I've been welding a long time (stick, gas, mig). Recently, while mig welding, I've begun having difficulty welding in a straight line because I cannot see what I'm welding due to the glare from the arc. I use a Jackson auto dark welding helmet. Otherwise, my eyesight is as good as usual. Any thoughts or suggestions to help me reduce the welding glare from the arc so I can see what I'm doing would be much appreciated. I'm too young to stop welding. Thank you.
Does your helmet have darkness adjustment? ...and the big window? I had the same problem until I bought a pricey helmet at the weld supply place. I spent more there, but they got me into the right product that solved my vision issues.
I don't have one, but I've seen lights that attach to the gun and focus light directly on the weld area. maybe that will help you.
What about the 1.5x magnifying lense? I got one at tractor supply for 5 bucks and it helped me see a lot better.
I'm 52 and having the same problem. I try to put alot of light on my welding area and wear a magnafier.Can you adjust your lens darker or lighter ?
That is why I have given up welding and let my Son do it for me........I can't see the puddle or line I am supposed to be on. I even bought a couple of 250 power magnifiers that clip into the helmet and make the target much bigger, but it is the darkness that gets me. I tried putting a spotlight on the work, but it just makes the helmet darken prematurely. Old age is a bitch ! Don
I use 1.5 magnifiers for pretty much everything closer than 18" now, for welding I use 3's or 3.25's. You can also get magnifying lenses that mount in the helmet if that's your problem. Sounds like it might be a case of your darkening helmet not reacting fast enough, and you're getting a brief flash every time you strike an arc. Try using a conventional helmet and see if that helps.
When I was at the welding supply store picking up a magnifier,an old timer there suggested taking a soapstone and drawing a line where you are going to draw a bead.
I was having the same problem, I'm 60. I replaced my Jackson hood with a really good one from the welding supply and added a 2.0 magnifier lens. Now no problems. Probably be even better if I fixed half the blown lights in the shop too.
Sometimes I have a hard time with glare coming in from the back of the helmet. An old towel draped over the back of the head fixes it.
Hey, I know that problem! I presume your lenses are clean and not scratched up? I seem to need to clean my lenses nearly every day, its amazing how much crap builds up in a day of welding. Also, do you wear eye glasses with the transition lenses? I discovered a few years ago that they also darken as you weld. ow my safety glasses are not transition lenses. I also hang a light above where I have to weld these days. Still can't weld for crap, but the "too dark" is a great excuse. Gene
I'm 63 and I've battled the problem of seeing what I'm welding for some time. This may not help for your particular situation, but when I'm welding under the vehicle and dealing with a dark area, I added a cheap (free) HF led light to my gun. It's sort of a Mickey Mouse fix but it works. I used a strip of stainless and rolled a bead down the center to give it some strength. Getting a better helmet helped quite a bit also. Drew
Great advise.. I am (67) and have had that trouble for years.... If not to long of a bead, I put the wire where it starts, then weld about one inch at a time...with my EYES CLOSED....seems to work quite well, but not the greatest idea.. I think I will try the attached light idea, plus a magnifier... I am in tri foculs too which doesn't help... Cheers......
The few times I've tried to MIG I couldn't see what was going on. I think MIG is unique, unlike TIG or gas welding, it is just a quick and sloppy way to weld IMO.
Some good suggestions. I am OK with the auto darkening helmet outside, but can't see the seam when I move inside the shop.
Well, at least I'm not alone. I, too, have difficulty seeing the weld area in any detail. I blamed it on my cataract which is being corrected in two weeks. I thought maybe it is caused by lack of depth perception. I'll see what happens after a week or so of healing. Meanwhile, I also TIG, arc and oxy-acet weld. No problems with these. Luckily I am TIG weld FAR better than any other methods. Just for the heck of it. Ill report on my success or failure after the surgery. Might help someone else. Damn, this age thing is a pain in the......well, everywhere!!
Wow, I don't feel so bad anymore. Yes, I'm almost 64 years old and as I said, I'm not ready to stop welding yet. Thank you all for your suggestions. I will try them all and report back on what works for me. I knew I'd get good advice on the HAMB. Again, thank you.
I had the cataract job a year ago. Two new lenses. I can weld again. You guys that are having trouble should get checked for the condition of cataracts. when it gets worse it's like looking thru a dirty shower door. And it ain't gonna get better by itself. But the simple operation fixes it.
Quick- yep, I call it squirt welding. Sloppy-that depends on the weldor, doesn't it? And to qualify that, I fit into the not so good catagory, I'm never satisfied with my welds. To keep on topic, I have trouble seeing the puddle indoors too. Yea, I'm old. Larry T
I think the problem is mostly with auto darkening helmets that have some age on them. They get dirty and they over compensate. For me, welding in the bright sunlight helps or inside I shine my Dewalt light at the sight of the proposed bead.
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