Welding class update

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I've missed the last couple weeks of my welding class due to work obligations. Consequently, I was there tonight after not having touched a welder in 20 days. Since I hadn't been happy with my progress I decided to try something different tonight. I took off my glasses and put them in my pocket!

I've been wearing bifocal for a couple years now and they have been wonderful for almost everything I do. Almost everything but welding, it seems. I just couldn't seem to see what I was doing and my work showed it. Suffice it to say I was thinking that, as a welder, I made an excellent truck buyer. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I can see better up close without my glasses so I just work within that distance. My work sure showed the difference, too. While I don't think WHarv's going to be beating a path to my door to hire me, I at least feel like I might be able to weld something I won't feel like I have to hide when I'm done. Class is a lot more fun when I can see I'm making progress, too. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I think this is going to be a very handy skill to have.

 

[DUMBDOG]

Have you tried the cheaters that they make for the helmets?

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Gary, you're going to have to trust me on this one, it's a matter of arm length, not bifocals. Worse yet, the dang rod manufacturers and equipment manufacturers are in a conspiricy to remove older guys from the welding work force. If they'd just make longer welding rods, it wouldn't be a problem.
The way I've found around the problem is to use the cheap storebought reading glasses. Get a pair that renders decent focus at welding distances, and use them.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Thanks for the tip. I'll give them a look (no pun intended). I don't know how effective they would be for me, though. I'm nearsighted in one eye and farsighted in the other with astigmatism in each. I know it sounds like a white cane and dog are in my future but it's not that bad (yet).

Amazingly, at around about a foot and in I see more clearly without the glasses. I may talk with my optometrist and see what he suggests (probably "don't weld" /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif ).

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Franz,

I think it's more than arm length with me. It just seems like the distance I was using was right at the crossover point between the two lenses. Moving closer without the glasses was far better. Of course, it got a little warmer and smokier that way but I could see what I was doing and that was a huge help. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Maybe I'll try leaving the glasses on and using my long arms next time around. If I can see as well that way I'll know I won't go through as many shirts. The one I wore last night looks like the mice got to it in the front. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Gary, I wondered where all my shirts went to, did my wiff send em to you?
Leathers cure that problem, and ain't bad to wear as long as it isn't hot out.
Biggest problem is having to stop and clean the smoke off the spatter lens more frequently.
Just wait till you learn heliarc, whole new set of problems.
You wanna play, you gotta pay.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Two things here; First, I went to class again tonight to make up some of the hours I missed. I tried the "long arm" method with my glasses and the only thing I could see was the bright spot at the weld so that was out. I'm sticking with the "close in" method.

Second, since this class has a different instructor and I was just there to make up time I was expecting to be kind of left alone to practice. I couldn't have been more wrong. This instructor came by my booth to see what I was doing probably twice an hour and offered suggestions. pointers and encouragement each time around. I made more progress in the four hours tonight than in any class since day one.

This guy actually taught and I really learned a lot from him. He welcomed me to come back any time I needed to make up any time. I'm going to try to effectively become a Tuesday night regular after my experiencewith this guy tonight. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

On a somewhat related topic (Would this be a related, related topic then? Oh well...), I got a catalog of workwear in the mail showing heavy cotton welding shirt/jackets supposedly fireproof through fifty launderings or one year. I think I'll invest in one. The cost is roughly equivalent to a couple long sleeved t-shirts and have to offer a lot more protection. I know leather would be better but a lot heavier and warmer, too, so I'll make the trade-off. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[EdKing]

<font color=blue>I got a catalog of workwear in the mail showing heavy cotton welding shirt/jackets </font color=blue>

Gary, my father-in-law gave me a cotton welding jacket he acquired from work. The jacket is great is great in the summer, much cooler than leather. I have been using it for about a year now, with no burn throughs.

 

[BB_TX]

Gary - I work at a computer a lot. I have also had bifocals for about 7-8 years now and that made me have to tilt my head back to see the computer screen. When I went back for new glasses, I had them give me a prescription for single vision computer glasses, glasses with a focal length just right for viewing the computer screen. Turns out those are also perfect for welding. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I had the same lens put in a pair of old frames I had and they remain near my welder.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Sounds like a trip to my optometrist might be in order. Now I just have to figure out what my typical welding distance might be. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I'm definitely going to get one of those welding shirts, too. They sound like a real bargain. Thanks to each of you for the tips. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif