Can't see when welding

[GPintheMitten]

Pilgrim, will you please let us know how the new helmet works out for you? As you can see, a lot of people are interested in your thread.

Yes, we are. I thought I was the only one having a hard time seeing.

 

[bironacad]

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.

lol
yup

 

[oldpilgrim]

Pilgrim, will you please let us know how the new helmet works out for you? As you can see, a lot of people are interested in your thread.

Will do.

I read all I could find on the subject, and compared specs on several dozen different helmets.

I really like how this one has such a range of shades. The overwhelming majority of the reviews were great.

I opted for the extra cost larger lens model, although according to specs, it's not that huge of a difference in size. We'll see. The black version was also considerably less costly, but I figured this one would be easier to find in my 'cluttered' shop.

Will keep you all informed.

 

[npalen]

After reading all these posts with the comments on the dial setting of the auto-dark helmets, I checked to see what mine was set at and realized it was at the HIGHEST setting. Adjusted to a lower setting and can suddenly see the puddle as well as the joint! I do have a cheater lens inside so that helps also. And here I thought I was going blind because I'm turning 70 this Sunday.:laughing:

 

[oldpilgrim]

And here I thought I was going blind because I'm turning 70 this Sunday

You probably still are !

Happy Birthday

 

[jim44]

Yep. 70 is when the wheels really start coming off.

Actually, the problem I have with seeing when welding is striking an arc and beginning a weld. My old (72 year old) eyes just seem to focus and adjust to the flash too slowly. By the time I can see at all, I usually have a nice weld started, but no telling where. I switched to a self darkening helmet, and it helped a lot. Still kind of tricky sometimes.

Ain't life grand..........

 

[npalen]

Cmon guys. You're just trying to make me feel good.

 

[Jorville]

Oldpilgram, My eyes are as old or just about as old as yours. I started welding back is 1965 aboard a large grey ship. I know I will get beat up on this but I feel you need to see good about an inch around the weld puddle. If you can't use a lighter lens. When I was working I used a #10 lens for everything. Then I started having problems seeing doing Mig stainless. I went to a #9. A lot of the stainless was 18 gauge some 16 gauge.With low amps and the lighter gauge stainless I went down to a #8 so I could see the weld. Even for Low amp stainless tig I used a #8 lens. If you can't see, you can't weld. You need to see the puddle, if you can't, use a lighter lens. All aluminum tig was done with a #10 lens, low amps or high amps. If I remember correctly all mild steel mig was done with a #10. The low amp stainless gave me the problem. If you can't see go a shade lighter. Another poster on here said never go below a shade #9. Why is a #8 made if there was not a demand for it and if it was not safe to use if conditions required a lighter shade. I still stick weld with a #10 and if I can't see when doing something else I will go to a lighter shade until I can see. You are the man looking through the lens, you will be able to see if it is too light. That is my experience and two cents worth. Don't ruin your eyes. I have not seen any weldors working with a seeing eye dog.

 

[oldpilgrim]

Oldpilgram, My eyes are as old or just about as old as yours. I started welding back is 1965 aboard a large grey ship. I know I will get beat up on this but I feel you need to see good about an inch around the weld puddle. If you can't use a lighter lens. When I was working I used a #10 lens for everything. Then I started having problems seeing doing Mig stainless. I went to a #9. A lot of the stainless was 18 gauge some 16 gauge.With low amps and the lighter gauge stainless I went down to a #8 so I could see the weld. Even for Low amp stainless tig I used a #8 lens. If you can't see, you can't weld. You need to see the puddle, if you can't, use a lighter lens. All aluminum tig was done with a #10 lens, low amps or high amps. If I remember correctly all mild steel mig was done with a #10. The low amp stainless gave me the problem. If you can't see go a shade lighter. Another poster on here said never go below a shade #9. Why is a #8 made if there was not a demand for it and if it was not safe to use if conditions required a lighter shade. I still stick weld with a #10 and if I can't see when doing something else I will go to a lighter shade until I can see. You are the man looking through the lens, you will be able to see if it is too light. That is my experience and two cents worth. Don't ruin your eyes. I have not seen any weldors working with a seeing eye dog.

thanks, that's the plan. I'll let you know how it works when the new stuff gets here.

