How do I see where I'm welding?

[cliveje]

Rich,

I am a newbie and also have the same problem. I use an ajustable auto-mask that came with the welder - all used equipment. Even in the Arizona sun I cannot see the weld pool!

I have a couple of thoughts:
(1) My lens is not new, and maybe it causes glare.
(2) My eyesight it not great - my glasses cannot not correct my vision completely
(3) I am trying to weld 18 guage sheet (car panels), that is about .7mm - and I wonder if this might just be too cool to form a significant weld pool compared to the arc.

Clive.

 

[Omniata]

You could maybe do with a curtain to create a bit of shade in the sun, or something to go over you perhaps

I've visited Arizona and it can be blinding sometimes and brighter and hotter than the burns test rooms I've conducted fire testing in

Try getting a hood to cover the back of the helmet too to cut out the light from reflecting "inside" the mask

Any pics of where your welding?

 

[zardoz]

Have you tried Arc welding, or Tig welding, or even oxy acetylene welding ? ANYONE can see the weld pool in Oxy Ace welding i promise you. The lens shade for gas welding is 5 or 6 (im sure someone knows the exact shade, but i can read a newspaper with small difficulty through it)