Welding Helmet

[931johnny]

I bought a cheap atuo welding helmet few years back. Seemed that I couldn't see the flow of arch weld as well, but I'm in my 50's, so I figured it's my eye's not seeing as well. I bought a 140 Hobart mig welder, started welding with the Hobart. All I can see with the mig welder is blue, can't see the flow of the wire melting at all. I used reading glasses under my helmet but it didn't help. Is there a different lenses for mig welding, than arch?

 

[Brad Buchanan]

Hey, I wear glasses (or contacts) and need readers to focus close. I have tried the auto-dark helmets however the small viewing port makes it difficult for me to focus quickly.

I use a large field Hobart helmet and set up to start my weld and simply nod my head and off we go. This works well with glasses.

I have heard of rx lenses for welding helmets however have never checked into it further.

Hope this helps!

Brad

 

[Goose]

I wear trifocal glasses, and use an auto darkening helmet with my MIG and stick welders. Just have to adjust the fit so you can see through whichever part of your glasses is appropriate.

My big problem is acetylene welding. I can't find goggles that fit over my eyeglasses properly. I have a full face shield with appropriate darkening for acetylene that works great, but it's getting beat up and I can't find another one.

 

[LesWA]

I have an old auto lens helmet and it only has a 10 lens, also it helps alot to clean clean the lens, anyway I was complaining about it and the family got me a new ajustable auto lens helmet for christmas, What a difference the auto lens density makes for old eyes.

 

[NCWayne]

This subject has been discussed on here many times over the years. I don't know what keywords you could use to search out all of the posts and their replies but there would be ALOT of different answers to your questions in all of them.

Personally I am very nearsighted and wear contacts, but I have trouble seeing the puddle due to being partially color blind. Have you ever been checked for that? The only thing I found that works for me is using the gold plated lenses. I don't know what the plating actually does, or how it does it, but to me it seems to change the colors somewhat, as well as reducing more of the 'glare' I get through the green lenses, and I can see just fine. I've been using the gold plated lenses for over 20 years now and haven't had any problems with them wether I'm using a MIG, TIP, or stick machine. On the other hand I've also had occasion to use the old green lenses when doing something for a buddy, etc at their place and I still can't see crap through one of them. Good luck finding what works for you.

 

[Welding man]

I've been welding for over 40 years and still have pretty good eyesight for my age. I personally do not like the auto darkning helmets. Have tried a couple and just flat don't like them. I use a Jackson flip-front hood and a #10 mirror front gold lens and a 1.50 Magnifying lens. I do not use glasses or contacts. I have been told many times that welders should never use contacts,because of the danger of the flash burning your eyes, about the same effect as burning a piece of paper by using the sun and a magnifying lens.

 

[Dick L]

My regular glasses are the kind that gets darker in sun light and get real dark under a welding hood. I have trifocals and can not get the right ones to line up with the work so I have gone to large lens clear reading glasses. The local welding shop has the reading glass lens to fit the helmets. I keep the reading glasses wrapped in a paper town in my helmet when I am not using the helmet.

 

[Bryan inIowa]

Got a harbor freight adjustable shade for $39 ..WONDERFULL !! I can see what I'm welding now .

 

[Dialed In Restorations]

I have used a couple of auto darken ones, but never could get into it. I like the old flip style much better. A couple of friends of mine swear by the auto darken. You might try a cheap one and see what you think. I have seen guys just put their tri-focals on upside down to see. You might try that.

 

[Puddles]

welding man, copy & paste this link. Good article on welding and contact lenses. :wink:

http://www.snopes.com/horrors/techno/cornea.asp

 

[Anonymous-0]

I don't have 40 years of welding experience...or even 20 yet. BUT when I went to work for the factory making Explorer frames, each of us was issued what was then a $280 Jackson adjustable shade auto-darkening helmet. We were trained to wear #2 green safety glasses inside the helmet, and then adjust the shade from 9-12 at whatever shade allowed us to best see the puddle while still protecting our eyes.

When welding at home without the tinted safety glasses, I use my normal auto-darkening eyeglasses in the auto-darkening helmet. With the #2 safety glasses, I set the shade on 10; with my own glasses, I have to set the shade to 9 to be able to see what I need to see.

