Do I need a magnifing lens?

[sixdogs]

I'm just a hobby wire feed welder but after visiting a friend of mine wonder if I should be using a magnifying lens in my hood as he does.
He is much more proficient and his TIG welds are better that the pictures in the book. Are the magnifying lenses specifically for TIG or is there a benefit to be gained for a 63 year old guy like me with a wire feed welder?

 

[Buschmaster]

I am a boiler maker. I'm not say I'm the best welder stick tig or mig. But if you are having trouble seeing the puddle a cheater lens is helpful. Or even if you get more into fabricating and welding a gold shade lens allows to see better

 

[Shield Arc]

I suggest you go to the dollar store and try different reading glasses. Grab something with really small print, and hold it out at about 16 to 18-inches from your face. See which power of reading glasses work best. Then hold the same item at 12-inches. See if the same glasses work at that distance for you.
I had cataract surgery in both eyes last summer, but I lost the center vision in one eye from an accident years ago, so the eye surgeon set my bad eye up for close vision, and the good eye for long distance. For Tig welding I use one power of reading glasses, for stick, and Mig a different power. Its cheaper to play with dollar store reading glasses then cheater lenses from the welding supply.

 

[Yellowhair42]

I use a cheater even though I don't need one.It helps and if I'm welding something small it really helps.Get one and try it.You can always take it out.+1 on the gold lens.Really helps differentiate between the puddle and slag.

 

[Gary Fowler]

If you dont need glasses to read, then a magnifier lens (cheater) is not going to help you to weld better. If you do wear glasses like bifocals/trifocals and you cant always get your bifocal lens in the right position to see the weld, then a magnifier in the same prescription as your reading glasses will help (dont use both the magnifier and your glasses at the same time).

 

[sixdogs]

I'm a little confused. I recently had cataract surgery and do need "reading" (bifocal) glasses and I wear them when I weld. They are safety glasses.
My friend uses a cheater lens for TIG and said I would likely benefit from one for MIG.
If I just use magnifyer glasses instead of my regular glasses my head will spin and I'll get disoriented when I lift my hood.
So I thought I should try a 1.5x or ?x cheater lens?
I'm just an advancing newbie but starting to get to intermediate and every little bit helps. You guys forgot more than I know.

 

[Buschmaster]

Just get a cheater lens lol

 

[Buschmaster]

Or try a liter shaded lens

 

[rcowan]

Can you see the puddle?
I use the cheapo reading glasses. They fit under the hood. I can't see to read at short arms length.

RC

 

[weldermike]

Position and comfortability is a major key with welding. As a hobby welder how much experience do you have? Make trial runs before you even strike an arc and make sure your hands and any other obstacles dont get in your way so you can see your puddle clearly at all times, then go from there as far as a magnifier or glasses.