Does anybody use welding curtains at work or in their home workshop? What I would like to know is how effective they are as a barrier against splatter and grinding. The reason I am considering getting one (or two) is because I have my freshly painted Syncro chassis on axle stands immediately behind my workbench. I was planning to build another workbench to put at the opposite end of the workshop away from the car to do welding on, but I'd rather do that later. I need to start making a manifold for the Syncro. The kind of thing I've seen on eBay is this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Welding-curtain-screen-6-x-6-red-pvc-eyleted-all-round-/250739698635?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3a61402bcb I would plan to suspend one or two of those behind me when working at the bench to shield the car. There's enough room to position the curtains and still have plenty of space to work. I assume body shops need to use curtains like this all the time to shield fresh paint on vehicles from nearby grinding and welding. I'm also thinking of getting some other sheeting that could be chucked over the top of the shell for added protection. Something soft and strong but preferably not heavy, as it's a bit dusty and I don't want the paint damaged. Trev
Something like this (a proper fire blanket) may be better perhaps: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fire-blanket-1100-medium-duty-2-mtr-x-2-mtr-/180594105078?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2a0c3f5af6
Never considered one, but you're right to protect the shell, no question. Normal thick cloth should catch isolated angle grinding sparks from a distance, but not welding spit. I once angle grinded (ground?) with the grinder wheel firing shards at an old coat I was wearing and it did catch fire eventually! Gives you some idea!
Ah - 'welding blanket' seems to be a better thing to search for: http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/shop/welding-blanket.htm I think this stuff is fiberglass-Vermiculite coated like the fire blankets I linked to above. More here: http://www.migtigarc.co.uk/Specialist/specialist.html Ah: http://www.migtigarc.co.uk/Specialist/Tusker_WBN11_Welding_Blanket/tusker_wbn11_welding_blanket.html Check out the pic there of molten metal being poured onto it Gotta do the job surely. If it's available with eyelets then bingo...
Ah right, The curtains are like shower curtains, hung on a frame. Oft in corners of workshops to keep the light from other folk / contain sparks / spatter.
Next time u see my car, inspect the front windscreen and headlights for ......... RUST! I'm eating wiper blades and ice scrapers too lol I've now made a mental note not to grind within about twenty feet of glass
Are there any fabrication shops near you ? .... they keep this type of blanket `on a roll` and may offer you some cheaper ?
If you put the car under a cover/old curtains and then put cardboard on top, that would do I'd think. You won't have a problem with a fire hazard unless you're grinding right on top of it. It's grinding sparks you need to worry about, rather than welding spatter, unless you're within a couple of feet of it.
