Welding Respirator Question...Help ?

[brin]

I have finally got my Mig welder set up and an auto darkening hood etc. but now I need to buy a respirator...so please let me know if this is a good one...I am worried about fumes...don't want to kill myself and this is my first time welding myself...:confused3: Here is the one I found...what do You all think ?

3M 6300 Half Mask Respirator with P100 Filter Cartridges Size Large | eBay

Thanks,

 

[yomax4]

It will work fine if it fits in your hood.

 

[Gary Fowler]

That would do well for welding on galvanized or stainless. For normal Carbon Steel welding in a ventilated space, you really don't need anything for normal home welding projects as far as health concerns go. I welded professionally for many years and never used filters when welding, just normal ventilation and keep the head upwind as much as possible. There is a big concern with chromium now but my former company (retired now) did some extensive studies many years ago with welders welding on stainless. Welders wore little vacuum pumps on their belts with hoses attached inside the welding helmet. The pumps captured samples of the air that the welders were breathing and trapped the particulates in filters for analysis. The results were that the threshold limits for all particulates were many times less than OSHA allowed. We didn't require the welders to wear mask when welding after this study was completed.
Unless you plan to do a lot of indoor welding with no air circulation, I wouldn't bother with the mask.

 

[JCByrd24]

I agree with Gary. Industrial environments don't require respirator, just ventilation, aka sucker tube. I haven't worried about this in my home shop yet, but my plan is to use my small dust collector. Be more careful around galvanized...i.e. grind it off don't burn it, and make sure brake parts cleaner is well dry and long gone before welding (I've never had the need to use it before welding myself). A respirator and welding helmet would be a pain.

 

[ericher69]

I have finally got my Mig welder set up and an auto darkening hood etc. but now I need to buy a respirator...so please let me know if this is a good one...I am worried about fumes...don't want to kill myself and this is my first time welding myself...:confused3: Here is the one I found...what do You all think ?

3M 6300 Half Mask Respirator with P100 Filter Cartridges Size Large | eBay

Thanks,

Yes that will work fine (its what I wear).

It also fits ok under my Miller digital elite hood.

For those that say that welding fumes are not that bad...ever blow your nose after an hour of welding/cutting/grinding? Black!!

After wearing the above respirator ALL the black gunk is now none existent (in my nose/mouth/lungs anyway)

Anyone ever look at a ray of sunlight coming through a window after welding/cutting/grinding for even just 10 minutes?? The shimmering sparkles are suspended metal that will be inhaled if one does not use a respirator.

I have personally only started wearing one this year but better late than never.

 

[dstig1]

Yes, you would be looking for a common P100 filter. You don't NEED it for normal welding of clean mild steel, but I have found that the fumes from even that tend to make me feel ookie, so I wear a mask like that all the time when both welding and grinding/cutting (abrasive cutoff saw or cutting discs). Keeps all the crud out of your nose and lungs, which is always a good thing, even if it isn't "necessary".

The 6300 is the large size, and 60-70% of americans fit into a medium best. Most of the remainder fit a Large, and a very small percent use smalls. It is hard to say without trying them on, but take a guess as to what you think your face size may be and try it. You can often get a fit in more than one size, it just may not be as comfortable or stable.

 

[mrmikey]

I think along the same lines as Gary. I'm a weldor by trade and have been for 40 years and I can count on one hand the amount of times I've worn a respirator. Don't misunderstand me, I'm not bragging, if you want to wear one, congratulations on being forward thinking enough to pursue it and I'd never berate a person for it. Before anyone berates me for being stupid, I will wear one if conditions dictate, enclosed space, welding on painted material or whatever or no wind to remove the fumes.
I work in a shop where we have people that are, how can I put this delicately....**** (or just want to raise s**t for the sake of it) I guess would be a good description, about exhaust fans, fireproof coveralls etc. You'd spend more time getting ready to do a job than actually doing it and they wonder why the time for doing jobs has skyrocketed.
Common sense has gone out the window, sorry...rant mode off.....Mike

 

[ericher69]

I think along the same lines as Gary. I'm a weldor by trade and have been for 40 years and I can count on one hand the amount of times I've worn a respirator. Don't misunderstand me, I'm not bragging, if you want to wear one, congratulations on being forward thinking enough to pursue it and I'd never berate a person for it. Before anyone berates me for being stupid, I will wear one if conditions dictate, enclosed space, welding on painted material or whatever or no wind to remove the fumes.
I work in a shop where we have people that are, how can I put this delicately....**** (or just want to raise s**t for the sake of it) I guess would be a good description, about exhaust fans, fireproof coveralls etc. You'd spend more time getting ready to do a job than actually doing it and they wonder why the time for doing jobs has skyrocketed.
Common sense has gone out the window, sorry...rant mode off.....Mike

No belittling here! It's your body/your decision.

