Welding fumes

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Hate to bring a sour subject to the table, but wanted to talk about health concerns for fumes. I’ve been welding for about 8 months,I’m not very experienced but truly enjoy it. For the past few months I have been saving up my money that I get from mowing lawns (I’m a kid) for an entry level tig welder. I have been counting the days until I can finally buy one, but recently after doing some research I found that even metals such as plain steel can give off carcinogens. I’m the kind of person who just can’t do something knowing the harm I’m causing myself. I’m not sure if I wanted this to be more of a question or a rant, but I’m just so bummed that I won’t be able to tig custom bike frames, which is what I’ve been wanting to do. I can’t exactly afford the fancy exhaust systems or respirator welding hoods, is there anything I can do that guarantees daggers while welding? I’d really hate to give this up, but will if I have to. Thanks and sorry for the long post. P.S. currently using century fc90 FCAW electric welder.
Reply:As your quite rightly can guess, anything that isn't pure air, is bad for your lungs

Ironically, your FCAW welder will give much worse fumes off than pretty much any TIG welding you do.TIG welding doesn't create a direct arc through the filler metal, which vapourises a small amount. Even solid wire MIG vapourises enough solid metal to be harmful over time. TIG is an indirect arc and a very smooth steady pool so it vapourises the least amount of metals and fumes. Unless you try something stupid like welding next to/on top of paint or zinc/cadmium coatings

Have a good look at OSHA guidance. Our equivelent HSE releases free guidance notes for various forms of welding. Their reccomendations for TIG welding are a lot less onorous than for stick or MIG/MAG. FCAW can often be the worst type of welding for fumes as the flux itself gives off terrible fumes.FCAW/dualshield and stainless MIG welding are pretty much the worst. Everything else - I wouldn't worry too much about unless you do a lot of welding, get an under-hood respirator if you want to be safe. I have an powered air fed hood for part time welding work, as sometimes I rack up many hours under the hood, even TIG welding can irritate my lungs.Murphy's Golden Rule: Whoever has the gold, makes the rules.
Reply:Yes FCAW does pretty nasty for the most part,  I always weld outside for that reason, nor do I weld any galvanized things as that gives off lead. I want to try a much cleaner welding option so I figured tig, although not ideal for a beginner, was the way to go. Can you link or recommend any welding hoods with exhaust built in? Thanks
Reply:If it makes you feel better, 3M makes N95 respirators (they look like dust masks) intended to filter out metal fumes. They're called 3M 8212 N95 Particulate Welding Respirators and they're not too expensive (I got mine on ebay). The metals you want to watch out for especially are cadmium (this can kill you) and stainless steel, which when welded can create a carcinogen called "hexavalent chromium" (Google it). The manganese in regular stick electrodes seems to be associated with parkinsonism, but that's mainly with guys who have been welding all day for years...Welcome to the forum.
Reply:I do not want to sound like a "BROKEN RECORD", but, the desire for safety by the Millennial Generation and Generation Z is a bit overwhelming.I was born in 1950, we did not have all of the present safety fears, but, we were safer than the previous generation,,My father died of alcohol consumption, as did 6 of his closest friends. I do not drink, and I believe it is due to my father succumbing to alcohol.So, do you continue to weld or not? That is totally up to you,, I have welded some (not as a career, but, quite a bit) for over 50 years.Would I change anything? No,, I would do it all again, exactly the same.Seriously, if the welding scares you, my son-in-law is looking for a junior coder,, no travel required, work from home, and probably the pay is equivalent to what a welder could expect to earn.If your house is clean, there is no environmental risks. Coder, or welder, I would imagine both have similar learning curves, both require creativity,, Both occupations would give you satisfaction of having created something in the end,,, you decide which suits you.I would bet that your local junior college could train you in either profession,,,
Reply:

Originally Posted by GoK4rtFanatic

nor do I weld any galvanized things as that gives off lead.
Reply:

Originally Posted by SweetMK

I do not want to sound like a "BROKEN RECORD", but, the desire for safety by the Millennial Generation and Generation Z is a bit overwhelming.