Tig welding in my basement

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So the weather got in the teens her in NY today and my garage is not heated. I am working on an aluminum dog kennel and need to tig it together. Is it safe to bring my Esab tig set up down into my basement to use in the warmth of home? I of course would have a couple of fire extinguishers at hand as well as a bucket of water. Thanks for your help in advance!Esab  Mig 200i Caddy Esab Tig 2200i ac/dc water cooled Miller Diversion 180Lincoln HD 110v weldpack
Reply:I would advise against it. Sounds like a good excuse to invest in a kerosene space heater and spend more time in the garage.
Reply:Originally Posted by SomthingoriginalI would advise against it.
Reply:What kind of heat do you use in your house??  I honestly don't see a problem, there is no sparks to worry about with tig, just radiation from the arc....Lincoln pro mig 180Lincoln Square Wave Tig 300/wp 20/home built water cooler Victor, Purox, Harris, O/A welding/cutting setupsVintage Craftsman drill pressVintage Craftsman/Atlas 12"x 36'' lathe7''x 12'' w/c band saw Everlast 140 st
Reply:Originally Posted by DemonSpeederWhat kind of heat do you use in your house??  I honestly don't see a problem, there is no sparks to worry about with tig, just radiation from the arc....
Reply:I don't see why you couldn't, but i'd worry about the fumes. -Alex-AlexSears/Craftsman 230A Buzzy BoxSears/Craftsman 180A Buzzy BoxChicago Electric 80A InverterALL STICK...ALL THE TIME!I spent a lot of time with the square peg and round hole.
Reply:The kerosene space heater in the garage poses a much, much greater risk.There have been a couple threads on this topic in the past (I didn't search either ) and there will be those that warn against it "'cause you'll die" but consider this.1) At just under 1% by volume, argon is the third most abundant gas in our atmosphere.2) Due to its density, argon that isn't immediately reabsorbed into the atmosphere will settle to the floor3) If you were to empty a full 300 cubic feet cylinder into an enclosed 10' x 30' area, it would only be 1' deep.  So unless you're welding with your face on the floor . . .4) . . . (thinking of any reason why I wouldn't)Last edited by duaneb55; 01-03-2012 at 11:58 PM.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Originally Posted by duaneb553) If you were to empty a full 300 cubic feet cylinder into an enclosed 10' x 30' area, it would only be 1' deep.  So unless you're welding with your face on the floor . . .]
Reply:Originally Posted by duaneb55The kerosene space heater in the garage poses a much, much greater risk.There have been a couple threads on this topic in the past (I didn't search either ) and there will be those that warn against it "'cause you'll die" but consider this.1) At just under 1% by volume, argon is the third most abundant gas in our atmosphere.2) Due to its density, argon that isn't immediately reabsorbed into the atmosphere will settle to the floor3) If you were to empty a full 300 cubic feet cylinder into an enclosed 10' x 30' area, it would only be 1' deep.  So unless you're welding with your face on the floor . . .4) . . . (thinking of any reason why I wouldn't)
Reply:If it was me, I'd have no problem doing a little TIG welding in the basement and the gas is not a concern unless you're in small closed room and it completely displaces the oxygen.  Of course, we don't know what YOUR basement looks like:  Is it an empty concrete room or is it a woodworking shop filled with sawdust suspended in the air with bins of shredded paper and oily-rags stored next to the gasoline tanks?.If I were you, I'd first have a read of your home insurance policy, strata and municipal by-laws to educate yourself on what may or may not be "forbidden" and what could happen.  If anything does go wrong, it would probably be enough for your insurance company to walk away from you and your pile of rubble/ashes.  Now that I think about it, maybe enduring a little chill is worth it to not risk that.  Lincoln AC225 & MigPak 140, Lincoln Magnum SpoolGun, Miller Spectrum 375-X Plasma, Syncrowave 200 TIG, Millermatic 252 MIG, Miller Digital Elite, General 7x12" horiz/vert bandsaw, 3' box/pan brake, 20 ton press, milling machine, 12x28 lathe, etc.
Reply:I do basement workshop welding all the time. I can see the smoke in the air pretty heavy after about a half an hour, so I break it up.In college, the student machine/welding shop was on the 6th (of 12) floor. Competition buggies were limited by what could fit in the elevator.Last edited by Groo; 01-04-2012 at 11:14 AM.
Reply:There shouldn't be much smoke from TIG welding aluminum.  No sparks to worry about with TIG, but you need to be sure that any possible drips cannot find anything to ignite.Other than that, have at it.  Unless your basement is the size of a phone booth, oxygen deprivation from argon displacement is not a concern.No, the argon will NOT pool on the bottom one inch of your basement.  Argon has a lower density than carbon dioxide, therefore CO2 will more readily pool than argon.  You can get argon to pool in VERY still air (like in the bottom of a fish tank), but not in a basement.  Anyway, you exhale much more CO2 every minute than your TIG torch puts out argon, and you're running at a 100% duty cycle (I hope).  If this were a real issue, people wouldn't have basements, would they?I wish people would put this silly issue to rest.
Reply:Originally Posted by rlitmanThere shouldn't be much smoke from TIG welding aluminum.  No sparks to worry about with TIG, but you need to be sure that any possible drips cannot find anything to ignite.If this were a real issue, people wouldn't have basements, would they?I wish people would put this silly issue to rest.
Reply:Originally Posted by Aquafire  Of course, we don't know what YOUR basement looks like:  Is it an empty concrete room or is it a woodworking shop filled with sawdust suspended in the air with bins of shredded paper and oily-rags stored next to the gasoline tanks?.
Reply:Originally Posted by rlitmanNo, the argon will NOT pool on the bottom one inch of your basement.  Argon has a lower density than carbon dioxide, therefore CO2 will more readily pool than argon.  You can get argon to pool in VERY still air (like in the bottom of a fish tank), but not in a basement.  Anyway, you exhale much more CO2 every minute than your TIG torch puts out argon, and you're running at a 100% duty cycle (I hope).  If this were a real issue, people wouldn't have basements, would they?I wish people would put this silly issue to rest.
Reply:Originally Posted by HundhausI acctually tend to store all my flamables,gun powder,gas,oil,linseed rags, paint thinner, propane tanks,lighter fluid, and dried fire wood kindling  right next to my gas hot water heater and gas forced air whole house system. Are you suggesting that I not do that anymore?
Reply:Originally Posted by AquafireNo, that's all good- just don't mix in ARGON!