Forney MIG 180FI, Operating Manual

Page: 6 / 38

6
helmet and replace any cracked or bro-
ken filter lenses IMMEDIATELY.
• Do not allow the uninsulated portion
of the wire feed gun to touch the ground
clamp or grounded work to prevent an
arc flash from being created on contact.
• Provide bystanders with shields or hel-
mets fitted with a #10 shade filter lens.
• Wear protective clothing. The intense light
of the welding arc can burn the skin in
much the same way as the sun, even
through light-weight clothing. Wear dark
clothing of heavy material. The shirt worn
should be long sleeved and the collar
kept buttoned to protect chest and neck.
• Protect against REFLECTED ARC RAYS.
Arc rays can be reflected off shiny sur-
faces such as a glossy painted surface,
aluminum, stainless steel, and glass. It is
possible for your eyes to be injured by
reflected arc rays even when wearing a
protective helmet or shield. If welding with
a reflective surface behind you, arc rays
can bounce off the surface, then off the fil-
ter lens on the inside of your helmet or
shield, then into your eyes. If a reflective
background exists in your welding area,
either remove it or cover it with something
non-flammable and non-reflective.
Reflective arc rays can also cause skin
burn in addition to eye injury.
FIRE HAZARDS
WARNING
FIRE OR EXPLOSION CAN CAUSE DEATH,
INJURY, AND PROPERTY DAM- AGE!
To
reduce the risk of death, injury, or property
damage from fire or explosion, read,
understand, and follow the following safety
instructions. In addition, make certain that
anyone else that uses this welding equip-
ment, or is a bystander in the welding area,
understands and follows these safety instruc-
tions as well. REMEMBER! Arc welding by
nature produces sparks, hot spatter, molten
metal drops, hot slag, and hot metal parts that
can start fires, burn skin, and damage eyes.
• Do not wear gloves or other clothing that
contains oil, grease, or other flammable
substances.
• Do not wear flammable hair preparations.
• Do not weld in an area until it is checked
and cleared of combustible and/or flam-
mable materials. BE AWARE that sparks
and slag can fly 35 feet and can pass
through small cracks and openings. If
work and combustibles cannot be sepa-
rated by a minimum of 35 feet, protect
against ignition with suitable, snug-fitting,
fire resistant, covers or shields.
• Do not weld on walls until checking for
and removing combustibles touching the
other side of the walls.
• Do not weld, cut, or perform other such
work on used barrels, drums, tanks, or
other containers that had contained a
flammable or toxic substance. The tech-
niques for removing flammable sub-
stance and vapors, to make a used con-
tainer safe for welding or cutting, are
quite complex and require special educa-
tion and training.
• Do not strike an arc on a compressed gas
or air cylinder or other pressure ves- sel.
Doing so will create a brittle area that can
result in a violent rupture immediate- ly or
at a later time as a result of rough
handling.
• Do not weld or cut in an area where the
air may contain flammable dust (such as
grain dust), gas, or liquid vapors (such as
gasoline).
• Do not handle hot metal, such as the
work piece or electrode stubs, with bare
hands.
• Wear leather gloves, heavy long sleeve
shirt, cuffless trousers, high-topped
shoes, helmet, and cap. As necessary,
use additional protective clothing such as
leather jacket or sleeves, fire resistant
leggings, or apron. Hot sparks or metal
can lodge in rolled up sleeves, trouser
cuffs, or pockets. Sleeves and collars
should be kept buttoned and pockets
eliminated from the shirt front.
• Have fire extinguisher equipment handy
for immediate use! A portable chemical
fire extinguisher, type ABC, is recom-
mended.
• Wear ear plugs when welding overhead to
prevent spatter or slag from falling into ear.
• Make sure welding area has a good,
solid, safe floor, preferably concrete or
masonry, not tiled, carpeted, or made of