Thread: Safety glasses

This has been a very interesting debate.
It seems that the number one feature is operator comfort!!! If what ever you wear is easy/comfortable does the job then you will defer to it in every case.
Personally when I use a power saw or bench saw or even a router for that matter I need to see the line to guide the cutting tool while its doing the job. I have prescription glasses which I need but I don't like full face shield due to the dust that inevitably gets on it and then impairs the ability to see the line. Another problem I have found is that when I am on the metal lathe normal reading glasses are not good enough to see/read fine measurements. Even sharpening drill bits for a while was impossible until I got a high powered pair of "cheap readers". They have a power of 4.0. With them I can do all the fine work I need....but have to put normal ones back on as soon as an operation is finished to see where I am walking.
I bought some magnified lenses for when I weld and that made things good in that area as well. A mate loaned me his instant darkening welding mask to do a job. The mask performed well but I was frustrated by condensation continually getting between the inside and outside lenses.
Another PITA is when wearing glasses and looking at a largeish area (say the line of a gutter on a house the ends "bend up" giving an illusion of not straight.
Getting older is not fun with our abilities are compromised continually by the body decaying

Originally Posted by chambezio

Another PITA is when wearing glasses and looking at a largeish area (say the line of a gutter on a house the ends "bend up" giving an illusion of not straight.
Getting older is not fun with our abilities are compromised continually by the body decaying

I have full empathy with you.
Years ago, well now, many years ago I could eyeball something and tell you it is plumb or straight. These days either the obviously straight work appears as bent (through my graduated lenses),to me, or I can't see any definition at all without glasses.
Indeed the saying "getting old is not for sooks" is very applicable to we older shedders.

Grahame

An interesting read on the subject:

http://www.safetysolutions.net.au/ar...asses-outlawed

I wear myself prescription glasses all day long. And I have good reasons to insist on real high quality ground optical glass. I perceive the above article as shocking.

"No glass lenses, even if hardened, can meet the new standard."
Do they give a season and I'm missing it?
If they hate glass that much why not just make a test it cant pass?

Originally Posted by Karl Robbers

Personally, I wouldn't touch them. Having no band over the top of your head to support the weight of the muffs, you will have very sore ears if you wear them for extended periods.

Depends on the muffs. Some normal muffs can be worn with the band around the back of the neck just fine. Some come with a strap. So it would depend....got to be better than muffs over glasses(which granted isn't perfect by a long shot).

Stuart

Originally Posted by Stustoys

"No glass lenses, even if hardened, can meet the new standard."
Do they give a season and I'm missing it?
If they hate glass that much why not just make a test it cant pass?



Depends on the muffs. Some normal muffs can be worn with the band around the back of the neck just fine. Some come with a strap. So it would depend....got to be better than muffs over glasses(which granted isn't perfect by a long shot).

Stuart

I am familiar with the behind the neck type ear muffs as I have 2 pairs myself. Both of these have a strap that goes over your head to support the weight of the muffs. When said straps fail or are not worn, my poor old ears cop a hiding.

I use 2 sets of "behind the neck" muffs as I find when worn upside down they clip neatly over the back of my full face shield headband.

Yeah I know I have a fat neck!

Must be my funny shaped head. But with one brand of muffs I didnt mind behind the head, no strap.....It depends of course, how long you're talking about wearing them. Long ago I used to wear muffs pretty much 8 hours a day so I was pretty picky. If I recall correctly there is a reduction in their db rating.


Stuart

On the strength of Bob's comments earlier regarding his Armadillo face shields, I tracked down one at Blackwoods in Malaga. About 34 bucks and 18 for a replacement "glass". Eyesight's something pretty much taken for granted until there's a problem and then you realise how precious it is. I better get into the habit of donning the Armadillo.

BT

Originally Posted by Stustoys

Must be my funny shaped head. But with one brand of muffs I didnt mind behind the head, no strap.....It depends of course, how long you're talking about wearing them. Long ago I used to wear muffs pretty much 8 hours a day so I was pretty picky. If I recall correctly there is a reduction in their db rating.

Yep there is a dB reduction but that has to be weighed up against a possibly better fit.

I've been pretty much wear muffs and a face shield on and off for the last two weeks using a regular chainsaw, and since thursday, a carving chainsaw and and TC tipped Arbortech wheel on an angle grinder. With the carving CS and the Arbortech the chips can come at you at any angle and although I wear gloves my arms have a number of grazes from the constant battering they have copped. I was working with long sleeves but I got too hot. Increased danger comes when you get tired - at one point I forgot I had by face shield up and copped a loverly spray of wood chip - fortunately I had my regular glasses on that saved my eye. The welts on my arms are nothing compared to the other aches and pains as it's been quite a while since I did such physical work. The carving chainsaw only weighs 4.3kg and the arbortech on an angle grinder about half that again but the constant holding it out away from you body and the twisting and turning involved has given me a good workout.

Just about done though - thank goodness.