Can't see when welding

[oldpilgrim]

I've been stick welding fixing things and hobby stuff for 40 years. Never did it frequently enough to be able to be real proud of my welds, but I never had one break.

Until a year or so ago, I always used fixed shade helmets or face shields.

Last year I broke down and got a wire welder. Haven't gotten the gas tank yet but have been using it with flux core wire. At the same time, I got a Hobart variable shade auto helmet.

The helmet works just the way it's supposed to and it works great for stick welding, but I can't see crap when using the wire welder. The small arc darkens the lens as it should but I don't get enough light from the arc to see around the arc itself. I have no idea where the arc is on the items to be welded. I can't even see which way to move the arc. Can't see any puddle.

The helmet adjusts from shade 9-13. I've been looking at new helmets and see many of the higher priced ones have an 8-13 range. Would the one step from 9 down to 8 help much? Is there a real difference in one shade step or is it more a perception thing?

I've also been looking at getting a cheater lens for the inside of a new helmet. I think that this will help some as I do have trouble seeing close up with glasses on.

Any ideas or suggestions. TIA

 

[Billrog]

Not sure what I have my helmet shade set at but I wear my reading glasses under my helmet when welding so I can see.

 

[bikerdib]

I've been welding for around 38 years too but about 20 of those years was professional. My eyesight isn't what it used ot be (big surprise at 60 years old, huh... LOL). Anyway I have been using the drugstore cheater reading glasses inside my helmet for a few years now. Helps quite a lot and cheap enough incase they get broken. I buy them in packs of 3.

 

[oldpilgrim]

my problem is mainly lack of light around the arc.

 

[DaleAP]

I have the same problem. If I can I bring it out in the sun to weld or point a halogen light on it. Helps somewhat.

 

[/pine]

my problem is mainly lack of light around the arc.

TSC and other places that carry welding supplies (Home Depot even) should have a variety of different shade (darkness) lenses...Also they should have "cheater" lenses...replaces the clear lens in a helmet with magnifying lens...different powers are available...

 

[oldpilgrim]

this is an auto darkening lens so I can only make it darker, that's why I asked if shade 8 makes much difference over a shade 9.

 

[GPintheMitten]

No professional but I have trouble seeing sometimes with mig but do not have the same problem with stick welding. I was surprised that ambient light is needed for mig. The more the better. And I have to get fairly close to see, but that is probably due to glasses. I'm 65.

 

[midwesternhayfarmer]

I've been stick welding fixing things and hobby stuff for 40 years. Never did it frequently enough to be able to be real proud of my welds, but I never had one break.

Until a year or so ago, I always used fixed shade helmets or face shields.

Last year I broke down and got a wire welder. Haven't gotten the gas tank yet but have been using it with flux core wire. At the same time, I got a Hobart variable shade auto helmet.

The helmet works just the way it's supposed to and it works great for stick welding, but I can't see crap when using the wire welder. The small arc darkens the lens as it should but I don't get enough light from the arc to see around the arc itself. I have no idea where the arc is on the items to be welded. I can't even see which way to move the arc. Can't see any puddle.

The helmet adjusts from shade 9-13. I've been looking at new helmets and see many of the higher priced ones have an 8-13 range. Would the one step from 9 down to 8 help much? Is there a real difference in one shade step or is it more a perception thing?

I've also been looking at getting a cheater lens for the inside of a new helmet. I think that this will help some as I do have trouble seeing close up with glasses on.

Any ideas or suggestions. TIA

Experienced the same problem. I wear transitional lenses in my every day glasses. When I tried to weld with them I had a hard time seeing. Had an older pair of work safety glasses with clear glass and it was a lot brighter. Never checked the darkness of the transitional glasses after welding but the safety glasses seemed better. Try it and let me know if was my imagination or not.

 

[davesl708]

I hang a 400 watt light two feet over my work so I can see.
As bikerdib I use reading glasses under the hood. Still could use more light.

 

[GPintheMitten]

I have transitional lenses too. Maybe I should switch to clear cheaters when welding. That and add more lighting.

 

[oldpilgrim]

I have the transition lens and that's the first thing I thought of. I checked them today and they had not gone dark at all. I don't have any regular glass eyeware to try.

My eyes are 70 years old.

 

[downsizingnow48]

I have the same problem mig welding with auto dark helmet. I put the adjustment at 8 or 9 and also put a 1000 watt halogen work light on it. That helps a lot.

 

[Rustyiron]

I have the same problem. If I can I bring it out in the sun to weld or point a halogen light on it. Helps somewhat.

Me too on both!
On a good day, I can run a real nice bead. It's just not too "nice" when it run's off the joint by a 1/4":laughing:

 

[Oldpath05]

I have a 10.5 auto lens with 1.50 cheater lens, welding with Millermatic 211, .030 wire, see the welding process ok for 30 seconds, until my lens fogs up. I'm currently working on a solution to that on going problem that seems to be worse in colder weather.

 

[California]

I just bought a replacement helmet based on this recent thread. (start at post #13).

Several owner's of HF's Blue Flame helmet noted that it won't adjust below density 9 which is too dark for 110 volt flux welding. The helmet's manual says 125 amps is the minimum you can see anything if using flux wire.

That poster in post #13 suggested an Antra from Amazon that starts at density 5. He likes it. So I bought one too. I wish I had time to try it.

 

[joefromga]

I used my new antra tonight. It was clear as day but that was tig welding. Now that I think about it it's always been hard to see fcaw but I guess I didn't know any better.
The antra does have dual modes for 5 which is grinding all the way up to 13 so it has worked very well.
I just figured it was a better helmet than my old one. But it's probably the 115v wire feed that everyone has talked about not having as bright of an arc

 

[stuckmotor]

I even have trouble seeing when stick welding. A 100 watt focused on the weld helps.

 

[joefromga]

Maybe it's the smoke. You can't see what's going on outside of the helmet so there must be a reason.

 

[Ed of all trades]

I got a new auto darkening helmet from northern tool and I can see much better. One day I was welding and everything was much clearer. It took me a little bit to realize I had hit the switch and turned the helmet off and i was welding with a clear lens. :shocked: Ed