Welding Helmet ...I can't see what i am doing

Please don't flame me too bad on this one. I did a search and didn't really come up with what I was looking for. I'm not really experienced at welding. With that being said, I just went and bought a small Lincoln 175 for small projects here around the shop. I spent the last few days practicing on this and that and the problem I've run in to is I can't see where I'm welding, even after I pull the trigger. At 45 years old I'm not blind enough to need a prescription but I do require reading gl***es at 12-14". I have an auto darkening helmet I bought here at a local welding supply shop. Bottom line I can't see the weld. Can somebody help me out and recommend the right lens or helmet, any help would be appreciated.

 

I would like an answer to this one also. I have the same problem. I do have to wear gl***es, but I can't see squat up close with them.

 

Miller auto-darkening helmet is a Godsend

 

Best bang for the buck are the Miller Pro Hobby helmets - I got mine from here and they are wonderful - even a 30 year master welder buddy of mine likes this helmet. Its not as stout as the elite's but worth every penny. On my garage wall hang a Lincoln auto dark, a Lincoln full face and some HF piece of junk. For the past 3 years this Miller is ALL I use.

I also wear gl***es, full on prescription not just reading.

This is the exact one I use, I like the adjustable settings, shade, etc. The biggest difference I see here versus the others (the other cheap ones I have) is the lower bill at the bottom, comfort, all of the replacement parts available (even comes with extra lenses, etc) and the fact that I have no eye strain/issues even after a full day of welding.

I really cannot recommend it enough, there is no way I could go back. I bring it with me when I go work on friends cars just on case I have to use their welder.

 

is there a darkening adjustment?
Different welding reuqires different lens darkness to protect your eyes.

Check to see if yours is on the right setting.

 

If this question was directed at me ,yes it does have an adjustment from 9 to 13.I keep it around 11,should i be elsewhere...thanks

 

I have a cheater lens in mine. I wear gl***es, and still like the magnification lens. I go down to a 9 shade for anything less that 1/8" You can also use additional light. They make welding lights, but I just use a clamp on light fixture.

 

i suggest you try another helmet and see if that makes a difference. i have several helmets depending on what i'm welding and can't see **** out of my autodarkening one anymore...even with new batteries and new protective lenses. it goes to 10 while welding , but with another helmet with plain 10 lenses in it i can see a lot better. i have another with 13 in it for tig and i see fine with that

i don't know if my autodarkening is going bad or what...i have no problems with any flash , i just can't see clearly with it. i also do not wear gl***es , but use reading gl***es sometimes

 

Where do you get these cheater lens

 

Full service Welding supply shops usually stock the cheater lens.
I need to get a pair for my regular weld helmet now as my gl***es always fog up.

Thanks for the link Probesport, That looks like a good one that is affordable.
Unless my son decides I need one that meet his specs for fathers day that is the way I think I'll go

 

Any welding supply should have them. 2 to 3 bucks. Start with a 1.5. I'm using a 2.0 or 2.5 For me 11 shade is way to dark. try 9. as long as you feel no eye strain or discomfort, your good to go.

 

3 things affect me with auto hood. #1 shade set to dark. #2 not enough light focused on the weld seam #3 good gl***es or a cheater lense. Weld supply shop should have the correct cheater lense for your helmet.

 

I can't see much at shade 11 either, I'm usually at 9 or 10 max. Thats with my miller pro hobby auto darkening.
I used my welding instructors expensive miller and it was night/day difference you could get away with a darker shade and still see better than my helmet on the lightest shade.
So could be your helmet or maybe ****py night vision?
If you have deep pockets those helmets with the gold laced lenses are supposed to be pretty good allowing all colors in while blocking the rays out...

 

The cheep helmets are not as good as name brands with the auto dark features. You can try to adjust the setting. I think mine is set between 9-11. If it has a delay, you might try adjusting this as well. Mine was real bad if it is set at full. I had to back mine off. You might have to close your eyes when you start, but at least you can see what your welding.

 

Two things from experence. Try setting your shade to 9 and if then you can see but too bright go to the 10. Also wear your reading gl***es and see if that helps. Me, I'm the guy that uses a 100 watt bulb in a droplight as I've always needed lots of light to see what I'm doing. I run my Miller auto dark on lowest setting up to 130-150 on the TIG , and pretty much on 9 for all my MIG work. I wear bi=focals and find a magninfying lens [reading gl***es] make life much easier . That way I look through the top of my gl***es rather than breaking my neck to see thtough the bi-focal part.

 

Has each and every time before i can't thank you guys enough for all the help.I am off right now to the welding supply shop up the road to get what i need.

A set of good eyes is a terrible thing to waste.....THANKS AGAIN!!!!!

 

I was using a plain old fixed #10 or #11 green Lincoln, but recently bought an Accustrike helmet and really like it. I'm blind as a bat (near sighted) and pushing 50 so it's the double whammy - now I can't see far away or close up..... I had gotten to the point of wearing 1.5 diopter cheater gl***es under my Lincoln helmet w/ my contact lenses.

When I bought the Accustrike, I also bought a 1.5 diopter clear lens for the helmet - it replaces the stock lens. I also got a gold shade instead of the green. The cheater lens is freaking awesome and the gold actually illuminates the weld bead better. I am using a #10 shade in the gold.

Also, I use either soapstone or a Nissen silver welder's pencil to mark my joints - it helps to see with the hood down.... And I use a 500W light as well.

