[TheForge] TheForge Digest, Vol 222, Issue 5

Wed Oct 8 13:25:38 EDT 2025

What about laser welders?  Seems they have come a very long way.

how's everyone doing?

On Wed, Oct 8, 2025 at 12:00 PM <theforge-request at mailman.qth.net> wrote:

> Send TheForge mailing list submissions to
>         theforge at mailman.qth.net
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>         http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>         theforge-request at mailman.qth.net
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
>         theforge-owner at mailman.qth.net
>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of TheForge digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
>    1. Re: Electric welding and pacemakers (Charles)
>    2. Re: Electric welding and pacemakers (JERRY FROST)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2025 02:48:18 +0000 (UTC)
> From: Charles <xlch58 at swbell.net>
> To: Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: Re: [TheForge] Electric welding and pacemakers
> Message-ID: <266633414.617287.1759891698269 at mail.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
>  Ten years ago I had a severe heart attack that significantly damaged my
> heart.? ?I had a pacemaker (actually an ICD) installed a couple of years
> ago as once in a while the Dr thought I was experience atrial fibrillation
> added to the fact that due to the damage, there is always a chance my heart
> could just stop.? I got the same warnings, as well as to avoid standing to
> close to generators, alternators, etc.? The one I got was MRI safe, as well
> as metal detector safe, so the warnings seemed odd to me.? I have mostly
> ignored them and have continued mig/tig and arc welding, working on
> generators and living my life the same way.? If I get close to a strong
> magnetic field my unit will start emiting a tone.? ?This is because the way
> they disable the unit for surgery is to place a magnet over it.? So
> basically, if I get near a strong magnet it could disable the unit.? ?I am
> regularly backpacking mountains, welding, smithing and I work in power
> plants.? My Dr connects to my device re
>  motely on a regular basis and dumps a report.? So far no issues from all
> of my contraindicated activities.? It barely ever kicks in, like once every
> three months or so some light pacing.? ?Make your own decisions, but if you
> get an MRI safe unit you should be fine,
> Charles
>     On Monday, October 6, 2025 at 09:43:09 PM CDT, Bruce <
> freemab222 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>  I have no direct knowledge on the subject, but it is commonly known that
> electric arcs emit broadband electromagnetic radiation.? An Internet search
> turns up any number of articles on pacemakers vs. arc welding, but some
> suggest that limiting amps or using DC only might reduce the risk -- but
> don't quote me.
>
> It wouldn't surprise me if effective shielding were possible to prevent
> adverse effects, but aside from using a metal box -- a Faraday cage --
> around the workpiece (or around yourself!), I couldn't suggest how to
> accomplish this.
>
> Of course, acetylene welding would not affect a pacemaker at all.
>
> Bruce
> NJ
>
>
> On Mon, Oct 6, 2025 at 3:48?PM Jim Smith <jwmsmith64 at att.net> wrote:
>
> > My cardiologist says I need a pacemaker.? When my father in law got one
> he
> > was told he couldn?t use his stick welder anymore.? I think some may now
> be
> > shielded from electromagnetic radiation.? Anyone have experience with
> this?
> >
> > Jim Smith
> > Sent from my iPad
> > Love ?thinketh no evil,? imputes no motive, sees the bright side, puts
> the
> > best construction on every action. What a delightful state of mind to
> live
> > in! What a stimulus and benediction even to meet with for a day! To be
> > trusted is to be saved. And if we try to influence or elevate others, we
> > shall soon see that success is in proportion to their belief of our
> belief
> > in them. For the respect of another is the first restoration of the
> > self-respect a person has lost; our ideal of what they are becomes to
> them
> > the hope and pattern of what they may become.
> >
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > TheForge mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:TheForge at mailman.qth.net
> >
> > TheForge mail list group photo site is
> > http://www.shutterfly.com
> > Login: blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
> > Password: anvil
> >
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> > Message delivered to freemab222 at gmail.com
> ______________________________________________________________
> TheForge mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:TheForge at mailman.qth.net
>
> TheForge mail list group photo site is
> http://www.shutterfly.com
> Login: blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
> Password: anvil
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to xlch58 at swbell.net
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Tue, 7 Oct 2025 23:34:58 -0400 (EDT)
> From: JERRY FROST <akfrosty at mtaonline.net>
> To: Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: Re: [TheForge] Electric welding and pacemakers
> Message-ID:
>         <1561409590.270868767.1759894498550.JavaMail.zimbra at mtaonline.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
>
> A few months ago my wife Deb had a reverse shoulder replacement and then
> she noticed having sort of fuzzy spells, sometimes disorientation, etc. so
> she scheduled a check up and was given a heart monitor. After wearing it
> 24/7 for less than two weeks she got a hone call around 7am telling her to
> get a ride to the local ER. Besides an arrythmia her heart had stopped for
> 8 seconds that morning. An alarm alerted the fellow keeping an eye on
> monitors, he ran it by the on call cardiologist and they called, offering
> her an ambulance ride. I was already up and took her in, picked her up the
> next day after spending a night for observation and adjustments.
>
> I have to tell you, she's WAY better now, energy, alert, good color, etc.
>
> Pace makers are improving all the time and are pretty well shielded from
> EM and can still be read and programmed wirelessly.
>
> I offer a toast to modern medicine!
>
> Frosty
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Charles" <xlch58 at swbell.net>
> To: "Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, October 7, 2025 6:48:18 PM
> Subject: Re: [TheForge] Electric welding and pacemakers
>
> Ten years ago I had a severe heart attack that significantly damaged my
> heart.? ?I had a pacemaker (actually an ICD) installed a couple of years
> ago as once in a while the Dr thought I was experience atrial fibrillation
> added to the fact that due to the damage, there is always a chance my heart
> could just stop.? I got the same warnings, as well as to avoid standing to
> close to generators, alternators, etc.? The one I got was MRI safe, as well
> as metal detector safe, so the warnings seemed odd to me.? I have mostly
> ignored them and have continued mig/tig and arc welding, working on
> generators and living my life the same way.? If I get close to a strong
> magnetic field my unit will start emiting a tone.? ?This is because the way
> they disable the unit for surgery is to place a magnet over it.? So
> basically, if I get near a strong magnet it could disable the unit.? ?I am
> regularly backpacking mountains, welding, smithing and I work in power
> plants.? My Dr connects to my device rem
>  otely on a regular basis and dumps a report.? So far no issues from all
> of my contraindicated activities.? It barely ever kicks in, like once every
> three months or so some light pacing.? ?Make your own decisions, but if you
> get an MRI safe unit you should be fine,
> Charles
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
> TheForge mail list group photo site is
> http://www.photoaccess.com
> Login: blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
> Password: anvil
>
>
>
>
>
> End of TheForge Digest, Vol 222, Issue 5
> ****************************************
>