Practical TIG Welding: Eye Protection
Eye Protection
02.25
00:00 | - While the welding mask is important in the welding process, it's not the only form of eye protection we need on hand. |
00:06 | While this course focuses on TIG welding, you're almost certainly going to be involved in other aspects of fabrication and you'll be dealing with a lot of different processes in and around the welding. |
00:17 | It goes without saying that our eyes are extremely important to us so protecting them should always be our first priority. |
00:23 | There are a number of ways in which we can protect our eyes from debris. |
00:27 | This comes down to the operation you're performing and what level of protection you need to lower the risks. |
00:33 | In a typical fabrication environment we'd usually see 3 methods of eye protection, the first is safety glasses which come in many different styles and the selection is entirely up to your personal preference. |
00:46 | What's important is that they fit well and protect our eyes. |
00:49 | In particular, you want a pair that provides a close fit around your cheeks to minimise the chance of material entering between your face and the glasses. |
00:58 | This might sound like an unlikely situation but that's exactly how I ended up in the emergency room many years back. |
01:06 | You'd typically use these glasses when working on removing material at a slow rate to protect yourself in the event that something was to be deflected into your eye. |
01:14 | The second option and one that eliminates any chance of material entering the eyes is full coverage goggles that offer a tight fitment to your face. |
01:23 | These goggles offer the eye complete protection from dust and sparks and can be useful in processes such as cutting, grinding or working overhead. |
01:32 | While the protection they offer is much better than a simple pair of safety glasses, they can be less comfortable over long periods of use and can restrict your peripheral vision. |
01:43 | The third option and one that can be used in conjunction with either goggles or glasses is the full face mask. |
01:50 | This is particularly handy when cutting or grinding where we may end up with sparks or debris being sprayed a significant distance. |
01:58 | Not only will the face mask offer further protection for your eyes, it'll also protect the rest of your face and neck from grinding debris and sparks. |
02:07 | It's normal for a fabricator to have multiple types of eye protection stored in various locations around the workshop. |
02:13 | As we move between fabrication processes regularly, it makes sense to minimise the time spent looking for these items and reduce the urge to go without. |