 

You still need a spotlight of some form on the weld, even welders with good eyes use a ton of light on the workpiece. Good luck

 

I 2nd that!! I love my pro hobby and my eyes never get tired , and i can see amazing!! 100$



Ian

 

Go with the cheater AND reading gl***es if you can get real close. You can take off the reading gl***es if you're not able to get close enough. When my close up vision started going, mig welding was the first place it showed up. I was like, WTF, I can't see squat, this helmet must be screwed up.

 

I tend to have to get real close to see what I'm welding. What I've found helps is to keep the plastic lens on the outside clean and fresh. They're cheap, replace them often. I've dialed back the darkness on my helmet to a 9-10. No ill effects so far. I got this helmet used on ebay,

The other key thing for me is lots of light on what I'm doing.

 

Stupid question, but how is the lens? Scored, scratched, dirty? All these things affect your view also.

I may get flamed for this one. But I personally won't use an auto-darkening helmet. I have terrible night vision, always have and my eyes are slow to adjust to changes in light. So every time I used an auto darkening lens, I couldn't see **** for a few seconds. I used to use flip lenses and set myself up for a p***, close my eyes and flip the lens or hood. By the time I opened my eyes I would be partially adjusted to the low light.

And there is a difference between the cheap helmets and the good ones. While I am not a fan of auto-darkening, I would rather weld with my eyes shut than use those cheap garbage hoods.

 

yep this is a great point , get all the light that you can on the weld joint. this will help out tons.

 

Huntsman autoview is the cheapest auto lens on the market. I've used one for 10+ years. I'm a pipeline welder. Mig/Tig/stick this lens seems to work well. I hate the big *** stupid DarthVader helmets. I use a Huntsman 711p it is a instructors hood and very small and then I take the tin snips to it to make it smaller. The places I have to fit into are not funny at all. If you do have a auto lens see if it has a darkening setting. Some go from 9-15 or so. And I'm sure you will not see **** at 15 that is for arc gouging and plasma applications. Take it back to the welding supply and see if they see anything wrong with it. They are used to people that are learning and seem to be more patient than guys like me.

 

Ok fellas,

I just got back from AIRGAS welding supply.I bought a Miller pro-hobby a cheater lens and she is set between 9-10,so i headed out to the shop to give her a whirl.I feel like a shiney new pig waist deep in ****.I gonna run a few beads and fill you all in later.THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL THE REPLIES AND HELP...... GOTTA LOVE THE HAMB!!!!!

 

Nice to hear, I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised.

Be sure to press the "on" ****on before using, I've made that mistake a couple times

 

Hey Bob!
run by Your local Advanced auto parts. they have these l.e.d. drop lights that are cordless. they KICK ***. they don't get hot, and cost about 19 bucks, so they are on the "expendable" list. enough light so You can see before You start, and they won't cause the lens to "flash" if You look into it.

 

I have me lense set at 10. Make sure all the lenses are clean and scratch free (both sides of all lenses, take them out and clean them). Get and use a lot of light in the weld area, trouble lights lighting the weld area makes life much better.

I also wear prescription gl***es, my street gl***es have the transession lenses (the one that darken in the sun) and I have discovered thet they also darken as you weld, (even with the hood down) and will lighten up as soon as you quit! Took a while to realize why I was suddenly having trouble see while welding. My new safety gl***es have clear lenses, I can see much better when welding now. Gene

 

I have a Miller "Performance" series (mid-level)... Sweet Jesus is an auto-darkening helmet nice... It was a gift from an ex-, 'cause if I'd bought it for myself I woulda bought something cheap (this one's way overkill for me, but if she felt like ploppin' down 250 of her own clams on it I ain't gonna *****). Glad I didn't, it's one of those sorta deals where I think it'll be the last one I ever have to buy. Works WONDERFULLY, it came with a couple extra lenses, and just is really well put together (my old one I never could get adjusted right, in ANY way it seemed). You can walk around in it with the visor down and see everything, but as soon as you start welding it turns, fast enough that I've never even come close to a flash burn. And there's no forgetting to turn it off or on, it's always ready to roll. I've had it for a couple years and it's just now asking for a new battery. They're also nice for grinding if you have to grind close to your face, they have a setting for that (I'm gonna start doing that more, I got a BIG HOT spark RIGHT in my ear grinding a couple days ago. THAT ****ed!).

I think mines set somewhere around 10 or so... I never change it, other than occasionally to "grind".

I wear my "computer" gl***es while I weld (I like to call 'em that... I'm not old enough to say "reading" gl***es, even though they ARE bifocals ). I always wear 'em when I work though, just to keep **** outta my eyes (and the whole helping you see thing is nice too). Never though about wearing my new gl***es (they replaced my work gl***es), they're those transition deals too, that's worth a look! (except mine seem to react pretty damn slow)

Now if I would quit bein' a dumb*** and wear some sorta arm protection... Nothin's screams "please have *** with me" than 3 dozen tiny little red marks and a farmer's tan.

 

When i was welding for a living I discovered the large lens helmets (4.5 x 4.5 square)
Then I discovered gold lenses....
Big screen helmet w/ a gold # 9 lens = welding heaven LOL..
Now that i am older i use some cheater gl***es to weld cuz they do not make cheater lenses in the 4.5x4.5 size. My normal bifocal gl***es dont work under the helmet (always chasin the split, you guys with bifocals know what i am talking about ! )
Always keep the clear outer lens clean , and go for it ..
Dave