Meet Kermit!

[MossRoad]

Since I've been arc welding a lot lately, I've found that the darker it is behind me, the better I can see the work in front of me. If the sun is behind me, it shines into the hood and makes it harder to see. I turn my work so that I am facing the sun. I also wear a baseball hat backwards under the hood. That tends to block out the rear lighting. Also, the closer the lens to my face, the better. The farther it is away from my eyes, the dimmer things get.

You should take your welding mask to a welding supply place and see if they have different shades of lenses and what they recommend.

Have you looked into the auto darkening helmets with selectable shades levels? I would like to get one some day.

 

[J_J]

Since I've been arc welding a lot lately, I've found that the darker it is behind me, the better I can see the work in front of me. If the sun is behind me, it shines into the hood and makes it harder to see. I turn my work so that I am facing the sun. I also wear a baseball hat backwards under the hood. That tends to block out the rear lighting. Also, the closer the lens to my face, the better. The farther it is away from my eyes, the dimmer things get.

You should take your welding mask to a welding supply place and see if they have different shades of lenses and what they recommend.

Have you looked into the auto darkening helmets with selectable shades levels? I would like to get one some day.

David, Harbor Freight has those on sale for about $45.00. I have been using them for about two years They work as good or better than the old one shade helmets. I also put a helmet magnifier lens inside to help me out a little. I believe my welding would be much better if I could see really good. I have been using the Lincoln 175 MIG welder with cored wire, but it puts out a lot of smoke. I have been wanting to try out the CO2 shielding gas , and Stargon, which a mix of Argon and CO2. I was laying down welding under a trailer the other day, and some of the hot beads got under me, and burned a hole in my shirt, and me too. I got out from under the trailer really fast. I thought I was on fire. I keep a wet towel close by now. I have the leather vest, but never wear them.

 

[MossRoad]

I remember arc welding and MIG welding in class. Arc welding gave off a lot more light, as I recall. I also set myself on fire in MIG class. Had my shirt tucked in and the sparks got in my pants!

 

[Willl]

What number are you refering to, the shade number or the magnifier number.

Shade number.

I use to use a 12 and found I could see better with an 11.
Of course, that's all mute now that I went to an auto lens.

 

[pajoube]

Since I've been arc welding a lot lately, I've found that the darker it is behind me, the better I can see the work in front of me. If the sun is behind me, it shines into the hood and makes it harder to see. I turn my work so that I am facing the sun. I also wear a baseball hat backwards under the hood. That tends to block out the rear lighting. Also, the closer the lens to my face, the better. The farther it is away from my eyes, the dimmer things get.

You should take your welding mask to a welding supply place and see if they have different shades of lenses and what they recommend.

Have you looked into the auto darkening helmets with selectable shades levels? I would like to get one some day.

I am using a auto darkening helmet with the standard shade. I like your idea of turning the project so that the sun is in front instead of behind me.
PJ

 

[pajoube]

What number are you refering to, the shade number or the magnifier number.

The shade number. I use an auto darkening helmet but was thinking of lenz for eye correction.
PJ

 

[J_J]

Even with auto-darkening, most auto-darkening helmets have a variable shade selection on the side . Check the setting every time to make sure you have not bumped it down to a lighter setting. To check to see if the auto shade is working, look to the left or right and strike an arc. You can tell if the auto-darkening is working. If the auto-darkening fails to work, you can burn your eyes.

 

[Mith]

I have one of those adjustable autodrakening helmets. I use shade 11 for high power MIG, shade 9 for low power arc, and 10 for higher power (130 amp+). Setting the shade right avoids a headache if its too low setting, and you can see way better than if its up too high I find.

If the sun is infront I up the darkness a little. Once I was welding in a position that meant that the darkening sensors were blocked, the helmet didnt darken. It was just like a real bright light, but it didnt cause any damage, I just changed postion and carried on.

A autodarkening should protect your eyes from the harmful rays even if it fails to darken, you will only suffer from very constricted pupils I believe if you get a big flash, just like looking at a very bright light. I'm not sure if the cheaper helmets have this protection?

I find I can weld more accurately if I sit real close to the work, and also the fumes flow past my face so i dont have to breath them.

 

[MossRoad]

....
I find I can weld more accurately if I sit real close to the work, and also the fumes flow past my face so i dont have to breath them.

I agree. I like the lens close to my glasses and then I like to get as close to the work as I can.

By the way, has anyone read the warning panel on the side of the electrodes? It warns to not use A.C. welders, don't weld in a damp locations and don't weld hunched over, kneeling or sitting if the location is damp, your clothes are damp, or there is a chance you will come into contact with the workpiece. It recommends using a DC welder to reduce the risk of electrocution.

I don't know about anyone else, but I get extremely damp when welding just from the sweat. I have been using DC lately, anyway, but that is really the first time I even thought about those things since welding class.

 

[J_J]

I agree. I like the lens close to my glasses and then I like to get as close to the work as I can.

By the way, has anyone read the warning panel on the side of the electrodes? It warns to not use A.C. welders, don't weld in a damp locations and don't weld hunched over, kneeling or sitting if the location is damp, your clothes are damp, or there is a chance you will come into contact with the workpiece. It recommends using a DC welder to reduce the risk of electrocution.

I don't know about anyone else, but I get extremely damp when welding just from the sweat. I have been using DC lately, anyway, but that is really the first time I even thought about those things since welding class.

David, I know exactly what you are talking about. Many years ago, I was starting to weld something together kneeling down on wet grass. Zappo, it got my attention real quick, and ruined the rest of my day. I was using one of those red Lincoln AC units.