Watch the Eclipse

[bigtiller]

A guy told me I needed a number 14 welding glass to watch the sun. Really? I have a 9 and a 10, wouldn't a 9 be enough? I also have an auto-darkening helmet but when I looked at the sun with it today, it didn't darken. Are they all like that or is mine a real cheapo?

Shop Kobalt Auto Darkening Variable Shade Hydrographic Welding Helmet at Lowes.com

 

[RandyT]

the sun normally doesn't trigger auto darken helmets. They would be auto darkened all the time if somebody was welding outside.. florescent lights will trigger them though.

 

[oosik]

I've checked and as far as I can find - everything relates to an ISO standard. ISO 12312-2:2015. I have found no cross referencing with welding lenses or any other device. Other than they all say - sunglasses WILL NOT be adequate. I'm not located in an area that will experience totality and I was not planning on looking directly at it anyhow. BUT if I were - I think the small price for a pair of those cardboard units, that are safe, would be a small price to pay.

Because the risk of potential eye damage is so real and that we live in such a litegious society - I seriously doubt you will find cross referencing anywhere, at least in print.

 

[Wagtail]

I think I'll give watching the eclipse a miss this time 'round. I'll probably be busy anyway.

Have fun though.

 

[Wagtail]

And it's a good thing that I'm giving the eclipse a miss...

-WARNING- South Carolina Lizard Man!!!

'Remain ever vigilant' of Lizard Man during eclipse, SCEMD says - 3TV | CBS 5

Attention all TBN people in the USA worried about Lizard Man. I have a limited supply of Anti-Lizard Man Mystical Stones. If you hold the stone then Lizard Man cannot harm you, this is 100% guaranteed. They are only US$500 a piece, a true bargain. (Please note that I am not advertising on TBN; it's a service to you and I'm only recouping my own expenses)

I have already sold some of these magical stones to your neighbours living in the path of the eclipse, so if you want to protect yourself and your family please contact me immediately!

 

[yomax4]

A guy told me I needed a number 14 welding glass to watch the sun. Really? I have a 9 and a 10, wouldn't a 9 be enough? I also have an auto-darkening helmet but when I looked at the sun with it today, it didn't darken. Are they all like that or is mine a real cheapo?

Shop Kobalt Auto Darkening Variable Shade Hydrographic Welding Helmet at Lowes.com

You can buy the 2x4 shade 9 and a shade 5 and tape together. You have a 9 and a 10, together they will also work albeit a little dark ( is the eclipse visible in IA? I thought only south )

 

[bigtiller]

You can buy the 2x4 shade 9 and a shade 5 and tape together. You have a 9 and a 10, together they will also work albeit a little dark ( is the eclipse visible in IA? I thought only south )

Des Moines will see a 95% eclipse and 1 farmer has a small pasture in the south west corner of Iowa will see a 100% eclipse for 25 seconds. He hopes to rent out parking spots but I haven't heard how that is working out for him.

 

[Raspy]

A guy told me I needed a number 14 welding glass to watch the sun. Really? I have a 9 and a 10, wouldn't a 9 be enough? I also have an auto-darkening helmet but when I looked at the sun with it today, it didn't darken. Are they all like that or is mine a real cheapo?

Shop Kobalt Auto Darkening Variable Shade Hydrographic Welding Helmet at Lowes.com

My auto darkening helmet won't darken after sitting for a period of time. I put it out in the sun to charge up and then it works fine. Does your have the solar collectors visible in the window?

Mine darkens just fine with sunlight. As to RANDYT's comment: The reason they don't darken all the time in the sun is that they have sensors on the front, in the window. The light has to hit those to darken. I test mine by looking up at the sun before I begin a welding project. If it doesn't work, I set it out to charge.

 

[rekees4300]

Safest way is watch on TV :moon:

View attachment 518422

 

[SPYDERLK]

A guy told me I needed a number 14 welding glass to watch the sun. Really? I have a 9 and a 10, wouldn't a 9 be enough? I also have an auto-darkening helmet but when I looked at the sun with it today, it didn't darken. Are they all like that or is mine a real cheapo?

Shop Kobalt Auto Darkening Variable Shade Hydrographic Welding Helmet at Lowes.com

I have looked at the sun with #9. That is not enough. 10 is a big push. 11 and up are comfortable. I would not use autodarken. Even if trustworthy, they would sacrifice some clarity. My wife and I will be using #11 and #12 glass gold flashed welding filters.

I think #14 would be for long term staring at the sun. We will not.

 

[bigtiller]

I have looked at the sun with #9. That is not enough. 10 is a big push. 11 and up are comfortable. I would not use autodarken. Even if trustworthy, they would sacrifice some clarity. My wife and I will be using #11 and #12 glass gold flashed welding filters.

I think #14 would be for long term staring at the sun. We will not.

I went out and looked today. You're right, 9 is for a glance, 10 is for a few seconds and my auto is a no-go. I think I will get a couple of 14's for the 2 of us.

 

[Raspy]

I went out and looked too. #10 is too bright. My auto dim goes to #13 and it seems fine, but as previously mentioned, it has more distortion. This is all great information that I didn't know.

Thanks to you experts for the info!

 

[yomax4]

If you have an auto dark hood with a sensitivity control, The sun should make it go dark. Just tested in with my one of my Hornell 9000 hoods. At least the high end hoods seem to darken.

 

[bigtiller]

My Kobalt hood from Lowes is definitely not high end, see link in post #1

 

[Jeepnford]

If the sensitivity is set low enough on my Miller auto darkening I can look outside and it will go dark.

 

[yomax4]

Auto Dark lenses are more like venetian blinds. I would still say for the low cost safety. Just go to your LWS and pick up a combination of filter plates to get you to 14-16 and no worries.

 

[bigtiller]

Auto Dark lenses are more like venetian blinds. I would still say for the low cost safety. Just go to your LWS and pick up a combination of filter plates to get you to 14-16 and no worries.

Sorry, I can't read your mind, please spell it out.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Auto Dark lenses are more like venetian blinds. I would still say for the low cost safety. Just go to your LWS and pick up a combination of filter plates to get you to 14-16 and no worries.

Sorry, I can't read your mind, please spell it out.

That would probably be local welding supply. ? There are cautions against combining plates. A 7 transmits 1000 times as much light as a 14. [Its a 1/e^shade function.] Two 7s would still be 500 times.

 

[yomax4]

Thank God for Google. Google it.

 

[bigtiller]

Thank God for Google. Google it.

You can't spare the time to spell it out to make your communications clear, and I'm supposed to do the work for you? My time is valuable too.