Difficulty seeing TIG weld pool.

[gmrstaffs]

Hi all, this might be the strangest question but how do you see the weld pool?

Through my welding helmet it's either too dark and i can't see where i am, or too bright so i can't see anything when i've stopped. I'm guessing it's almost certainly 'operator error' and related to torch position/gas shield/helmet settings ?

Setup is AC/DC Tig unit running DC at 40 Amps (no foot pedal), trying to weld steel hexagon with hole to shaft, complete numpty at torch end, Parweld welding helmet set at shade 12.

I don't seem to have any problems when MIG welding using the Parweld helmet,I do also have a BOC helmet but don't think that's was a suitable shade for TIG use (Could be wrong, but i've not got it to hand to check)

Pointers please?

Cheers

 

[chevy2]

At 40 amps you'll need the mask at shade 9 or maybe 10,
12 is way too dark for that low amperage.

 

[Rrunnach]

Hi all, this might be the strangest question but how do you see the weld pool?

Through my welding helmet it's either too dark and i can't see where i am, or too bright so i can't see anything when i've stopped. I'm guessing it's almost certainly 'operator error' and related to torch position/gas shield/helmet settings ?

Setup is AC/DC Tig unit running DC at 40 Amps (no foot pedal), trying to weld steel hexagon with hole to shaft, complete numpty at torch end, Parweld welding helmet set at shade 12.

I don't seem to have any problems when MIG welding using the Parweld helmet,I do also have a BOC helmet but don't think that's was a suitable shade for TIG use (Could be wrong, but i've not got it to hand to check)

Pointers please?

Cheers

Shade 9 for such a low amp range, stance is important too, don't peer over torch eg: if you are right handed, angle body to left, so you can look in from left, and see what is going on with weld pool...............................

 

[gmrstaffs]

Cheers guys,
i'll have another crack at it tomorrow, think i may have confused myself with shade settings. For some reason i'd got it into my head i needed a much higher setting than MIG, may have been thinking of the last time i used AC on some thickish Aluminium, it's me age you know ;-)

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Some auto helmets don't cope with Tig very well. The arc, especially on low amps, is not strong enough to trigger the mask or it flickers in and out.
I have two auto masks, one is really ancient and battered and copes ok with Tig while my new mask is hopeless.

 

[Hudmut]

For me it was a easy answer for the same problem a better mask cheap masks have poor screens. My 3M 9100 is great for mig at 30 volts and useless at 80 amps on tig on the same settings. The answer for me on tig was dig deep and pay up I use a 3M 9200XXl (there flag ship mask) all my problems over come with vision in one big hit and then add in a magnifier and you will never look back. A shade 10 on any cheap mask next to my wallet-busting mask on the same shade is totally different.


Not trying to say spending money is the answer here but if you can’t see with the screen you all ready have just try a different mask.

 

[zzr1200]

. The answer for me on tig was dig deep and pay up I use a 3M 9200XXl (there flag ship mask) all my problems over come with vision in one big hit and then add in a magnifier

Just out of interest Stu, what x mag lens do you use???

 

[langy]

At 40 amps you'll need the mask at shade 9 or maybe 10,
12 is way too dark for that low amperage.

x 2

 

[waddycall]

Why not try a fixed shade non reactive helmet? You can pick them up cheaply and I find the smoked glass type lenses to be clearer. Shade 12 is definitely too dark. I find looking for the reflection of the arc in the puddle helps me see the puddle as well as judge arc length.

 

[Hudmut]

Just had a look at my magnifier and its a 150.

 

[Brad93]

On my parweld helmet which is a bit scuffed up I generally set it to shade 9, sensitivity high and delay short. My r tech helmet I set at about shade 10/11, and the tecmen helmet I have I put at 10