Just can't see where I'm going

[KubotaCrossing]

Finishing pulling 8 gauge wire for a couple of 240 outlets in my shop. Haven't done any welding in years. Fired up my old Lincoln buzzbox stick welder. Then moved over to Lincoln Mig welder. It's fun getting back into this hobby.

I'm struggling tho to see where I'm going. I tried two different hoods, different shade setting, magnification cheaters, etc. I've even tried using a soap stone pencil. No luck,

I can see the puddle fine and I can lay out a nice bead but couldn't strike a straight line for anything. I know that someday soon I'm due for cataract surgery but eye doc wants to wait a bit longer.

Anybody else experiencing the same problem?

 

[Peter 315]

Not that bad yet........:laughing:

 

[LouNY]

Do you wear bi focals?
I do and I have some problems when I'm welding along and my eyes shift from the close up to the distance lenses,
and if I'm standing so that only one eye shifts lenses it gets really squirrelly.

 

[KubotaCrossing]

Everyday tri-focals actually. But for working in the shop I have a pair of single vision safety glasses made, you know with the wire screens on the sides. I use those for welding, grinding, etc.

 

[KennyG]

And I thought I was the only one. I'm 71, have had cataract surgery and have lots of trouble welding a straight line. I was never that great of a welder, but now can't seem to get the helmet adjusted so I can see the puddle and where it's going at the same time. I just don't think i have the same range of brightness vision I used to. Now I work around it by doing shorter stitch welds.

 

[cmyoung2]

Try putting a bright light on the work. Seems to help me, and I have had the tri- focals, now using progressives. Even though I have had glasses for 55 years I still don't like them, but they are much better than not seeing. More light helps.

 

[KubotaCrossing]

Try putting a bright light on the work. Seems to help me, and I have had the tri- focals, now using progressives. Even though I have had glasses for 55 years I still don't like them, but they are much better than not seeing. More light helps.

That's a good idea. You know even those little handheld LEDs are crazy bright. I'll try that. Thanks!

 

[BravoXray]

Anybody else experiencing the same problem?

That's exactly the problem I am having too. I tried all the things you have tried, but nothing helps.
Some of my welds look like I weld while drunk.

 

[KubotaCrossing]

And I thought I was the only one. I'm 71, have had cataract surgery and have lots of trouble welding a straight line. I was never that great of a welder, but now can't seem to get the helmet adjusted so I can see the puddle and where it's going at the same time. I just don't think i have the same range of brightness vision I used to. Now I work around it by doing shorter stitch welds.

I used to do body panels / sheet metal that way, a lot of widely spaced MIG tack welds that I later filled in. Finding myself using your method now with the stick welder too.

 

[radios1]

plenty of lighting will do the trick.. else, it's like welding in the dark, no good!..

 

[KubotaCrossing]

I think there's a product idea there. Definitely a need.

Had lived in the Phoenix area for a lot of years. I recall going out into the desert at night, shoot i did this in my backyard, with a blacklight looking for scorpions. The blacklight made the scorpions glow in the dark. Somebody needs to analyze the chemical composition of scorpion bug juice, put it in a felt tip pen and market it to welders with failing vision.

Might work.

 

[WranglerX]

My solution was to add cheater lenses to hood and skip the glasses..... Added head lamp to helmet to spotlight area where arc is taking place, Yes it seems odd to add light when using a darkening lens to dim the arc... But the bright/more ambient light, the easier it is to see weld path.... And keep lenses scrupulously clean...

Another thing you can do is highlight weld path with colored paint stick/marker...

(not mine, image stolen off I-net)

Dale

 

[WranglerX]

And I thought I was the only one. I'm 71, have had cataract surgery and have lots of trouble welding a straight line. I was never that great of a welder, but now can't seem to get the helmet adjusted so I can see the puddle and where it's going at the same time. I just don't think i have the same range of brightness vision I used to. Now I work around it by doing shorter stitch welds.

At 76 and cataract surgery too...... Same issues.... See a previous post by me for possible solutions...

Dale

 

[dstig1]

As other have said, additional ambient lighting will help a ton. A halogen work light is perfect.. or one of the newer LED ones should do the trick

 

[rangerfredbob]

I'll jump on the added lighting bandwagon, I've tried it, it works... being into vehicles I end up welding in stupid situations that are hard to get your head near let alone anything else, so I started adding just an LED flashlight near where I'm welding and it's a big difference... With that said, I'm still young with good vision!

 

[user.69169]

When you havin trouble seein?

Before arc light off I can understand, After arc establish you lookin into more dang light den you can stand.

Put chalk or soapstone little ways off from where you want to weld and follow de line.

 

[jaxs]

In addition to issues to be expected at 76 years old,I have macular degeneration. I had always been told good welders can tell a good arc from how it sounds. I'm not nor never was a skilled welder and never payed attention to sound. I should have because I rely on sound now. I don't know if it was in humor or not but Dragonleg recently said he closes his eyes and turn's his head before stricking an arc. I'm not far from that point. While looking down the electrode I close my least worse eye,push electrode toward intended spot while quickly moving head to view arc from side. Many joints recieve muti-passes because 1st and secound pass missed the joint. If it's critical like trailer and such,I cut,grind,fab and tack then ask grandson to come by and weld it up. If you notice vision changes,have eyes examined because sometimes doctors can slow the progression.

 

[LindenBruce]

I use the white paint markers for my seams as suggested. It really helps a lot. B.

 

[stuckmotor]

It seems like the light of the arc would give us geezers all the illumination we need but it doesn't work for me. Getting plenty of additional light on the area of the weld helps me. Whether the light comes from the sun or the electric company doesn't matter much.

Didn't mean to contridict you (removed). I wrote the message above before reading your comment. I skipped around in the thread. You must have better eyes than me.

 

[stuckmotor]

If any of you've never welded your workpiece to the vice or locking pliers, just wait.