[TowerTalk] Cad Welding tips

[Kevin]

Exactly.

If your going to be inside six feet of these things when they fire you 
not only need proper eye and hand protection you also need to consider 
what you are wearing. I was an production and R+D welder for 15 years. I 
HAVE BEEN ON FIRE, in spite of being dressed out in the appropriate 
nomex welding togs and leathers. Before you check the results of your 
work check yourself for slag or spatter that flew out of the mold. 
Welding slag/spatter will burn through a tennis shoe or cotton/polyester 
pants faster than you can say "Oh s**t that's hot".

We all wore metal deflectors on top of our leather steel toed boots, and 
we still ended up replacing the leather laces on a regular basis. It 
gets everywhere in a weld shop environment.


The day I was enfuego the slag (blown up weld) had miraculously gotten 
past the nomex and knee length leather Lederhosen and burned the left 
leg of my jeans off. I didn't know a thing about it until I saw my buddy 
running at me with a fire extinguisher. I have an electronic welding 
helmet and kept my helmet/head down most of the time. I was told the 
flames from the jeans were climbing my leg while I was heads down 
welding. I ended up with a first degree burn on my calf.

The weld blew up, flew over my head, bounced twice on my back and landed 
and came rest on the front bottom seam of the jeans. The jeans burned 
quickly and probably saved me from a much worse burn.


On 11/2/2016 3:36 AM, Roger (K8RI) on TT wrote:
> I don't know how to say this nice, but will endeavor to do so. My goal 
> is to save someone some serious pain, or worse.
> When I read about someone getting seriously burned using Cad Welding, 
> I often wonder if these people ever learned to use safety procedures.  
> Cad Welding Arc Welding (stick, MIG, TIG, and torch), climbing towers, 
> and working on amplifiers. These are all inherently dangerous Some a 
> bit more so than others. Accidents do happen, but following the rules 
> can help to minimize the number and the results.
>
> Cad welding is one of the less lethal on the list, BUT, use common 
> safety rules fer Christ sake! Wear welding gloves, or at least a good 
> pare of leather work gloves. Safety glasses are a must.  Use a 
> comfortable and STABLE working position! IOW, one where you aren't 
> going to fall into the HOT stuff. This "stuff" will burn through 
> concrete. REMEMBER THAT! USE an ignition powder, rather than some home 
> made, or substitute method of ignition, unless you are thoroughly 
> experienced and skilled in its use.  Don't use Cad Welding, or any 
> welding near flammable materials or fumes.
>
> Mess up a one shot and lose the igniter powder or mix it in with the 
> regular powder.  The safe answer, starts with a question. Is the cost 
> of that one shot worth a trip to the ER? Not to discount the 
> discomfort and inconvenience caused by a serious burn.  Do not look 
> directly at the flame from a working CadWeld reaction, or you will be 
> seeing spots for some time!
>
> Sure, there are safe ways to ignite it, but for the inexperienced, 
> Don't be cheap,  just pitch it and I do not mean, throw it in the trash.
>
> Throw brain into gear before starting. Use the same precautions you'd 
> use with ant arc, molten metal, and extremely bright light.
>
> One last note. Don't wear synthetic materials that melt! Imagine 
> pouring melted plastic in your lap and then trying to remove it as it 
> sticks to "anything" that comes in contact with it.
>
> There isn't a process that someone out there that someone won't do a 
> serious job of screwing up, sometimes with serious consequences. Don't 
> be the one who does it!
>
> 73
>
> Roger (K8RI)
>
> On 10/31/2016 8:12 PM, Bob K6UJ wrote:
>> I will be connecting no. 6 copper wire to 8 foot ground rods and plan 
>> to bury the
>> connections.  I did my homework reading Tower Talk archives and have 
>> concluded
>> that I will cad weld the connections.  I am a newbie at Cad Welding 
>> any advice,  and where is the best place to get cad welding supplies ?
>>
>>
>> Bob
>> K6UJ
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>>
>>
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>
>

-- 
R. Kevin Stover
AC0H
ARRL
FISTS #11993
SKCC #215
NAQCC #3441


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