On Tue, 23 Mar 2004 00:21:58 GMT, Richard Lamb
wrote:


I haven't tried a Cobalt Blue filter yet because of the cost, but I've
been reading about it. Supposedly this will reduce the glow of the hot
metal to the point where all you really see is the molten puddle.

I'd like to try one before shelling out that much money.
Has anyone tried one?

Opinions?


Richard

I just got the filter from Tinman. I bit the bullet and paid for it,
rationalizing that it's my eys and they deserve the best protection I
can get them.

When I first tried using them, I was disappointed. Not because of the
performance of the glasses and tint, but because of the goggles that
you have to use with the plate. The goggles would be fine if I didn't
have bifocal classes, the type that do not have a line demarking the
distance from close up. They have a narrow focal point for closeup
viewing and you really have to look out the bottom of the glasses. No
problem normally, I've long since gotten used to doing that. But the
goggles literally cut off that portion of the view.

At least the face shield I was using allowed me my full range of
viewing. I could tilt my head back and get the focus I needed. Plus
the full face shield blocked the heat from the welding process and
protected my face from spatter.

With the MUCH smaller goggles, even though they protect my eyes, my
face does not get any protection and I SURE noticed the heat from the
weld, something that I'd been oblivious to when welding with a full
face shield.

As to the actual viewing of the puddle, honestly I did not notice an
enormous difference or improvement. I was so busy shifting the
goggles around and tipping them down so I could use the bottom portion
of my glasses that I was a bit put off at first.

Then I did my old trick of simply putting on a second pair of glasses
over my regular glasses, a cheapo pair of X2 reading glasses I bought
at a discount store. That worked fine, if a bit awkwardly. The
goggles fit over both so it's no biggie.

So they do work, but I wasn't having any problems seeing the puddle
with my full face shield. I just thought that they'd REALLY make
things different. They certainly aren't any worse, in terms of seeing
the puddle, when I have both sets of glasses on and in fact Tinman
sells a set of magnafiers that fit into the goggles, if you feel you
want them.

Will I continue using them? Of course, they offer the best eyeball
protection from the flares I can buy. I'll put up with a little bit
of annoyance for that protection.

Corky Scott