Learning to weld with a non-aircraft project

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

Corky,
At the risk of sounding completely naive (I know nothing of welding)
couldn't you replace the lens/filter in the full face shield you were using
with a TM2000 lens/filter?

Russell Kent

On Tue, 23 Mar 2004 09:55:04 -0600, Russell Kent
wrote:

Corky,
At the risk of sounding completely naive (I know nothing of welding)
couldn't you replace the lens/filter in the full face shield you were using
with a TM2000 lens/filter?

Russell Kent

Ah, sorry, I did not describe the face shield properly: It's a full
plexiglass shield, not a face shield with a little window in it.

Yes, had it been the face shield with the window in it, I could have
replaced that window with the tinted glass from Tinman. But I would
have experienced the same problematic cutting off of the lower field
of view that I need for proper focusing.

Using the plexiglass face shield, you don't have to worry about
cutting off your field of vision, the entire shield is see through
tinted plastic.

Does that explain things better?

Corky Scott

Corky Scott wrote:

Ah, sorry, I did not describe the face shield properly: It's a full
plexiglass shield, not a face shield with a little window in it.

Yes, had it been the face shield with the window in it, I could have
replaced that window with the tinted glass from Tinman. But I would
have experienced the same problematic cutting off of the lower field
of view that I need for proper focusing.

Using the plexiglass face shield, you don't have to worry about
cutting off your field of vision, the entire shield is see through
tinted plastic.

Does that explain things better?

Yes, much. So theoretically you could cut a rectangular window in the
plexiglass shield (positioned appropriately for your vision issues) and insert
the tinted glass rectangle from Tinman. That way your primary field of vision
is properly protected, yet you still have some secondary field vision, too.

I have no idea if this is workable, however.

Russell Kent

On Tue, 23 Mar 2004 14:06:19 -0600, Russell Kent
wrote:

Corky Scott wrote:

Ah, sorry, I did not describe the face shield properly: It's a full
plexiglass shield, not a face shield with a little window in it.

Yes, had it been the face shield with the window in it, I could have
replaced that window with the tinted glass from Tinman. But I would
have experienced the same problematic cutting off of the lower field
of view that I need for proper focusing.

Using the plexiglass face shield, you don't have to worry about
cutting off your field of vision, the entire shield is see through
tinted plastic.

Does that explain things better?

Yes, much. So theoretically you could cut a rectangular window in the
plexiglass shield (positioned appropriately for your vision issues) and insert
the tinted glass rectangle from Tinman. That way your primary field of vision
is properly protected, yet you still have some secondary field vision, too.

I have no idea if this is workable, however.

Russell Kent

There are actually full face shields that are designed to have the
narrow window that the goggles use. These are the shields you often
see guys wearing who are doing TIG and MIG welding, as well as stick
welding. The reason for the full face protection is because there is
often a lot of spatter from the welding process when using MIG and you
definately don't want those molten droplets hitting your face.

The lense in these shields is often so dark that you literally cannot
see your work with the shield down, so you get yourself arranged with
the shield up, and configured so that it will drop down over your face
with a nod. Then you get set to weld, hold you hands where they need
to be, nod your head and begin.

Welding with Oxygen and Acetylene is different. The face shield isn't
so dark, it's more like dark glasses. You can see with it down so you
don't have to get yourself so pre-arranged before dropping the shield:
You can pull the shield down, light the torch, adjust the flame and
begin.

The lense that I got from The Tinman is a bit lighter than what I've
used in the past so this aspect makes it easier to use. It's also
configured to protect your eyes from the flares encountered while
brazing, in addition to protecting your eyes from the damaging rays
produced when welding.

When I said I could replace the lense of a full face shield, I did not
mean that I would take my full face tinted shield and cut a hole in
it. I meant that I could have bought a full face shield that had the
little window, the same size as the lense I got from Tinman, and
exchange them.

But y'know, you've got me thinking. I'll go out to the shop tonight
and have a look at the whole lense enclosure and see if it might be
possible to graft it on to the tinted face shield. That might give me
the best of both worlds. Thanks for the suggestion.

Corky Scott

In article ,
says...

There are actually full face shields that are designed to have the
narrow window that the goggles use. These are the shields you often
see guys wearing who are doing TIG and MIG welding, as well as stick
welding. The reason for the full face protection is because there is
often a lot of spatter from the welding process when using MIG and you
definately don't want those molten droplets hitting your face.

The lense in these shields is often so dark that you literally cannot
see your work with the shield down, so you get yourself arranged with
the shield up, and configured so that it will drop down over your face
with a nod. Then you get set to weld, hold you hands where they need
to be, nod your head and begin.

I removed the dark lense from the shield and put in the Tinman's lense.
He offers one lense that fits into this type of shield. I can flip it up
to light the torch and position the work. I flip it down for the actual
welding. It works for me but I do not do high production type welding.


m alexander

In article ,
(m alexander) wrote:

In article ,
says...

There are actually full face shields that are designed to have the
narrow window that the goggles use. These are the shields you often
see guys wearing who are doing TIG and MIG welding, as well as stick
welding. The reason for the full face protection is because there is
often a lot of spatter from the welding process when using MIG and you
definately don't want those molten droplets hitting your face.

The lense in these shields is often so dark that you literally cannot
see your work with the shield down, so you get yourself arranged with
the shield up, and configured so that it will drop down over your face
with a nod. Then you get set to weld, hold you hands where they need
to be, nod your head and begin.

I removed the dark lense from the shield and put in the Tinman's lense.
He offers one lense that fits into this type of shield. I can flip it up
to light the torch and position the work. I flip it down for the actual
welding. It works for me but I do not do high production type welding.


m alexander


The real reason for the dark and opaque face shields for TIG/MIG welding
is that any electro-arc welding generates lots of UV, which can cause
severe "sunburn" and skin cancer. Be sure to cover up when using any
electro-arc welder!

Orval Fairbairn wrote:


The real reason for the dark and opaque face shields for TIG/MIG welding
is that any electro-arc welding generates lots of UV, which can cause
severe "sunburn" and skin cancer. Be sure to cover up when using any
electro-arc welder!

Hear!Hear!

And the sunburn hurts, too!

--
http://www.ernest.isa-geek.org/
"Ignorance is mankinds normal state,
alleviated by information and experience."
Veeduber

The lense in these shields is often so dark that you literally cannot
see your work with the shield down, so you get yourself arranged with
the shield up, and configured so that it will drop down over your face
with a nod. Then you get set to weld, hold you hands where they need
to be, nod your head and begin.



I bought one of these electronic units that allow you to see your work, then
darken as soon as you strike an arc.

A super investment.

Cheers:

Paul
NC2273H

"Corky Scott" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 23 Mar 2004 09:55:04 -0600, Russell Kent
wrote:

Corky,
At the risk of sounding completely naive (I know nothing of welding)
couldn't you replace the lens/filter in the full face shield you were
using
with a TM2000 lens/filter?

Russell Kent

Ah, sorry, I did not describe the face shield properly: It's a full
plexiglass shield, not a face shield with a little window in it.

Yes, had it been the face shield with the window in it, I could have
replaced that window with the tinted glass from Tinman. But I would
have experienced the same problematic cutting off of the lower field
of view that I need for proper focusing.

Using the plexiglass face shield, you don't have to worry about
cutting off your field of vision, the entire shield is see through
tinted plastic.

Does that explain things better?

Corky Scott

Why don't you get a pair of custom bifocals? You can get them with the
bottom 2/3rds of the lens the strong part, with just a bit over the top for
distance vision. I have a pair like that, and the difference is remarkable.
No more stiff neck.
--
Jim in NC


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