Ever melted your hood/lense while welding?

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Anyone ever melted their hood or lense while welding?  I never did it until yesterday.  I was welding vertical on several pieces of steel that all came in and touched.  4 pieces, 3 welds in almost the same spot.  3/8" steel, 1/16" wire, 29.5 volts.  It was on the ground level and I had to stick my head right above it to see one of the welds.  All of a sudden it looked like water droplets all over my lense like I fogged it up.  When I took it off to wipe the inside there was nothing there.  I looked on the front and saw that it boiled my lense it was so hot.  That was just the radiant heat.
Reply:I've done it several times. 5/64 flux core at 525 amps. Make sure your filter lens hasn't been damaged and that the hood is not warped around the lense window. Sometimes if the hood is warped it may not get a good fit with the gasket around the cover and filter lens and will let UV light get into the hood.  Check carefully.Last edited by reddoggoose; 08-24-2007 at 07:44 PM.Arguing with a Welding Engineer is like wrestling with a pig... after a while you realize the pig likes it
Reply:I watched my son melt a tinted face shield when I taught him to braze. DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Not since '73 when I started using glass covers. Wont distort like plastic and you can wipe the smoke off without scratching them.
Reply:Personally, I prefer to keep my face out of places like that.    I haven't melted one that badly, but I came close. I stopped welding when I smelled the plastic smell.
Reply:Originally Posted by WelderBoyAnyone ever melted their hood or lense while welding?  I never did it until yesterday.  I was welding vertical on several pieces of steel that all came in and touched.  4 pieces, 3 welds in almost the same spot.  3/8" steel, 1/16" wire, 29.5 volts.  It was on the ground level and I had to stick my head right above it to see one of the welds.  All of a sudden it looked like water droplets all over my lense like I fogged it up.  When I took it off to wipe the inside there was nothing there.  I looked on the front and saw that it boiled my lense it was so hot.  That was just the radiant heat.
Reply:Originally Posted by DDA52Personally, I prefer to keep my face out of places like that.    I haven't melted one that badly, but I came close. I stopped welding when I smelled the plastic smell.
Reply:Originally Posted by DDA52I haven't melted one that badly, but I came close. I stopped welding when I smelled the plastic smell.
Reply:Even snapped a few filter lenses when the blasted stay-clear cooled. Would warp and put to much pressure on the filter, nice clean break. And those hoods will distort like reddoggoose said too...lolAnything worth doing is worth doing RIGHT
Reply:Originally Posted by reddoggooseDDA52 is right on the money. KEEP YOUR FACE OUT OF THE PLUME.
Reply:Originally Posted by TEKNot since '73 when I started using glass covers. Wont distort like plastic and you can wipe the smoke off without scratching them.
Reply:I remember doing it quite often, years back, when I used to weld for Joy Manufacturing, in their foundry, on big castings, which could weigh a ton or more. I would be welding, trying to finish the bead out, and I could watch things distort more and more. I don't know how I didn't mess up the welds, other than keeping the same hand speed, twisting my head to try to look through a better spot, and I'm sure, some luck too. I used to keep my head low, to see everything well, but the castings sometimes had a big area, or multiple areas to do, and got pretty HOT. There were also sometimes many areas on the casting that had been gouged out and welded, and that would help keep the whole thing hot. I never thought to check my helmet back then for leaks though. that is something to keep in mind.Daryle.
Reply:So, You're back on the job? How's the back doing?
Reply:Originally Posted by tresiSo, You're back on the job? How's the back doing?
Reply:your back is wet? it's tight like a power line? or it droops like a power line  I know I'm missing something...Fire!, Fire! Oh wait, that's my torch...Lincoln PT-225 TIGLincoln 175 MIG
Reply:Originally Posted by WelderBoySometimes you have no option.  In my case, my work shoves me in the tightest spot possible with the trickiest welds.  So I just have to stick it in and go.  Many times blind, but if I have to stick my head right over it I do.  I also wear a respirator all day long whether it is a confined space or outside.
Reply:Originally Posted by Vipernut  your back is wet? it's tight like a power line? or it droops like a power line  I know I'm missing something...
Reply:Originally Posted by reddoggooseI know how it is when your in tight spots, and its good you wear a respirator, but remember. You have only two eyes, they're not interchangable and God don't give warranties . Same goes for your lungs.
Reply:Dang, WB....are you sure you want to be doing this stuff much longer?  Sounds like your warranty is up. I have yet to have any of those troubles after 23 years and I even welded nothing but galv for nearly 10 years straight. Maybe you aren't holding your mouth right?
Reply:Originally Posted by DDA52Dang, WB....are you sure you want to be doing this stuff much longer?  Sounds like your warranty is up. I have yet to have any of those troubles after 23 years and I even welded nothing but galv for nearly 10 years straight.
Reply:Originally Posted by WelderBoyI did galvanized steel stud welding for a long time and we didn't have respirators
Reply:Originally Posted by olddadThere's the problem right there. A friend of mine used to weld galvanized until he started coughing up blood and then his hair started falling out in patches.
Reply:i melted a hood at work with my dad , sat my miller auto dark on the floor of a  dump truck and they had preheat going from lg gas and it melted it
Reply:wheres the pics???
Reply:Long before there was OSHA that cement dust killed my grand dad. Looks like you got out of that trade just in time.Originally Posted by WANNAWELDwheres the pics???
Reply:I have melted several gold lenses doing spray aluminum and flux core.
Reply:melted through two autodarks in one day!! hot day running large diameter wire standing on I-beam right next to a 36 in pile i was splicing/hugging about 30' up Thats one of the reasons I dont use ad's anymore!!
Reply:Ouch.  Ya, I don't use them anymore either except in spots too tight to flip a hood down.
Reply:Nope..Had one break into a gazillion pieces one time from too much spatter raining down on it.... but melt?...Nope.....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:that distorted lens sorta reminds me  welding in the rain.
Reply:Originally Posted by WelderBoyOuch.  Ya, I don't use them anymore either except in spots too tight to flip a hood down.