I found out about welders flash the hard way. I spent Dec 24th welding on my rear quarters. That day I welded a lot. I started a number of welds without the mask and then quickly shielded my eyes after I started. There was one weld that I needed an extra pair of hands but I had none. I tacked it without the mask. BAD MOVE!!!!!!!

I spent Christmas eve with my family with no problems. Around bed time it felt like I had dirt in my eyes. I thought it was from grinding welds. I went to bed and woke up around 1:00am Dec 25. My eyes were hurting and I could barely open my lids to see. It felt like I had significant dirt in my eyes. I showered (flushed them), it got worse. I finally went to the hospital. After explaining what I thought was the problem, the nurse asked me 'have you been welding?' Yup!!!. You have welders flash. By this point I was in so much pain, I could not open my eyes. They treated me with some eyes drops than numbed my eyes. Once they were numb I could open them up and see perfectly. They drops last less than one hour and they will not let you use them more than once. They prevents healing. So I got the drops to get my eyes open and then some vicodin (narcotic type pain killer) to help with the pain.

You will never catch me welding without a mask again. One of the worst pains that you will ever feel. I am fine now, started a couple of welds yesterday. Just testing the water. It was like using a broken bone after they take the cast off.

Jeff

Jeff

Jeff, Jeff, Jeff, that sounds terrible! Man, you sure learned the hard way! I have a few guys at work that weld with no helmet. I have no idea how they do it. They will close their eyes when they pull the trigger. Gee, I wonder why their welds look like CRAP. Glad to hear you are fine now.

This is the helmet I have been using for 15 years now. I LOVE this thing and wouldn't go to anything else. http://www.accustrike.com/

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1965 Buick Skylark Gran Sport Convertible
1965 Buick Skylark H/T
1948 Chevy pickup, chopped and sectioned.

"Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

Old home remittee, place potato peels on eyes ... it works. And ALWAYS use a sheild.

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My '68 Camaro (http://hometown.aol.com/Dougs68Camaro/index.html)
Doug G.
68 Camaro
406 ci.
13.5@102 W/ 2.73POSI.

"Woke up with the beach in your eyes..."

Quoted from the best welder I know...

he finished my sentence...

Good luck

Been there, done that! You only have to feel that pain one time to always use a mask.

Kevin

Been there, done that, won't be going back again.

Don't stick weld with gas goggles either unless you like looking like a racoon. Won't burn your eyes quite as bad, but the sunburn to your face hurts like hell.

Always were long sleeve shirts and gloves. The sunburn hurts almost as much as the flash burn to the eyes, and the slag that drops into your shirt really hurts.

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Mark Canning
1969 Indy Pace Car
350/300HP RPO Z11
My 69 L48 - 350/300HP Engine (http://www.townisp.com/~markcanning/camaro/transparent%20air%20cleaner3.jpg)

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Mark C:
Always were long sleeve shirts and gloves. The sunburn hurts almost as much as the flash burn to the eyes, and the slag that drops into your shirt really hurts.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I had to tease out (with a knife) some slag that fell into my sleeve and promply burned into my forearm! Sometimes you have to weld laying on your back...now I duct tape closed any and all openings in my clothing, sometimes I even seal the gloves to my sleeves, to prevent anything from getting in.




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See my '68 RS/ZZ4 (http://www.100megsfree.com/choptop/camaro.html)

Balboni: What a way to spend Christmas!! I feel your pain! I flashed myself once about 20 yrs ago while tacking stuff together at a metal shop where I worked. Lucky for me I did it first thing in the morning and was in pain by 3pm! The boss's wife was a nurse so they had the eye drops "in stock"!!

Choptop: At the same metal shop we used to make coal stove barrels. (the fire box) To weld the bottoms in you had to stick your head 1.5 feet into the barrel. In the middle of the summer we had to wear heavy cotton shirts and duct tape our gloves up to keep the slag/sparks out!!

This post certainly brought back a lot of memories!! (some of 'em painful! http://www.camaros.net/forum/rolleyes.gif )




[This message has been edited by PDQUICK (edited 01-02-2003).]

