Thread: Welding Helmet Fogging Up

This topic has been flogged to death I am sure.

Yesterday I had no problems as it was unseasonably warm. Today is a different matter. I have tried a lens cleaner with anti fog ability and Fog-X. The powered respirator solution appears to be priced way out of my reach. I have read about using baby shampoo, dish detergent, soap, glycerine and even an onion rubbed on.

Many years ago I had an issue with a motor cycle helmet that I could not stop fogging up. I tried many things. I finally bought a lens cover that mounted to the inside of the existing lens with a small amount of seperation. This worked perfectly and permanently. This product was made by a company called Fog City. I have just sent them an email. They have a website which, very annoyingly has no content. I just don't understand why anyone would would put up a website which only has the message on every page that the page is under construction.

Does anyone have any knowledge of Fog City lenses for welding helmets? The lens could be cut to size from a larger piece. It needs double sided tape to space it from the main lens. I bought the Fog City lens from a motor cycle shop that closed down a long time ago.

Does anyone have another solution that works really well? I am wearing glasses under the helmet, but I am looking into getting a magnifying lens for the helmet. This will, I hope reduce the problem.

Dean

I actually found that the 'cheater lens' fogs up even easier than the normal inside lens. I think the issue is the shape of our faces (yours and mine). I've been trying to figure out a way to get my face slightly further away from the lens. That would work better with a larger/wider lens, I think.... Anyway, forces me to take more breaks....

I did wonder about the cheater lens fogging up like that. One problem is I am using a new pair of glasses designed for work like at a computer. They have a reading section at the bottom and clear for the rest. They are so you can read close up, but still see a screen etc at arms length or so. I find I have to pull the helmet close to my face to get the close up view lined up.

The Miller Elite helmet has an adjustment for forward/back position, but it is very small. No use for this purpose. This morning I only managed to do one 15mm long weld and start the next one before I realised I could not see. That is too many breaks.

I have been thinking about having some sort of shield to prevent my exhalation from reaching the lens. There is also the possibility of a small computer fan or 2 pushing air downwards.

Dean

Funny that you describe exactly what I do, Dean
I think you have something there about a small battery-powered fan blowing across the lens. I'll go and have a look at how I might do that in my helmet too. I have a small fan from a graphics card. It's a 5V centrifugal (or tangential) fan that is very flat and could be mounted to blow directly across the lens, without blowing into my face I think. All we really need is a little dry air circulation, to deflect your breath and perspiration vapour. That fan might draw its air through a vent on top with a little cowl so it sucks from the back, rather than catching potential sparks. I'll see what might be possible with my helmet.
I'm leaving tomorrow for Sydney, so there won;t be any sketches or anything coming for a fortnight. Let's experiment a bit. I suspect it would be an issue for other members as well.

I tried a cheater lens but it was not (optically) all that good and I have never used it since. I have a pair of Office Works reading glasses for welding as bifocal lenses don't work for me in that situation. I'm told that Cheap as Chips have something similar. I have found if you get them a power up from your reading glasses it helps too. With the right glasses you don't have to worry about the helmet position as much, so that may reduce the problem. The best method for avoiding the helmet fogging up is not breathing, but that can cause other problems...

Michael

Joe. Have a good time on your trip to Sydney. Did you get any offers of members to visit?

I have only just started using these glasses as I only got them a few weeks ago. I normally wear a pair of cheap reading glasses. Back to using them I think.

The best method for avoiding the helmet fogging up is not breathing, but that can cause other problems...

I read a lot of forum pages today looking for solutions to this problem. Guess what seemed to be the most common suggestion? There's always one.

Today I tried a couple of ideas. First I have to say I lied about the Fog-X. I saw that name mentioned and assumed it was the mate to Rain-X. What I have and used is Rain-X Anti Fog. I also tried normal Rain-X. It was no good. I tried this because lots of people on forums mentioned it. Now I realise it was the Anti Fog version they were talking about. I tried dish detergent. It introduces distortion so that was no good. I also tried silicon spray. Bad idea. That caused the lens to glaze over. Into the bin it went. That gave me the opportunity to try another idea. Spotlessly clean lens. I peeled the protective cover off both sides of a replacement lens and immediately breathed gently on it. No go. Works pretty well for the car windscreen, but I am not breathing on that. I have not tried rubbing the lens with an onion and I don't think I will.

I finished the wood box today so I don't have any major welding projects to do. I do have a couple of brackets to weld up for the shed extension end wall. I also have to weld some stuff for an 1800mm high back fence. Due to the fact that we now have saturated soil that is not going to happen for a month or two. The NBN satellite installation had to be cancelled because of this. I knew it would happen. First time in years the ground has been this wet.

Dean

I can't help but think of the scuba diver's trick to stop your diving mask fogging up: Spit on it.
RainX is the more refined way.
Cheers
- Mick

That was one of the suggestions mentioned. It was also said to not work by someone else. Divers masks are rinsed in water after the spit application.

Dean

Try one of those face masks that the bikies use, goes over your nose, I wear one under my full face helmet, stop the clear screen from fogging up in winter when on my m/cycle, can get them at any decent motorcycle store or off eBay.Other thing to try is a pinloc clear screen, similar to what you had on your helmet, you might be able to modify one of those to suit your welding helmet.DD

When I was on the workshop floor,we had the same problem.What was used was a wax like stick that was smeared on the lens and polished with a clean rag.

It came in a plain plastic container but had no name. Perhaps you might try at a safety supplies shop.
It was always a problem with the blokes that had wrap around type specs.

They do have a product in a tear open satchel but that might be expensive.

or
a DIY effort

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hRnnIR_I6k
just a few options

Grahame

Originally Posted by Oldneweng

This topic has been flogged to death I am sure.

Yesterday I had no problems as it was unseasonably warm. Today is a different matter. I have tried a lens cleaner with anti fog ability and Fog-X. The powered respirator solution appears to be priced way out of my reach. I have read about using baby shampoo, dish detergent, soap, glycerine and even an onion rubbed on.

potato is the go. Good for windscreens, diving goggles, and glass fronted fridges.