Work Area Set Up

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I'd like learn TIG welding but don't have access to a work area witha concrete floor.  Only have apartment area.  Should I pick up a couple of cinder blocks to create a work area?  I guess I could putthem on fiberglass insulation to catch any drips between the cracks.I thought about using the open door of the oven for a surface butthat's metal (conducting!) so that seemed excessively dangerous.Just really wanting to practice at this point so the work will just besmall pieces.  Is this excessively dangerous inside a woodenbuilding?
Reply:wood and heat =danger but with tig the danger is less than any other method of welding.tig makes no  sparks unless you're trying to weld thru dirt and then its nothing like stick welding, just a few sparks and smoke.get smoke detector, a metal surface  ,a few fire extinguishers(cant have too many)and be careful.enjoy.
Reply:You can get some popping with TIG if your base metal isn't real clean.  I'd be worried about occasional sparks or molten droplets burning holes in the carpet or vinyl floor.I don't recommend it.  But if you're bound and determined to weld in the house, start by getting a good ABC fire extinguisher. Seriously.   I'd get something to cover the floor under the work area.  Even a sheet of plywood would help protect your floor, and it is more likely to smolder before catching fire.  A metal worktable is really helpful, because then you can connect your work lead to the table, and not have to worry about how to connect a clamp to a small piece of practice metal.A small steel table(2'x3') with a low sheet metal wall(12"-18" taller than the table top) wrapping 3 sides would be the best for what you're doing.  The table could be assembled from a frame of light gauge angle and the top could be made from 11 or 14 gauge sheet metal, if properly supported underneath.That and a half sheet of 3/8" plywood would give you a good work station that would protect the inside of your apartment.Last thought, think about getting some fresh air into your workspace.  You could get some smoke if there's any oil on your practice pieces.  Even though the argon flow rate is low with TIG, you don't want to work with it in a sealed room.  The argon will settle on the floor and build up.  If you're working in a small room, without ventilation, it's possible you could displace enough air with argon to do yourself, or pets, harm.Benson's Mobile Welding - Dayton, OH metro area - AWS Certified Welding Inspector
Reply:I would be more worried about getting grinding dust all over everything in the house from prepping the metal.   Does your apartment have a back patio you could work on?For a quick table, a pair of those collapsible metal saw horses and a 2'x3' piece of 1/4" plate makes for a descent work surface.   Sometimes the collapsible saw horses are height adjustable.  When you're not using the table, you can fold up the saw horses and stand up the plate against a wall and the table is out of the way.   One of those adjustable height seats with wheels under it would work good for tig welding sitting down in front of the makeshift table so you can adjust both the table and seat height so it's comfortable for you to weld.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:TIG inside isn't too dangerous.  Its the only welding process that could possibly be safely done in a living space.Concrete on the floor is not necessary, BUT, consider what easily flammable things you have around (curtains, carpet, sawdust, paper trash, etc).You shouldn't get sparks with TIG.  Dirty metal will spark a bit, but even so, you can TIG in a white shirt, if you know what I mean, and TIG should only be done on the cleanest of metals.You won't get sparks from aluminum, if that's what you plan on doing . . .If you have a wood or VCT floor, it should be safe enough for TIG of small parts, but a spark could damage the floor, leaving a tiny black mark.  You could cover the floor or your work are with metal, or something fireproof like hardibacker or wonderboard.Don't worry too much about a metal surface.  Most welding benches are metal on the surface.  Just wear gloves and sleeves all the time, and you'll be fine.  Forget your gloves, and you can be zapped by the HF in TIG, but the welding current itself is unlikely to hurt you.Tile is great, (but remember that your shower curtain is flammable).Forget about carpet, upholstered furniture, curtains, (don't even think of these, even if you can cover them) AND GET A METAL TRASH CAN WITH A METAL COVER (or better yet, I use a special metal fire resistant can designed for "oily waste").Remember that sparks bounce, and its very easy for one to jump into a cardboard box or sofa, and smolder there for some time.After you're done welding, take your time shutting everything down, coiling your cables, and putting things away.  You should stick around for at least a half hour, to be sure nothing is smoldering.  Having a smoke detector and fire extinguisher is a must.BTW, be sure to place the fire extinguisher near your exit.Oh, one last thing, forget about grinding indoors.  Fiber reinforced angle grinder wheels have a lasting smell that is not apartment friendly.Also, GRINDING DUST IS EVIL.  Its composed of abrasive grit that scratches and dulls everything, and fine metal whiskers that cause awful splinters which get infected, and will destroy anything electronic.
Reply:SIgn up for a welding class at a community college / vo-tech / adult education school.Learn welding -there-.  You can often do your own workpieces as part of or in addition to the 'schoolwork' workpieces.Yes you can TIG indoors.  If you know what you are doing and have the proper safety precautions and equipment in place.Having a fire in an apartment because you were TIG welding would not be good. Welding is only part of a welding job/project.  There's cutting and grinding and cleaning/degreasing and wire-brushing and more cleaning/degreasing and so-forth.  And none of those other steps are what you would want to do in an apartment.Sorry, but running a grinder by the couch is NOT a good plan.  And I'd probably say to go with a piece of cementous backer-board (Wonderboard or Hardibacker or such) instead of a piece of plywood as a welding surface.  At least the cementboard won't smolder or burn.  You might have to support the cementboard on a piece of plywood, in which case you then have to restrict or be aware of your welding heat to make sure you don't set the wood on fire.But there is a reason that welding tables/worksurfaces are typically made of steel or such.  Because they don't easily burn or smolder or such (no discussion of oxy-acet flame cutting there guys/gals!  ).  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...