Welding & Cellphones

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My welding course instructor told the class that we should shut off our phones before we get into the booth and start welding (SMAW) because the strong magnetic field can wipe the memory. I can understand this being a concern for any device with a disc hard drive. I don't understand how powering down would protect the memory. Is this a necessary precaution for devices like smartphones which have solid state memory?
Reply:I have never had trouble with my phone while welding, I usually put it on a shelf or in my welding bag though. Probably don't want you sitting in the booth texting.Airco Ac/Dc 300 HeliwelderMillerMatic 200 (stolen)Miller Maxstar 150STLMiller AEAD200LE (welding and generating power) Hobart MIG
Reply:Definitely trying to get you off your cell phones. I weld a lot with my phone in my shirt pocket, which is bad for a number of reasons, none of them being EMP related. I suggest you leave your phone in the car, or at home, and get as much hood time as you can. I hated the guys in my class who would take pictures of every weld they did. Always made a cute little presentation.. torch right there, weld in the middle, grinder on top, pliers just so, and a nice neat pile of spent electrodes/filler wire on the side. Or the guys who would go, "Hey... come get a picture of me welding!" How bout no. I've got work to do.
Reply:If my welding instructor sees phones in the shop he just makes class real hard for you. I look at it this way, ime there to learn to weld. If I wanted to be on my phone I could do it at home for free, no need to pay to go to class then just be on my phone.PROUD   AMERICAN
Reply:Phone stayed in my pocket throughout class and never had a problem while stick welding. People's addictions to cell phones were solved simply by not having any reception. Now our instructor on the other hand often disappeared in order stay glued to his cell phone  I was not exactly pleased with that myself. Dude was a pretty good welder but not so good of a teacher. I ended up having to teach myself a lot...which I could have done without paying oh, $1200 per semester.Last edited by JD955SC; 09-21-2013 at 10:02 PM.Hobart Stickmate LX235AC/160DCRanger 305GVictor 315 O/A rigHope to acquire in the next couple of years: Hypertherm PM45 and Dynasty 200DX
Reply:Stick welding won't bother the phone but grinding will fill the microphones with steel over time. High frequency when tiging aluminum is capable of scrambling a smart phone
Reply:I always kept my phone in my pocket and had my headphones hooked up to it. The only downside is the magnet on the speaker can/will attract metal. I've blown 1 or 2 speakers already.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:Headphones are a safety hazard, and not allowed on the job. I've seen the cord (on the outside of a shirt) get caught in a wire wheel and rip out of somebody's ears, whip around, hit him in the cheek, then get tangled up and jammed the grinder.Kid was fine, but he had a nasty welt on his face. Could have been worse.
Reply:Eh. I use my phone to record myself welding (made a little phone holder with some plate and then put a #5 lens down and the phone on top of it) and it has never wiped my memory. I'm pretty sure it's just a nice way of saying "You're in class. Stay the eff-bomb off your damn phone!".Big F**king HammerJumper cables & 2 marine batteriesJaws of life
Reply:On a somewhat related topic I was told that welding with credit cards in my wallet was killing them, as in they can't be read by card readers anymore. Longest I've had a card last is about a year. I try to remember to remove my wallet when I weld now, but it has not been long enough to know if it will make any difference.
Reply:I know you can talk on your phone via bluetooth and weld (long story.....trying to get a project done and talk a friend through a ultra rough devorce) On the card thing I can agree I cant get a card to last more than a year.Millermatic 30aMillermatic 210Miller thunderbolt 225 ac/dc/ccMiller HF15-1-wg tigLincoln ranger 10(honda powered)Cebora 175 mig Too damn many tools but oddly not enough......
Reply:I had a Nokia, and if I kept it in my breast pocket while on HF AC, it scrambled the screen and I had to reboot the phone. Didn't seem to affect the working of the phone but I didn't chance it regularly.
Reply:Originally Posted by hddnisOn a somewhat related topic I was told that welding with credit cards in my wallet was killing them, as in they can't be read by card readers anymore. Longest I've had a card last is about a year. I try to remember to remove my wallet when I weld now, but it has not been long enough to know if it will make any difference.
Reply:He probably just wants you to not fool with your phone while in the booth, which is understandable. But as for putting it in your bag or something, I always had mine on my hip or in my pocket right there with me and never had any issues whether I was welding DC or AC HF like Plant posted... Think it'd depend on the phone and the welding machine and its settings...?? I have a Google Nexus 4G phone btw (which sucks as a phone, but it never messed up...)Last edited by JMcL213; 09-22-2013 at 10:01 AM.
Reply:Originally Posted by k45Welding is definitely bad for credit cards:  every time I go to the LWS, it hurts the credit card
Reply:I have nevr had a problem with it. I weld with mine in my pocket all the time
Reply:My credit and debit cards fail because they are crappy cards, not beause of the welding field around it. I didn't weld for two months and during that time got a brand new Suntrust debit card. Within a month the strip crapped out. I'm more than a bit peeved at that considering my old bank's cards lasted for about a year and a half. I would be happy to at least get a year out of the card. Aggravating as all get out for sure.Hobart Stickmate LX235AC/160DCRanger 305GVictor 315 O/A rigHope to acquire in the next couple of years: Hypertherm PM45 and Dynasty 200DX
Reply:Yes stay off the phone you are there to learn and work. If you were at work and your boss catches you on the phone alot chitchatting or playing stupid texting games you will lose your job quick or he will make it hard for you. Seeing people with their phone glued to their head all the time drives me crazy. Little sally is texting Jessica because joey wouldn't ask her to the dance and she is devastated, what do I do... While they are sitting next to each other!!! GET Off THE PHONE!!!!!Go to class do your work (job) and you can play on the phone later.   I am only 38 but iam old school I guess.The whole phone thing is not for me, there are more important things in life.
Reply:it's not complete bs, years ago I fried a few phones while welding--------------------------------------------------------------www.becmotors.nlyup, I quit welding.. joined welder anonymous
Reply:Originally Posted by hddnisOn a somewhat related topic I was told that welding with credit cards in my wallet was killing them, as in they can't be read by card readers anymore.
Reply:thanks for all the responses!I agree that it is best to stay off the cellphone while welding since I am there to learn to weld.Glad to hear that there seems to not be any major threat of destroying my phone as a result of electromagnetic fields since *most* of you said you have never had a problem.Also, thanks for the heads-up on the speakers getting clogged with metal dust.
Reply:I've fried my phone's SIM card when TIG welding (I believe due to high frequency starting).  Now the phone always comes out of the pocket and gets put up on the shelf a few feet away when welding with high frequency.I have some doubts that SMAW welding would have an adverse affect on a phone, though.  High frequency seems to be what can damage nearby electronics.My garage door opener can also sometimes go on the fritz when using high frequency.  (Usually just blinks it's lights and requires a power cycle to get back to normal, but once the HF actually caused the door to operate!)
Reply:If a magnetic field is strong enough to affect the phones memory, it wont matter if it is on or off.The Lord has declared, "This is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man"  Moses 1:39Link: My name is John, and I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.-- ColdCreekWorks.com --
Reply:yeah it makes more sense that high-frequency could create problems with electronics and cards Originally Posted by jdh239If a magnetic field is strong enough to affect the phones memory, it wont matter if it is on or off.
Reply:Originally Posted by JD955SCMy credit and debit cards fail because they are crappy cards, not beause of the welding field around it. I didn't weld for two months and during that time got a brand new Suntrust debit card. Within a month the strip crapped out. I'm more than a bit peeved at that considering my old bank's cards lasted for about a year and a half. I would be happy to at least get a year out of the card. Aggravating as all get out for sure.