Safe shade for GTAW welding

admin

Started a pipe welding course here to try out tig. We Tig welded for the first time tonight. Well I found I currently suck at walking the cup but my freehand is not to shabby. Whats the lightest tint I can set my auto shade to without worry too much about hurting the eyes. Also maybe its me I had a easier time tig welding with 1/8 tungsten and filler than 3/32 not sure why. Were welding carbon steel only in this class....EquipmentLincoln 200SATrailBlazer 275MillerMatic 252Hypertherm Powermax 600
Reply:#10 is the lightest I can go before I start getting eye strain.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Everyone's eyes are different. What works for me may or may not work for you. You need a shade that is dark enough so that you don't see spots after you weld or experience discomfort, and one that is both dark enough to block the glare, but light enough to see the puddle clearly and be able to follow the weld line. Bright lights or being back lit probably will also change what lens works for you.For me that usually means between a 9 - 10 shade for tig, and a bit darker for stick of mig. Pretty much any shade darker than 8 will protect your eyes from serious damage at least in the short term. If you decided to do high amp welding with a shade 8 for years, then you might have issues, but you would probably notice the discomfort long before you had any permanent issues to deal with..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:Consider a magnifying lens.  I love these.  They really help me see the weld area.
Reply:Anything less then 11= a huge headache , but as DSW  said "Everyone's eyes are different"Most of the time mine is set at 13, I can see a bit of the cup and less of an inch from the filler and joint, it's all I need.--------------------------------------------------------------www.becmotors.nlyup, I quit welding.. joined welder anonymous
Reply:12 gold most of the time for me, up to around 160 amps. I guess I have sensitive eyes. I knew a guy who liked an 8 most of the time for mig and tig, and would have his face 2 inches from the weld. I would rather be able to see when I get old.IAMAW Local 330Airco 300 AC/DC HeliwelderAirco Dip-Pak 200 with Profax spool gunPowr-Kraft AC225Everlast PowerArc 200stBuffalo Forge No.21 drill pressSpeedglas 9100xxAirco, Oxweld, Purox, Victor torchesLincoln Ranger 8
Reply:I keep my AD helmet set on 11 for most of what i do. Usually have a halogen work light shining on my work too.Safety 3rdGump
Reply:Haven't done TIG yet at school, but mig and stick.. and for me it depends on the lense...With my AD helmet, I run a shade 11 MIG all the time, and 10 or 11 for stick depending on the amps... With my fixed shade helmet, I have an amber lense instead of the AD green and I run a 10 most of the time for MIG.Depends on your eyes.Miller Performance AD Helmet - Camo Edition Soon to have: Jackson HSL 100 - Forest Digi CamoMiller Thunderbolt AC/DC((Currently at welding school))
Reply:It depends.For me, it depends on amperage and material thickness.  For low amps i use a 9 shade, if i use 11 or 12, then I end up melting the material because I can't see the arc and puddle very well.
Reply:For me it's 9 & 10. I tried 8 one time and it wasn't dark enough for even low amp tig work.
Reply:I really like 9 for the low amp tig I generally do.  I turn it up to 11 for Mig.  Jackson Nexgen lensTA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:Personally, I liked the lower settings at first to help me see but I would seespots afterward. Now I really prefer at least 11, but like others have said I use extra light on the work area and keep light from getting in the back ofmy hood and that works much better. How do you know the blacksmith's dog? When you hollar at him he makes a bolt for the door!
Reply:I go with about a #12 for TIG. Sometimes I'll take it to #11 for working on thin sheet. I keep a #11 for MIG and use #10 for most stick work.As was said, everyone has different eyes, so my opinion is to start with a higher shade and turn it down until you are happy with what you have.Those shades were with borrowed stuff at my former school, I don't think my helmet can go to #13 (#12 is the Max I think)  but then again, the TIG belonged to the school, I don't own one.So yeah, my harbor freight auto dark helmet works perfectly for me.Always assume every project you take on will take twice as long and cost three times as much as you estimate.