Can't see what I'm doing

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This should give everybody a chuckle. I'm just a guy who likes to tinker in the garage. When stick welding I find it almost impossible to see through the smoke. What am I doing wrong?
Reply:Originally Posted by Tool_manThis should give everybody a chuckle. I'm just a guy who likes to tinker in the garage. When stick welding I find it almost impossible to see through the smoke. What am I doing wrong?
Reply:i know what you mean. I don't do stick or fluxcore anymore for that very reason. I might go back to dual shield someday but have no need at this time.Good luck and post any improvements if you find any.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:>Adjust the helmet shade.   I have.>Set up a strong light.   I'll try a portable halogen.>Use the stick to cover the arc.   I'd expect that takes practice. I don't have much occasion to practice.>Use a different rod (What are you using?)    It doesn't seem to matter.>Make sure the metal is clean and shiny.   It mostly always is.>Set up a fan to the side.   What about using a shop vac and a homemade hose positioner? Seems like that might not cool it so much.>Try welding outdoors with the sun opposite you so it won't reflect in the back of the helmet.   Weather permitting, I always do this but still I can't see the joint ahead of the arc.For the shop vac solution I could use the end piece used for sucking water off the floor (a Rube Goldberg "mini hood") and situate it parallel to the joint. The vac has a HEPA filter. It might filter the smoke which would be good for indoor welding.
Reply:The shop vac fume extractor sounds like a good idea. Just don't get it so close that you cause turbulance at the arc.
Reply:Shopvac filters and sparks don't go so well together. Especially if they have sucked up dirt, lint, hair and so on. It will not take much to light that tinder, and the airflow will accelerate the combustion just like the bellows in a forge. The plastic in the shopvac will not help matters and with the hood down, chances are the vac will be fully engulfed before you ever notice.One thing not mentioned so far is a good clean lens cover for the hood. These are really disposable, but I try and keep them as clean as possible and wipe them down to remove the smutz as much as possible. I keep 2 or 3 spares in the bag and a spare set in the glove box of the truck.My guess is as a newer welder, or one who seldom welds, a big part of your problem is also simply lack of experience. You need to train yourself to look "around" the arc, not at it. I also notice many guys don't get close enough to the weld to see well. You may have to stick your head right down near the weld, say 18" away and at a slight angle to see what you are doing. trying to weld at the very end of your arms doesn't work for me at all, especially with stick. I F up more lens covers doing stick than anything else because I tend to stay in closer to see better.Last thing that I see that hasn't been mentioned is that you may find you need "cheaters" to see well. A cheap set of reading glasses or a set of safety glasses that are magnifiers will help, or you can get a set of "cheater" lenses to put in your hood to magnify the image. I have the opposite issue. I'm near sighted. I tend to look over the top of my normal glasses to see the puddle better with my old prescription. The new safety glasses are slightly less powerful so I can focus in a bit closer, yet still see to walk around the shop well..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:just make your own fume extractor :]
Reply:Another thing... the arc smoke can deposit a film in between your external plastic lens cover and your real glass filter or electronic equivalent.  Cleaning the outside and inside surfaces doesn't touch this film; you have to disassemble the lenses.  If you can't see clearly though your helmut - this could be the reason.Rick V 1 Airco Heliwelder 3A/DDR3 CTC 70/90 amp Stick/Tig Inverters in Parallel1 Lincoln MIG PAK 151 Oxy-Acet
Reply:Am I correct in thinking that an extractor would do less cooking than a fan?
Reply:I do most of my stick welding outdoors. I glued a leather flap over the back of my helmet so light is not a problem. I use a shade 9 gold fixed lens outdoors. I run a clear lens on both sides of the fixed lens to protect it. I replace clears when they get slightly scratched. Ya can't weld if ya can't see!
Reply:Originally Posted by Tool_manAm I correct in thinking that an extractor would do less cooking than a fan?
Reply:Has anyone else suggested that your head is to close to the weld in other words don't lean over the smoke lean to the side and it wont be in your face. ( not saying you do that but this should be considered and it is usually the culprit) good luckmiller xmt 304 w/ 22a feederdynasty 200dx tig runnerspeedglas 9100xvictor journeymen O/Aesab shadow 5000 shape cutterClausing Drill Press setAVIA d.r.o. milling machine ercolina ercobender 76baileigh hsp-66mJD2 notchmaster
Reply:while working in the shop add a small amount of water to the bottom of the vac to trap slag and more smoke, it works better than not doing anything but yes if it is too close it will cause disturbances with arc as if you were welding outside in windy conditions....we all have had to start somewhere and cant always afford the fume extractors and fresh air systems etc when first starting out....there have been many great ideas to help you see your puddle better here and it may take a combination of them to work for you!good luck!
Reply:What helmet are you using? Clean lenses, keep your head out of the fumes, good ventilation and correct shade for the amperage used. All this and you should have no problem seeing the weld.Re: comment about fan cooling the weld? Er.... Riiight.
Reply:Originally Posted by Tool_manThis should give everybody a chuckle. I'm just a guy who likes to tinker in the garage. When stick welding I find it almost impossible to see through the smoke. What am I doing wrong?
Reply:Is the main problem inability to see where you are going?  That is where I generally have a problem, going off course.  Taking a grinder and making a bit of a slot on a flat weld lessens going off track.  If not a flat or with a bevel it shouldn't be necessary.fran