Assuming of course it can be maintained long enough to produce a sufficient dose of UV. Indeed, it splatters electromagnetic radiation across a very wide range. Based on how hot it is (the core of the arc is plasma, not even one of the normal three states of matter), the intensity curve is probably still rising as the frequency leaves the range in question. And note that just because it's cut down to something that doesn't look too bright ISN'T ENOUGH. My father told of a time he had arc-welding to do with no proper helmet/goggles available. He used about 15 pairs of sunglasses instead, and it brought the intensity down to the point where it didn't feel uncomfortably bright. What he didn't realize is that a welding arc pumps out far more UV than it does visible, and while a welding helmet cuts the UV down to safe levels, sunglasses don't (sunlight contains, proportionately, far less UV than welding-arc light). The visible light was indeed cut to safe levels, but the UV wasn't, and he sunburned his eyes rather badly. His comparison was that it was like living with a handful of sand in each eye for a week - distinctly unfun, and who knows what long-term damage it might have done. Assuming you aren't around it enough to sunburn your skin, closing your eyes is enough. Eyelids _do_ cut UV concentrations sufficiently. :) (My father said that after that, whenever he's had to weld sans helmet, he's set it up, closed his eyes, struck the arc and welded by feel and sound, opening his eyes only after breaking the arc. It sounds difficult, and it is, but I've done enough arc-welding myself to know that it's plausible for someone with a decent amount of experience.) /~\ The ASCII der Mouse \ / Ribbon Campaign X Against HTML mouse(a)rodents.montreal.qc.ca / \ Email! 7D C8 61 52 5D E7 2D 39 4E F1 31 3E E8 B3 27 4B