Tight spaces?? How to??

[jtj321]

Newbie again.
Been welding,... well I doubt you could dignify it with that really... under the wheel arch, helmet gets in the way, not enough light, what does everyone do for Pete's sake? Use one of those little welding glasses handheld? I struggled, maybe that's it, you struggle?
Cheers

 

[badabec]

I've tried "monkey welding goggles" but my cheapskate pair didn't allow for my nose. They were uncomfortable.
Plus a torch.

 

[jtj321]

I've tried "monkey welding goggles" but my cheapskate pair didn't allow for my nose. They were uncomfortable.
Plus a torch.

Thanks badabec I;ll have s look at monkey goggles

 

[tom2207]

fixed glass out of an oldschool mask , a mirror and some patience

 

[8ob]

A mirror, takes a while to get used to it but does work well.

Bob

 

[frank horton]

sounds like getting the job higher would help a lot.....
forget long solid beads, short welds that get longer alowing u to move around a bit....
at 76 dont really do that much car welding now.....
BUT before, if I couldn't weld it on my ramp I wouldn't start it.....
sorry this wont help...

 

[Cobbler]

A mirror, takes a while to get used to it but does work well.

Bob

Get a woman to do it, they are used to doing make up in a mirror. I read somewhere that when the Americans were building the Liberty Ships, if it was a hidden weld & difficult, they got the women to weld it as they could work with a mirror.

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

Monkey mask (I fitted a decent auto-darkening true-colour lens in mine, and hot glued the mask to the frame of some safety goggles to keep it in place over my eyes), leather jacket, and a welding blanket or leather apron to put over your legs/crotch.

Get the job as high as possible.

Without your mask or torch, get under there and move around until you can find the positions where you will be able to clearly see the weld puddle and move your torch properly.

Then if one of the positions you need to be in is uncomfortable, be willing to suffer for your art...

Work for as long as you can hold that position, then crawl out get some fresh air, and shake out your achey muscles, then get back at it.

But don't struggle, don't push on when your hands get shaky or you are too busy focusing on how uncomfortable you are that you can't pay attention to the weld.

 

[Matchless]

Without a full mask sunburn is a real danger, don't ask how I know!

 

[Robotstar5]

A mirror, takes a while to get used to it but does work well.

Bob

The guy in charge of the welders at one place could literally weld by "feel", we had a job on a fixture that would mean hours while we stripped the machine to gain access, he slid his arm down the side of the fixture and with the torch pointing back towards him did the weld by "feel" we got a mirror in afterwards and although the weld wasn't perfect it did the job well enough to keep the machine running until the weekend when we could strip it for a better job.

 

[marlinspike]

These type of lights are handy, either rechargeable or mains.

 

[Blobber]

These are really good, tiny enough to poke any place with a really strong magnet in the base, they last about an hour but I have 3 in rotation

My welding isnt always the best so I try and get any repairs/patches positioned so I can attack them with a grinder

 

[jtj321]

sounds like getting the job higher would help a lot.....
forget long solid beads, short welds that get longer alowing u to move around a bit....
at 76 dont really do that much car welding now.....
BUT before, if I couldn't weld it on my ramp I wouldn't start it.....
sorry this wont help...

Ha ha, you're my sort of guy, yep more height would've good, I've added a 4 post lift to my Amazon wish list though.....

 

[jtj321]

Monkey mask (I fitted a decent auto-darkening true-colour lens in mine, and hot glued the mask to the frame of some safety goggles to keep it in place over my eyes), leather jacket, and a welding blanket or leather apron to put over your legs/crotch.

Get the job as high as possible.

Without your mask or torch, get under there and move around until you can find the positions where you will be able to clearly see the weld puddle and move your torch properly.

Then if one of the positions you need to be in is uncomfortable, be willing to suffer for your art...

Work for as long as you can hold that position, then crawl out get some fresh air, and shake out your achey muscles, then get back at it.

But don't struggle, don't push on when your hands get shaky or you are too busy focusing on how uncomfortable you are that you can't pay attention to the weld.

Thanks Jelly, great and comprehensive advice, this forum is just the most sharing and friendly place, love it! Thankyou

 

[jtj321]

These are really good, tiny enough to poke any place with a really strong magnet in the base, they last about an hour but I have 3 in rotation
View attachment 508533
My welding isnt always the best so I try and get any repairs/patches positioned so I can attack them with a grinder

Cheers Blobber, i was wondering about which light to get!

 

[jtj321]

If I've missed anyone i apologise
Many thanks. Great support!!

 

[harveyp6]

These type of lights are handy, either rechargeable or mains.

View attachment 508532

I bought one of those. First time I used it it got a little bit too close to where I was welding..........

 

[Matchless]

The guy in charge of the welders at one place could literally weld by "feel", we had a job on a fixture that would mean hours while we stripped the machine to gain access, he slid his arm down the side of the fixture and with the torch pointing back towards him did the weld by "feel" we got a mirror in afterwards and although the weld wasn't perfect it did the job well enough to keep the machine running until the weekend when we could strip it for a better job.

Sound as much as feel I suspect!