Hello Old dog here, there was I time I was stick welding every day and I don't recall every having trouble following the welding path. But recently I took it up again after a long absence. I bought what I think is a decent self darkening helmet and it works as advertised I never even catch a millsec of flash, the trouble is probably me and my old eyesight. As much as I try I cannot see the weld path in front of the puddle. I don't recall if I ever could thinking about it but I was decent at following a horizontal or vertical joint in any case maybe there are some settings on the helmet that could help. Any suggesting will be appreciated in advance.
- Thread starter pjenk51
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waddycall
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Welcome to the forum. I have the same problem unless I wear reading glasses.
I have several pairs in the workshop that I got from Boots/Tescos for not much money. I have +1.5, +2 and +2.5
I look at what I’m going to weld with my head in welding position but without the mask and swap glasses to see which is best. Then pop the mask on and crack on with the welding.
I have several pairs in the workshop that I got from Boots/Tescos for not much money. I have +1.5, +2 and +2.5
I look at what I’m going to weld with my head in welding position but without the mask and swap glasses to see which is best. Then pop the mask on and crack on with the welding.
addjunkie
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Snap……additional light shinning at the job helps too.
jo1010
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Not being funny but have you seen an optician in the last few years? Our eyes can slowly worsen .....as above....for a quick test try some off the shelf reading glasses and see if they make small print more visible...
Are you still stick welding? ....I have to be a lot closer to the workpiece with mig - which may exacerbate any problem with seeing clearly if the close up vision isn't perfect...
Are you still stick welding? ....I have to be a lot closer to the workpiece with mig - which may exacerbate any problem with seeing clearly if the close up vision isn't perfect...
Yup, I've now started illuminating things.
BrokenBiker
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First port of call is an eye test. If you can't get one booked in, go to a supermarket, find the cheap glasses and try different strengths while trying to read the back of a shampoo bottle at the same sort of distance from your face as you would weld...which ever one gives best results, but them and try welding again...still get an eye test though. I wear glasses all day, but am thinking about getting a cheater lense for delicate work with the tig.
After that, make sure the mask is clean, protective film is removed and you have plenty of light around the part you are welding, I have a 60w adjustable lamp on my welding bench and another in the lathe, can never have too much light. I find without the light, I can only see the weld area, with the light on I can see the whole bench and makes everything easier to see when welding.
After that, make sure the mask is clean, protective film is removed and you have plenty of light around the part you are welding, I have a 60w adjustable lamp on my welding bench and another in the lathe, can never have too much light. I find without the light, I can only see the weld area, with the light on I can see the whole bench and makes everything easier to see when welding.
BrokenBiker
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I do this to highlight cracks before grinding them out, hadn't thought to do it for welding as well
