age old problem

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Used to be that I could run as pretty a bead as any one. As time goes by and the addition of bi-focals, I am having a hard time seeing what I am welding. Puddles look like crap, welding beside the crack and just generally making a mess of anything I stick a welder to.  Seem to have a harder time with the mig than the stick. Any suggestions from other oldtimers on how to help with the sight problem. Everything just seems to dark to see, even with the flash of the welder.  Have considered using a lighter lens but am afraid I will make matters worse. Opinions please.
Reply:It ain't a cheap suggestion, but you should get an auto dark hood. I used a flip hood for years. I recently switched to auto dark and was amazed at how much better I could see. The premium ones ( Miller Big Window, Optrel Satellite, Hornel Speedglas etc) have superior optics that will let you see much more clearly than the el cheapos. Plus you can adjust the shade #. On most it is in a range of 9 to 12 or 13. The lenses are 100% UV resistant. You can even use magnifyer lenses with them.If you don't want to go that route, try out some mag lenses for the standard hoods.
Reply:You might also try a gold lens in the hood you have you should be able to get them in several different shades. I think the one I have in my hood is a number 9. I also have used a cheater lens in the past while removing the bifocals. Now I have trifocals they took a long time getting used to them as never seemed to be in the right spot at first to see anything. The gold lens though in the welding hood was a big improvement. I have  a couple of different welding hoods in my shop I usually use the gold lens in the non adjustable hood and use it a lot when either stick welding or when running flux core. The auto darkening hood I use mainly when I am mig welding. It works well also. Mine was not an expensive one I think about $90.00 I keep it set at around 9-10 range.If you are wondering why I use one helment for flux and one for mig it has a lot to do with lazyness I imagine. For one thing I am not having to clean the lens near so often when mig welding so I figure I am not as likely to scratch up the self darkening if I don't have to wipe it off so  much. The second reason is My self darkening hood has flames on it and the mig welding doesn't smoke it up like the stick and flux core do. Again less cleaning the auto darkening hood.
Reply:I only use an auto darkeing hood but mine isnt adjustable it is a fixed 10. Thought about the magnifier lens but others use my welder and the hood might screw them up. I guess what they get for borrowing. LOL. Bifocals are a btch. Cant never seem to position my head so I am looking thru the bottom of the glasses.  One thing I found that helps sort of is to use my shop lite when welding. I will set the light so that it is shineing right on the weld. The extra brightness makes it easier to see the crack. Probably  just need to get an adjustable lens for the hood and a good pair of reading glasses.
Reply:The first thing I would try would be to focus more light on the item you are trying to weld.
Reply:First Throw away the old style hood and get yourself the auto dorkening setup. Once you use it, you won't go back to the other. It's like going to the dark ages. Like the other guys have said, get some cheater lenses for the hood, even if you have to get prescription ones. If you intend to weld, and want to do it right, you've got to be able to see. There's no substitute. barring that, putting light on the object you are welding is good. Not sure, with a self darkening lense, if this will work, as these are light sensitive, and will darken from to much light. I would recomend the variable lense ones, regardless.  I tried using one of my old hoods, after busting my new darking lens, took me about ten minutes to decide, that it was time to buy another self darkening lense. I ended up at Harbour freight and bought two hoods, one for 30$, and one for 60$. One has adjustments and a big lense, the other is a small non adjustable lense.  I won't be without one, from now on, I've got a spare. Money well spent. Bite the bullit, you will be glad you did. Best move I ever made, and new I should have made it years ago, just to stuborn to do it. Probably would have helped save my eyes over the years from all the flash burn I've gotten. I've got cateracts, in both eye's now. getting steadily worse. I feel all the flash I've recieved, over the years, has contributed to this. Merry ChristmasRichSure hope I get to them golden years I keep hearing about. The ones I'm living now, hurt like the devil. Youth is wasted on the young.
