I cant see what I am doing

[Chad1082]

Hi,

As the title really, when I first start the bead I struggle to make out where I am going, this leads to the start of my bead wandering all over the place, I can then stop, reassess and lay a straight bead. Are there any tips anyone can provide to help with this? Would a better helmet help? If so any recommendations? Would more or less light help?

I'm very new to this and not sure how to fix this issue.

 

[Popcorn]

Make sure you've not got any bright light behind you, a light shining on the job will help. A better helmet will only help if the one you have is not that good, what are you using ?

 

[roofman]

Hi,

As the title really, when I first start the bead I struggle to make out where I am going, this leads to the start of my bead wandering all over the place, I can then stop, reassess and lay a straight bead. Are there any tips anyone can provide to help with this? Would a better helmet help? If so any recommendations? Would more or less light help?

I'm very new to this and not sure how to fix this issue.

Get yourself in a supported comfortable position..
use your other hand to support the torch hand..span your fingers and let the torch rest on your thumb or another finger..
get yourself a magnetic LED torch, for extra concentrated light until the arc "opens" the lens so to speak..
try these 3 things 1st before making drastic changers like spending money or new helmets etc

 

[Chad1082]

Thank you both, I am using a Jasic Helmet at college so its a good helmet, I will try a magnetic LED torch.

Getting myself comfortable is another issue, I have my torch rested on my index finger and use that hand to move the torch, but the initial arc throws me off

 

[rtcosic]

.... at college ..........

Can we assume you have had your eyes tested and don't need reading glasses?

You will find several threads on here about your problem, but mostly from those of us of more mature years.

Otherwise lots of light in front of your helmet pointing at the workpiece. No lights pointing at your helmet and definitely no lights behind your helmet. I have used an improvised hood to shield stray light.

I have been known to apply chalk to the weld line, but that's in the Art of Coarse Welding book that the members of this forum are planning to write when we find our shared Roundtuit.

 

[caprinut]

Bought a £25 Lidl/Parkside True colour welding helmet, Hurrah I can see !!!!!, has an integral led as well.

Bert

 

[roofman]

Thank you both, I am using a Jasic Helmet at college so its a good helmet, I will try a magnetic LED torch.

Getting myself comfortable is another issue, I have my torch rested on my index finger and use that hand to move the torch, but the initial arc throws me off

It sounds like nothing more than you needing a couple of reels under your belt to overcome your "arc nerves" try putting the shroud right down to the work to lessen the arc and then your set up for moving..dont know how long you have been welding but a lot of newbies start off with the shroud too high and after they hit the trigger they need to move in 2 axis,down and forward at the same time and that can be more difficult to get your position correct if your new.

 

[caprinut]

Try getting into the right position in a wheel well even where I have lots room to move around a like knight on a chess board doesn't seem to help.

 

[Kram]

Thank you both, I am using a Jasic Helmet at college so its a good helmet, I will try a magnetic LED torch.

Is it a true colour or green tinted? Plenty of brands are still using the old green tint style that wont help with visibility.
Compare with photos and video here, this is a good and afordable true colour under 40 quid.

Review - Ginour true colour mask

I've had this two months and think its great, heres a mini review of it. I managed to get out in daylight yesterday, but only just, 4:30pm, so got some photos Phone looking through the ADF is very clear, very little tint. It goes down to shade 5 but 9-11 seems to suit my work best at 40-150A...

www.mig-welding.co.uk

I often weld in dark - winter afternoons etc.. I found a LED tripod ring light is a great help to get diffuse light over all over my work area.
A led torch generally has too focused a beam and can make the problem worse.

 

[AKN]

As a recent student of MIG I understand. My welding mentor said at the start “get comfortable, if you’re not comfortable you won’t weld well”. You know what, he got that right! He had me do dry runs with the welder turned off and no mask and change my position to get things closer.

At the time I was on a green auto mask, I had a couple of Snap-On magnetic LED work lights close to the weld I wanted to make but it was still a bit hit and miss. I treated myself to a GYS Alien XXL true colour mask that was the biggest step change in the quality of my welding and most of the time no need for the LED lights. If you use reading glassed consider cheater lenses for the mask I find them much better than having glasses on under the mask.

Oh and the last point lots of practice it comes in the end.

 

[caprinut]

The Parkside auto true colour mask it's very slightly green tinted so that you wouldn't notice, otherwise as clear as day. A mag led is a must, I tried a tungsten lamp once on a tripod it was so bright it set off the mask.

Bert

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

I've welded with about half a dozen masks...my current 3m is by far the best...but the parweld true colour comes a close second. I can see a big difference in weld when I switch between masks.

Make sure the shade is set correctly...I set mine so it's clear enough to see the weld but doesn't give me glare.

When I first started I was scared of damaging my eyes so the shade was set far too dark...most masks will protect you from UV regardless of the shade.

 

[caprinut]

I try to buy as much as I can afford, that was easy when I was working just ask for some more overtime, so it was, when I had no time I could afford it, when I had time I couldn't afford it and fabrication isn't my side of engineering, the management (er indoors) wouldn't like it. I'm retired now so I've to had to modify my spend even further, plenty of time though. True Colour Masks are a step change for me and Parkside seams to be recommended as the budget spend on this site for the most part. I can buy another and still be quids in so I will buy a more expensive one after that, and I'm a hobbyist.

Bert

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

I think everything has gone up...the 3m is very expensive but the par weld isn't too bad. I think it's around £60 for the fancy one but I have the cheaper one. Am sure I paid maybe £40 for it. The true colour is a big step up from the green I reckon.

My first helmet was rubbish....but then I realised I hadn't peeled off the protective shipping film

 

[rtcosic]

...My first helmet was rubbish....but then I realised I hadn't peeled off the protective shipping film

Not just me then!

I didn't know to remove the protective film from the first set of smooth plastic number plates I ever bought as well.

 

[morssdn]

I have a double fluorescent light fitting on the wall above welding bench and a 50w led extendable desk lamp placed right over the workpiece. Otherwise I can’t see what I’m doing either even with a 3m fancy helmet.
Get as much light as you can on the joint. This applies even more with tig.

 

[caprinut]

There many dark areas in car body shell no amount of overhead light can help in most cases, I'm working in the wheel wells at the moment space is a premium so a rechargeable adjustable mag light is essential and the true colour helmet was a step change.

Bert

 

[Chad1082]

Just in case anyone is following this, I am advancing in years and need glasses so I purchased an LED light and it helped a huge amount, I now have a level 1 city & guilds in MIG welding!
I spoke to the instructor and he has had similar feedback so they are installing extra lighting in the booths soon.

 

[mveach99]

Bought a £25 Lidl/Parkside True colour welding helmet, Hurrah I can see !!!!!, has an integral led as well.

Bert

Yes, true color makes a world of difference