Helmet "Cheaters"

[Rustyiron]

This may be old news to some, but the other day I went in to get a new bottle for the MIG and was pokin' around in the store and found these magnifying "cheaters" (lens) that sliped right in the welding helmet. WOW, I's funny how easy it is to lay in a pretty bead ... IF YOU CAN SEE!! I'm not an everyday welder, but I got the welding bug back in high school and do pretty good for a farmer welder, and I was seriously questioning my skills lately.:thumbsup:
I'm sure that some of you know that anymore, You need plenty of light and your pocket glasses to see ****. Neither conditions are available under your helmet.

 

[Shield Arc]

I went through this a few years ago. I hadn't welded in years, retired bought a Mig welder, and for the life of me I could not get it set. After a very frustrating couple days it hit me, I couldn't see. Went in the house grabbed a pair of my wife's reading glasses. Wow I hadn't forgot how to weld, I just went blind over night! :laughing:

 

[IslandTractor]

Cheaters are great. Miller makes them in various strengths. I have several at different strengths so I can choose how close I want to be to the weld. I find it easier to be close with tig and a bit further away with mig or even further from the puddle when outside using fluxcore or stick. Much better than wearing reading glasses as you are not "blind" when you are walking around the shop when not welding.

 

[Jim in ICT]

Beats trying to look down through the lower half of my bifocals!

 

[crash325]

What I need is bright light. Welding in sun light I do OK. Welding in the shade, I have no idea where I'm welding or how it going. Want to get a real bright bulb or light to shine on my welding. Its the same with self darkening or regular old helmet.

We never really grow up; we only learn how to act in public.

 

[EastTexFrank]

Thank you gentlemen. I finally have an explanation as to why my welding SUCKS.

I need to check out those "cheaters". To be honest, they probably won't make it any better but at least now I have an excuse.

 

[moored4]

What I need is bright light. Welding in sun light I do OK. Welding in the shade, I have no idea where I'm welding or how it going. Want to get a real bright bulb or light to shine on my welding. Its the same with self darkening or regular old helmet.

I had a similar problem lately. I could not see to start. I cleaned my lens, checked my auto helmet, nothing was helping till I realized I had put a roof out over the welding table and area about 3 mounths ago. Put a work light out there and I can see.

 

[IslandTractor]

I picked up a magnet mount work/task light from HF which solves the light issue nicely.

 

[dmay]

I found the same thing. My low light vision sucks. I wear contacts for distance but close up and small text, out come the reading glasses. I tried wearing reading glasses under my helmet. Just was not working. Half way through my welding class I was thinking this just isnt for me. I simply could not see what I was doing. I decided I'd give a new higher quality helmet ($189 on sale) with a built in mag lense holder at try. Started with a +2.0 lens (cost $9). WOW. What a difference when you can 'see' what your doing. Finally laying some not too bad welds and thinking welding might just be ok.

 

[Perplexed]

I've seen those lenses for welder helmets. How do you deal with the "split" that runs down the middle of the lens? Maybe it was only on the one lens I saw, but it was made by Miller, and when I looked through it, I could see a big linear blur right in the middle of my FOV.