I inhale enough crap at work (even though we wear SCBA's) that I don't need to when doing "work" at home.

 

[Arc weld]

Miller also makes a nice compact respirator that will fit under a helmet. It never hurts to wear a respirator. The most important thing with a respirator is too make sure it fits properly. I was at a 3M training course and they said a lot of people don't make sure to get a proper fitting respirator. If you have a beard, a respirator won't give a 100% seal for example. Some jobs even specify that you can't have any facial hair. The technical school I went(the largest in Canada) to did an extensive study on the health effects of welding. The results were so bad, they were never released! A few years later they were going to do another study and release all their findings. That report was never released either. I know that OSHA did start requiring shops to have better ventilation and safety procedures but the problem with OSHA is that they inform the shop ahead of time when they are coming to do a "spot" inspection. One shop I worked in gave everyone safety glasses for the day. I think part of the reason the results of the studies were never released is because if a person knew all the potential health risks, no one would ever want to become a welder. They did say the studies make it look worse than it actually is. I think another part of the reason could be because of all the lawsuits that would come out of the "metal work" from anybody that had ever picked up a stinger. There can be long term effects from not following proper health/safety procedures but a lot of the times it is because the individual chose not to follow them. ie/Someone gets emphysema from smoking like a chimney for 40 years but because they worked as a welder for 2 years blames it on that.

The stupidest guy I ever saw was a complete moron. He had a $1200 fresh air helmet c/w a soft cotton hood that went over his head under the helmet. It used 3 cartridge filters that were strapped on his back that were $25 each. He wanted the shop to provide these filters for him but they said no. They did provide standard respirators. When he took his helmet off for coffee breaks and lunch, he pulled out his smokes and lit up. Of course these didn't affect his health at all because he bought the lowest tar cigarettes he could find. This idiot tried to get me fired so his buddy, they just hired, could replace me at the pipe spooling section where he was. When I asked the night shift foreman if anyone had complained about my work, he said no, why do ask? He said he sent me there because I rarely fail an x-ray and it would be good experience for me. He said don't worry if it takes you a little longer, all that matters is your x-rays pass. That idiot has been pipe spooling for 6 years but can't do a socket weld to save his life. The foreman had my back because skip forward a couple month's to Christmas and things were slow because they were waiting on blueprints. About 6 or 7 workers had to be laid off for about 2 weeks. The idiot who had been there longer than me was one of the ones laid off. Not only that, he never got a bonus like everyone still working did. I got the last laugh when the laid off workers were called back. The plant manager said welcome back but unfortunately the people laid off will not receive any bonus this year.

 

[brin]

Thanks for all the advice guys....

I did my first weld today with my Mig welder....My son had broken a support arm on his heavy duty yard rake....I welded it and it is not a pretty weld...I only had a half inch to work with due to the other tooth on one side and clamp needed on the other but it is a strong weld....I'm just glad it worked...I had the wire feeding too fast but I did hear bacon frying... Thanks again...at least I am an apprentice now....I guess..:confused3:

 

[k0ua]

Hey Congratulations, Brin is no longer a welding virgin!.. welcome to the club. Keep at it, it is a worthwhile thing to know. You will derive much pleasure in being able to repair/make things on your own.

james K0UA

 

[brin]

Thanks James.....I know it's just fixing a rake but it was neat to fix that for my son when it would have otherwise been throw away...I'm sorry I waited so long to become promiscuous with welding.. and give up my virginity...

 

[grsthegreat]

personally,

im very fond of my lungs. We get bombarded with all sorts of crud daily in our air without adding the smoke, gases,etc from welding to my lungs.

I personally use a hobby air half mask kit when i weld or plasma cut. Heck, i usually use it when i spray rattle cans of paint in the shop.

The system uses a simple garden style hose 50' long and a pump to bring in good, filtered outside air to the mask for me to breath.

HOBBYAIR Respirators - HVLP Spray Guns

i got mine thru ebay for a few hundred, new. Fits easily under my hood,and never have to worry about dangerous toxins in the air.

