Vision loss

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Ok so I’ve talked about my vision issues before. Review I used to do near micro tig welding and still have equipment. A recent test of myselft left me saying “ what are you doing out in the shop? “ doctor said he’d have me committed if I get hurt agai.  A stroke has left me with double vision and not good in the first place. It has to do with how the optic nerves from your eyes are seen by your brain.  No I’m not brain dead yet but just typing this is extremely difficult ehich I why you will se nonsensical words . I try and correct but dome times I judge plain don’t see the mistakes. No need to feel sorry for me life has been a good run for me as we say in sports. I tried some fine SS welding that I was easily able to do before the stroke. I was fortunate not much else was damaged other thsn I don’t hear any better than I see. I don’t drive anymore as the doc said it could happen again at any time. It one th8ng to live on borrowed time but worse when you don’t know the end is near. Least that’s how I look at it. We’re it not for computer zoom I could not read. I read all day long every day. It’s said if it’s left laying around long enough I’ll read. It. It’s really frustrating. I have all the magnifier bi focal safety glasses. To the point of having half a dozen on the table at any given time.  I’m down to helping my grandson learn tig welding and machine shop work.  I use my portable lighted magnifying glass to look at his welds and machine work.  Some times I think he’d like to just tell me to sit in the office until I’m done.  I see some doctors using monocular or even binocular things like small bi noculars. They have a head band but I doubt it would work under a hood.  Anyone else deal with this. I’ve already tried an eye patch but that doesn’t work very well. I tried welding a perfectly notched 4139 race car joint but it looked terrible.  I tried wire weldin some aluminum plate but I missed the seam completely. I may have to just close the cover on this line of work. I tried reading a long tape measurement. I used to be able to cut aluminum on the radial saw down to splitting the lines in half . Noe I can’t even see the correct mark. I have a large scale digital vernier caliper and micrometer set but. Even these are just a crutch.  I guess I’m better off just sitting here dreaming of yesteryear.  None of this was caused by improper eye protection. I’ve always had good protective eyewear even in sports. I hav/ had other hobbies like dog training.  I used to know every dogs name and their owners name now I need my dog to guide me around. Can5 build ad fly big rc warbirds or drive fast cars or boats. My new cat is my life now. She i main coon so will be getting winter fur shortly.  I have trained her to walk on a leash. Yes you can train some cats. But she is my companion. She is not a guide cat yet. She does know bed time and dinner time. An where the liter box is. Well enough of my story. If anyone has ideas for magnifiers let me know. I’ve got 3 more bi vocals ordered.Byron
Reply:This is just an idea so I apologize if it all seems too far fetched.Perhaps a digital camera in a document camera type setup, protected by a good welding lens ( small good glass lens would work fine), or even full hood for extra heat protection.  The arm/cables could be protected by a leather hose wrap.  The USB cameras usually have zoom features, and can be magnified and broadcast to a screen of any size (phone to large TV).digital document camera :
Reply:A good vinyl screen and safety glasses should be enough for you to be without a welding lens to view the screen.'Many school teachers use these types of projectors and get really agile with manipulating while looking at a screen rather than the object.Perhaps the idea would be good for setup/fitup with a physical guide (piece of clamped tube, angle iron, or bar) to help you follow the joint when welding with a tradition hood.You might be able to reach out to one of the more popular welding channels on youtube and inquire about their filming setup.  Their arc shots are fantastic and though it would take some getting used i'm confident one could weld off the recorded image.Best of luck and I hope you get many more years of making things.
Reply:Hey that’s quite an idea! I’ll look into it. I have a full page magnifier but it’s Realy inconvenient to use I use it for it’s purpose to expand a full page of a document or build some intricate scale model. I’ll have to try it with the TIG welder. It’s called a fresnel lens. It’s about 2x size so not too bad and very light weight. I use it to read mail and documents. It worked great on closing documents for estate home sale. And various books and manuals the camera idea sounds neat. I’m guessing I could set it up so I could use my laptop for a screen. It would probably take a little getting used to. I think my grand son has a full go pro. I’ll ask him. Thanks for the idea. I may even be able to set something up like this on the mill and lathe.  Thanks for the idea I’ll definitely look into itByron
Reply:Perhaps, fixing your double vision might help with your vision problems.  Most of the time use of two eyes is better than just one.  Did the stroke leave you with exotropia?  Or with a vertical imbalance? If so, then spectacles with prism lenses may be of help.  Has the eye doctor addressed this issue?  BTW, I'm a retired eye doctor/hobby welder/inventor, so have a bit of background in the area.
