Welding Tips and Tricks

I did like the video on the auto darkening welding helmets. I have just finished my second year schooling but am an older welder at 55. I do not see well anymore. I have a speedglass auto darkening helmet but I struggle to see the weld area. I also use progressive glasses. What I would like to see, in a video, is more information, tips and tricks ono how to lay down a straight bead and how to see the areas in front of and behind the bead for people like me. I have used a 2.5 cheater lens with limited success and I will likely buy the Miller Elite digital helmet as I like the viewing area and digital buttons.

Hope this idea is met well for all of us oldies out there that struggle with seeing as well as the young people

Merki

Merki,

I'm one of the oldies out here that struggled with seeing when I took up Tig. I had a cheap auto darkening helmet and thought about giving it up. I used a buddies Miller Elite (analog) and it made a huge difference.

OK, so now I was excited about it again, did some more research, pricing and made a trip to the eye Doctor. Talked with the Doc about what I was doing and got a pair of fixed focal length (for reading, computer etc.) glasses for welding. Bought a Digital Elite, stuck a +1 cheater in, (the Elites have a lens holder built in) and problems with seeing what I'm doing were solved. Now if I could just stop setting myself on fire the world would be grand.

Just shop around for that helmet, there are some pretty big price differences on them. Bought mine from I.O.C.
http://www.weldingsuppliesfromioc.com/s ... StoreFront

Hey,

Nothing against the Miller but if you have a Speedglas, you wont find much better. They are at the top of the list in most countries of Europe, and in Australia. Take that trip to the eye doctor but I wouldnt ditch the speed glas. Im not biased but just saying they are as good if not better than anything else out there.

Mick

I had trouble welding with progressive lenses... Seems the exact focus I needed was always below a comfortable position. My work glasses are now standard bi-focals, with the near vision set high at my request, so the focus is consistant for a broad range of head positions. This has helped a lot, although it took some getting used to after becoming accustomed to the progressives.

SpeedGlas is as good as it gets, just be sure to change the cover lenses regularly; Welding UV ages them quickly, even without scratches and spatter. If you use it without a protective inner lens, clean the inside like your glasses, i.e. blow the dust and grit off w/ compressed air, and wipe with a lens cloth (I use pre-moistened disposables).

Also look at your ambient lighting... A bright light source above your work (but not behind you, shining in your hood), such as a 300W T3 Halogen fixture, will be a big help, as well. In fact, the less light coming in from behind you, the better you'll see.

My two cents,

Steve

Merki wrote:I did like the video on the auto darkening welding helmets. I have just finished my second year schooling but am an older welder at 55. I do not see well anymore. I have a speedglass auto darkening helmet but I struggle to see the weld area. I also use progressive glasses. What I would like to see, in a video, is more information, tips and tricks ono how to lay down a straight bead and how to see the areas in front of and behind the bead for people like me. I have used a 2.5 cheater lens with limited success and I will likely buy the Miller Elite digital helmet as I like the viewing area and digital buttons.

Hope this idea is met well for all of us oldies out there that struggle with seeing as well as the young people

Merki

@ Merki,

OUCH !!!! ( Hope this idea is met well for all of us OLDIES out there that struggle with seeing as well as the young people. ) another OUCH here !!! LOL

Well Merki, what can we do, we have to accept the inevitable facts, having poor eye sight specially when one reaches age 45 and going up. I myself wear a pair of eye glasses and really find it hard too to do welding with out them, at 57, yes I can still see the beads, the weld puddles being laid out but find it straining my eye with out the glasses. Even typing this reply, having no eye glasses, I find it hard to find the letters on the keyboard. Recently I have changed my helmets with large flip up windows so it will be easy for me to see everything around areas where I am doing my welding. Good lighting specially during evening sessions helps a lot. Ones you feel your eye/s twitching or getting to to be watery, stop for a while and rest them.