that welding smell?

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This is gonna sound weird, but after welding my hand always has a distinct smell to it. Whether its MIG, TIG or stick welding the smell is always the same, and has been for years no matter what the process or machine. Does anyone know what it is? (And yeah I know I should wear a glove on my torch hand, but I don't unless its really high amps).
Reply:Burning Flesh.http://all-a-cart.comWelding Cart Kits and accessories
Reply:To me it smells like iron oxides.
Reply:"Burning Flesh"  lol...Does it smell like chicken?-az-
Reply:Ok, for starters i cant believe your asking this question. Secondly i disagree with NOT wearing a glove. THEY make gloves for the particular process that your doing. I personally use tig gloves for all process's as they allow more movement and i like to feel what im doing, versus wearing a huge pair of stick gloves.I laugh at the guys that dont wear gloves because they for example " seen " pauly on orange county choppers not wearing a pair... and that must be the thing to do right, because its super cool or somthing ? What your smelling is infact burning flesh and in some cases hair. Gloves are made to protect your hands so use them. But by all means if one day you want to end up with hands that are like leather, cant feel anything, and i kid you not i HAVE seen friends get skin cancer because of their carelessness when it comes to covering up while welding because they thought it " couldnt " happen to them. Think of it as having the sun 5 " away from your body. As far as only doing it at low amps, the arc still maintains virtually the same amount of UV and infared rays, you just dont feel the heat as much as you do with higher amperage welding.Last edited by Pressure_Welder; 08-05-2010 at 05:15 PM.
Reply:Tig and Mig have the smell of burned argon (well, I think its the argon anyway)flame awayTim Beeker.
Reply:Yup my filler fingers smell burnt after awhile..I have not used a glove on my filler hand EVER.*What's even better is when you stick weld all day in the hot humid weather and then the water from your shower hits your hair.....zap!* Disclamier...I'll do what I want You do what You want.Last edited by zapster; 08-05-2010 at 06:09 PM.I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Originally Posted by tnjindTig and Mig have the smell of burned argon (well, I think its the argon anyway)  flame away
Reply:Over the years you get to know the smells. When a sizzler lands in your hair, it has a smell. When your shirt is on fire,it has a different smell. Blueprints on fire smell different too. Then, of course when you step on slag and your rubber boot melts. Yea, you can determine whats on fire with out even lifting your helmet.
Reply:Originally Posted by Rick VHmmm, 'burned argon'... I thought argon was an 'inert' gas So... how could you burn it?  Got to be something else.
Reply:Originally Posted by Pressure_WelderOk, for starters i cant believe your asking this question. Secondly i disagree with NOT wearing a glove. THEY make gloves for the particular process that your doing. I personally use tig gloves for all process's as they allow more movement and i like to feel what im doing, versus wearing a huge pair of stick gloves.I laugh at the guys that dont wear gloves because they for example " seen " pauly on orange county choppers not wearing a pair... and that must be the thing to do right, because its super cool or somthing ? What your smelling is infact burning flesh and in some cases hair. Gloves are made to protect your hands so use them. But by all means if one day you want to end up with hands that are like leather, cant feel anything, and i kid you not i HAVE seen friends get skin cancer because of their carelessness when it comes to covering up while welding because they thought it " couldnt " happen to them. Think of it as having the sun 5 " away from your body. As far as only doing it at low amps, the arc still maintains virtually the same amount of UV and infared rays, you just dont feel the heat as much as you do with higher amperage welding.
Reply:Does it smell a little like bleach?  If so, it's ozone, which is created in the welding arc through the breakdown of the shielding gas and and then combining the byproducts with air.  Ozone tends to be a bit 'clingy', which makes it stick to clothing.
Reply:Sounds better then my "burned argon" theory.Tim Beeker.
Reply:Originally Posted by tnjindSounds better then my "burned argon" theory.
Reply:I really can't smell much after welding. My nose is usually filled with black snotI do wear PPE."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 smell the smoke, probably full of cancer causing stuff.I never work without gloves.  The first time you grab the wrong end of a cutoff, you'll appreciate gloves.  And your concentration is much better when you don't have spatter hitting your hands, and arms.  Also......a nice  blob of slag can positively ruin your day"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:The first time you grab the wrong end of a cutoff, you'll appreciate gloves.
Reply:I know that smell. It's not ozone, we've all smelt ozone before it's one of the gases that are created by unshielded electric arcs, like when you drop something sharp and heavy on an extension cord or stick your nose near to a running electric motor. It's also caused by lightening. I'm not exactly sure what causes "that smell", but I think the smell is caused by the ozone reacting with your skin, since ozone is highly chemically reactive. That smell seems to last for days, like it comes from inside my hands, not like I just got something on the surface, it won't wash off. I personally wear gloves to avoid that smell.Ian TannerKawasaki KX450 and many other fine tools
Reply:I think my skin smells like iron oxide but that's from the cutting and grinding rather than the welding.
Reply:After I am done welding my wife tells me I smell like burnt fartsThe 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:Ozone it is fellas. Seems more prevelant to tig in my experiance.
Reply:heres a neat little thread for you guys who dont wear PPE while welding. It does happen, dosent matter how old you are.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=43101
Reply:OooooOooooo that smell.[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sV_toedW2L0&feature=related[/ame]
Reply:exposed skin will leave you open to cancer and burns
Reply:I think ZTfab is partially correct about his burning flesh comment.If you have ever laid in a tanning bed you know that it creates the same smell on your skin.Originally Posted by jdh239After I am done welding my wife tells me I smell like burnt farts
Reply:Originally Posted by jdh239After I am done welding my wife tells me I smell like burnt farts
Reply:Originally Posted by jdh239After I am done welding my wife tells me I smell like burnt farts
Reply:I think ZTFab is correct.When I welded without sleeves(something I'm NOT going todo any more)my right arm (I'm left-handed) got this burnt hair/skin smell that didn'teven wash off.Miller a/c-d/c Thunderbolt XLMillermatic 180 Purox O/ASmith Littletorch O/AHobart Champion Elite
Reply:Maybe the ozone reacts with the skin,and oxidizes the outer layers .I weld outdoors so all I usually notice is the flux and metal oxide smells.