oxyacetylene flame and UV light vs tig - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2023, 05:55:24 am
content: So this is a light forum and the nm's are off but people might be able to understand this question.I am wondering how much UV light a oxyacetylene flame gives compared to a electric arc (like tig)I found this, it does seem that a O/A flame does have a UV component.https://rkdmb.home.xs4all.nl/rkd/flame/spectrum.htmlI always assumed it makes less UV then a electric arc. Is this true?I know thermal radiation is bad also, but I just want to know specifically about the UV.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2023, 06:02:06 am
content: UV exposure is an actual issue with TIG.I'm just guessing but yes, i don't think it's really an issue with oxy.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2023, 07:16:58 am
content: that graph shows a big peak at 300nm. Is it still low by health standards?

author: BradC
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2023, 07:47:34 am
content: Anecdotal only.I spent the best part of a day with Oxy brazing and welding using only goggles (lots of practice then a couple of real tasks).I spent 5 minutes with a TIG where it turns out because of the way I had myself oriented there was a gap between my mask and shoulder protection and wound up with a massive "sunburn" blister on my neck so severe that 9 months later my dermatologist asked what I'd done.In both cases, distance was about a foot from source to skin. I don't tend to even use gloves with Oxy.So anecdotally, the UV emission from TIG is "worse" than from an Oxy flame. I was using a Pyrex TIG cup, so there's that also.

author: mzzj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2023, 03:47:09 pm
content: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nioshtic-2/00117462.html

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2023, 04:52:36 pm
content: Quote from: coppercone2 on April 15, 2023, 05:55:24 amEven some incandescent bulbs give off what's considered UVA. They could be used as a source in Cary UV/VIS spectrophotometers down to about 360nm. There is a hge temperature difference between oxy/acetylene and electric arc. The latter should produce more UV. By the way, I didn't want to waste a significant portion of my life waiting for your link to open.Sure, UV can mess with your anterior eye. The biggest danger is to your retina, which is IR. Why not use decent welding glasses/hood and be safe?

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2023, 05:08:54 pm
content: well its damn convenient to wear goggles only rather then a face shield, if its hot or cold, its a beautiful thing. No head band sweat no messing with no settings

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2023, 08:39:32 pm
content: I have gotten sunburns from TIG welding on a few occasions, it only takes a few minutes of not noticing you have some exposed skin somewhere. I've done oxy acetylene welding with nothing more than gloves and goggles without any effects so obviously the UV content is dramatically higher from a TIG arc.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2023, 08:54:09 pm
content: Quote from: coppercone2 on April 15, 2023, 05:08:54 pmMy experience is different. Goggles for gas welding or brazing are comfortable, but they also can fog. They also expose your face to splatter. I still have some, but for welding I use a full shield. and fogging is not a problem The one for gas and brazing is different than the one for arc, which is an auto-dimming type. For glass blowing (similar to fusion welding without splatter), I just use didymium glasses, not goggles, to block the sodium line emissions.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2023, 09:09:32 pm
content: I was wondering about those glasses. Are they blue tinted? I was wondering if the plasma cutter glasses that came with my hypertherm are that type of tint? I see very expensive blue glasses for sale for gas welding aluminum because of sodium flare, but I wonder if it did something more.I actually use them for brazing and heating with the torch, and have used them for welding, but i never did too much of that, but usually I get shutdown in the late fall and start up again late spring.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2023, 10:10:31 pm
content: I finally splurged a couple years ago and got a nice Lincoln auto-darkening helmet. It made a big difference, it's comfortable, I can adjust the lens across a broad range to account for different types of welding and lighting conditions, it works really well.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2023, 11:19:58 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on April 15, 2023, 10:10:31 pmGreat Cleveland, OH company. There are management textbooks written about its good management. It's incentive program, contrary to most American companies, was so good they had to post guards to keep workers from starting early. Not that they didn't want to, but that violated US laws for non-exempt employees. For awhile, it also had one of the largest wind turbines in the US. (attachment) Getting the blades from Lake Erie to the site was an engineering feat in itself. Both of those grandkids are doing great. The little girl is now 20 and in school in Boston. The boy is in New Zealand, supposedly for a semester abroad study.Many years ago, I looked into an auto-darkening helmet and was advised the delay was too much or they were unreliable. About 8 years ago, I finally got one (Lincoln) and love it too. Of course, there are cheaper helmets available, but I don't skimp on my eyesight.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2023, 02:56:58 am
content: thats the one I have, it was not cheap and runs on the big coin cell, but its still kinda heavy and sweaty compared to folding glasses, and I feel like it causes a bit of neck strain.And I feel like it is a bit hard to set, I end up with it triggering somewhat erratically, its very disorienting when that happens. But no problem for like MIG, I just don't like it for OA. I feel like its designed and intended for arc, which is pretty digital in terms of brightness, but the gas feels like I would almost want proportional dimming.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2023, 09:10:48 am
content: You seem to have experienced a plethora of problems with an auto-dimming helmet that are foreign to me. Have you read the directions? Avoid looking up at the bright sky (if outdoors) or ceiling lights.If those problems can't be addressed, then don't use a helmet for gas welding. The problem with goggles, which you may not have experienced yet, is that wearing corrective glasses underneath is difficult. If you go to the one piece safety goggle type as opposed to each eye, you will have more problems with fogging. At least, that is my experience. For infrequent use, e.g., heating something to remove a bushing, or for brazing, I just use a tinted face shield. You can get almost any tint and the open sides allow excellent ventilation. They do not protect against splatter from the sides.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2023, 05:48:19 pm
content: I had bad experiences with a cheap Chinese auto darkening helmet my friend had years ago, that thing didn't work very well at all. The Lincoln works perfectly though, I have zero complaints.