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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2020
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    BKK
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    Default Vision quality through welding mask auto-glass

    I am just starting my adventure with MIG welding.
    I bought "economically priced" welding helmet, which
    is equipped with sensitivity, and darkening level
    controls. I have tried various settings, and set it like
    midway both.

    While welding I either see barely anything, or after
    trigger is pressed I see very bright arc but not the
    piece that I am trying to weld. Why ?

    - is it because of the quality of auto-glass (or lack thereof) ?

    - is it because of the age (close to retirement) ?

    - is it because of the light level (indoors) ?

    - is there any other factor involved ?

    or it is just a combination of all above, and I should
    simply get used to it and develop other senses to
    figure which way I should move the torch ?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Melbourne
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    9,088

    Default

    Are you sure the helmet is triggering?

    You don't happen to have a lot of light coming from behind your head do you?
    That can light up the inside of the helmet and make life harder than it needs to be.

  3. #3
    BobL is online now Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Perth
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    7,183

    Default

    flat battery?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2020
    Location
    Greendale Vic. Australia
    Posts
    64

    Default Me too...

    I used to enjoy oxy welding, something nice and 'artful' about moving that little pool of molten metal about, but the cylinder rentals became too much for the amount of usage it got, so I surrendered it.
    I hate my $10 arc welder, it works fine, but it's a horrible violent process ain't it! And...

    I have the same problem with the auto helmet/visor. It's working but it's either too dark to see the work, or too bright at the arc to see the work.
    I'm a little paranoid about adjusting the settings. My eyes are my only valuable asset!!!

    I'm thinking of buying a cheap MIG. Should I? Would MIG be easier?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    9,088

    Default

    I'm a little confused. "It's working but it's either too dark to see the work, or too bright at the arc to see the work." Doesn't that mean you have adjusted it?
    Is it adjustable shade or just sensitivity? If its an old fixed shade for TIG or MIG welding it may well be to dark for stick. As I recall MIG requires about 2 shades darker than stick, can't remember the number for TIG but its brighter still. But I'm old and forgetful so wait until someone agrees with me

    Quote Originally Posted by joolstacho View Post
    I'm a little paranoid about adjusting the settings. My eyes are my only valuable asset!!!

    I'm thinking of buying a cheap MIG. Should I? Would MIG be easier?
    I think you will find "pretty much" all the harmful stuff is stopped by the lens regardless(light/dark on/off)

    Can't help with the "easier" part, as I have never stick welded with an auto helmet.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2020
    Location
    Greendale Vic. Australia
    Posts
    64

    Default Thanks

    It's a fully adjustable visor:
    Auto switch on
    Solar with LiIon (backup)
    Auto darkening / switching time adjustable
    Dark shade range setting
    Light shade number (Sensitivity?)
    Recovery delay adjustability

    I'm sure this is a 'user issue'! Aged eyes will not be helping! ("But I'm old and forgetful") LOL.
    I need to experiment a bit more. Just that so far, I've found it difficult to see where I'm going on the work because once it's 'struck' it's dark apart from the actual arc which is very bright, so it's hard to see the direction you need to go in.

    Perhaps this isn't the right place to ask, but how much better would MIG be than my old arc welder, -should I spend a few hundred bucks?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    near Rockhampton
    Posts
    6,216

    Default

    Is it on grinding mode?
    Gold, the colour of choice for the discerning person.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2020
    Location
    Greendale Vic. Australia
    Posts
    64

    Default Grinding?

    Sorry I don't understand the question "is it on grinding mode".
    We were talking about welding yes?
    Are there welding masks that are made for grinding operations too?

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
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    near Rockhampton
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    Default

    Every modern new auto darkening welding helmet I have seen, even the cheap ones have grinding mode, when they will not go dark. So you can use them for eye protection when grinding.

    In fact the ones I have recommend when finished use of them, to put them in grinding mode so as not to flatten the battery.
    Gold, the colour of choice for the discerning person.

  10. #10
    BobL is online now Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Perth
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    Default

    I doubt it's in grinding mode - because even when the OP's welding its still too dark. If it was in grinding mode he would be "blinded by the light"!

    When this happened to mine it turned out to be a flat battery.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    NSW
    Posts
    586

    Default

    Junk helmet, bad eyes.
    If you got cheap eyes, get cheap helmet.
    Even something around the $300 mark is 10x better than the $40 ebay specials, or the $80 'home brand' units from the usual suspects.

    Welding shade is a function of Amperage, give or take a shade or so for the welder's eyes and preference.
    Most MIG/MAG under 180A i'm on shade 9-10.
    Most TIG is at sh9.

    Where the better helmets excel is ability to identify an arc accurately at low amperages. Plus the optical clarity is waaaaay better.
    after using a good helmet, Cheap ares are like looking thru a window smeared with butter...

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Oct 2020
    Location
    Greendale Vic. Australia
    Posts
    64

    Default $2.50 eyes?

    Or $2.50 brain?

    So it's the old story then... the answer is to spend more money? That's 'the tip' is it?
    Some of us just don't have the money to spend on the 'supposed' best equipment.
    And many decades on this planet have taught me that in many many many cases, the pricey stuff is no better than the cut-price stuff.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
    Posts
    6,446

    Default

    Hi grumpy.i.m
    Welcome to the forums,

    You do not tell us if you wear prescription glasses .
    If you do wear glasses, the focal length of those glasses can be important. Do you require glasses to read?. See if length from eye to what are welding corresponds to your personal reading focal length

    Those who don't need glasses don't appreciate this as there can be problems with the bifocal line up with that spot you are trying to weld on.

    A work around can be a cheap pair of glasses as often found on a display tree in the pharmacy or sometimes in the shopping centers.These glasses are marked in different strengths with sticky labels on the glasses. One tries on the various pairs and finds what suits best..

    Another factor not mentioned often is that a shield if well used will likely need a fresh clear protective lense.

    As well as getting smudged externally, the lense can be covered with a gas residue from the arc. If the cover lense does not respond to a clean,replace it.
    The lenses used to be referred to as 1000hr lenses but none that I used ever lasted that long.

    Modern large window shields seem to use a non standard dimension lense which is either costly or not readily available in the cheaper versions.

    If I hang my shield uncovered, on the wall, the dust in the atmosphere will coat the lens distorting vision to slight degree.

    If you are really doing a lot of welding on a really hot and humid day, the lense can fog up from your own perspiration and a creme used on safety glasses lenses could be polished on to the lense.

    With that being said it could be that the shield is not performing as it should.

    I suggest doing some of those simple,easy and cheap things first ( as described in posts above ) before discarding your shield.

    Grahame

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
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    Default

    grumpy.i.m

    Can you see something like this?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZDosXn8S2g.

    The welder should be able to clearly see the arc, welding wire , nozzle and a small area of the joint or area to be welded. I would say the shade if adjustable on the Utube sample could be a bit lighter, though.

    Have you welded with another process or is Mig your first time ?.

    If your shield window is a smaller one -say roughly- 90 x 50mm -they vary, then magnifying diopter lenses are available.Don't know about the bigger sizes.

    Grahame

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Dec 2020
    Location
    BKK
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    8

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Stustoys View Post
    Are you sure the helmet is triggering?]
    Yes, I do.

    Quote Originally Posted by You don't happen to have a lot of light coming from behind your head do you?
    That can light up the inside of the helmet and make life harder than it needs to be.
    It makes me think that I really got something messed up here. When there is some light getting to the helmet from behind I can actually see thorugh the glass somewhat better.

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