Does anyone wear a face mask whilst TIG welding? I seem to find myself a bit light headed and get a bit of a headache after doing a bit and wondered what other people do. Besides that what would type would fit under a welding mask? An extractor would suck away the argon if I had one.
maybe an extractor fan would be best. ?
But the shielding gas would be sucked away ^
Is the lenses you are using the correct shade...
I think just generally good ventilation. Extraction wont take the sheild away as the shroud will create the correct shield.
What are you welding to get light headed, I've found tig to be relatively fume free and there's nothing in steel or aluminium to cause it. You aren't holding your breath while welding are you ?
Check your helmet is suitable for TIG. Not all of them are
[Edited on 17/2/10 by Richard Quinn]
Not welding any galvanised are you?
What helmet are you using the wrong shade could make your eyes go funny which will do your head in.
If you're using Argon gas then that has a sneaky trick... it's slightly heavier than air, and accumulates in areas where the ventilation is
poor. If you end up trying to breathe in that atmosphere then you won't be getting enough oxygen, but your body doesn't know it - it's
designed to react when CO2 gets too high. If you're REALLY unlucky then you're upright one minute and keel over the next - your body thinks
that it's breathing proper air... 
WikiLinky - see safety at the end
I'm not welding any galv and I don't have the welding or argon running long enough to fill the garage up .
It's funy that masks are mentioned as its something I was suspicious of. I have an SWP 9-13 auto dimming mask same as this one
here (actually wished I'd have bought it from here now!) I've just had a
look at the settings and I've had it at around 10-11 with a 3/4 sensitivity setting. Either way it's nowhere near as dark as my mig mask.
You can't see anything until the arc is struck with that which is when you generally find you're in the wrong spot!
Perhaps it's the mask settings then?
You need shade 13 for TIG
If its fumes (and as above, it may well be light induced) you can't block fumes easily with a mask, as they are mostly particulate rated. You
would need an activated charcoal respirator, like the ones for use with paint / organic solvents... or ideally a forced air one integrated into the
mask like this...
Chris
PS - I know a lot about exposure to gases, but little about welding, though I can mig a bit!
Hi i use a 3m respirator 4000series mask
i find it fits under a welding mask ok
I dont weld all day so if you do you will want something better with a air fed fan
Jacko
quote:
Originally posted by plentywahalla
You need shade 13 for TIG