Protect Yourself from Burns When Welding: How to Identify a Burn

Welding is a dangerous industry. There are many ways a welder can get hurt, but one of the most common welding injuries are burns. There are three types of burns – first degree burns, second degree burns and third degree burns. In this blog post we’ll discuss the three types of burns that can occur when you’re not protected with flame retardant clothing. 

First degree burns are mild burns that only affect the top layer of skin, which is called the epidermis.

What does a first degree burn look like? When you have a first degree burn your skin becomes red and dry without forming blisters. You’ll also experience some minor swelling.

Second degree burns affect the epidermis and a portion of the dermis, which lies underneath the first layer of skin. Depending on how severe the burn is you may be able to treat it at home.

What does a second degree burn look like? A second degree burn causes severe pain and redness while also producing blisters, which can break open.

Third degree burns are the most serious. They cause damage to all layers of the skin.

What does a third degree burn look like? The burned skin usually looks white, charred, leathery, or brown. You may feel very little to no pain due to nerve damage.

10 Welding Safety Procedures

Welding is a dangerous job, but thankfully there are safety standards that every person operating a welding machine should take into consideration. Below are 10 safety procedures which you should use whenever you’re welding. 

1. Never move a high pressure cylinder without a cylinder cap. If the cylinder falls, it could explode and you could be killed.
2. Before you begin welding, make sure the area is clear of anything flammable.
3. Always read the information manual for any piece of welding equipment before your first time using it.
4. Use an exhaust hood to remove fumes when welding in a confined area.
5. Looking at an arc’s rays for even a moment can cause unbelievable damage to your eyes.
6. Do not weld in a wet area, or with damp clothing or gloves.
7. Never weld on painted metals. Before you begin welding, remove the paint from the surface.
8. Always wear a welding helmet in order to protect your face, and keep it away from the welding plume.
9. Have a fire extinguisher close by whenever you’re welding.
10. Protect yourself and others from being burned by using soapstone to mark hot metals that have been welded.

Before you begin any type of welding project make sure you know and understand the proper method of welding that is used to weld the metals you’re working with. As long as you use proper welding procedures, you’ll be safe during all welding projects. 

Thinking About a Career in Welding?

Are you thinking about a career in welding?  There are many benefits and opportunities to having a career in welding. For instance, welding careers can you take to heights you never thought possible, like working for NASA! Being that we use metal in almost all of our today’s products, the possibilities are limitless with a welding career. Here are some easy steps to get you started in figuring out if you’re meant to operate an arc welding machine. 

1. First you need to figure out if you like everything that a welding career entails, such as the type of psychical and mental work associated with welding.
2. After you’ve thought it over, the next step would be to find a school that offers welding or a welding type major. Make sure it’s a school that offers everything you want.   
3. This step canbe applied once you’ve already been accepted or when you begin classes. Step three is  a matter of personal preference. Since a welding career has so many vast markets, you can choose to focus your education on a specific career, such as underwater welding or a profession in the manufacturing industry.
4. Graduate and start your career! This is the first step to the rest of your life in a lucrative welding career!

These four steps are of course vague in their nature; however, they do give you a good insight as to what you can expect from the first steps of considering a welding career. We do recommend you research every aspect of this industry and even see if you can job shadow to make sure this is right path for you! 

Calling all Hobbyist Welders!

As you may know welding is not just a profession, it’s also a hobby, and a pretty neat one at that! At U.S. Welding & Safety Supply Co. we have all the welding tools and safety supplies you need to bring the love welding to your backyard. Metal can take shape of anything that you can dream of, for instance in these projects you’ll see a minion grill and farm animals to name a few. It’s amazing to see metal take shape the way these hobbyist welders have done it.  Take a look at the amazing welding projects we’ve seen so far! 

