I've been a rod buildin' fool for 30 years at least and have been welding for at least 25 of those. In the past few years, with progressive lenses becoming a necessity, it's been real hard to find the sweet spot of vision for welding. Especially when so much of what we do is virtually in a contorted postion like standing on our heads. I had taken to just taking my gl***es off under the helmet and getting my snooter like up close and personal to what I'm welding. Well, brothers and sisters.... I've found the secret elixer of youth... otherwise known as cheater lenses in the helmet. Man, I can see again! So confession time.... how many of you have resorted to visual enhancement devices??
Not yet, but several of the guys I work at the firehouse with have them in their air masks. But it does remind me of a guy I worked with in a shop once, was trying to mig weld something up under a jacked up car and couldn't fit his head under there with the helmet on and couldn't hold the piece and the helmet. Einstein figured he could do it just as good with a pair of welding goggles on, and by the time he was done he looked like an albino ra****!
I have a mag lens tucked away up in the shop! Forgot all about it. Think I'll give it a shot again. Tried it when I was younger and didn't like it...now I use reading gl***es so it might be a help to stick it in the helmet for a second try. Thanks for reminding me!
I have had a cheater lens in my hood for a far back as I can remember. I distinctly remember the first time I used my hood with the magnifier. I could see the metal in the weld puddle swirling and the many colors of molten metal, it was awesome. Funny thing about these is you can hand the hood to a 20/20 vision buddy and they can't see anything out of them. Yes one of lifes many important little crutches. Steve
I bought a pair of bi-focal safety gl***es from Lee Valley. I wear them under the welding mask. It's amazing for us old guys to finally be able to see what we are doing!
Try your local welding supply house, they will have them. I have been using one for the last 14 years, you do not know what you are missing untill you put one in your hood(that is if you are having problems seeing the puddle)
Yeah I swallowed my pride use one. There is nothing more embarr***ing than to lift the hood and find that your pretty weld is a 1/4" off to the side of the joint.
I have moved to the "technological end of the earth" I didn't even know about this !,...... I have to get one and try it. I feel like I have been welding by the "Braille" Method for the last couple years.
About 25 or 30 years ago. I had to weld a little at the Raven's awhile back and used his hood, ran a perfect bead right next to the weld joint.
Though I was gonna have to stop welding stuff and leave it to the younger crowd.Those cheater lens saved my ***.10 years now I am 54.
They aren't anything new. 25 years ago I picked up a welders shield for a quick tack and almost went blind with the distortion to my then 20-20 vision.
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