dizzy while forging

clancy

clancy

Well-Known Member
Yesterday I got so dizzy I couldn't stand up. I shut down the gas forge and sat down outside. I think it was carbon monoxide poisoning, even though I had two fans running, the doors were open as was the window.

Today I bought a CO monitor with a digital display and found that CO level 20 feet away from the forge was at toxic levels. The actual value varied greatly depending on where I positioned the shop fans. I guess I will rearrange the shop with better exhaust.

anyone else have this experience?

Ernie
 
Glad you found the problem before something really bad happened! :eek:

Watch out for heat exhaustion too. It can sneak up on you FAST and cause all sorts of bad things. Take breaks and stay hydrated.
 
I was huffing and puffing like being on a stair climber, mild headache and nausea. After taking a couple hours off I fired up the forge again experienced the same thing again. I started to realize it was something more than the heat.

Ernie
 
That's a very good topic to bring up and lets me know I need to get a monitor as well. I have my shop set up ins a 10' x 20' storage unit down the road from my apartment. I have my forge set up right at the overhead door and have a fan blowing towards the forge, but we can never be too careful. I'll run out to Lowes today and look for one.

Thank you for bringing up this topic.
 
Keep in mind that CO is lighter than air and will rise towards the top of the shop, room, whatever.

When you are at the store trying to figure out which detector you want look for one that can mount up higher than where you breath.

A LOT of manufacturers have CO detectors that can plug directly into an outlet and folks in the past have bought them for ease of operation only to find out later that it was a bad decision.

Another option is to have an exhaust fan that pulls air from the higher portion of the shop and exhaust it outside.

Clancy, you may also need to look at your burners and see what has recently changed if you've never had any issues before. CO is usually generated in great quantities due to incomplete burning of hydrocarbons and other carbon bearing substances.

Charlie
(Health, Safety, & Environmental Specialist in my day job)
 
That is good information. My CO detector is in an outlet about the height of my workbench. My exhaust fan is mounted high at the peak of the roof.

As for differences... I was running the forge richer than normal and I threw in some charcoal to consume the extra oxygen and minimize scale formation because I was having trouble with a fold and weld. I guess that was generating a ton of CO and standing there watching the billet to make sure it was at welding heat.

ernie
 
CTaylorJr said:
Charlie
(Health, Safety, & Environmental Specialist in my day job)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I don't forge but it couldn't hurt to get a monitor for the house in case my furnace goes on the fritz. Do you recommend the battery-op ones that look like a smoke detector, or what?
 
james terrio said:
Thanks for the info. I don't forge but it couldn't hurt to get a monitor for the house in case my furnace goes on the fritz. Do you recommend the battery-op ones that look like a smoke detector, or what?
Click to expand...

ANYONE that has anything other than electric heat should get CO detectors for the home. Even a brand new heating unit can emit CO if the combustion is incorrect.

The ones that I use in my home, and we recommend to the folks at work, are the type that do in fact look like the normal smoke detectors.

Each year when the time changes is the time to replace the batteries. Of course if you forget, the units will let you know at 3 AM when it's time since it will beep every minute or so. :eek:

Clancy, I think you nailed it when you stated you were running richer than usual and had the coal in there as well to help prevent the scaling.

Charlie
 
My house has a natural-gas furnace that's only a few years old, and I had it checked out by a fellow from the utility company when I moved in several months ago. He said everything was clean and good to go. Regardless, things can change, and I think I'll get two monitors and mount them near the ceiling on both floors just like the smoke detectors. That seem about right? Thanks again for the tips. :)
 
I nearly mullered myself once under similar circumstances (running rich to stick a reluctant weld) just about managed to swith off the power hammer, forge and get outside. I dont think the heat, and the fact i'd skipped lunch (it was a very concentraty billet of feathered 'w's) helped. I allways make a big effort to stay hydrated when I forge now.

Ive got an alarm now, and it never registers a pip unless I blow cig smoke at it ! That day must have been a bad combination of wind direction etc.

Remember CO poisoning is cumulative, play it very safe for a while.
 
That's why my forge is all windows with just latice up to help reduce the light from the sun. Watching over heating is also a problem. Some these stinking hot and humid days we've been having in Illinois have really cut back my time at the forge.

Doug Lester
 
Make sure you place them close to bedrooms so that they may be heard during sleeping hours and you should be good to go!

Charlie
 
Yes, the same thing has happened to me as well.
My new shop has a stack for exaust as well as a powered exaust in the corner 400cubic feet/min, and I have 5 fresh air vents at floor level.
Glad you caught it in time. 2thumbs
 
Mine is the rectangular one that registers both CO and explosive gasses. It has a digital read out and was about $54.00 at Home Depot. It plugs into the wall and uses a 9v battery. The unit can be mounted about 6' from the outlet.
 
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