At 10:50 4/19/2004 -0400, you wrote:
I didn't catch the initial post to this thread, but folks wrote:
> > But I do close my eyes when
> > >I weld without a hood. Just because I've never had a flash burn doesn't
> > >make it a Myth.
> > >
> > >You can't use your good judgement if you are unaware of the danger.
> >
> > Flash burn definitely isn't the only danger here.............I was welding
> > without a hood just this past Saturday. Closed my eyes and turned away
> > after positioning the torch.
> >
> > Since Sunday I've had the worst sunburn of my life....
When I was a kid (an ice age ago) I was a night security guard at a
construction site where they had all manner of electric welding
equipment. One night I decided to teach myself to weld. Couldn't find a
hood (all the accessories were locked away, but the welders (gas powered)
were only secured with 3/8" link chain). Anyway, I figured I'd just look
away from the arc. Had loads of fun for a couple of hours, welded all
manner of scrap and managed to not catch anything on fire. Went home
uneventfully and woke up about 3AM with my eyes on **fire**! It felt like
someone had thrown hot sand in both of 'em - couldn't even move them for
terrible pain (OK, I was a wimp). Needless to say I was scared
spitless. I was taken to an eye doctor who said I had the worst case of
retinal sunburn he had ever seen - I'd be lucky if I didn't had some
permanent damage.
I recently bought a MIG welder. The second purchase was an auto-dimming
hood. I won't "leave home without it". The moral to this epoch is NEVER
weld without the best eye protection you can get. No eye protection is
like playing Russian Roulette with an automatic.
</sermon>
Jim
--
Jim
jhassall@blacksburg.net
Blacksburg VA
'63 TR4 in autox preparation, 90% finished, 90% to go
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