Years ago I was helping my boss, He tied himself to a 25ft ladder and started welding a bracket overhead, the slag fell into his rolled up coveralls (he is short) and caught his pants leg on fire, funniest thing you ever saw. hitting his smoking leg with his gloves while tied-up to a ladder, I did put him out with a extingusher, It was scarry at the time but funny now, before the land of OSHA. Happened a long time ago. Another good tip to remember is to tell anyone working around you not to catch the arc in the corner of their eye, same sand effect will happen. Welding Galvinzed coated material, is a no no also, will make you sick, big time, been there did that..gring it off first...Mike

[This message has been edited by zuma1211 (edited 01-02-2003).]

You live and learn. I had NO idea that this could happen. I wrote the message for the new guys out there, like me, that buy a mig and start welding. All I can say is YOU DON'T WANT TO FEEL THIS PAIN!!!!! I can laugh now. I have a few burns too. Thats another story. LOL

Jeff

Glad to see you didn't have any permanant effects! http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/coollook.gif

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69 Camaro (http://tigernet.missouri.org/~g6007/69camaro/index.html) Under Construction.

The best money I have spent so far was for an auto-darkening helmet...improved my welding and is the neatest thing. I highly recommend spending the money for one...you can get them for around $100.00 now.

Gambitt

Thanks guys. I am going to look into the auto darkening helmet. I was at the weld shop getting a new tank of gas and they were getting over $200 for them. I decided to pass. I may look around and order one online. After spending all of this money on the car I should not be cheap about protecting my eyes....

Wow. A color blind neighbor once told me he arc welds without a mask. Even the torch can be brutal but undoubtably not as burning as the arc. The Hawaiian I work with was one day showing me his sun burn from welding with a tank top on. Hence the reason the masks cover so much. It's not only the eyes you need to protect. Next you'll be doing thick metals and stabbing the welds for good penetration. Be carefull. Like welding in the rain.

just wondering, how many of you "experienced"
(old timers) welders have to wear eyeglasses from damage over all these years? Tom.

I had that sand effect in my eyes as well. I tought that I burnt or hit a spark on my eye.Allso one day when my car was at my friends shop I had to modify/build the crossmember and forget the helmet home , all I had was extra lens. I weld with that just protecting my eyes but got the burn on my face.

Nah, no permanant damage. I'm 40 now and still don't wear specs! (Althogh, my eyes hurt a little when i try to focus in stuf close to my nose now!)

You guys are right, if you are gonna weld at all, the auto darkening helmet is the best money you can spend!

ISMAIL:

What you got is called a ray-burn. There is a lot of ultraviolet light when you weld. When I was young, I used to TIG weld with no gloves and a tee shirt. I would get ray-burned over my whole upper body right thru the thin shirt too!! The top layer of skin would actually turn to white ash that you could dust off your body!! http://www.camaros.net/forum/eek.gif This is like a rapid, high intensity sun burn and you should definitely cover all your exposed skin when welding to avoid it! Imagine that people will still pay money to go to those cancer-amma tanning salons! I'd take care of 'em for free!! http://www.camaros.net/forum/wink.gif

I'd be wary of the $ 69.95 auto darkening shields; your eyes are priceless.

Hey PD,

I know exactly what you're talking about. The tig welder has one hell of a bright light, ay? You have to adhere to a strict dress code with it.

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1967 Camaro coupe Deluxe interior LT-1 350 w/ 4spd. M-21 trans and 12 bolt rear.

http://images.cardomain.com/installs/214000-214999/214503_25_full.jpg

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Rons68:
I'd be wary of the $ 69.95 auto darkening shields; your eyes are priceless.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I've thought of buying the cheap auto darkening helmet even though I don't have to weld but it's always an option. Especially with rust repair on the new hehehe new 71 camaro. Anyway I needed reading glasses before getting called back in to an iron work shop. For pains of welding. Arc welding galvanized smokes your lungs and pops hot metal around more than usual. Hot chunks all over the place down boots, gloves, and shirts. Then you can attempt to finish off your healthy body grinding, sanding and spraying a coat of ZRC on the lungs and weld. ZRC brand name in it's spray form is 95% zinc combined with gas warfare stuff I think. I'm not sure how good ZRC soray or canned paint would be for cars. I think the cans say don't paint over it.