Just can't see where I'm going

[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.