Five Times You Might Need to Wear a Welding Helmet at Home?

By  //  February 26, 2020

A Welding helmet is not the alternative when you can’t find your bike helmet, though countless are the times when they have been used for other purposes.

A Welding helmet is not the alternative when you can’t find your bike helmet, though countless are the times when they have been used for other purposes.

Welding helmets are worn for protection while arc welding, grinding, and gas welding, among other uses. They are vital protection aids that are worn to protect the face, eyes, and neck from flash burn and sparks.

They are also worn as protective equipment against the ultraviolet rays and infrared light from the welding rods. 

Working on welding jobs without a helmet is a dangerous habit as it compromises your health and puts you at great risk of facial burns.

Today, welding jobs are amongst the highest paid jobs in blue-collar careers. But you’ll not be allowed to work at any welding jobs without a welding helmet.

Essentially, they’ve also become must-have protective devices among handy homeowners, while working on their daily DIY crafts.

That said, below are five times you might need to wear a welding helmet at home.

1. Fixing Your Aluminum or Galvanized Gutters

While it’s ok to use caulk and other sealants on your aluminum and galvanized gutters, they will not hold for a long time. Also, the fact that the gutters are subjected to harsh elements, they need rigid joints.

The most appropriate method to repair your aluminum or galvanized gutters would be to use a gentle welding technique, especially since aluminum sheets on gutters are often very thin.

According to these welding experts at Welding Pros, this is a task for a MIG welder as it helps with thin metal repairs and welds, especially those that require stainless steel, aluminum, and other types of thin metals alloys.

These machines are great for home and industrial purposes alike. Nonetheless, you’ll always stay safe and do a better job when you have your welding helmet on.

2. When Welding Underneath Your Car

If you consider yourself to be a ‘Jack of all trades’, then it means that working under your car is among the many tasks you can accomplish provided you have the right equipment in your garage.

Before attempting any welding jobs under your car, you’ll first need to switch off the engine, ensure that you’ve secured the vehicle and that you have the right protective gear including a welding helmet.

Some common under-the-car repair jobs include:

• Repairing the exhaust pipes

• Welding leaf spring supports

• Reinforcing the chassis

When it comes to repairing your car exhaust at home, you’ll need to weld it back together with a gas welder as it’s the most recommended option for exhaust pipes.

Most importantly, when it comes to welding under your car, your welding position puts you at a greater risk of facial and eye injuries from hot falling debris. These are all the more reasons to wear your welding helmet at all times.

Most importantly, when it comes to welding under your car, your welding position puts you at a greater risk of facial and eye injuries from hot falling debris. These are all the more reasons to wear your welding helmet at all times.

3. Installing or Repairing Metallic Window Grills

Today, there are various ways of securing your home, but nothing beats the idea of installing a sturdy metal window and door grill.

It may sound unnecessary if you’re living in a secure neighborhood, but then again, we are living in a society where certain evils are hard to get rid of.

The metallic window grill will not only help keep away burglars but will also help prevent your window structure from tipping.

With your design and materials ready, you’ll need your welder and welding helmet to get the job done. The reason to have your helmet ready is that some metals, when subjected to a welding arc, will emit bright glares, harmful smoke, and flying metallic objects that can hurt your eyes, face or neck.

4. Making Your Very Own Firepit

All it takes to make a firepit is a textured steel metal with the right thickness, preferably 2.1 mm thick. It’s an easy home DIY welding project that will help towards disposing of some of your home office trash.

The best thing about this project is that you can design your firepit, however, you want, provided it performs its intended use. But it’s important to practice the safety welding drills as well as wear your safety welding gear. 

5. Steel Pan Rack for Your Kitchen

With a square tubing of the most durable metal, preferably stainless steel, you’ll only need to cut it to the length of your choosing and weld the hooks. FastMetals has a selection of metal pipes that could work for your custom metal pan rack.

With a square tubing of the most durable metal, preferably stainless steel, you’ll only need to cut it to the length of your choosing and weld the hooks.

The next step will be to smoothen out the welds with a grinder or a rotating wire brush. Finally, you’ll need to find a strategic place to mount the pan rack in your kitchen and you’re good to go.

The importance of learning welding protection and welding techniques for home use

Learning how to weld and do a good job while at it’s no easy thing. It requires a lot of training, practice, and patience. For individuals who are handy at fixing things at home and may want to try out welding a few things at home, it’s imperative that you learn the tricks, techniques, and safety precautions of the trade.

Among the things you’ll need to do includes the following:

• Making safety your priority

• Cleanliness is critical in welding

• Following welding procedures to the letter

• Staying comfortable

• Wearing protective gear

• Knowing material properties and how they react with weld

Learning how to weld at home and the welding safety precautions to use will help you gain more confidence in your work and also help you to become more proficient.

Finally, your helmet is your number one protective device when welding. You must make good use of it any time you’re welding on staff at home.

Choosing the right welding helmet, however, will go a long way to improve your quality of welds as well as in protecting you from welding hazards.

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