Thread: Can you solve my welding problem.

I have the same problem. As stupid as it sounds, my solution is to either weld outside, or aim a strong light at the weld site.

Hi

When you are indoors and the helmet is in it's shade 4 state (not active) are you able to clearly see what you are preparing to weld?

A common issue is a spatter covered lens that has been wiped with a glove leaving micro scratches on the surface. These scratches diffuse the welding light creating a high glare front plastic panel making it hard to see through.

Your complete view window including front and rear plastic lenses should be as clear as your reading spectacles except for the shade 4 tint.

Also, is your helmet a cheap one or name brand? Check to see if there is a serial number on the LCD cartridge, the proper cartridges have serial numbers as per the standard.

Regards
John

Hi,
I'll have 2c worth on this one if I may ? I can empathise with you as I understand how frustrating it is to run a nice bead and flip up the sheild to see it parallel to the seam and not centred on it!! AGHH!!

I am more inclined to look at the the cover lens of the helmet, before any other cause, what ever it type it is ,especially if used for GMAW.

You may have not noticed but with GMAW there is a build up on the outer cover lens,which does not clean up with polishing.
Turf the cover lens and get another.Before re assembly give all lenses a good clean and polish-obviously LCD with care

Also if you have a graduated lens prescription the "sweet spot" for optimum(welding operations) focus may not be aligned with your eye, the helmet aperture and the arc.


For me it was a matter of adjusting the harness clutches and my glasses arm where they hook over my ears as they slip down the nose just enough to throw out the focus in a welding situation.

Even though I wear glasses it helped me when I fitted a dioptre lens to my helmet.

A way of working out the focal power was to visit the glasses tree at the chemist to work out if the power required was ,2 ,2.5 or 3.

I hope something here helps you.

Grahame

I agree with Graham, and now I am pushing 60yo the eyes really need to be on the money through my glasses and the helmet lens and protector needs to be optimal and clean.
I use a cheater lens for TIG work but not so needed for MIG.

Is it possible that you have change to an auto helmet too more recently, the one I was using at work was not a good one and although I didn't realise it straight away it was giving my eyes a momentary flash before the shade kicked in making it impossible to see clearly for a while. I thought it was just me untill I bought a better quality helmet which switched much faster and no blindness.

Thanks for all the good information.

Hopefully it wil help others as well as me.

My helmet is an Eyerex (Swiss Made but doesn't tell the time!) and it has a serial number.

Previous to this helmet I used a Techman and it wasn't half the helmet this one is.

The lens isn't looking all that flash so I'll replace it and see how I go.

I also wear graduated lens's in both my normal and safety glasses so I may try the Chemist and see if that works. This is something I hadn't even thought about which is dumb because I know I have to roll my head back or forth when under the car to see clearly.

John, This pushing 60 is for the birds, I turn 60 this year and a few things don't work like they used to!

I also have the problem seeing where I should be going, welding in sunlight or under very bright lights helps but the best trick I found was to mark the weld line with chalk.

Greetings from Montana, USA. I just found your forum and this is my first posting here. As someone in his late 60's I can sympathize with those of you trying to see welds through an electronic welding hood. Here's how I accommodate the view through the hood with my bi-focals:
- first, I use a magnifier lens clipped inside the hood. These lenses vary in magnification depending on your needs. I position the lens so I can either look through the lens or over the lens.
Miller Welding Helmet Magnifying Lens 212235
- next, I mounted an LED Headlamp on the outside of the hood, just above the viewing window. The light from this lamp is a tremendous help in seeing the position of the MIG gun just before I pull the trigger. The lamp I have (don't know the brand - allows me to tilt the lamp to the correct position). What I like about it is that the light follows what you are looking at and you don't have to reposition another lighting source.
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Energizer-Trail-Finder-Batteries-Included/dp/B002MFK7H2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328891764&sr=8-1"]Amazon.com: Energizer Trail Finder 7 LED Head Light (3 AAA Batteries Included): Sports & Outdoors[/ame]
I hope these tips help.

Bob

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Hello Bob and welcome to this forum. Greatest things about forums is the knowlege pool that comes from it and solutions that can help others. I never thought of strapping my head light on to the helmet. I use it for fishing at night so I will give it a go, see if it helps. I do use the cheater/magnifyer lenses in my helmet which are good too but again never thought to have it half way.
I have however realised that when wearing the graduated or bifocal lenses it is hard to know where and when I am in focus through the helmet so if I lose my weld line I know to tilt my head around, but at the end of the day it is probably better to use single focus lenses in my glasses. Probably just cheap chemist ones and not damaging the prescription glasses then which I just paid out another lot of money for....

Worth a try.

I plan on getting single script glasses and see if that helps.

Maybe some floodlights in the garage in lieu of the fluro's might help as well.

Anothe thing that can make it harder to see is light coming from behind you. I have a fluro in my shed on the ceiling but is directly behind me when sitting at the welding table. I was having troubel seeing some low amp tig welds and found that if I threw a shirt or cloth over my head which eliminates andy reflection coming off the back of the lens and I could see way better - I am sure that I have seen specific things which fit you the welding helmet but for now the cloth works well.

I too have exactly the same problem and stopped MIG welding because it was just too damned difficult. I blame mine on the fact that my eyes are permanently set to mono vision (look it up) by implanted lenses after two cataract ops. I never have to wear reading glasses but it kills the depth of field.

Here's another suggestion: Sometimes I just can't get the weld area in focus, particularly if I'm really trying to get close to the weld and use the magnifier. Since I'm near sighted, depending on the distance my face is from the weld arc, I'll drop my glasses down on my nose and then look over my glasses and the top of the magnifier lens. That gives me a view without the magnifier and without my glasses. That gives me a clear view of the weld puddle.
MTBob

It may seem a silly question, but you are pushing the weld, rather than pulling as you would with a stick weld?
Also, make sure that your contact tip is at least level with the tip of your nozzle, (I have even had the contact tip slightly proud in certain circumstances) as this will aid visibility of the bead.

Karl,

I'll give this a go as well.

Anything to make it work.