Cost Effective Welding Tips To Save Money

Not many things are cheap these days, including welding supplies. Cutting down wherever you can is almost essential in today’s economy. Whether it’s the physical cost of materials or welding clothing, there are certain ways to save money, making your welding more efficient in cost and time. It can be difficult at first, especially if you’re used to welding a certain way. 

USWeldingSupply.com is always looking for ways to save you money and the following three tips will make every welding process easier and more cost-effective.

1. Keep it cool and easy to work with: Using the most efficient torch when you are welding is essential is keeping your work cost-efficient. Try selecting a torch with great insulation, as it takes less time for the torch to heat up and cool down. In the long-run, this will save money, contributing to lower power costs. These torches are usually air-cooled or water-cooled.
2. Casting vs. Welding: Adding a weld? Most people would think that adding a weld would be more expensive. In some situations, it might be, but in others it may be more cost-effective. Finding a different part to weld can save you from starting from scratch, as well as save money.
3. Safety first: Looking out for careless errors can significantly affect your efficiency costs. Whether it’s wearing the proper leather welding gloves or making sure the work area is clean, safety is one of the most important principles in welding. This is one of the hardest things to practice, especially if you have employees working with you. Doing things repetitively may make errors harder to detect, but make sure you’re going over your work with a fine-tooth comb to foresee any accidents waiting to happen. 

Cutting costs is important, but not cutting corners is more important. Remember that efficiency and safety are always more important than the cost of a project. Your customers will appreciate the efforts you take to make their products excellent.

The Dangers of Exposure to Welding Fumes & Dust

As you may already know, welding certain metals releases fumes during the welding process. Each of these metals has their own characteristics, which may be harmful to your health or safety. While we strongly recommend protecting yourself by using a welding fume extractor, wearing a respirator, and keeping your work area well ventilated, it’s also important to understand the risks of being exposed to different welding fumes. 

 

Aluminum: Acute exposure to aluminum dust and fumes can result in eye irritation. This doesn’t sound that bad, but when a welder is chronically exposed to aluminum fumes it can cause shortness of breath, weakness and possibly a chronic cough.

Antimony: Exposure to antimony can cause a variety of unappealing symptoms, some of which include irritation to the eyes, skin, nose, throat or mouth, coughing, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, diarrhea and more. The fumes from this metal target the eyes, skin, respiratory and cardiovascular systems.

Arsenic: Inhaling arsenic fumes can cause numerous acute effects, such as respiratory irritation, skin abnormalities, and eye irritation. Chronic exposure can lead to liver damage, cancer, kidney disease, blood disease, spotty pigmentation of the skin, dermatitis and other serious health conditions.

Cadmium: Often found on steel or in silver solder, exposure to high levels of cadmium over a short period of time can result in lung damage and flu-like systems, such as chills, fever, muscle pains, etc. When a person is chronically exposed to low levels of cadmium over an extended period of time the health concerns are more severe and include kidney disease, bone disease, lung disease and cancer.

These are only a few of the many fumes that are released from metals during the welding process. Make sure you check back with us next month to learn about more harmful welding fumes and stay protected with welding safety clothing and gear! 

Welding Gloves for Every Welding Application

Goatskin, pigskin, cowhide and more! With so many types of welding gloves available, how can you be sure you’re using the best pair for the job? 

• Cowhide welding gloves are tough and durable. They are flame and heat resistant and provide good electrical resistance when they’re dry. Often, cowhide welding gloves are worn during MIG or stick welding.
• Similar to cowhide, welding gloves that are made from calfskin have better dexterity, but are not as tough as cowhide welding gloves.
• Pigskin welding gloves are made of a thin material, which is oil and weather resistant, but not very heat resistant. If a job deals with a lot of heat and fire, choose welding gloves that are made from a stronger heat resistant material.
• Lightweight, flexible and durable, goatskin welding gloves are oil and weather resistant while providing the welder with the flexibility needed for precise TIG or MIG welds. Gloves made from goatskin are also great for stick welding, as well! 

Some of the other features you should look for when choosing a pair of welding gloves include, a flexible wrist area, angled thumb for natural grasp, reinforced thumb and palm, and flame-resistant lining for additional heat protection.