Will I DIE if I weld in this place ... (picture)

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Hello and thank you so much for your time. I'm a shoe salesman and live in a small apartment, the ONLY place I have to work on something is my storage which I've rented and it's three levels down in a basement parking lot of a building, now there is enough air for me and as you can see in the picture below I have a duct supplying cold air from the air-con in the other room, but I'm surrounded by boxes and cartons of shoes with a lot of paper around me, the space I have for work is 11 feet by 7 feet, but the area of the whole store is kind of big, but low ceiling.I have no windows or opening to be able to push in fresh air and I'm a complete newbie to welding, my project is a very simple crash-guard for my motorcycle and a hitch receiver for my car, I will probably be welding VERY little, just spots here and there, and I have plenty of time for rests. I also do have a fire extinguisher handy. I've narrowed my choices down to a MIG welder versus ARC welder, although I'm still not very sure. I'm also not sure whether I should get a gas-less MIG or Flux-cored, (don't know which gas is more dangerous to my health, Argon/CO2 versus flux smoke). I could probably make a fume extractor of some sorts.So any suggestions or help on this issue is highly appreciated, I've always wanted to have a welder but the thought of fire and other dangers frightens me.Bobak.Here's my project...And this...And here's picture of my store...
Reply:Welding and all that material DO NOT MIX so DO NOT TRY.At least not there.One stray spark and its game OVER....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:First off, welcome to the forum! Take a night course on welding somewhere. Maybel a TIG welder would be your best bet, I think it is the cleanest of any welders, behind that would be a MIG with solid wire and a gas bottle, not flux core.You can certainly do the bash guard for your bike, but please, leave the trailer hitch to a pro, that is not something you want to mess with.If you are going to weld in that space, then here are some things that might help.You can buy welding blankets, that you can hang around your welding spot, this should keep any sparks off your cardboard, but it will still be a serious fire hazard.Fume extractor of some kind, yeah for sure, you are going to need that.I'd also make sure that you cover up all the flammable chemicals you have there on shelves, lots of potential for fire.Next up institute a rule that once you have finished welding, you will stay there for an hour, just to make sure that nothing is smoldering. Can you do it, sure, should you do it...? I cannot possibly make that call for you. What about your lease, will it void the lease? What about insurance, if you have a fire, will your insurance cover it?Again, let the pros do the trailer hitchTake a welding course, then you will be much more aware of the dangers etc. and you will have a better idea of which machine you should buy. If more motorcyle stuff is going to be done, then the more expensive AC/DC TIG might be the ticket, you can weld aluminium with that set up.Good luck!Dragon D-150 Arc WelderHobart Handler 175 Set up with 100% CO²WT-60 Plasma Arc Panasonic TIG Star YC-300TWX-2 Panasonic YX-0092UW Water Cooler for the TIG
Reply:First project a hitch receiver Not really a job for a newbie.Cheers AndrewWIA 270amp Mig Transtig 200 AC/DC Tig/stickHypertherm PM45
Reply:don't do it! you got too much flammable stuff laying around. even if you had someone with you to act as fire guard that's an accident waiting to happen.i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:No way in hell should you ever weld in that area. I'm surprised that place hasn't burned just from the thought of welding in there.Tim Beeker.
Reply:After a quick consultation with experts in the realm of this scenario . NO.....errrr YES. You may die.Last edited by Burpee; 02-26-2014 at 06:56 AM.Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:Hmmm...should I weld in a basement full of paper, and make a trailer hitch, and make crash bars cause they are simple, with no ventilation.....Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:As a landlord...I would say "fwak No"!!!.    As a fire inspector, I would say; get these boxes the fwak out.   Apartments and multi-family dwellings are not the place for welding.   A rental with a detached garage, yeah maybe.
Reply:This dumbasz agree-ethBubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:I would say If you are dead set on welding in that area, move all those boxes into what looks like a separate room(where the duct line is coming from) and put a fire blanket up to COMPLETELY seal it off. Now, that being said if that is the exit then NO. Also the chemicals have to go. And as stated before, the hitch should be done by a competent welder. They can take a real beating on the road and you don't want it breaking and killing somebody else.
Reply:Forgot to mention that you should probably get some type of air monitor if you do decide to weld in there. We use them where I work when we are in confined spaces to make sure we have enough breathable air and that the LEL is not too high.
Reply:My coworker who bought my old 110 volt mig nearly burned his house down trying to weld in his cluttered basement. I think forrest gump summed up the topic very well some years ago....Miller 211Hypertherm PM 451961 Lincoln Idealarc 250HTP 221  True Wisdom only comes from Pain.
Reply:Yeah, I wouldn't do it. And I've been known to do some pretty dumb@$$ things too. Plus guessing from your handle I bet you don't run too fast either   I've heard of mechanics that rent extra bays out to people to work on their own cars. Maybe you could find a shop that does something similar? Good Luck.-ben
Reply:My thoughts on this:  The question ought not be "Will I DIE if I weld in this place?"The more comprehensive question is "How MANY PEOPLE WILL DIE if I weld in this place?"
Reply:No way would I weld in there.  Run like a river when the snow melts away from that area to weld in.  I would ask a friend that has a garage and make sure there is enough room to weld there.
Reply:If you're in the city, find something they call a maker's space or hacker's spaceIt's a communal workspace / coop membership kind of thing.You can get access to machines and training from someone else who knows how.
Reply:The original post sounded like a prank to me.Y'all think he is really serious?
Reply:Originally Posted by rexcormackThe original post sounded like a prank to me.Y'all think he is really serious?
Reply:Could be I'm just too cynical! I seem to be getting worse as I get older!
