Today we are going to be talking about TIG Welding Fumes. If you have read the previous posts that we have published about TIG welding, you would remember that TIG is a little radioactive. TIG stands for Tungsten Inert Gas, but the proper name for this process is Gas Tungsten Arc Welding or shortened as “GTAW”. Of all the welding processes, it has been proven that TIG is the hardest to learn. It could be highly attributed to the necessity of using both hands during the process. You will need to use one hand to hold the TIG Torch, while the other hand prepares to melt the filler metal. Tungsten is an element which is also known as wolfram. In Swedish, Tungsten means heavy stone. It is slightly radioactive – as stated above – so you will have to use all of your protective equipment to be able to keep yourself away from harm. Also it would be best if you can double check if you have the complete PPE or Personal Protective Equipment before you begin. Since TIG requires the use of both hands, it would make your life a little easier if everything that you could possibly need would be placed within reach. That’s just a tip.
“TIG stands for Tungsten Inert Gas, and it requires the use of two hands. This is what makes it the hardest process to learn.”
So now let’s move on to the fumes emitted from TIG or just welding in general. Usually the fumes that come out from the welding process are a mixture of airborne gasses that comes with very fine particles which when you inhale them could cause you to go ill. This is exactly the reason why you need your helmet. Make sure it comes with a respirator mask, or at least something to help filter the air you are breathing. The fumes that are usually involved are nitrous oxide (Nox), carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), shielding gas which consists of Argon and Helium), and finally Ozone (O3).
You should note how toxic a fume is, how concentrated it is, and how long will you be exposed to it. In TIG, sometimes it is the filler wire which contains hazardous substances. Check the product information. Check for Cadmium and Beryllium which are rare, but are really toxic. Take time to inform yourself with Workplace Exposure Limits (WEL). Chromium, Nicketl, Vandium, Manganese, and Iron usually have limits so make sure you stay within them to avoid toxicity. Health is very important. Don’t hesitate to use a mask and other protective gear.
So when dealing with TIG Welding Fumes, don’t forget to know more about them, their harmful effects, the limits of exposure, and how to protect yourself. Hopefully, our article for today has helped you even just a little bit. You can share this post to your friends and family if you think they can learn from it as well. Did you know that you can also subscribe to us? Subscribing to us is a great way to never miss a post and you’ll always be the first one to know or read! We will be sending you alerts or notifications in your e-mail address every time we post something new. We don’t spam! No worries! If you have further additional questions or you just want to discuss the topic, you can send a message to us or better yet, leave a comment below so that we and other readers will be able to answer your question or discuss it further. The more the merrier, right? Thanks for reading! Hope to see you here again next time! Have a nice day!