not open the garage door while welding because I know a breeze can blow the gas away and make unpredictable welds. If I need to go outside, I use flux core wire. If I am welding anything thicker than 3/16, I use flux core AND open the door or weld outside.
To answer your question, I do not think a desk fan would bother flux core welds, but any cross breeze could make for some rusty, spatter covered MIG welds. It can be frustrating, trying to adjust things to make the welds look better. Before adjusting the welder or just quitting, turn the fan off and try again.

 

[Denny]

I just breathe in the fumes, it’s hardly affected me at all.

 

[Sparkwizard]

I just breathe in the fumes, it’s hardly affected me at all.

Have you ever welded aluminum? Those fumes will make you very sick.

 

[Edwin Spangler]

Lol I saw that.....

 

[Minimichael]

I just breathe in the fumes, it’s hardly affected me at all.

My left eye thinks it's seen this before.

 

[Minimichael]

I use CO2 gas and I weld in my garage with the door down, 2 windows open. I have no problems with the fumes. I do not open the garage door while welding because I know a breeze can blow the gas away and make unpredictable welds. If I need to go outside, I use flux core wire. If I am welding anything thicker than 3/16, I use flux core AND open the door or weld outside.
To answer your question, I do not think a desk fan would bother flux core welds, but any cross breeze could make for some rusty, spatter covered MIG welds. It can be frustrating, trying to adjust things to make the welds look better. Before adjusting the welder or just quitting, turn the fan off and try again.

You're saying my blower might suck too much, huh?

 

[Sparkwizard]

No, I think I was making sure everyone else who might read this, knew that it should never blow TOWARD the weld.
I think your plan should work just fine.
I assume your garage is attached to your home, so evacuation is essential. My shop is 100yards from the house, so different circumstances. (Wifey never enters my world)

 

[Sparkwizard]

On a side note...Nitrous bottle and CO2 bottle should never be interchanged.

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

On a side note...Nitrous bottle and CO2 bottle should never be interchanged.

And don't put NOS sports drink in your gas tank.

 

[Denny]

I just breathe the fumes, it’s hardly affected me at all.

I’ve never gotten sick welding aluminum. Nor have I even heard of anyone getting sick. But galvanized, yup! That shyte will kill you!

 

[Minimichael]

I just breathe the fumes, it’s hardly affected me at all.

I’ve never gotten sick welding aluminum. Nor have I even heard of anyone getting sick. But galvanized, yup! That shyte will kill you!

Lol! But for as green as I am at welding, I shouldn't want to take chances. After all, a lot of different metals look the same, aka shiny.

 

[Master Hack]

This thing is loud as hell

Too much wind and too much noise, you wont like it.l use the sound as a clue to the weld quality. Thats how they teach welding at the Braile institute.
No, but that sound, that egg frying sound...
just get an old computer fan.

 

[Denny]

I prefer the bacon frying sound myself. I hate eggs!

Did I tell you I just breathe the fumes, it’s hardly affected me at all.

 

[Edwin Spangler]

I just breathe the fumes, it’s hardly affected me at all.

I’ve never gotten sick welding aluminum. Nor have I even heard of anyone getting sick.

Careful, this response sounds serious and having some seniority here, people might take your responses more seriously than others'.

Welding galv has more immediate effects whereas welding aluminum has long term effects. Both can end with the same thing: Death.

 

[Sparkwizard]

I was in a party of Marines, welding aluminum plates into dump truck beds. Even though we were outdoors, about 80% of the crew ended up puking green bile the first afternoon, and half of us ended up in the hospital. We were using spool guns on MIG welders and argon gas. The smoke tended to stay in the dump bed when the breeze was not blowing. Aluminum fumes might be as bad or worse than zinc (galvanized) fumes.

https://www.robovent.com/learn/blog/the-dangers-of-aluminum-welding/

 

[Denny]

I did not know that. I know stainless steel can be very bad for you.