What do you see?

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Hi, quick question from a welding newbie....What do you watch when you weld and why when you're under the helmet?I'd like to see both the puddle and the surfaces I'm working on, but often all I can see is the arc itself.  if you think of welding two items at 90 degrees, you'd like to see where both surfaces mate so that you can penetrate both, and you'd like to see the puddle to know how much wire you've put down. I'm having a hard time seeing much other than the arc, and as a result, my welds are inconsistent.  Might be my $39 harbor freight helmet, but it's probably more esperience, or lack thereof.  The shade setting is set to 10.Any words of wisdom?-Chris
Reply:If its the cheap AD hood then that is likely the problem. I couldn't see when using one either, and have seen several posts from other people with the same problem. Get yourself a passive lens hood and keep clean lenses in it and I bet you will be able to see things better.When you are welding (and actually able to see) you watch the puddle so you know how much weld you have put down and where it is in the joint. Also need to look ahead so you can see where you are going.Airco Ac/Dc 300 HeliwelderMillerMatic 200 (stolen)Miller Maxstar 150STLMiller AEAD200LE (welding and generating power) Hobart MIG
Reply:You need to experiment with different shades, and hoods. I can see clearly 3 to 4-inches all around the puddle.Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by chrispoHi, quick question from a welding newbie....What do you watch when you weld and why when you're under the helmet?I'd like to see both the puddle and the surfaces I'm working on, but often all I can see is the arc itself.  if you think of welding two items at 90 degrees, you'd like to see where both surfaces mate so that you can penetrate both, and you'd like to see the puddle to know how much wire you've put down. I'm having a hard time seeing much other than the arc, and as a result, my welds are inconsistent.  Might be my $39 harbor freight helmet, but it's probably more esperience, or lack thereof.  The shade setting is set to 10.Any words of wisdom?-Chris
Reply:I'l point out that it took me quite a while to get the "vision" of what I was doing. Distiquishing the puddle from the arc from the base metals I had no clue where to look and if my weld looked good then it was just a miracle to me. lol! Go to youtube, watch Jody at welding tips and tricks, he has a lot of good arc shots that are easy to wwatch and get a vision for it; I was teaching my friend how to weld a while back and I showed him some of Jody's shots and pointed out what was what, and when we went back out to the shop he did really well for someone who had never done ANY welding before... Kudos to Jody and his nice work!
Reply:I think a lot of folks when first starting tend to get mesmerized by the arc and concentrate on it more than the puddle and each side of the joint. W/ practice this will change.                                                   MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:It's not what you see more like what you need to see..Now all at the same time you need to see where you are going... What you are welding and what you just did all at the same time.......zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Thanks, guys!  Much appreciated.I should add that I'm MIG welding.  I recently upgraded from flux core to MIG which made a nice improvement in both my weld quality and ability to see, given the lack of smoke from the flux.  --Chris
Reply:Originally Posted by chrispoI'm having a hard time seeing much other than the arc, and as a result, my welds are inconsistent.  Might be my $39 harbor freight helmet, but it's probably more esperience, or lack thereof.  The shade setting is set to 10.
Reply:Originally Posted by mla2ofusI think a lot of folks when first starting tend to get mesmerized by the arc and concentrate on it more than the puddle and each side of the joint. W/ practice this will change.                                                   Mike
Reply:Vision is one of the biggest problems I have teaching students to weld. As mentioned, in some cases if you can't see well, you may need to change your shade. lighter isn't always better. In some cases going darker blocks out a lot of the glare and improves vision. You need to train yourself to ignore the bright shiny light and look at what is going on around it.A decent set of optics is another biggie. I have had a lot of students with those cheap HF hoods. Optical quality of all of them has been poor at best. You'd be amazed at how many times I loan my hood to some one so I can run a few demo beads and all of a sudden they can see what is going on. Good optics makes a huge difference. However that doesn't mean you have to spend a ton of money. My $35 fixed shade Jackson has optics as good or better than my $300 Miller AD hood.Glasses. just because you don't need glasses to read or drive, doesn't mean you don't need glasses to weld well. Here's another area I constantly tell students, but it's not until either they get their eyes checked by a good eye Doc, or they try a few pairs of cheap reading glasses that they realize that they really DO need glasses to weld well.As far as where /what you need to see, that's sort of like trying to explain "red" to a blind person. Often new welders lack enough reference material to understand what they are seeing. The same thing happened when you started to drive. Today you can drive down the road, up and down hills and around corners, while changing the radio station and eating, and yet still maintain a constant speed without looking at the speedometer. There's all sorts of subtle things your mind picks up that you aren't fully conscious of. Engine rpms, how the car handles, how fast trees and poles are going by etc. This comes from repetitive practice. next time while driving, think about how hard it would be to tell someone how far down to press the accelerator pedal, or how far to turn the steering wheel to stay in your lane. yet you do this all the time, and probably never think about it t all. In many ways, welding is similar..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWGlasses. just because you don't need glasses to read or drive, doesn't mean you don't need glasses to weld well.
Reply:Sounds to me like you need the right shade to see whats going on. I have a miller auto tint lens that i cant stand. it supposed to be a shade 10 but when i weld with it all i can see is bright light. i quit using it because it just seems to light of a shade for me. Now with my gold #10 lens, i can see the puddle, slag, and base metal at the toes of the weld clear as day. Perhaps a darker lens is all you need.Operating Engineers Local 3Lincoln SA 200Victor TorchDewalt Grinder10 lbs SledgeWhat more do ya need!
Reply:Does anyone know anything about this gold lens from US Forge? Hardened glass, gold coated, inexpensive. http://www.amazon.com/US-Forge-99078...d+welding+lens I might try one in my Jackson to see if it's any different than my HF hood.
Reply:Speaking of glasses, when I had to start wearing prescription lenses I saw things going on in the puddle and around it I hadn't seen for several yrs,LOL!! For those having trouble arc welding go the store and try different power reading glasses until you get a clear focus about a foot or a little more away. Buy them and then try welding some more. If it helps then buy a cheater lense the same power for your hood.                                               MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:Originally Posted by chrispoHi, quick question from a welding newbie....What do you watch when you weld and why when you're under the helmet?-Chris
Reply:When running long joints with 7018 I strike my arc, turn my head and flip up my hood, pull out my phone and get on social media. It's a fun life
Reply:Originally Posted by mikecwikI often see monkeys riding tricycles and hear circus music playing....With mig I also tend to hide the arc with the nozzle and rarely see the wire. That is more peaceful too.
Reply:That won't work if you push the bead with mig. Personally I'd find I was blocking too much of the puddle even dragging to see well what is going on if I tried to block the arc with the nozzle.I see a lot of guys who manage to get away with doing things like this in flat and horizontal, because they aren't watching and reading the puddle, only doing "timing patterns". That may work great in those positions, but that almost never works vertical or overhead. that is what separates those who can weld, from those who just squirt metal in the general direction of the work..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:It works quite well vertical. I really spend most of my time timing because reading the puddle just does not seem to be worth the bother.
Reply:Originally Posted by Burnt GloveSounds to me like you need the right shade to see whats going on. I have a miller auto tint lens that i cant stand. it supposed to be a shade 10 but when i weld with it all i can see is bright light. i quit using it because it just seems to light of a shade for me. Now with my gold #10 lens, i can see the puddle, slag, and base metal at the toes of the weld clear as day. Perhaps a darker lens is all you need.