Thread: Vrd

VRD has saved my #### on a number of occasions was stupid enough to do maintenance welding in a pool of water needless to say the inevitable happened n i got zapped no VRD n i woulda been toast.....................

Also had 1st year apprentices strike arcs while i was positioning worklead during maintenance jobs which was my worst zap once again if it wasent for the voltage reduction device i woulda been in a lot of trouble.....................

Needless to say these days im a lot more picky about what kinda jobs im willing to do n the kinds a risks im willing to take bosses n foremans have no problems putting welders 'at risk' if it means saving a buck .................... U gotta learn quick when 2 put ya foot down.......................

So yeah VRD has been a great feature to have 'on hand' in the rigs ive used N these days are becoming the 'norm' as a matter of fact our TAFE teachers were telling us the other week that rigs with VRD are mandatory on most worksites these days.

good post NewLou and it's great to have your thoughts and experiences with and without VRD. I think that the safety aspect of VRD's is paramount and in particular people with little or no experience with welding and the conditions they are working in. I have heard some welders say that striking an arc with a machine that has VRD is is a lot more difficult and has anyone had this issue I was told by one guy that he was almost using the electrode holder as a small hammer to get the rod to arc.

My TAFE teacher told me there were 'strokers' and 'jabbers'. Needless to say which one makes a better welder!

My view of safety devices such as VRD is another straw on the back of the 'nanny state' where everything has rounded corners and soft edges so that some fool doesn't hurt themself or others through their own stupidity.

If they were only hurting themselves then it might just be a case of 'natural selection' (AKA Darwin Award candidate) but there are too many butt-reaming employers who put safety at a great distance from profit.

It used to be a case of common sense. Nowadays sense isn't all that common.

Hence a safety device has become a necessary evil, even if it only protects an innocent bystander.

However, if a safety device is a backstop for your boss's stupidity, is it a job worth dying for? One day he/she might ask you to do a job that hasn't got a VRD or anything else......

You know common sense is what i most frequently hear sprouted 'After the FAct' n have always found it facinating that even the most disciplined welders in solid routines with good working habits and a sound understanding of the dangers & risks involved still make mistakes...................sometimes serious ones.

All you gotta do is talk to a few old timers about their 'close call' yarns. Ive yet to meet a welder that hasent got at least a couple of these............

Human beings are by nature mistake making creatures and add a few human beings into the mix n it only takes 1 mistake that potentially could be disastrous for all.................

Thank God for Vrd OhnS and all the other 'safety' precautions that have been brought into the work place. The bottom line is Work related deaths serious injuries and the exploitation of workers have been reduced dramatically!!!!

....................Something Im happy to trade for common sense n belonging to the Nanny State

Regards Lou

As far as the hard to strike complaint ,I think its a function of the mentality of the same type of operator that uses nearly as many angle grinder disks as he does electrodes.

Ok,Ok!I can see some of you having a
"Wot you talking about Willis! " moment there.

Let me explain! Some of these guys just don't get as far as achieving and maintaining a good earth point.

If there s no decent earth connection, one is doomed to jabbinn and dabbin.

A good work around is a supplementary striking block attached to your bench .We set up some replaceable plates on the welding bench ( just 100x 100x 10 that attaches to the bench with a thumbscrew from the bottom).

Using our Cigweld 400I,s (with VRD ) striking an arc is no problem given a clean earth point.

Position the strike block close to the weld point and making sure the workpiece is grounded properly strike the arc-easy, and while the electrode end is still glowing red jump across to the weld start point and re strike the electrode.

Grounded,means the job is not sitting on rust or even worse a layer of spatter balls which promotes poor surface contact AND poor electrode restrike.

The use of the VRD accentuates a problem that was always there.

Even some of dullest cherubs have got this one sorted and there no longer cries of "this is FXXXXXd from the welding bays.

Welding my friends is about the physics of the job and once you can get them sorted ,it all drops into place.

Cheers
Grahame

+1 for good electrical connection.

Borrowed a bit from my father's trade - auto electrician - you need a good mechanical connection before you can have a good electrical one. Yet despite this we see a proliferation of Scotch locks and crimp terminals on things like gas conversions and trailer plugs. Solder terminals are becoming impossible to find.

Turn the same philosophy to welding and anyone who is either too rushed or careless to make a good earth connection should have a good look at themselves.

As for safety devices.... don't get me wrong, I strongly believe that no-one deserves to die at work. However I do despise the complacency they generate by SOME cowboy business owners.

We all cut corners, but it is the level of risk which varies. Someone who takes risks all the time will eventually be injured, probably sooner than later. Accidents are not random events, they have a cause.

If you have done your level best minimise all the risks and your VRD saves you, then well done. However if you are careless in regards to electric shock, you will be careless in regards to other dangers. Complacency has a blanket effect, it is not selective.

If you feel you are being 'forced' to do something dangerous by your employer.. SPEAK UP! Or better still get your boss or foreman to show you how its done.... and watch from a safe distance

We had a story on the news here in Melbourne a week or two ago. A guy blew himself up trying to weld a tank containing explosive vapours:

Man critical after factory blast | Herald Sun

It is not known if his welder had a VRD.