MIG Welding. Can't see what I am doing. Is it Just me?

[sixdogs]

I have that problem and solved it by putting my flood lights behind me and offset bit and also putting a magnifier lens in my helmet. That combination, along with wearing my glasses in the helmet, works for me.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Same as six dogs. The only problem is I am still a crappy welder. Didn't help.

 

[sixdogs]

Same as six dogs. The only problem is I am still a crappy welder. Didn't help.

Have to practice. And then practice more.

 

[haveissues]

I have found having a helmet with an adjustable shade helps a lot. My hood adjusts from 8-13 and also has a 3 and 5 setting.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

I'm getting well into my 40's now. I've had to go to the Walmart/Dollar tree cheapo cheater specs now. Only one in my family that wasn't wearing glasses. Anything closer than 20-24" just won't clear up. I can still manage welding without glasses but its more difficult because things just aren't as sharp. Finding cheater lens to fit my jackson locally isn't really easy...but its just the closest store. I can get it, but just haven't gone to the next town to buy them.

A word about needing light on the weld area: Generally. If you need it to see, you are using too dark of lens for you application. A number one mistake of many welders who are concerned about burning out their retinas. The wleding arc is bright as or brighter than the sun. All helmets worth their salt provide 100% UV protection and IR protection even in their clear state. So, your eyes are well protected except from the back flashing. Adjust your helmet darkness (if you have auto dark or if you don't...just buy several filters) so you can see at least 6 inches all around your weld, CLEARLY. If you can't see anything but the arc and just an inch or so in front, you are using too much filter. You should not have to strain to see the welding arc. The quick test is to run some beads on flat plate and try to make them straignt as possible. If they are wavy or curvy, it's likely you are welding with too dark of a lens shade.

 

[muddstopper]

I wear bifocals, talk about a nitemare trying to well. I was always trying to cock my head to one side to see what I was doing. Usually I had my head so close to what I was welding, I would get splatter all over the lens. My old helment is actually scorched from the heat. I asked my eye doctor what power was my prescription for the bottom half of my regular glasses and bought a cheater lens in that magnification to fit my helmet. It really makes a difference in how well I weld. An added bonus is nobody else will borrow my helmet because they cant see out of it. If you get an autodarkening helment, make sure to get on that has adjustable shadeing and adjustable sensitivity. That way you can taylor what you see it to meet your personal needs.

 

[ovrszd]

I have that problem and solved it by putting my flood lights behind me and offset bit and also putting a magnifier lens in my helmet. That combination, along with wearing my glasses in the helmet, works for me.

I was wondering about that. How did you figure out how strong of magnifying lens to get.

 

[ovrszd]

I'm getting well into my 40's now. I've had to go to the Walmart/Dollar tree cheapo cheater specs now. Only one in my family that wasn't wearing glasses. Anything closer than 20-24" just won't clear up. I can still manage welding without glasses but its more difficult because things just aren't as sharp. Finding cheater lens to fit my jackson locally isn't really easy...but its just the closest store. I can get it, but just haven't gone to the next town to buy them.

A word about needing light on the weld area: Generally. If you need it to see, you are using too dark of lens for you application. A number one mistake of many welders who are concerned about burning out their retinas. The wleding arc is bright as or brighter than the sun. All helmets worth their salt provide 100% UV protection and IR protection even in their clear state. So, your eyes are well protected except from the back flashing. Adjust your helmet darkness (if you have auto dark or if you don't...just buy several filters) so you can see at least 6 inches all around your weld, CLEARLY. If you can't see anything but the arc and just an inch or so in front, you are using too much filter. You should not have to strain to see the welding arc. The quick test is to run some beads on flat plate and try to make them straignt as possible. If they are wavy or curvy, it's likely you are welding with too dark of a lens shade.

Good stuff there!!! I always thought more darkness meant more protection. I have a Miller Performance Series auto helmet. I'll try lightening it up. What you described is exactly what I see, arc and an inch or so in front.

 

[Shield Arc]

I might have missed it, if it was posted. One thing I've learned since having eye surgery, is blink more. If I stare for any length of time my vision blurs a little, if I blink, crystal clear. Well with reading glasses on.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

I would add IF you cannot see the end of the wire, tungsten, or stick electrode (depending upon the process) and all you see is one big ball of light, then you have the shade too light.