Photo Credit: SteampunkTendencies.com

• Old Farm Scrap Metal Creations
• The Piston Army Head
• Recycled Horseshoes
• Minion Fire Pit

It’s truly astounding what can be made out of metal and little bit of elbow grease. Just like any medium, metal can really begin to take shape when we have a little imagination. As you can see from these posts the possibilities are endless when it comes to metal manipulations! With any welding project, just make sure you’re using the proper safety techniques and the right equipment; safety should always be your number one!  You can browse USWeldingSupply.com to find the perfect tools you need to produce any welding project!  

We would love to see some of the work that you’ve created! Share your work with us on our Facebook Page!

Think Safety First with Welding Safety Supplies!

Safety should always be the first priority on your list, whether you’re starting a new project or finishing one that you already have started. You don’t want to lose said hand because of a simple safety slip!  At U.S. Welding & Safety Supply Co. we have the welding safety supplies you need to keep you safe while welding. 

Safety seems like a topic that’s second nature however; it’s also one that is overlooked by many welders. Some of the safety supplies we offer are earplugs, earmuffs, fall protection, respirators, and sound detectors. 

• Earplugs & Earmuffs: Earplugs and earmuffs are great for keeping your ears protected from the loud sounds of welding machines. Both are going to protect your ear drum, but depending on your comfort level you may like one choice over the other. 
• Fall Protection:  We know the job of a welder can get pretty dangerous. The proper protection can ease your mind. Our fall protection products will help you stay safe on the job!
• Respirators: Respirators are another essential safety tool! They take long term safety to the next level.  We have many options to fit the needs of you or your team, which include adjustable straps and respirators  recommended for the environment you’re working in.
• Sound Detector: Sound detectors are used to detect sound levels and determine the degree of hearing protection needed. They are designed to help welders detect, protect and prepare themselves in all types of noise levels.

Stop by USWeldingSupply.com for all of your welding safety supplies!

See What Our Loyal Customers Have to Say About Our Welding Supplies

U.S. Welding & Safety Supply Co. has been your source for welding supplies for almost 20 years!  Over time we’ve developed a loyal customer base. We’d like to share what some of our customers have to say about their experiences with USWeldingSupply.com. 

“Thanks, I received my order. The items were easy to find and the shipping was prompt.” - Rafael Wilson; Closter NJ

“Great company to deal with and very extensive inventory of products. Fast delivery at reasonable cost for standard UPS delivery.” - John Ledve; Wichita, KS

“I have great luck with everything I have purchased from US Welding Supply. Great support team and the products come way faster. Thanks for your service.” Tonny White JR; Markham, TX

“Wow! Thanks for the gloves and pen! It's always fun to get a little gift. Thank you for the prompt service. We will be using you again!” - Karen Fitzhugh; Mira Loma, CA

“I found your website easy to use and Luz Castillo helpful. I await delivery and thank your company for selling and shipping internationally.” - Graham Nunn; Australia

“I'm more than impressed with your fantastic fast response and great service. Thank you very much, you are number one.” - Damir Lovrekovic; Croatia

“Great company to deal with. I really enjoyed working with US Welding Supply.” – Mike; North Carolina

You can read all of our reviews on our testimonials page. Here at U.S. Welding & Safety Supply Co. we aim to please our customers. For questions about our products call us at 305-593-9488. 

Dependable Welding Power Tools for your Toolbox

While every welder needs the proper welding guns, machines, safety equipment and accessories, it’s also important to have the dependable welding power tools. Here at USWeldingSupply.com, we offer affordable, high quality power tools for all your welding jobs! 

• Milwaukee and DeWalt drills are both well known for their top-of-the-line quality and power-packed performances. Their ergonomic builds allow for daily use without hassle.
• A grinder is an excellent asset for all your metal working needs. The Milwaukee Die Grinder is able to get to those tough spots with strength and efficiency. With a DeWalt Angle Grinder, you can get all your grinding done while guiding debris safely away from any components.
• Able to safely cut through wood, piping and more, a heavy duty metal band saw makes a powerful welding power tool for a variety of projects. DeWalt and Milwaukee band saws guarantee success in sawing through a number of materials.

You’ll find these and many more handy welding power tools when you shop online at USWeldingSupply.com. Visit us today or call 305-593-9488 with questions!