Welding and age

[Reverser]

Have heard that maxi-pads make good sweat bands and pipeliners have used them.

I guess whatever works.

It's a wonder some entrepreneur hasn't come up with a way of repackaging those as The Miracle Hard Hat/Welding Hood Sweat Bands, and make a killing. :laughing:

 

[dragoneggs]

My visit to Shield Arc's shop was eye opening! One of the things I discovered thanks to SA, was my short distance vision sucked. I put on his readers and my control was instantly improved. Although his were too strong for me (sorry SA), I now know I need either readers or 'cheaters' as I have now learned from here. So I assume there is a lens you can pop into your helmet? I will start lookin'

 

[CNC Dan]

My visit to Shield Arc's shop was eye opening! One of the things I discovered thanks to SA, was my short distance vision sucked. I put on his readers and my control was instantly improved. Although his were too strong for me (sorry SA), I now know I need either readers or 'cheaters' as I have now learned from here. So I assume there is a lens you can pop into your helmet? I will start lookin'

Yup. You can get them online, or at most LWS stores. I had to cut one down to fit into my HF helmet. Helps a lot. I use it mostly for Tig, but sometimes for MIG. For stick, I have another helmet without the cheater lense.

 

[rmully]

They make different strengths …. go to your local pharmacy and try on the reading glasses to see which one works for you then you will know what strength and find them on ebay. they are not expensive $7-8.

 

[Bigfoot62]

Have heard that maxi-pads make good sweat bands and pipeliners have used them.

That might work, but I'm not going to be seen buying them.

I'm not a real welder, just a dauber. I weld because I have to. Life on the farm requires it. My welds have never been pretty, but I can make it stick.

I'm over 50, and I have to wear reading glasses to see up close. I just put the reading glasses on under my hood. When I'm chipping or grinding, I can still see.

 

[cormier]

x2 A good cheater lense in the shield and lots of light work the best for me.

Light. Lots of light.

I also bought cheaters for the inside of my welding helmet. Love it.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

My visit to Shield Arc's shop was eye opening! One of the things I discovered thanks to SA, was my short distance vision sucked. I put on his readers and my control was instantly improved. Although his were too strong for me (sorry SA), I now know I need either readers or 'cheaters' as I have now learned from here. So I assume there is a lens you can pop into your helmet? I will start lookin'

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger, I am 78 and have the same if not worse problem. Yes it makes for a shaky cover pass, but it is whats under that counts. I have a special pair of ANSI safety glasses with a bifocal grind at the top. It sure helps when working overhead. (Not only welding but other mechanical work). I am still evaluating the auto hood. I concentrate on the root pass, idf that fails the rest will eventually if stressed.

In my younger working days we sometimes had to weld by feel as we could not see the puddle (takes a lot of practice). That was not for certified work but it got the job done. I have even welded pipe from the inside out when the back side was not reachable. Cut a window in the front and beveled on the inside for the hidden area. I can still tell what is happening by the feel of the stinger and the sound of the arc.

Actually I can do better with the O/A torch for a good looking cover pass. I don't bother grinding unless it is totally unacceptable appearance.

When you were at SAs shop you were 3 miles from my house.

Ron

 

[Arc weld]

There's times even on more important welds you have to go by sound and an educated guess. Other times you can kind of see but it's not so easy when the stinger is taped on the end of a 4' broom handle and you're reaching inside a hole to weld. :confused2:

 

[Tractor Seabee]

There's times even on more important welds you have to go by sound and an educated guess. Other times you can kind of see but it's not so easy when the stinger is taped on the end of a 4' broom handle and you're reaching inside a hole to weld. :confused2:

We need to set up a TBN welders reunion and all get together over a keg and see who has the best war story from our younger days welding for a living.

Ron

 

[Shield Arc]

I have even welded pipe from the inside out when the back side was not reachable. Cut a window in the front and beveled on the inside for the hidden area. I can still tell what is happening by the feel of the stinger and the sound of the arc.

I wish I could see well enough, and be good enough Tig welder to weld like this. I understand the pipe welders at PSNS, and Bangor do this all the time. :cool2: