Welding Tips and Tricks

I have a floor mounted magnifying glass similar to this I use for soldering circuit boards. I have been practicing TIG welding some .035 wall 1 inch stainless tube, I think I have all the settings and methods sorted out, now I'm just having a difficult time seeing the puddle and joint its so small. Has anyone TIG welded using one of these magnifying lens?

Do you think you might benefit from cheater lenses in your helmet if you're not already using them. I run 'em in mine and it makes a heck of a difference.

The only issue with any magnifier is that as the magnification increases, the focal length decreases. In other words a 4X magnifier needs to be half the distance to the object that a 2X magnifier needs to be. At some point you'll reach the point where the tig torch will be an obstacle and you won't be able to get the magnifier close enough because the tig torch is in the way. I've used cheaters in conjunction with my regular glasses and it helps, but it is still not optimum. Some say surgical loupes are the way to go, but good luck getting those under a helmet.

Now it has me wondering. Hmm.

Another vote for cheaters in the welding mask and/or cheaters on your face.

I always have cheater lens in my mask, sometimes also wear the cheater glasses too.

That magnifier would be in the way too often in my opinion.

After some quick research on cheater lenses they are the equivalent of the reading glasses I'm already wearing while welding. My vision is crisp and clear when welding that's not the issue, its how small the puddle and arc is even when in focus. I'll give my magnifying glass a try today and report back. For thicker materials my reading glasses are fine its just this low amp delicate welding of this thin tubing that's being a problem.

Coolidge wrote:I have a floor mounted magnifying glass similar to this I use for soldering circuit boards. I have been practicing TIG welding some .035 wall 1 inch stainless tube, I think I have all the settings and methods sorted out, now I'm just having a difficult time seeing the puddle and joint its so small. Has anyone TIG welded using one of these magnifying lens?

That kind of mag glass is difficult because if you're viewing thru it off centerline, the image tends to distort, and its sort of BIG.

This is made by SPI and available thru MSC

Coolidge wrote:After some quick research on cheater lenses they are the equivalent of the reading glasses I'm already wearing while welding. My vision is crisp and clear when welding that's not the issue, its how small the puddle and arc is even when in focus. I'll give my magnifying glass a try today and report back. For thicker materials my reading glasses are fine its just this low amp delicate welding of this thin tubing that's being a problem.

Yep, and more magnification allows you to get your head closer while making everything look bigger.

That's what happens for me when I use cheaters on my face combined with the one in the welding helmet.

Same result if I switch to just one set of higher power lenses.

Like when I use a 4.00, my head can be very close and the puddle and arc are bigger.

You might also find that switching to a Pyrex cup, especially the Fupa 12, is very beneficial. With it, you can run a much longer stick out, still get tremendous gas coverage, and see the actually weld puddle very well without obstructions from the alumina cup (if that's what you're using).

http://furickcup.com/product/fupa-12-kit/

Tried my magnifying stand, worked but just too in the way. I picked up a 2.25 Radnor cheater lens this afternoon, my Miller Infinity helmet comes with an adapter to attach it, going to give it a try this evening.