Reply:Why is Al Bundy welding anyway? Shouldn't Peg be nagging him?
Reply:I hope you have insurance and go to confession before attempting any welding. Do you have a '' WILL '' ?  Maybe preplan the funeral ?
Reply:I say go ahead and install those. Only drilling and bolts required.Then, if you MUST resort to welding, take a class. The machinery is there for you!Last edited by tanglediver; 02-26-2014 at 09:32 PM.City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:Wait a minute, I miss read the question.....Will I DIE if I weld in this place
Reply:if you don't die by fire/explosion/asphyxiation you will surely die by lynching if the other tenants in your apartment building are left homeless when you burn the place down.i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny flaI say go for it!! But, be sure to wet the floor, it will help to prevent fires. Wear flip flops, gotta be comfortable. Do it in shorts and no shirt, don't wanna overheat. Helmets,... they're so overrated, a pair of Ray-Bans.....  For a good welding process, go get a Miller BobCat 250 and run it on SMAW, use a 1/4 7018AC on DCEN. Just set in down there with you. Being a self contained unit, there will be no need for worrying about a plug in. Besides, the exhaust fumes add an aroma like no other! Good Luck!!!Proverbs 4:23My company welds.
Reply:Originally Posted by BuzzBoxI say go for it!! But, be sure to wet the floor, it will help to prevent fires. Wear flip flops, gotta be comfortable. Do it in shorts and no shirt, don't wanna overheat. Helmets,... they're so overrated, a pair of Ray-Bans.....  For a good welding process, go get a Miller BobCat 250 and run it on SMAW, use a 1/4 7018AC on DCEN. Just set in down there with you. Being a self contained unit, there will be no need for worrying about a plug in. Besides, the exhaust fumes add an aroma like no other! Good Luck!!!
Reply:Curious, do have any deals on size 11 work boots or casuals BEFORE you have a FIRE SALE ?
Reply:am i the only one that knows you all are being trolled?Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:This thread made my night. Yes, I know we're all being trolled. Proverbs 4:23My company welds.
Reply:If he were to fill the room with helium or argon before striking an arc, it would be safer....he would just have to hold his breath while welding. Man, I can just see those boxes going up in flames. Is it safe to weld there. Ahh, that would be a no.Miller Millermatic 252Miller Syncrowave 200Liincoln AC-DC 225Victor O-A Set
Reply:Ohhh you guys cracked me up reading all your great and funny replies, and no this was not a prank, I've always been in love with welding things, and I guess lovers do stupid things.This was a desperation beg, I always knew this store was not safe but had NO other alternatives so I thought I'll let you guy talk me into it (now OUT of it) Big fan of Al Bundy too, especially since I have the same nagging wife Thank you so much guys, I really wished I could be a part of this forum, but life sometimes sucks. You guys REALLY made my day.God Bless.Bobak.
Reply:Originally Posted by fatboy123Ohhh you guys cracked me up reading all your great and funny replies, and no this was not a prank, I've always been in love with welding things, and I guess lovers do stupid things.This was a desperation beg, I always knew this store was not safe but had NO other alternatives so I thought I'll let you guy talk me into it (now OUT of it) Big fan of Al Bundy too, especially since I have the same nagging wife Thank you so much guys, I really wished I could be a part of this forum, but life sometimes sucks. You guys REALLY made my day.God Bless.Bobak.
Reply:Go rent a storage locker.... Do it from there.  Originally Posted by fatboy123Ohhh you guys cracked me up reading all your great and funny replies, and no this was not a prank, I've always been in love with welding things, and I guess lovers do stupid things.This was a desperation beg, I always knew this store was not safe but had NO other alternatives so I thought I'll let you guy talk me into it (now OUT of it) Big fan of Al Bundy too, especially since I have the same nagging wife Thank you so much guys, I really wished I could be a part of this forum, but life sometimes sucks. You guys REALLY made my day.God Bless.Bobak.
Reply:Originally Posted by fatboy123... lovers do stupid things...
Reply:all that being said, neither should you smash yourself in the bag repeatedly with a slag  hammer
Reply:Originally Posted by dubl_tAmen to that brother.I bet if you fill out your info so we know where you are...
Reply:Well anyone that rides a cruiser can't be all bad!  If you really want to weld why not do it outside?"All of this and some of that's the only way to skin the cat!"
Reply:Originally Posted by fatboy123.... keeps the witty replies coming Bobak.
Reply:Fatboy, you will find a lot of good information on here.  If I used my Harley as a name I would be Softail Custom!  Not really sure I would like that name around here.
Reply:I honestly thought this was a troll. I would have been sure had the OP said boxes were doused in gasoline.Good point on the class. You could get your projects done there probably in class probably with someone who has experience to let you know what you did will kill you or others.Regards,RobGreat Basin WeldingInstagramBlue weldersRed weldersMy luscious Table DIY TIG Torch cooler
Reply:Originally Posted by Larry KFatboy, you will find a lot of good information on here.  If I used my Harley as a name I would be Softail Custom!  Not really sure I would like that name around here.
Reply:Miller Dynasty 200DXMiller Spectrum 250DMiller Millermatic 200Bunch of old blue dinosaurs....
Reply:Is it possible for you to rent a work area better suited for welding? I wont troll or anything just curious and if you only have a couple projects I would find a local welding shop to do them or find a welding school that will do them for you.Also have you considered the noise level and how it would affect your neighbors? Im pretty sure it would bug someone if you turned on a grinder in an apartment building.Last edited by flux core joe; 02-27-2014 at 06:15 PM.Lincoln pro core 125 14''chop saw7 inch grinder,2-4.5 inch grinders,electric die grinder.Half inch drillAnd alot of hand tools