Can't see material

[charles48@iowateleco]

I have a hard time seeing the material when mig welding. I have a variable shade electronic helmet and a magnifying lense attached. The only way I can see my position is to stop and start the bead. This lets my lense lighten and darken. I was wondering if anyone had tips to improve my vision of the material so I don't have to start and stop so often.

[zapster]

i'm really suprised at how many "cant see what i'm welding"..
or "i cant see the seam that i'm welding"....

i really dont have that problem...:nono:

the arc should be plenty bright enough as is...
if not?
get a brighter welder...:laugh: :waving:

...zap!

[charles48@iowateleco]

Ha! Ha! I am not sure that deserves a reply?

[Weldtek]

In my classes, it usually takes a couple days with a student to figure out what, "I can't see means."

1. No light = total darkness. How can that be?
2. Can't focus = need glasses or cheater lens.
3. I don't know what the hell I'm supposed to be looking at!

So, what shade filter lens? Do you wear glasses to read? Are you blocking the puddle with the gas nozzle? Are you pushing or pulling the gun?

How many bubbles in a bar of soap?

[LuzRD]

http://www.weldingweb.com/showthread.php?t=6145
...a thread which may be helpfull

[Revenos]

I think the answer is sort of a mixed bag. I suffered the same problem for a while. Its getting better though. Its not seeing the arc, but seeing the seam by the light of the arc,and the glow of the puddle, that's the problem

1. Zap is mostly right. Practice will "train" your brain to pick out, and
follow the seam.

2. I have an autodarkening helmet that is not adjustable. I think it autodarkens a bit too much. The puddle is not all that bright and it took me the longest time to weld a seam without a lot of guessing. You may ve the same problem. Saving up for a good adjustable AD helmet. Will post an update when I try one.

Revenos

[MAC702]

So, what shade filter lens?
Yep, that's the real question... Answer that first. I do most of my low-power GMAW with a shade 9 dialed in on my auto.

I would probably use an 8 if it went that low, though.

[charles48@iowateleco]

Thanks for the help. I have a window right in front of where I weld maybe it will help to cover it. Practice, practice, practice is probably a good possibility, too. I will check back for the post about the helmet as well.
I don't weld very much and it never seems to be the same configuration.

______________________________

You not granted intelligence to call others stupid. Seek to see yourself.

[Kalroy]

You might try a gold lens. I haven't used 'em in over a decade, but as I remember I thought they were the greatest thing since sliced bread because I could see so much better than with the smoke or green lenses.

[chicksdigwagons]

I feel I was very lucky in this respect. I've used many different welding sheilds from hand-held ultra-dark cheapies and gold lensed hoods to auto darkening and I've never, ever had a problem seeing whether I'm doing GMAW or SMAW. But what I tell a lot of people just starting is that you really have to visualize the material because you'll never see it as well as you would regularly. If you can remember what it looked like before you flipped the sheild, then its very much easy to see what you're looking afterwards.

[WillieB]

i received an auto-darkening helmet for Christmas and I couldn't wait to try it out. I set the darkness control about half way and struck an arc. Couldn't see a thing. I had to set the control on the lightest shade before I could see and it's still darker than my old fixed helmet.

[Ironheart]

Before I had good lighting in the shop I use a 100 watt lamp pointed at the work. That helped a great deal. Try to keep the light in front of you. If the light is coming from behind you it tends to make it even harder to see.

[Tailshaft56]

One thing to remember when using a cheater is you have to be a specific distance from the weld in order for the image to be in focus.

[codearc]

you will find that an electronic shield is ok for production work or alot of tacking up i used one once back in the eightys i belive there still s**t now
But thats just my opinion

[Clanweld]

$6 reflector lamp from Depot with a 100watt bulb, like the man says. If you're doing any stick welding, cover the bulb or it will rain down on your work when the first spatter touches it.

[Ironheart]

$6 reflector lamp from Depot with a 100watt bulb, like the man says. If you're doing any stick welding, cover the bulb or it will rain down on your work when the first spatter touches it.

Good point! Flying glass can be ugly. A flood light might work better.