welding

I’m a retired bodyman & street rodder want to talk to anyone with an icd who has done any welding.  Pls contact me via a Pvt Msg, so we can make contact.  Ralph

5 Comments

Welding..

by turboz24 - 2013-02-08 07:02:07

Yes, I still MIG weld with an ICD. I do not use my ICD for any pacing, though.

General rules

Keep the welding tip as far away as possible (they say 2 feet, but I've had it closer..)
Avoid rapid tack welding, if you do pickup EMF from the welder, this might trick the ICD to think you have an arrthymia.
Do not let the cable wrap around you.

Otherwise, I've never had a problem welding post ICD. (Yes, for custom car work as well as just metal work around the house).

welding

by Tracey_E - 2013-02-08 09:02:59

Since no one has answered this yet with personal experience, I'll jump in. Arc welding is dangerous for us, any other kind is ok.

Don............

by Tattoo Man - 2013-02-09 03:02:09


....................thank you for your comforting words. When I was told that I needed a PM, my very first thoughts were..." Oh Dash and Darn, my life long dream of a contented retirement ,..split between the kind ministrations of Mrs TM,...the warm welcome of the Five Bells with its award winning IPA,...and my concept of Nirvana that was ..learning ArcWelding "..became a dashed fantasy...

The moribund fog of dissapointment has lifted....a clear blue sky is before me .

What greater joy can there be than the prospect of buying a custom made Auto Darkening Welding Hood.....I thought .."Sponsored by Pace Maker Club" on the side would be so cool..

Carnut..take this from a guy who used to have a subscription to Hot Rod Magazine,..back in the Art Arfons / Little Deuce Coupe days..there are still few pleasures to match picking up stuff from the Chrome Plating Works

Tattoo Man

Mr. TM

by donb - 2013-02-09 10:02:40

OH JA, Now it's my turn, how about riviting my Cessna 150 aircraft back in one piece with my air rivet gun. Wifey says "No Way". Just why can'[t you believe that a rivet gun will cause your PM to move out under my chest muscle? I keep reminding her about the hammer usage under the eaves in her cabin up north. Well it's been over 2 months since PM revision & with low air pressure I certainly will drive some 1/8" aircraft rivets, (not pops). Best therapy in the world, right??
DonB

Welding !!

by donb - 2013-02-09 12:02:10

Checking with engineering at Medtronic & St. Jude I've been given the precautions of welding with a pacemaker. One caution in common AC arc welding is twisting both leads together which cuts down EMF. Keeping a reasonable distance from the arc is a must. They have given me numereous amperage settting as max like 125 amps with my 1st PM 21 years ago. A few years ago St Jude cleared me for tig doing light low amperage but also cautoned to keep distance from your the welder power unit as it puts out square wave high frequency energy. The square wave output at a high frequency at a high amperage setting could be harmfull.

I was very cautious for years before getting comfortable doing welding electrically as I used gas for some time. To really give you peace of mind I would recomend talking to engineering with both manufacturers giving them the limits of heat you need for your work. Having been in electronics all my life I highly respect the components used inside our pacemakers. Always reminds me of the "Radiation" scare using or servicing microwave ovens when they 1st hit the market. Well, field engineering soon squelched that fear as the danger from microwave radiation would equal the danger of "Someone being Stoned to death by Popcorn".
DonB

You know you're wired when...

You have a maintenance schedule just like your car.

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