MIG Welding. Can't see what I am doing. Is it Just me?

[ovrszd]

I would add IF you cannot see the end of the wire, tungsten, or stick electrode (depending upon the process) and all you see is one big ball of light, then you have the shade too light.

Thanks Mark. I'll try adjusting mine. Learn somethin everyday.

 

[woodlandfarms]

I use 1.5X lenses. I have 1X and 2X but I like the 1.5X.

 

[GPintheMitten]

I had some trouble seeing as well. It was just too dark. My helmet is autodarkening and has 2 adjustments, one for sensitivity and one for darkness. I dialed down the darkness a little until I could see the joint.

 

[sixdogs]

I was wondering about that. How did you figure out how strong of magnifying lens to get.

They were cheap enough that I got a couple. I think the 2X worked best but I don't remember.
That, plus the floodlights behind my head give e excellent results.

 

[hawkeye08]

If you really want to get the glasses right, consider some computer glasses.... reading glasses are for up close, but computer glasses out to normal distance for monitors. My eyes are not equal so the readers are a compromise at best, but I spend all day on the computer and have glasses that work great for that.. Get a prescription for computer glasses and avoid the bi or tri focals and stay away from progressive lenses. Don't get me wrong, you can do it with readers or bi/tri/progressive lenses, but the computer glasses have been the best for me. I actually have not welded much since I since I have had to use glasses, but my computer glasses are wonderful for working on the computer daily and would expect good results welding also.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Lots of good stuff. Thanks. I too thought that the darkness protected your eyes. I've done a lot of stupid things, and that would be the icing on the cake, to blind myself! Makes sense though, that no manufacturer would make a helmet with which you could hurt yourself.

But that's it exactly. Seeing the arc and and inch or so in front.

Can you buy computer glasses like cheap readers or do they have to be prescription?

 

[Arc weld]

Keeping your lenses clean is the most important but having been around welding for over 30 years and having been flashed a few times, I've heard all kinds of theories on how to prevent getting flashed. Wear safety glasses, you won't get flashed, wear tinted safety glasses, you won't get flashed, you can't get flashed with your helmet on but the lens lifted up, etc.. Being that I wear glasses to begin with and even tinted prescription glasses, the lenses are considered the same as safety glasses, I can guarantee that you will still get flashed and it's not from behind! Basically like Shield Arc said, with experience you learn to close to your eyes instantly if you see the arc without the welding lens. It seems simple enough but most people don't even think about it. If someone tells you you won't get flashed if you're wearing safety glasses, ask the guy telling you this to put on their choice of safety glasses and watch you strike an arc for a second or 2. Don't think you'll get too many volunteers. Welding is the equivalent of bringing the sun 93,000,000 miles closer. When there's a solar eclipse, they don't tell you to wear safety glasses, they over compensate and tell you to wear the darkest welding lens made, shade 14. Most welding supplies don't keep many shade 14 in stock because they are so dark. You should always wear the proper lenses when cutting and O/A welding too. People have gone blind from using a torch without the proper lens. PROTECT your eyes and don't take chances. They aren't replaceable.

 

[rsallen]

Welding with bi-focal lens is the worst. I had to finally spring for a helmet with a large view screen. That helped a lot.
Many times if I've got to weld in area with low light I'll mark the abutting joints with chaulk before starting.

 

[SSdoxie]

I think I just figured out my problem after reading Mark's explanation of shading adjustment. I always had the problem of not being able to see the joint ahead of the weld or the puddle behind and if I set shading to lighter I could see fine after getting started but the initial arc flash was too bright and I would see "sun spots" when I finished. Duh, I wear prescription glasses but they are Transition "auto-darkening" so they are changing tint along with the helmet. Time to dig out the older pair of straight clear lenses.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I always wondered about the torch. How dangerous is that? What about just for heating a part? And as far as that goes, what are the dangers of the plasma cutter? I usually just wear Sunglasses, is this enough? Is that enough for the torch?

And for getting flashed, which I have been too many times, how much does the distance matter? If you get flashed from accross the shop floor, how bad is that? I wonder if my mildly tinted hard contacts provide me with any protection? They are usually scratched and this may diffuse some of the light, or is this wishfull thinking?