I piped the intake outside of my shop for added safety, and i even added a variable speed control cause i felt the factory flow was too much, and tended to push mask off of my face.

 

[ericher69]

personally,

im very fond of my lungs. We get bombarded with all sorts of crud daily in our air without adding the smoke, gases,etc from welding to my lungs.

I personally use a hobby air half mask kit when i weld or plasma cut. Heck, i usually use it when i spray rattle cans of paint in the shop.

The system uses a simple garden style hose 50' long and a pump to bring in good, filtered outside air to the mask for me to breath.

HOBBYAIR Respirators - HVLP Spray Guns

i got mine thru ebay for a few hundred, new. Fits easily under my hood,and never have to worry about dangerous toxins in the air.

I piped the intake outside of my shop for added safety, and i even added a variable speed control cause i felt the factory flow was too much, and tended to push mask off of my face.

Just wondering if you "defeated" the built in safety factor; positive pressure by reducing the flow to the mask?

Like SCBA's this respirator is designed to allow air out if there is not a tight seal but not let any nasties in...

Something to consider

 

[grsthegreat]

Just wondering if you "defeated" the built in safety factor; positive pressure by reducing the flow to the mask?

Like SCBA's this respirator is designed to allow air out if there is not a tight seal but not let any nasties in...

Something to consider

i cant see how. its still pushing alot of air in, and there is no back pressure when i breath in. i was having some issues with humming from the air hose without the pressure reduction. The sound was sriving me crazy. It was like a high pitched shrill unless i held the mask to my face. Now there is no shrill and its obvious that the fresh air is still flowing at a good velocity.

 

[ericher69]

i cant see how. its still pushing alot of air in, and there is no back pressure when i breath in. i was having some issues with humming from the air hose without the pressure reduction. The sound was sriving me crazy. It was like a high pitched shrill unless i held the mask to my face. Now there is no shrill and its obvious that the fresh air is still flowing at a good velocity.

Ok was only worried about a false sense of security with the supplied air if it was not adequate. Almost like a poor fitting APR

 

[HUCKthe1]

Make sure when buying new filters that you get the correct ones. Some are made for fumes, others for particulates. I believe there is ones also for both. Big issue for MIG welding is welding on Stainless or inconel. These are high in manganese, nickel, and create hexavalent chrome when welded, and are extremely unhealthy to weld without a respirator.

 

[Inkomodius]

I use Miller PAPR, at the end of the day I feel a whole lot better compared to my days with just a pipe liner.

 

[dstig1]

Make sure when buying new filters that you get the correct ones. Some are made for fumes, others for particulates. I believe there is ones also for both. Big issue for MIG welding is welding on Stainless or inconel. These are high in manganese, nickel, and create hexavalent chrome when welded, and are extremely unhealthy to weld without a respirator.

A welding fume is actually a particulate. The reason you see welding fumes sometimes called out as a special item is that these kinds of particulates tend to load up a filter and plug it up fairly fast. Some manufacturers have made special filters that are more resistant to this kind of plugging up, so they tout them specifically for welding fumes. They all have to pass the same standards, which in the US are the NIOSH standards. These range in ratings from N95 (min 95% efficient) to P100 (essentially 100% efficient) when tested with a specified particle challenge (particle size is important, and type of particle - dry or oily). The classes are N, R, and P, and the efficiencies are 95, 99 and 100. Most filters you will find are either N95 or P100, though there are a a few others that you will see from time to time. For hobbyist/home welders, N95 is perfectly fine...IF YOU WEAR IT! For example - Taking it off 10 seconds after you are done welding exposes you to all the stuff still in the air, so leave it on.

If you are in an industrial setting welding with SS or the like, special rules apply, but that is way beyond the scope of this thread.

 

[sparc]

Industrial environments don't require respirator

I don't believe a blanket statement like the above is correct.
It misleads people into thinking that no PPE is required no matter what the conditions are which is wrong. What about working in a confined space at an industrial facility?

It depends on the material being welded, the conditions at work site, the type of welding being performed, and the equipment being used. Not sure but I believe each facility would have to undertake a study sampling the air as Gary talked about under the same or similar conditions as what would be done on the job, be it in a shop enviroment or in the field. I don't think they can make a call on respirator use or not based on sampling done elsewhere by someone not under their control. Respirators are not always required yes, but some sort of fume extraction of local exhaust ventilation is good to have and will make life easier for the welder.

https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10699