gasless welders

[beechford]

gday all santa delivered a mig welder for me at christmas and as the wire spool was only a short filled one went to local supplier of welding stuff to professional people who know how to weld.The thing is the man behind the counter mentioned that GASLESS welders use welding wire that can be CARCENAGETIC and suitable facemasks must be used when operated .Guess you all knew that bar me .ceeyas

[bmcecosse]

Just about anything is Carcinogenic if you start to think about it! Not a 'fan' of the gasless process - but i understand from Mini lads it's ok for small jobs.

[billlobban]

Presumably the 'expert' also sold facemasks

[bmcecosse]

A 'dust mask' would be useless.

[andrew.searston]

would gasless welders produce the same quility of weld as gas welder???

[jonathon]

Never really liked gasless migs myself, much rather use a 'proper' one. The guy at the shop was correct about the gasses and an appropriate charcoal mast shoud be worn if in a confined space. If welding a lot, then an airfed mask is the order of the day.
As BM alludes to , bodyshop work is a dangerous, unhealthy environment, which demands respect and understanding, if doing regulary.
Its not a profession I would encourage, unless you do it properly, even then the body simply does not like the demands of vibrations, chemicals, rsi and the like.

[bmcecosse]

A 'charcoal' mask only absorbs 'organics' - I suspect the fumes given off by gasless will be more 'heavy metal' than organic - so either use a specialist mask for the job - or as Jono says - proper pressure fed mask should be used. But for quick patch-up job - just hold your breath!

[kennatt]

one problem with gassless is that you can't realy see the weld pool because of the fumes,benifits are no bottle to contend with and better outside if its windy bbut gas prferable a mix like cougar will be beter in the long run and you can use a thinner wire with gas so the weld is neater