Wishful Thinking For Welding helmet

[WranglerX]

IS there really any AD welding helmet to can really give this quality of view for MIG process for old eyes?...

Granted the image may be heavily filtered for camera, but it's what I need to continue welding at my old age....

 

[MossRoad]

Can you wear some prescription safety glasses under the helmet?

I have trifocals, and it's about impossible to tip my head back far enough to get the closeup lens lined up with the work. So I throw some cheap magnifiers over my trifocals and it's acceptable on the middle lens.

But if I were to start welding on a regular basis, I'd just get single lens prescription safety glasses focused at about 14-15" out.

 

[WranglerX]

Have had cataract surgery, also wear "cheater" and have magnifying lens in hood and use a lot of ambient light, change plastics shields in hood regularly.... Have tried, done everything but put out a lot of money for very expensive helmet.... THE real question is IF I lay out something like $350 for a top line helmet, is it going to give me the visual help that I need....

And the headgear on my current helmet sucks....

 

[Topzide]

I think it's would be money well spent! I've seen the difference between a $150 and $400! Old neighbor was welder by trade, asked about his helmet, it looked like a sci-fi space helmet. The view and color were great!

 

[Rustyiron]

Watching, you're not alone.
I'm thinking that a fancy new helmet would probably be more comfortable and lightweight, but the darkening part is easy and likely not the answer. Idk.
You got me thinking about a "highly filtered" video cam sending it to a screen in your helmet!
I can't reliably follow a seam unless in full sunlight!

 

[CalG]

Hornell-Speedglas, now 3M makes the best AD lenses.
Find somewhere that will let you try one.
With good light and proper "cheaters", I would bet you can sack dimes again.

OH! Another "thing", I find that I need a dark cloth "hood" on the back of my helmet to keep reflected light out. The improved contrast really does help me see.

 

[MossRoad]

Hornell-Speedglas, now 3M makes the best AD lenses.
Find somewhere that will let you try one.
With good light and proper "cheaters", I would bet you can sack dimes again.

OH! Another "thing", I find that I need a dark cloth "hood" on the back of my helmet to keep reflected light out. The improved contrast really does help me see.

Yes on the hood on the back to keep out light coming from behind. Especially outdoors. I could see it helping in a well-lit shop too.

 

[California]

need a dark cloth "hood" on the back of my helmet to keep reflected light out. The improved contrast really does help me see.

Another vote for blocking light at the back of the helmet!

I tried an old cotton shirt to block light inside the helmet. Wife thought it was funny and took this photo.

It works! The inside of the helmet is like night time. I can see the puddle far better.

I liked it so well that I then put a couple of holes in the top rear of the helmet and attached part of the shirt permanently.

And I'll toss in a couple of off-topic comments:

* The front of this open-air shop is where I weld. So I use flux core exclusively.

* This was using INE's flux core wire. Far less smoke than some other brands I've tried. Smoke can block vision. Buy good wire!