As suggested I checked out the Tin Man Tech website. He has some very interesting welding products that might make what I want to do easier. We'll see?
I have a buddy that was a professional certified welder, and he required a defibrillator/pacemaker approximately 8 years ago. He was told that he could no longer do any type of welding other than gas. He was even advised to be careful around microwave ovens, because some of them are leakers. Another friend had one installed 20 years ago, and after the installation, he asked the doctor if it is really going to work. The doctor replied, yep, we killed you three times and you are still here. The problem in his case, was that he still required medication even after the defib/pacemaker was installed. The medication eventually took a severe toll on him, and he is now just basically being warehoused. What a waste of a productive life. Bob
Ask your doctor and device manufacturer. Had a doc that suggested one to me. Like someone else here said, different doc changed drugs and said I didn't need one. But, in the course of looking into it, I found it was ok to TIG. But don't believe me, do your homework.
Benn getting some feedback about my situation and using one of the newer style inverter Mig welders as they don't seem to throw a high frequency signal like a Tig or regular Mig???????????
Gary, stay in business but stay away from the welders. Hire a young buck to do the welding in another building or protective area. You don't get a second chance. I sold all of my stuff, but I didn't make my living as a welder. Merry Christmas.
As far as I know MIG doesn't use any high frequency/high voltage to get the arc started, but it DOES use high currents that cause strong magnetic fields, and there may be relatively high voltage spikes when the weld current is interrupted. This is enough to (sometimes) fry electronics in cars being welded on. Electronics in the person doing the welding is also located in the same general area...
Like others have said, go to gas welding! You may enjoy it! It’s one of my favorite ways to weld... sure it has a few draw backs compared to stick or mig. It has some similarities to tig.Try it first, I’m sure you have a torch set up in your place. And it will be perfectly safe. You can’t use any welder if your dead! Bones
https://www.medtronic.com/us-en/pat...guide/frequently-asked-questions.html#welding https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-pr...ardioverter-defibrillators/about/pac-20384692
So, here's an opinion from Mayo, and one from a device manufacturer. It would appear the electromagnetic waves block the device from working. Note the chainsaw comments. Like you, I struggled with this cause it's part on my life. If you search this topic and add vests, there are some protective measures you could look at also. Mixed opinions on that. I'd hate to see you not be able to build the cool stuff you do so well. Keep us posted. Getting older ain't for sissy's
I wouldn’t risk it. But, you might be able to tack stuff together with a mig and get someone else to tig it up. Even that may be dangerous though. Still, there are plenty of other things you can do in the hobby. Might take up doing interiors. There’s good money in that!
Fordor Ron: Funny you should mention interiors. When I decided to go into the chassis and hot rod fab business in my mid 30's I had a chance to learn upholstery and passed it up for the chassis business. The direction I chose has been good to me but I have always wondered if I could have become as proficient at interiors as building chassis? I'll never know. As far as doing something else, I don't need the money in my old age but need to keep busy so I don't lose my mind.
Well I got my defibrillator/pacemaker installed about 3 weeks ago and I was assured by the devise rep who gave me my first tune up last Friday and the surgeon that installed the devise that I would be able to continue to weld and build chassis. This the very latest in devise technology, so in about 2 weeks when I'm completely healed up I will take the big step and strike the first arc. My wife will be standing by to either catch me or congratulate me. We'll see?
That's great news, please keep us updated on how things work out. Hopefully your wife won't have to post for you Just kidding, it will be great if you can continue to do what you love and carry on with life. Larry
The guy that talked to the guy that knew the answer, well I am that guy. have had a pacemaker/defibrillator for the last six years, I have a small hot rod shop and MIG and Tig weld regularly. It all depends on the unit that you have. I have a Metronics and got my answer and OK from the tech at Metronics. There was my cardio Doctor, his nurse, the tech from Metronics, her assistant and the Engineering tech at Metronics. They said The device that I have it is ok to weld. No problems yet. So check with the manufacturer of your pacemaker/defibrillator to see if it is OK to weld nodt just the cardiologist.
I finally got up enough courage to give it a try. My wife came out to the shop to catch me. I fired up the tig, set the amps at 160 as advised and ran a few lines of weld with no problems. I think I'm good to go? Hope so as I sold another chassis last week. I'm optimistic.
Good to know. You did right by researching and asking the right questions, of the right people. You want to do what you love, but you want to be safe.
That's great news. I think you will be good to go. Just be aware of how you're feeling and carry on. Optimistic is better than fear and not being able to live life on your terms. Keep us updated as to how it goes.
Update: Just finished doing the fab work on a customer 33/34 chassis. Did it all with my tig including using filler rod where it needed it. No ill effects so far. It takes a bit longer to get the right flow at the lower amps. Now my finish welder can do his thing
Are you using the rubber gloves or without? Are you using a newer machine or your old industrial unit? Keeping track since I just got reset last week! SPark
I'm using my Miller Tig just wearing cloth gloves. I was wearing a rubber glove to hold the wire but got in a hurry and forgot to put it on and had no ill effects with just the cloth work glove.
Never , Never TIG or be near any TIG welding with a pace maker . If you have ever experienced one going off it is not something you want to experience and or witness .