MIG welding uses the same shade range as stick [both are arc welding, BTW]. Oxyacetylene usually requires a shade 5, and I've found that a flip-up face shield in a shade 5 is about as good as it gets...and the plastic shield is replaceable on the one I have. Don't have to worry about the bifocals fitting under some goggles that way.

Hope some of this info is helpful.

 

[MarkB_MI]

If you haven't had an eye exam lately, do so. Drug store reading glasses are no replacement for prescription glasses, and once you hit fifty you probably need prescription glasses even if you've gotten by without them up until now.

I highly recommend the magnifying lenses that fit inside your helmet. I use them in addition to prescription bifocals.

 

[Hobo,NC]

I have issues also and have the best helmet money can buy,, its my eyes ... I was ready to throw my Jackson auto helmet away... last week my new shop helper ask me if he could have a go at welding on a project,,, he laid down the best bead I have ever seen with my helmet,,, he said that was the first time he had ever used a auto dark helmet and loved it... It hit me then its me.. Silently I did ask myself whats he do'n working for me with that talent then i had to ask why he was not welding for a living,,, he said it never paid well,,, he never learned anything new and did not like being stuck on a welding job all day...

His real problem is he likes to sleep late,,, has a problem he needs to talk to his girlfriend 4 are five times a day,,, she has to stop by a few times a day for a kiss,,, they have to mate at least once a day so he needs 1 1/2 for lunch...
He's good at what he dose I pay by the hour so will deal with it...

 

[Anonymous-0]

Hobo, are you having a bout of jealousy with your helper?

 

[Hobo,NC]

Yes I only need 2 min... :lol: With help are not....

 

[931johnny]

(quoted from post at 12:57:20 05/26/11)
Yes I only need 2 min... :lol: With help are not....

Thank you all! Very helpful information. :lol: Wish you all the best with your eyes, and your welding. Have a great day!

 

[Dusty MI]

I also ware trifocals and have a non auto darkening large window helmet.

I did a lot of searching for a large window auto darkening helmet and finally found one at Northern Tools. It works well for me.

A lot of them look like they have a large window but the actual lens is small. but the one I have has a large lens.
Dusty

 

[36 Coupe]

Just bought a small torch outfit made by Victor.The goggles fit over my reading glasses ok.I use a cheater plate in my arc welding helmet.If I did a lot of welding I would have glasses set just for welding.

 

[souNdguy]

does your helmet have an adjustable shade dial. Mine adjusts from 9-13.

soundguy

 

[931johnny]

(quoted from post at 01:31:05 05/28/11) does your helmet have an adjustable shade dial. Mine adjusts from 9-13.

soundguy

mine has a adjustment for shade dial, but I thought the adjustment was for how quick it changes from light to dark, not the shade. I got mine set on the lowes setting, maybe I should try the highes setting?? What do you have your helmet set at? Thanks for your help.

 

[Anonymous-0]

My Jackson helmet is adjustable for shade, sensitivity, and delay. After I had to work next to a robot with a strobe light, I learned to set my sensitivity to 0; delay has always been 0; and with my self-darkening eyeglasses I set the shade adjustment back from 10 to 9. If I'm wearing #2 safety glasses--almost an impossibility, due to the need for vision correction--I set the shade adjustment back to 10..

That's simply what works for me.


If all you have is a shade adjustment, then dealy and sensitivity are NOT adjustable on your helmet

 

[931johnny]

(quoted from post at 17:53:37 05/28/11) My Jackson helmet is adjustable for shade, sensitivity, and delay. After I had to work next to a robot with a strobe light, I learned to set my sensitivity to 0; delay has always been 0; and with my self-darkening eyeglasses I set the shade adjustment back from 10 to 9. If I'm wearing #2 safety glasses--almost an impossibility, due to the need for vision correction--I set the shade adjustment back to 10..

That's simply what works for me.


If all you have is a shade adjustment, then dealy and sensitivity are NOT adjustable on your helmet

Thanks for the information. I have been using my welding helmet, and didn't pay attention to the out side adjustment. It looked like a part of the helmet, not a adjustment. I'm really observant at times. But that's why I got on here for your help. Thank you, and have a great day.