Safe welding area/section within woodshop

[wyberto]

Hi all, I am just getting started welding and have a welding area safety question.

I have a shop at home where I do woodworking... and would like to incorporate metal/welding into some of my projects, and think welding would also be very useful around our small ranch. I have a question regarding sectioning off a safe area for welding.

I have a 30' wide x 40' deep shop. What I have in mind is creating a temporary section in the front section of the shop, which is already pretty clear of stuff, since I leave it available to act as a shelter for my truck when it hails lol.

Anyway, I am thinking of perhaps stringing a wire rope across the first 10' of the 40' of the shop depth (this section also has two large sliding doors that open up to the outside front), and hanging welding blankets from the wire rope, effectively creating a temporary 10x30 area for welding, or smaller than the 30' (I doubt I would need all 30'), when I need to weld something. Of course, before welding, this area would be cleared of any major sawdust and no flammable rags, stains or finishes would be kept in this area. My concern is, of course, since this is woodshop, would having say, 16' long of 6' tall welding blankets hanging from the wire rope be enough to separate the woodshop from sparks for safety's sake? And would any super fine sawdust on surfaces pose a problem? I already have two fire extinguishers in this area of the shop.

I can opt to weld outside if need be and weather permitting, but here in Wyoming, that's not always an option lol.

Thanks everyone.

[smithdoor]

I do all my welding outside.

Dave

Hi all, I am just getting started welding and have a welding area safety question.

I have a shop at home where I do woodworking... and would like to incorporate metal/welding into some of my projects, and think welding would also be very useful around our small ranch. I have a question regarding sectioning off a safe area for welding.

I have a 30' wide x 40' deep shop. What I have in mind is creating a temporary section in the front section of the shop, which is already pretty clear of stuff, since I leave it available to act as a shelter for my truck when it hails lol.

Anyway, I am thinking of perhaps stringing a wire rope across the first 10' of the 40' of the shop depth (this section also has two large sliding doors that open up to the outside front), and hanging welding blankets from the wire rope, effectively creating a temporary 10x30 area for welding, or smaller than the 30' (I doubt I would need all 30'), when I need to weld something. Of course, before welding, this area would be cleared of any major sawdust and no flammable rags, stains or finishes would be kept in this area. My concern is, of course, since this is woodshop, would having say, 16' long of 6' tall welding blankets hanging from the wire rope be enough to separate the woodshop from sparks for safety's sake? And would any super fine sawdust on surfaces pose a problem? I already have two fire extinguishers in this area of the shop.

I can opt to weld outside if need be and weather permitting, but here in Wyoming, that's not always an option lol.

Thanks everyone.

[NotaVegetarian]

Awesome welcome. Don’t do as much welding as most of these folks, but when I do get to use my machines it’s at the front of one of the bay doors or maybe into the drive. Even from the bucket on my tractor. Show them your projects they can help with suggestions on how to, or how to improve what your doing. Show them your welds, they can offer assistance in what your doing to make it better and easier.

[tapwelder]

You say “welding”. You can tig weld to minute sparks. However grinding sparks is more concerning. Dust will compromise wood finishes. Ventilation should be a priority.

[smithdoor]

I think I would not like saw dust.
Saw dust will cache fire easily.

Dave

You say “welding”. You can tig weld to minute sparks. However grinding sparks is more concerning. Dust will compromise wood finishes. Ventilation should be a priority.

[Oldiron2]

Hi all, I am just getting started welding and have a welding area safety question.

I have a shop at home where I do woodworking... and would like to incorporate metal/welding into some of my projects, and think welding would also be very useful around our small ranch. I have a question regarding sectioning off a safe area for welding.

I have a 30' wide x 40' deep shop. What I have in mind is creating a temporary section in the front section of the shop, which is already pretty clear of stuff, since I leave it available to act as a shelter for my truck when it hails lol.

