How bad is argon?

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Just wondering, how bad is it to breathe argon while welding aluminum. Im guessing pretty bad. Im going to work on he ventalation in here!
Reply:Its not bad at all except that there is no oxygen in it. It is completely inert and therefore theoretically harmless.  As long as you have adequate air mixed with it you are fine.  Argon is what all the fancy wine bars use to push the expenive wine through the tubes so they don't have to open the bottles and expose them to air.
Reply:hmm, thats intresting, i didnt know that.I was actually asking cause I feel like complete butt after welding yesterday.
Reply:Now there IS some bad stuff coming off the AL that has nothing to do with argon.
Reply:Here is the link to the MSDS for aluminum.  As you can see, there are plenty of bad fumes in burning aluminum.http://awisco.net/MSDS/Aluminum%20Mi...Tig%20Wire.pdf
Reply:Here is a link that is less scary.  It mentions ozone from the radiation. That'll make you feel crappy.http://www.cdc.gov/Niosh/pel88/7429-90B.html
Reply:thanks! Kinda explains why I felt like I was breathing weird, Im starting to feel better now. At least now I know.
Reply:Argon isn't much of a worry if you are aware of the risks. Unless you work in confined areas with poor ventilation, this isn't a worry.But, just FYI:If you had any negative effects from the argon, you probably wouldn't be asking, as you'd be dead from asphyxiation. If you add about 10 to 20% argon, even if well mixed, the oxygen content may be diluted enough to knock you out without warning. The argon is NOT a poison, like monoxide, and isn't concentrated in your bloodstream. It just reduces the oxygen avaiable for your blood to pick up, and there is little to no warning before you pass out, as you still exhale the CO2 that tells your body that you arn't breathing.Basicly, you need to be careful of areas where fresh air isn't brought in and the argon can collect. It doesn't take much fresh air in an open area. Example: Working in a 3ft dia pipe ten feet long: the volume is a bit over 60 cubic feet. At 20CFH argon flow, if there is no make up air but good circulation within the pipe to keep the air mixed, in 20 minutes the concentration of argon will exceed 10%, dropping the oxygen concentration about 2% (from approx 21% to approx 19%) Another 20 minutes and the oxygen will be below 17%. This is where the risk becomes pretty high and physical effects begin. You won't notice the efects, in all likelyhood. Another twenty minutes and the oxygen is down to about 14%, and breathing and heartrate are affected, muscular control begins to go. So does judgement, so you don't tend to notice the other things. From there..... It doesn't usually go this way, though, as in a space this small, breathing will use up the oxygen fairly rapidly, and sufficient make up air must be provided to allow for this.If the air is very dead, so the mixing isn't good, or if there is a lip allowing the argon to pool, then a line of high argon concentration will rise from the bottom as welding goes on. As it nears the breathing area, or if you duck down to it, the effects will be very sudden, one or two breaths. This is the big risk, as even if sufficient fresh air for breathing is provided, still areas may still collect high enough argon concentration to be a risk, and tis can happen in a few minutes. Think of a weld at a lower inside corner. Poor circlation, in three minutes 1 cubic foot of argon is put in the area, and if you lean in to take a good look, the oxyen may be diluted below the 17% point, and you may go Bonk!All effects are worse at higher altituder where the air pressure is lower.See: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/smallbusiness/sec12.html
Reply:Good point! I never thought about welding INSIDE a pipe. Must be all kinds of ventilation problems with that!
Reply:Yup. But it's done all of the time, with few problems, because the people that do it are generally aware of how to control the risks. My point is that there is little risk with argon IF you are aware that it displaces oxygen, and that  it can collect, particularly in low spots, if there isn't sufficient air movement to mix and replace the oxygen.  Low corners and sump areas can be bad, like working on a vehicle in a shallow service pit (deep ones must have ventilation by law, but shallow ones may or may not be ventilated if they are otherwise accessible. I think the line is 4 feet below grade) A couple of MIG or TIG welders in the vicinity and poor air motion, and you want to be REAL careful about ducking below the floor line.