Reply:before you go throwing $200-300 away go get a new #10 shade lens and give that a shot, the helmit you have may have a #12 in it and they are for higher amps then what you are most likely using
Reply:The auto darkening technology, as with most all electronics, is coming down in price.  Remember when a VCR cost $1000?I just bought an InWeld adjustable, solar powered helmet for $107.  It is new on the market and I am VERY pleased.  I wear Tri Focals and this was an absolute God send for me.  I've had a fixed shade 10 auto darkening helmet for several years and although it was a help, the fixed shade was really not working all that great for me.This is without a doubt the best Hundred and Seven welding dollars that I've ever spent.Try an ADJUSTABLE auto dark and I think it is the solution you are looking for.Merry Christmas,Doc"I live so far out in the boondocks, my TV runs on Propane."
Reply:64f100 if you have a problem with cateracts now you should not be using a auto dark helmit, you get flashed every time you start the arc, you may not notice it but I am sure your cateracts will. Light travels a lot faster than your helmit reacts, even the best of them.
Reply:1/25,000 of a second worh of flash with full UV protection isn't going to hurt your eyes. All the harmful radiation is filtered out and the flash is so fast, your eyes can't register it. If they could, everyone would be seeing blue spots all the time. ....Like this one..... Don FWIW, I wouldn't use the cheap auto darks. I prefer the better optics since my eyes are the only ones I have. They work very well, even after nearly a year with a Miller Big Window. I do agree with the gold lens comment. I used them for nearly 20 years. Like 'em a lot and still use them on occasion. The auto lens quality is way better than even the gold.
Reply:its not the uz rays doing the damage at that point the bright flash puts burn blisters on the inside of your eyes  and when it takes light about .000000009 to reach your eyes .00025 doesnt sound that quick to me
Reply:As with most all fast moving technologies, they are obsoleted in VERY short order.  Any auto dark lens of 2 or more years ago, regardless of who made it or how much it costs is obsoleted by the latest, less expensive solar technology.The new InWeld has UV protection at a DIN 16 level at all times.  As I understand, it's UV that does the cateract damage.I feel very confident with my new solar powered lens even though it didn't cost as much as others.Merry Christmas,Doc"I live so far out in the boondocks, my TV runs on Propane."
Reply:I had that problem too, with my shop lights reflecting from behind me in the helmet. I bought one of those halogen work lights on a tripod, 500 watts. Lights up the work just fine- I usually wait a few seconds for my eyes to adjust, then have at it.
Reply:You can get a prescription lense for your helmet.  That should make things better.Millermatic 175Miller Sychrowave 180sd
Reply:MUDDSTOPPER,I forgot when I was responding before.  I had a cheap set of glasses made with only the middle prescription of my trifocals.  I had them made for computer use, but the distance to the computer monitor and to a bead is about the same.  I sometimes where them when I'm welding, when I remember to take them out to the shop.They work quite well.  I think they cost $45.  If you need to use the bottom of your bi focals, but have trouble getting them positioned, you might consider taking your prescription to the Wal Mart or other low end optical store and have some made in some cheap but sturdy frames.Good luck and Merry Christmas,"I live so far out in the boondocks, my TV runs on Propane."
Reply:Thanks for all the advice. I already use an auto darking helment but am thinking about getting one that is adjustable. Mine is a fixed 10. I was worried about getting to lite and burning my eyes. The tripod halogen lites do help but sometimes they are hard to focus when welding on already manufactured equipment. Sometimes its hard to get to with the welder much less another light. I am going to try using reading glasses. I am due for an eye exam so I will ask the doc for her suggestions.
Reply:I've got those no-line bifocals which work pretty good for most things when you can tilt your head to get the right focus.  Of course looking thru a helmet kinda limits your options.  I've got a large window, fixed shade that helped quite a bit.  I was looking to get a large window auto helmet, kinda expensive for a hobby so I'm still holding off on that purchase.  I talked to my eye doc about options and he suggested those prescriptions that are designed for computer monitor use that somebody else in this thread mentioned.  Still haven't made that purchase either but after crawling around under my sons car for a while (auto transmission rebuild) and having that same problem of not being able to get my head tilted so I could focus on what I was trying to see I'm thinking about it again.Let us know what recommendation you get from your eye doc.TinkerCentury 135GS, ThermalArc 250GTS
Reply:A bigger lens would definatly help. Havent checked on the price of one yet. My wife is supposed to make me an eye appointment with the doc. Let you know what she suggestes. Probably be to quit welding. LOL