Reply:I had to look up your term. No I don’t have crossed or out of position eyes. The neurologist said it damage to my brain due to the stroke apparently where the optic nerves connect and the brain is damaged or dead as she said. Apparently this area is permanently damaged and there is no mechanical way to fool the brain into perfect alignment.  that was confirmed by the optometrists that prism could not fix it either. I’m not real familiar with terms so pardon me.  It’s extremely difficult to type on this iPhone I have to use other devices to look up unknowns. Thank goodness these are available. I can even struggle through spelling but not always a definition. Thanks for your input. I’m sure you understand my frustration.  Newer machines open the doors to some neat things they allow you to do.  No I don’t have loss of balance or disorientation I still ride my bicycle even though I’m not supposed to .  It’s hard to read a tape measure or micrometer. I keep my trusty magnifying glass in my pocket. I do use the iPhone camera a bit . I thought about adding a spot magnifier to the tig torch but I haven’t come up with anything workable yet.  The post above gave me an idea of possibly adapting the go pro to an old flexible light arm . My grandson is going to bring his camera the next time I get out to the shop and we’ll see if we can come up with something . I’ve been practicing drawing little c’s on straight and curved lines to simulate the motions. This works out pretty well but you would be surprised at how much you tweak the weld puddle as you are moving along. Welding metal about the thickness of Manila file folders it’s tricky on a good day in perfect health.  Make it out of aluminum stainless steel or 4130 steel changes everything add a small thicker item like a washer or bushing radically changes the picture in a hurry. I cut pieces of of caring paper stock and pretend it’s metal. If you use a pencil or marker you can see that it’s more than just melting things together. Tape it together and to the bottom of the kitchen table then lay on your back and try again. Fun isn’t it? When you do custom fabrication you never know what will walk in the door. Some time ago a reader came up with a rod feeder for a guy that had coordination issues . This was made using radio controller servos. It was quite ingenious. Thanks again for the input. I’m now thinking using some non brain dead areas.LOLByron
Reply:Originally Posted by bentwingsI had to look up your term. No I don’t have crossed or out of position eyes. The neurologist said it damage to my brain due to the stroke apparently where the optic nerves connect and the brain is damaged or dead as she said. Apparently this area is permanently damaged and there is no mechanical way to fool the brain into perfect alignment.  that was confirmed by the optometrists that prism could not fix it either. I’m not real familiar with terms so pardon me.  It’s extremely difficult to type on this iPhone I have to use other devices to look up unknowns. Thank goodness these are available. I can even struggle through spelling but not always a definition. Thanks for your input. I’m sure you understand my frustration.  Newer machines open the doors to some neat things they allow you to do.  No I don’t have loss of balance or disorientation I still ride my bicycle even though I’m not supposed to .  It’s hard to read a tape measure or micrometer. I keep my trusty magnifying glass in my pocket. I do use the iPhone camera a bit . I thought about adding a spot magnifier to the tig torch but I haven’t come up with anything workable yet.  The post above gave me an idea of possibly adapting the go pro to an old flexible light arm . My grandson is going to bring his camera the next time I get out to the shop and we’ll see if we can come up with something . I’ve been practicing drawing little c’s on straight and curved lines to simulate the motions. This works out pretty well but you would be surprised at how much you tweak the weld puddle as you are moving along. Welding metal about the thickness of Manila file folders it’s tricky on a good day in perfect health.  Make it out of aluminum stainless steel or 4130 steel changes everything add a small thicker item like a washer or bushing radically changes the picture in a hurry. I cut pieces of of caring paper stock and pretend it’s metal. If you use a pencil or marker you can see that it’s more than just melting things together. Tape it together and to the bottom of the kitchen table then lay on your back and try again. Fun isn’t it? When you do custom fabrication you never know what will walk in the door. Some time ago a reader came up with a rod feeder for a guy that had coordination issues . This was made using radio controller servos. It was quite ingenious. Thanks again for the input. I’m now thinking using some non brain dead areas.LOLByron
Reply:I’m also an Rc Warbird builder and flyer. However both are limited to helping my son get into the hobby. He is working on anMe109 and a Fokker tri plane . Then a new Corsair like mine he and his brother traveled all over flying my Corsair. A picture of us appeared as a lead in to the Westminister model show years ago. Ironically all three of us had to sign a special release so the picture could be published.  I thought your feeder was one of the truly nicest things anyone could do for a fellow shop person. I hope it helped him in his projects.  I’m regelated to teaching the boys tig welding and mig welding although they have the mig process down pretty well now.  I went on in mechanical engineering to building a cnc tig welder for som aero space batteries then branched off into my least favorite subject…. Math. I’m no math major but I had to use it in fluid dynamics that fascinated me. I ultimately got some very up to date computers and programs. The trick was to at least know the math and how to enter it so the computer could run the numbers.  It was an electronic wind tunnel and flow bench .  Many frustrating hours looking at squiggly lines on computer screens. But it was interesting testing it on welding projects and some high speed aerospace things I had a couple of realy good instructors that helped me over the rough stuff. So there are good people in the world.you rank up there with the best . I’m hoping to try the camera angle out soon . I may have to come up with a cover lens or shield. Although tig doesn’t produce many sparks. One of the boys got a nice tungsten grinder . It works great and I use my mag glass to check their work. Byron