Flame Protection
Posted by oDD_LotS on November 15, 2002 at 08:02:49: Previous Next
I know some members of this board had mentioned welding before, so I'm hoping one of them can help me with this.
For my birthday, I'm getting a small mig welder, and I'm concerned about the sparks/slag being near my hair and beard. The beards about four inches long, and I do not want to see it get burnt. The hair's about 25", and it's incredibly important to me (I'm sure that goes without saying on this board). What can I use to assure the safety of my hair and beard?
Thanks all.
Re: Flame Protection
Posted by Bill on November 15, 2002 at 08:47:01: Previous Next
In Reply to: Flame Protection posted by oDD_LotS on November 15, 2002 at 08:02:49:
I could use some flame protection lately while reading this board.
In my generation as we came of age, the mantra for longhairs was, "Make love, not war." Can't we all just chill a bit, and leave fighting wars to the Marines?
Re: Flame Protection
Posted by Nyghtfall on November 15, 2002 at 10:03:59: Previous Next
In Reply to: Re: Flame Protection posted by Bill on November 15, 2002 at 08:47:01:
: I could use some flame protection lately while reading this board.
Amen to that, brother...
: Can't we all just chill a bit, and leave fighting wars to the Marines?
I'm game.
real FLAME protection...
Posted by LucksKind on November 15, 2002 at 10:53:13: Previous Next
In Reply to: Flame Protection posted by oDD_LotS on November 15, 2002 at 08:02:49:
:"For my birthday, I'm getting a small mig welder, and I'm concerned about the sparks/slag being near my hair and beard. The beards about four inches long, and I do not want to see it get burnt. The hair's about 25", and it's incredibly important to me (I'm sure that goes without saying on this board). What can I use to assure the safety of my hair and beard?"
he...he...it's about REAL FLAMES...
Tuck it up into a HAT...wear a Surgeon's Mask on your face!
Re: Flame Protection
Posted by HairGarden on November 15, 2002 at 13:49:58: Previous Next
In Reply to: Flame Protection posted by oDD_LotS on November 15, 2002 at 08:02:49:
Maybe you could acquire one of those flame retardant things that dragster or racecar drivers use. They do not look like they are very thick and you could brobably get one mail order through the many gearhead catalogs available...best of luck, it would suck pretty hard if you lost any hair that you are trying to keep.
Re: Flame Protection
Posted by mudtallica on November 15, 2002 at 21:37:08: Previous Next
In Reply to: Flame Protection posted by oDD_LotS on November 15, 2002 at 08:02:49:
I've never burnt my beard, and for the most part my hair's been fine as well. But if I have to weld overhead or under a truck or piece of equipment, I put my hair in a tail and stuff it down the back of my shirt. Never had any problems.
Welding DOES throw some sparks, but if there are ALOT of sparks, you're doing something wrong, especially with MIG welding. Cutting with an oxy-acetylene or plasma torch is a different story, and a little extra care may be a wise move. Welding supply stores carry a wide array of leather jackets, capes and welding hats designed to protect the user.
New, unwashed flannel shirts or clothes washed with a fabric softener are particularly flammable and should not be used for welding. Also, don't wear anything you want to keep in good condition. Welding sparks will make little burn holes in most clothes and while they are mostly harmless and won't actually START a fire in your clothes, they WILL make a mess of them. I have 2 or 3 shirts and pants I use for welding, and thay are made of canvas and denim, respectively.
Good luck and if there are any other questions you may have, please feel free to ask.
Re: Flame Protection
Posted by oDD_LotS on November 16, 2002 at 22:37:08: Previous Next
In Reply to: Re: Flame Protection posted by mudtallica on November 15, 2002 at 21:37:08:
: Good luck and if there are any other questions you may have, please feel free to ask.
Thanks for all the help!
It's looking like I'm going to be getting an actual welding jacket *they're cheap and they're flame retardent*, gloves, helmet, and probably a non-flammable hood, since I'll be doing some outside work in the middle of winter.
The hood should protect the hair and beard, and I'm going to get one of the leather hair "boots" that bikers use for when I'm grinding welds, and doing frame work and engine stuff. So with a little bit of luck, my hair should be safe!!
Re: Flame Protection
Posted by mudtallica on November 17, 2002 at 21:56:52: Previous Next
In Reply to: Re: Flame Protection posted by oDD_LotS on November 16, 2002 at 22:37:08:
Glad I could help!
I've found that, surprisingly, my hair isn't all that flammable. I feel sparks landing on my head and even occasionally smell hair burning, but I can never find so much as a single singed hair! I'm sure all hair is different tho, so be careful.
The biggest problem I've run into is while laying on a creeper, my hair will occasionally get caught under the wheel as I roll along, and of course it then gets all tangled up in that little axle that holds the wheel on! THAT really sux!
Re: Flame Protection
Posted by oDD_LotS on November 17, 2002 at 23:50:46: Previous Next
In Reply to: Re: Flame Protection posted by mudtallica on November 17, 2002 at 21:56:52:
: The biggest problem I've run into is while laying on a creeper, my hair will occasionally get caught under the wheel as I roll along, and of course it then gets all tangled up in that little axle that holds the wheel on! THAT really sux!
Yeah, I've already had the "pleasure" of experiencing that!!
The main reason I was worried, is that I learned how flammable my beard can be while doing a fire-breathing act in front of several hundred people. No damage that couldn't be fixed with a few months of growth, but enough to make me worry about my hair being near my welding.
Do you think that power/pneumatic tools could be a hazard as far as my hair is concerned? (Of course, it'll be up in a braid or ponytail, but some of those tools have massive power involved!) If so, what would keep the tail out of harm's way?