 

[handirifle]

Ha ha after reading this thread (I was having trouble too) I wondered if it was my eyes or my helmet. I am 62, so I HOPED I had some years left. Went out and looked at my helmet, and lo and behold, it was at 10.5 setting, and the lens was filthy. So I set it to 9 and brought the helmet in the house and took it apart and cleaned all my lenses. Had to do some minor work yesterday, and WOW what a difference.

Glad this forum exists. Nice to know when I have some sort of problem, most likely someone else has too, and better still some of you guys have the cure.

 

[Hilbilly]

A while back I was having a real hard time seeing the puddle and finally figured out the lens was covered with smoke (I guess I get my face too close to the work area). After cleaning the inside and outside I found that I was not going blind and things cleared up a lot. I too have issues with not being able to see under some circumstances, like not enough ambient light in the work area. So if I'm working in a dark or shaded area and can't see the weld location very well I use a flashlight and lay it down pointing onto the start of the weld. After the arc starts the light from the arc is usually enough to see what's going on. I find that with stick welding I have to turn the lens shade up to about a 10 or 10.5, depending on the amperage and ambient light. With the Mig I pretty much always have the setting at 9 (my lowest) and even then sometimes a need a background light or re position myself to get a better view. Sometimes I also find visibility better when pushing the weld instead of pulling. I'm not a weldor by any means but these are based on my experience.

 

[Shield Arc]

Don't hold me to this. But it seems as I remember reading AWS recommends you replace your clear lenses after every 4-hours of welding.

 

[Oldpath05]

Don't hold me to this. But it seems as I remember reading AWS recommends you replace your clear lenses after every 4-hours of welding.

That sounds about right, sometimes when I weld over head, 2 hr., flat 2 days.

 

[Big Barn]

Being a hobbyist, I imagine Shield Arc is STILL on his first clear lens....

Terry

 

[oldpilgrim]

The helmet I've been using doesn't have 4hours on it and I've had the problem since it was new. I've tried my stick welding fixed shade mask and it's no better. I'm hoping on great things happening with the new helmet, which I've been notified, just shipped.

Time will tell and I will too.

 

[Shield Arc]

Being a hobbyist, I imagine Shield Arc is STILL on his first clear lens....

Terry

I gotta learn to keep my face out of the smoke! :laughing:

 

[sd455dan]

The helmet I've been using doesn't have 4hours on it and I've had the problem since it was new. I've tried my stick welding fixed shade mask and it's no better. I'm hoping on great things happening with the new helmet, which I've been notified, just shipped.

Time will tell and I will too.

noticed this thread,- been putting more time in on the basic Antra model and thought i would reply here to.

in the other thread, the Hf helmet was really,really dark mig welding - even on the lowest setting I could not see the puddle let alone the work.
i finally tried some mig welding last night and the antra is much better than the HF but, of all the processes -TIG MIG SMAW plasma cutting and Acetylene the MIG is the only one that probably could use some extra external light.

I tried it on the 5-9 setting and set at 8.6 the arc is a little bright and the work area could probably still use some extra light.
On every other process I am extremely happy with the antra- especially tig, where my Harbor Freight is just dangerous... also Like some others here I wear transition lenses and some times use (need) a cheater lens which this helmet accommodates.
There may be a perfect mig welding helmet out there that needs no extra light, but, with the antra I may start to use some external illumination .
Which is something for mig welding i always HAD to use with the HF helmet and still could barely see the puddle.

So i am still very pleased with the new hood - will be interested in your take on the upscale model.

 

[Jorville]

Don't hold me to this. But it seems as I remember reading AWS recommends you replace your clear lenses after every 4-hours of welding.

Back when I did production welding on automobile bodies we would change every morning before we started the day. We had good drag out ventilation, very little smoke. The man fans helped a lot also. At that time I, and a few others would burn up a 35 pound spool of wire in a day.

 

[petegoud]

I'm 64 years old, and have been having troubles seeing all but the weld arc. Recently I modified my Miller Elite helmet by attaching a LED lamp (Costco variety) that I used for clam digging to illuminate the area where I welding. Attached it using velcro to the top of the helmet. Still working on it, but it does give me a little better illumination of what I'm welding.

 

[npalen]

Now that's an idea!