safety question

admin

OK, you guys finally talked me into it.  My new spoolgun is on the way.  Do I need to change any safety equipment when working with aluminum?  Will my lenses work, or do i need a different lens?  None of the online articles seem to discuss this topic.
Reply:While I have very little experience welding numinum, I do remember that it does NOT turn red. So keep that in mind when you accidently go to pick the weldment up with no gloves on! Luckily, I am just remembering this and not speaking from a bad experience!!!"Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:I have no aluminum experiance myself but people that do seem to like a lense one shade darker than what they use for steel.Ranger 250 GXTSmith Gas Axe
Reply:Originally Posted by Stick-manWhile I have very little experience welding numinum, I do remember that it does NOT turn red. So keep that in mind when you accidently go to pick the weldment up with no gloves on! Luckily, I am just remembering this and not speaking from a bad experience!!!
Reply:When spray welding aluminum it has a nasty tendancy to put off ozone. When you breathe it, it will make your chest burn. A good welding fume respirator will help. The disposable 'paper' type works fine, as long as it is rated for welding fumes. The lenses are the same, but I usually run my shield at 11, sometimes 12 if it's really heavy stuff.
Reply:Funny thing about steel, it doesn't have to be red hot to cook flesh.  Hint: if it makes your welding gloves smoke when you grab it, you should probably keep bare hands off it too Hobart LX235Victor 250 Oxy-Acetylene Rig (welding and cutting)Bobcat 773F-350, 1999, 4x4, 16' 10K# trailerOutdoor Wood Burner - 10 cords/year
Reply:Thanks for the tip about a respirator.  I have a few for painting.  I'll check to see if they'll work for welding.  If not, I will pick one up.  I've heard that a blue or orange lens is used for aluminum when gas welding.  Not necessarily required, but make it a lot easier to see the weld puddle.  Are they that beneficial?  does aluminum spatter like steel?
Reply:Originally Posted by Stick-manWhile I have very little experience welding numinum, I do remember that it does NOT turn red. So keep that in mind when you accidently go to pick the weldment up with no gloves on! Luckily, I am just remembering this and not speaking from a bad experience!!!
Reply:Originally Posted by hp246Thanks for the tip about a respirator.  I have a few for painting.  I'll check to see if they'll work for welding.  If not, I will pick one up.  I've heard that a blue or orange lens is used for aluminum when gas welding.  Not necessarily required, but make it a lot easier to see the weld puddle.  Are they that beneficial?  does aluminum spatter like steel?
Reply:Originally Posted by gwileyI prefer the 3M pink pancake style respirator - $20 from cyberweld.  I wear it just about any time I light the torch or strike an arc - there are a lot of nasty fumes given off by all welding processes including heavy metals, copper, zinc, ozone, etc.Old timers have made fun of me doing it, but I never get welder fever and I hope to avoid encouraging the onset of Alzheimers...
Reply:Don't try to use a gas welding lens for arc welding!Aluminum won't spatter much if you're in spray transfer mode, which is where you should be for welding aluminum.
Reply:On the subject of turning color, my neon mentor told me once that hot glass and cold glass look exactly the same.Eventually you will put it to the test-ow.I learned quickly to treat everything like it is hot.Metal, I have found hangs onto its heat a lot longer than glass.Millermatic® 211 Auto-Set™ with MVP™Miller Diversion™ 180 AC/DC TIGEvery air tool made...if it can be driven by air, I want it.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Neon Sign Fabricatorwww.casinoneon.com
Reply:Finally got a chance to play with my new toy today. Found the importance of pre-heating the material.  Sure does stay warm for awhile doesn't it.  What is the best way to dress the welds?  flap wheel?
Reply:I like the tiger discs on an angle grinder