On Saturday, February 2, 2019 at 9:36:02 PM UTC-5, pyotr filipivich wrote:
Gunner Asch on Sat, 02 Feb 2019 14:11:17 -0800
typed in rec.crafts.metalworking the following:
On Sat, 02 Feb 2019 06:42:08 +0000, Richard Smith
wrote:

"Red arc" - that's the spectral colours of zinc.
I think of it as more like "lilac" colour.
The quantum energy steps in zink's atomic structure cause it to throw out this lilac light. ie. the specific energy of the photons emitted is sensed by our eyes as the colour lilac.
You see if if you try to weld heavily dip-galv'ed steel.
The fume will cause "zink sweats" - which I have never had - and body can get rid of zink over time - so for a transient small exposure - not the greatest cause to dwell on in the general scheme of things.

If there were a "zink lamp", it would have this lilac colour.

Ayup...which is why I aways say do this in a very well ventilated
area. When I make the fixtures for holding the odd shaped aerospace
parts..I do it out in the parking lot.
Ive gotten sick from welding galvanized once or twice when I was much
younger...never going to happen to me again. They were more than
enough of an object lesson....

If memory serves, that's one reason to drink whole milk after
work.
--
pyotr filipivich
"With Age comes Wisdom. Although far too often, Age travels alone."

"Zinc fume fever," which has symptoms similar to the flu, can be prevented with a fume mask. 3M makes a disposable one especially for dealing with it.

I had it once, o/a welding EMT tubing outdoors. It doesn't take much. I promptly bought a few of those 3M masks and never had it again.

That was around 20 years ago, so I'm not sure they still make them, but they probably do.

Oh yes -- drinking milk supposedly is a fairly effective treatment for it. I learned about that too late, and I haven't had a reason to try it.

--
Ed Huntress