Anyway, I am thinking of perhaps stringing a wire rope across the first 10' of the 40' of the shop depth (this section also has two large sliding doors that open up to the outside front), and hanging welding blankets from the wire rope, effectively creating a temporary 10x30 area for welding, or smaller than the 30' (I doubt I would need all 30'), when I need to weld something. Of course, before welding, this area would be cleared of any major sawdust and no flammable rags, stains or finishes would be kept in this area. My concern is, of course, since this is woodshop, would having say, 16' long of 6' tall welding blankets hanging from the wire rope be enough to separate the woodshop from sparks for safety's sake? And would any super fine sawdust on surfaces pose a problem? I already have two fire extinguishers in this area of the shop.

I can opt to weld outside if need be and weather permitting, but here in Wyoming, that's not always an option lol.

Thanks everyone.

Are we to assume you have a stick welder, or a MIG unit? In my experience, the former tends to throw larger beads of molten metal, but I suppose even TIG can if something goes wrong.
Another thing you can do (besides curtains) to contain "sparks" and molten spatter is to have 2 x 4's on the floor surrounding the area so beads can't skip along the floor. Sand also works but tends to be more messy. Finally, smoke alarms powered by wall current (that can be temporarily disabled by a timer, if they'd react to welding fumes [the timer so you can't forget to turn it back on]) and that are loud enough to be heard anywhere inside the house are another safety option that would alert you if somehow something did get lit and smolder until after you quit.

[ezduzit]

We tig and mig weld in my woodshop without any issues. Just keep it swept up and tidy.

[rexcormack]

Just remember, sawdust and welding, cutting and grinding splatter like to inhabit the same areas!
Welding splatter will bounce and roll worse than a 10mm socket!
Wet down the floor, especially around the perimeter of the welding area.

[whtbaron]

Sounds like you are willing to address the concerns, which means the battle is half won. Just remember that dust is more flammable/explosive than the wood or grinding metal that it is composed of, and keep it neat. Depending on the physical size of your projects (and weight),spark containment might be easier with shields directly around where you are working.... something like a sandblasting cabinet made for grinding and welding complete with fume extraction.

[wyberto]

Thanks Oldiron2... I should've included that I have a MIG/Flux 170 unit. I like the idea of having 2x4's on the floor, thank you for that. The smoke alarm is also a great idea as well.

[scsmith42]

I have a commercial woodworking shop that we occasionally do welding in. Two pieces of advice come to mind. First, use a leaf blower to blow away all of the sawdust in your welding area. Then you won't have fire hazards.

My biggest concern is the byproducts of grinding. If they get mixed into your woodworking they can cause discoloration to the finish as well as damage to your jointers and planers. So sheeting for grinding dust/debris is very important.

[Roert42]

Whenever I am welding grinding in my garage w/ other flammables about I try not to just finish up a weld or a cut and leave.

Finish your last weld. Then grab a beer and sit around for half hour or so. Last thing you want is to leave to go do something else, then come back in a couple hours or wake up in the morning and the shop is in flames.

[psacustomcreations]

Whenever I am welding grinding in my garage w/ other flammables about I try not to just finish up a weld or a cut and leave.

Finish your last weld. Then grab a beer and sit around for half hour or so. Last thing you want is to leave to go do something else, then come back in a couple hours or wake up in the morning and the shop is in flames.

I do something similar in that after welding, I spend some time cleaning the shop or putting away tools. This helps so the next time I go to start working, I have a somewhat clean shop.

Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk

[whtbaron]

So those beers in my beer fridge are actually a safety mechanism.... should make them tax deductible...

[smithdoor]

Like you said blow all saw dust out shop.
But this does take time.

The best way is to do welding some place else. You can store the welding equipment with wood working.
I would look at table with all equipment under the table with large wheels so rolls easily .
Then you quickly roll it out and goto work.

Dave

I have a commercial woodworking shop that we occasionally do welding in. Two pieces of advice come to mind. First, use a leaf blower to blow away all of the sawdust in your welding area. Then you won't have fire hazards.

My biggest concern is the byproducts of grinding. If they get mixed into your woodworking they can cause discoloration to the finish as well as damage to your jointers and planers. So sheeting for grinding dust/debris is very important.

[shortfuse]

A friend of mine was a woodworker and blacksmith. His forge was in one 6' x 6' corner of his woodshop.......

