Welding and age

[Furu]

I have to use one strength cheater for stick and a stronger for Tig as I get closer to the weld when doing Tig thus need more diopter correction.

 

[pmsmechanic]

From XTN

"I'm no welder, but I've got a question.

pmsmechanic asks, "Just wondering what others have done to counter act the effects of age on eyesight and steady hands...?"

Why isn't the answer, "Hire a younger guy?"



I'm a one man show mechanic's shop. I do maybe a day+ of welding a month on the average. I can keep myself busy quite easily but as soon as I hire someone efficiency goes way down and I'd need to hire at least three guys. Besides in Alberta you don't just go and hire someone. Anybody that wants to work has a job here.

Hope that answers your question.

 

[Ken45101]

Do the autodarkening eyeglasses add to the problem? No matter how much light I add to the work, I still can't see where the joint is that I'm welding. Yes I can see the puddle but the problem is that the puddle wanders off of the joint!

 

[flusher]

I have done a lot of welding through the years and am finding as I get older that it's harder to see what I'm doing in order to lay a steady good quality bead. Just wondering what others have done to counter act the effects of age on eyesight and steady hands as I can't do the same quality of job that I used to and it's frustrating at times. I already use two hands when I can and an auto darkening helmet, both of which help quite a bit.

Had the cataracts removed three years ago. New implanted lenses. Eyesight is much clearer now (no more yellowing), colors are much more intense. Made a big difference for seeing the weld puddle. I use 2 hands and an auto darkening helmet also.

Good luck.

 

[FTG-05]

Well crap, I guess I'm hosed: I already weld with both hands and I can't wear glasses, at least during summer, I sweat too much.


On a more serious note, even though I took a welding class at a local college, I didn't really learn all that much. The best instruction I ever got was from my SIL's ex-BF. He was a non-college educated engineer with a large shipbuilding firm in Mobile, AL. He would supervise welders all day.

He spent a couple minutes with me one time on my welder (SP-175 Plus) and it was eye-opening! The first thing I learned was to not really use the chart on the side of the machine! He showed me how to set it up and, IMO, my welds have been much better.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I tried putting a cheater in my auto-dark hood but couldn't get it to fit right so I have to rely on my Tri-focal glasses which means I have to get my head in the right position or else just guess at what the weld puddle is doing. Not to mention the sweat that gets on my glasses and or drips on to the hood lens. I cant see without my glasses and with the sweat puddling, I can see with them either. When welding, cant even use the shop fan to keep cool either. Old Age is the pits.

 

[k0ua]

I tried putting a cheater in my auto-dark hood but couldn't get it to fit right so I have to rely on my Tri-focal glasses which means I have to get my head in the right position or else just guess at what the weld puddle is doing. Not to mention the sweat that gets on my glasses and or drips on to the hood lens. I cant see without my glasses and with the sweat puddling, I can see with them either. When welding, cant even use the shop fan to keep cool either. Old Age is the pits.

Amen brother, old age is not for sissies..

 

[Arc weld]

They make welding robots.:duh:

 

[jaotguy]

OK as far as the sweat in the eyes factor .... reversed base ball caps with a sweat band ... or an old rag with velcro on ends ... sweat band


YEH , Old age isn't for sissies ... it hurts too much ...

 

[Arc weld]

Have heard that maxi-pads make good sweat bands and pipeliners have used them.