Tool of the Week: Welding Safety Tools | West Seattle Tool Library

(image of a welding helmet on top of a blue welder)
This week and next week I’ll be writing about welding. Before I actually cover welders, I want to cover welding safety equipment and safety tips for using welders. While welders are generally a safe power tool to use, the use of a welder requires using several pieces of safety equipment as well as taking some precautions to prevent accidents or fires.
Our Tool Library Manager, Micah, described using a welder as like, “striking something with lightening.” I think this is an apt description of welding, because it is a little like playing Zeus. You are melting metal against metal and throwing sparks everywhere. The potential for accidents, burns or a fire are higher than with other power tools.
The first piece of safety equipment that I’ll mention is a helmet. The Tool Library currently owns a spiffy welding helmet that looks like a Darth Vader mask (Item number 796). If it’s checked out this year in late October, you can bet it means I’m at some party going, “Luke, I am your father!”
This particular helmet is an auto-darkening welding helmet. It has solar panel on the helmet that detects excessive light, like that made by welding, and automatically darkens the glass. Using a welder without a proper light shield can result in damage to the eyes. This helmet automatically protects your eyes and can increase or decrease the amount of protection based on how bright the light is from the welder.
In addition to a helmet, thick leather gloves are important to protect the hands from stray sparks. A leather apron can also be helpful in keeping sparks from hitting clothing. Sturdy shoes and non-flammable clothing, that covers all exposed skin, are also important.
When welding it is important make sure the area is clear of anything flammable, so no paper, wood shavings, scrap cloth, or flammable material spills. Also make sure that nothing combustible is in the nearby area, including aerosol cans and batteries. Make sure that others in the area are a safe distance away from the welding equipment so they are not exposed to stray sparks. If you will be welding over a prolonged period of time, a safety curtain may be useful. Also make sure to weld in a well-ventilated area, as welding can create dangerous fumes from the materials being welded.
Welding, when proper precautions are taken, can be a safe activity. Look for our post next week on the welders we have at the Tool Library and the cool things you can do with them.
The West Seattle Tool Library has a collection of over 1,500 tools currently available, is free to use and run primarily on user donations. Our entire inventory is available online. For more information on becoming a member, please visit our website. If you are interested in volunteering at the Tool Library, please contact us at: library@sustainablewestseattle.org
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