[M J D]

In the past I did a lot of work in sawmills. Grinding or torching caused a lot more problems than welding ever did. In the sawmills we set the area down before working as it was much easier than trying to get the area clean of dust. Sweep or blow out what you can before work and then monitor the area for at least a half hour after finishing. Generally any type of fires started smolder quite a while and give you a pretty good indication of smell before it's an issue.

[Freebirdwelds]

I weld, gouge and cut plate steel in mulch daily. And not always fresh mulch either. Yes I do keep a water fire extinguisher with me. But I have yet to start a fire. I do spray some smolders just so I don't have to smell them. Make sure that you listen to your nose while welding.

[Freebirdwelds]

PS: I just want to add this so for people who don't know this is where the mulch comes from. And also on the coldest nights these multi thousand yard piles of much will combust into flames on their own. In the second picture on the right over the white grinder you'll see the steam coming from one of the mulch piles as it decomposes.

.

[smithdoor]

Like your shop 👍

Dave

I weld, gouge and cut plate steel in mulch daily. And not always fresh mulch either. Yes I do keep a water fire extinguisher with me. But I have yet to start a fire. I do spray some smolders just so I don't have to smell them. Make sure that you listen to your nose while welding.

[Oldiron2]

PS: I just want to add this so for people who don't know this is where the mulch comes from. And also on the coldest nights these multi thousand yard piles of much will combust into flames on their own. In the second picture on the right over the white grinder you'll see the steam coming from one of the mulch piles as it decomposes.

What ultimately is the mulch used for? Burned in a "co-generation" plant, compressed into fire logs, shipped elsewhere for ground cover? I wouldn't think it could be made into paper after partially decomposing and getting dirt or rocks mixed in.

Some decades ago, a huge rice hulls pile burned for months up north towards Chico. I thought it would have been neat to cover the pile with sheet steel and pump CO2 deep into the pile, then recover and run generators off the carbon monoxide produced: CO2 + C > 12 CO. Or pump in water; H2O + C > Co + H2. Both could be called "Rice Producer Gas". Any remnants of the pile would contain the trace minerals which could all be returned to the land for reincorporation by the plants.

[Freebirdwelds]

Like your shop 

Dave

Thanks

[Freebirdwelds]

What ultimately is the mulch used for? Burned in a "co-generation" plant, compressed into fire logs, shipped elsewhere for ground cover? I wouldn't think it could be made into paper after partially decomposing and getting dirt or rocks mixed in.

Some decades ago, a huge rice hulls pile burned for months up north towards Chico. I thought it would have been neat to cover the pile with sheet steel and pump CO2 deep into the pile, then recover and run generators off the carbon monoxide produced: CO2 + C > 12 CO. Or pump in water; H2O + C > Co + H2. Both could be called "Rice Producer Gas". Any remnants of the pile would contain the trace minerals which could all be returned to the land for reincorporation by the plants.

They have 8 grinders with 6 running all the time producing 800-1000 yards of mulch an hour each. 12 Tractor trailers with live floors that haul it. 14 - 25 ton excavators, half a dozen track loaders, 12 wheel loaders all running 50 hrs. a 5 day week. ALL for ground cover. lol

The longest they had a fire burn was a week and that was with 2 excavators and 1 track loader fighting it. During the day they would get it out and at night it would spark back up.

Now a couple of the big grinders will burn 50 gals each an hour when they are lugging hard. here is a video of one of them in action.
.

[smithdoor]

You have dream job.
My father talked me out that work.

Dave

I weld, gouge and cut plate steel in mulch daily. And not always fresh mulch either. Yes I do keep a water fire extinguisher with me. But I have yet to start a fire. I do spray some smolders just so I don't have to smell them. Make sure that you listen to your nose while welding.

[smithdoor]

Do agree with use your nose and have water for fires 🔥.

Most think of shop. But have a good truck is great 👍 Every think you in one spot and someone else pays the taxes.

I had idea at one time of putting a evaporate cooler on truck too since gets 114°F where I live. Nice sea breeze as you welded.

Dave

I weld, gouge and cut plate steel in mulch daily. And not always fresh mulch either. Yes I do keep a water fire extinguisher with me. But I have yet to start a fire. I do spray some smolders just so I don't have to smell them. Make sure that you listen to your nose while welding.