Where can I find welding masks?

[Maebalzurakin]

72 hours of playing this game and I have never found one yet.

I started a new game just to start with a character that already had one. When I finally got some metal to try and use it, the welding mask was gone. I think maybe a zombie knocked it off and I didn't notice.

Why is this the rarest item in the game? Why can't I craft one? Why are there no mods that make this item craftable?

[Undefined]

Originally posted by Maebalzurakin:

72 hours of playing this game and I have never found one yet.

I mean, that's nothing, so don't be disappointed or surprised.

Check warehouses and self-storage units, also garages/sheds but it's pretty rare, so don't go out of your way for those areas. Sometimes Zombies carry it on them if you're around an area that it makes sense to find a welder.

[Retro]

The vast majority of welding masks I've found are in garages and the hardware store in Riverside.
That's almost every new game I play. Of course, you'll find them in other areas, but those are the two most common locations when I play.

[william_es]

Vans.

Look for vans, unlock and search them. I found a "metalworking" van, completely full of stuff related to metalworking. Had 3 skill books (not hard to find, bookstore had them), 3 of the magazines (which for some reason were impossible to find), propane torch, welding mask, welding rods, and a pile of metal sheets, small metal sheets, bars, and pipes. OH, and a _propane tank_ (angels sang, I wept. More cooking fuel)

it was literally a one-stop shop.

I was slightly annoyed because I've been running past this van for almost 2 weeks now (real time), and just never got it open until I killed a zombie near it and got a key.

In several playthroughs, I've killed zombies that were wearing a welding mask. But usually I already had one by then, so this was barely noteworthy.

[Undefined]

Originally posted by william_es:

More cooking fuel)

Any benefit to using a Propane Grill over a BBQ/Campfire? It seems like a waste of propane fuel.

[martindirt]

Originally posted by Undefined:

Originally posted by william_es:

More cooking fuel)

Any benefit to using a Propane Grill over a BBQ/Campfire? It seems like a waste of propane fuel.

It is.
Wasting propane to cook your stew, is a warcrime (like eating without table).

[PowerofWill]

some zombies have em on. also sheds garages and self storage units.
and off course hardware stores. keep looking its out there.
and when you have found it you will see it everywhere

[Undefined]

Originally posted by martindirt:

Originally posted by Undefined:

Any benefit to using a Propane Grill over a BBQ/Campfire? It seems like a waste of propane fuel.

It is.
Wasting propane to cook your stew, is a warcrime (like eating without table).

lol agreed, but I give people the benefit of the doubt in case there's a method to their madness.

[Armagenesis]

What's your gameplay mode/loot setting? It shouldn't be too hard to find them since they can spawn in the garage of regular houses.

[Maebalzurakin]

Originally posted by Armagenesis:

What's your gameplay mode/loot setting? It shouldn't be too hard to find them since they can spawn in the garage of regular houses.

I am playing Sandbox. I started with most settings on hard, but tweaked a few things. Most loot is set to 'normal'.

From the advice above, I did seek out some of the Black colored buildings (storage or warehouse). I had to rummage through 5 of them, but I eventually found a welding mask. I really appreciate all of the help.

I am very amazed there are no mods for this. I spent several hours looking for one. I usually start making my own mods for games I am interested in. If I find the time and skill, I would make one of the following.

A- Craft Welding Mask: Skill 0, 1x small sheetmetal, 1x leather strap.

or

B- Remove Welding Mask requirement from all. Give it +1 skill. Make it so you have a small chance of injury every time you craft metal without it.

[Shift]

For reference, mostly into sheds, car shops and sometimes you can find on those manhole maintenance crew trucks.

It's mostly the RNG in effect. Like some people claim to never have found a DB Shotgun, while I'm drowning in dozens of them and last fresh game I've found 2 on the wardrobe of my starting house (mind you ranged weapon loot was always set to very rare for me). Also I don't get any difficulty on finding wielding mask, but do when find the torch.