blacksmith valuable experience

[Cub4libre]

Got a reality check from the forge the other day. I was out making some tongs and trying to get some exercise in by playing with Norman, my dog. He's looks like he has a lot of energy, so I was throwing the ball while my metal was heating up.

After a bit, I started feeling super nauseous, light headed, and just terrible. I had to sit down and ended up calling it a day.

I managed to get the tongs' jaws and boss done, but couldn't get the reigns welded on because I was so shaky and foggy.
Now I've got a bunch of expensive, labor intensive steel on the way, and I'm a little bummed I might have bit off more than I can chew.
That day like I learned a valuable lesson, which is watch out for heatstroke.

I'm gonna take it easy from now on and maybe wait for cooler weather to really get back to it.
Anyone got a similar experience? Hit me with your stories guys!

 

[Billinthedesert]

I was on that edge earlier this summer digging post holes through caliche with a big power chisel on a very hot afternoon. The tachycardia did not subside for a couple of hours. I learned that at 72, I can't safely ignore heat or hydration.

 

[xluv0014]

That's real and serious experience! Nausea and light-headedness are clear signs of heat exhaustion or heatstroke. Good thing you stopped what you were doing right away.

The main point with any strenuous work in the heat is to stay hydrated and take frequent breaks. I even use fans to move air around and help with the heat. Take a break and finish your work on another day than to push through and risk a serious health issue.

 

[FPDoc]

Got a reality check from the forge the other day. I was out making some tongs and trying to get some exercise in by playing with Norman, my dog. He's looks like he has a lot of energy, so I was throwing the ball while my metal was heating up.

After a bit, I started feeling super nauseous, light headed, and just terrible. I had to sit down and ended up calling it a day.

I managed to get the tongs' jaws and boss done, but couldn't get the reigns welded on because I was so shaky and foggy.
Now I've got a bunch of expensive, labor intensive steel on the way, and I'm a little bummed I might have bit off more than I can chew.
That day like I learned a valuable lesson, which is watch out for heatstroke.

I'm gonna take it easy from now on and maybe wait for cooler weather to really get back to it.
Anyone got a similar experience? Hit me with your stories guys!

Good post.
Be very careful with scrap (more with electric welding but...) galvanized metal in fire or while welding gives off thick yellow/white smoke that.. will.. hurt youŕ lungs kind of a chemical pneumonia.. just be careful of what you put in your fire.. esp things like sodium filled engine valves etc.. they explode violently.

 

[Dociron]

GALVANIZED METAL

Heating galvanized metal of any type should be avoided at all costs.

Breathing zinc fumes not only will affect your lungs but can give you heavy metal fever. This results in flu like symptoms, sweets and the shakes. If you survive these you've still damaged your body because the zinc has been absorbed by your liver and it is an accumulative effect. Not knowing how much zinc you've absorbed the next time may be fatal if you survived the first exposure.

If you're forced to work with heated galvanized metal due to a repair or other circumstance , ware a chemical absorbing respirator and drink a quart of milk before and after working with zinc. The calcium in the milk helps absorb the zinc so doesn't all reach your liver.

HEAT STROKE

Staying hydrated is the main key to fighting heat stroke. Doctors recommend drinking enough pure water so that you are peeing at least once every two hours. This is just water NOT ice tea, lemonade, gatorade or anything else diluted in water, your trying to hydrate yourself not make you kidneys work harder under the stress of heat.