Just Kidding, I know first had about galvanized as I used a liberated street sign for a shock tower brace. It was not a pleasant experience and after only two short welds.......
first day of welding class the instructor says two things: 1. If you ain't got a puddle you ain't got shit. 2. Don't weld galvanized, it can kill you. I always use a BIG fan, after today when blowing my nose & seeing all that black shit I decided to get a respirator that will fit under the hood.
Not galvanized An update , about 48 hours later and the symptoms seem to be subsiding I dont want to go thru that again!!!!
I heard that electrowelding is very bad for your lungs, but is this the same with MAG or MIG welding then??
All welding, anything that super heats any metallic item is BAD for you. I work in the medical profession and see a lot of older boilermakers with some seriously bad lung disorders. Some think its un-cool to weld with out a respirator but I have seen the results of that. I wear on for welding, grinding, cutting, buffing etc..........
Do your self a favor and drink some milk to counteract the poisonous fumes and get some sort of air mover get the fumes away from the area.works like a charm
Most MIG filler wire is coated with copper and it sure isnt going into the weld, its ending up in the atmosphere that you breathe, in our factory there is only ever 2 max 3 people welding at any moment and the haze that hangs in the ceiling is very thick, but the WORST process ive used is air-arc gouging- the consumable electrode is made of carbon and encased in a thin copper tube. it gets blasted back into the atmosphere by the 100psi air stream used to purge the slag. you feel very bad the night after you use one. ive faced the fact that my profession will send me to an early grave.
Doctors say it can take a week for the incubation period for the germs to make you have a cold/sickness. I doubt you got it from welding.
I know those symptoms as well. I always wear a mask now, anytime I am welding, grinding or using xhemicals. I like the 3M #8212, which is made specifically for welding. Here is a link to a pic http://www.nationalsafetyinc.com/product.asp?Product_Id=34539&d_id=23027&l1=23027&l2=
Got back to it today, wore the respirator for cutting grinding and welding. It was more comfy than usual
Look up "Metal Fume Fever"; should be a lot about NOx, heavy metals, etc. Good ventillation is mandatory.
Doing body work everydayi've been there before. Normally I get it from welding in trunks, like floors,rear body panels, inner wheelhouses. I always try to have a fan blowing in the general direction just not where the welding is happening. I also wear a mask. A carbon filter is the best. It lasts about a day, depending on how much you inhaled. Can be as bad as puking and the shits like food poisoning with a fever. Not my favorite thing in the world. Ventillation is the key along with a good mask.
Welding is bad for ya, but welding galvanized stuff is realllly bad for ya. You should know by now that anything fun requires proper protection.
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