How do I see

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Old Guy new to welding, bought a lincoln 140 wire feed.It seems difficult to see through the auto darkening helmet to see the line to weld.Suggestions, please.
Reply:What hood do you have and what shade is it set at?.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:set at level 10, chicago electric brand
Reply:Are you welding indoors or outdoors?  Is there any light behind you that is shining into your hood?  I am assuming you don't have any other hoods to compare against?  Add your location to your profile. Originally Posted by SundownIIIDon't get me wrong.  They are just as ill informed about politics as they are about welding, they just post more on that subject.
Reply:no other hoods, welding indoors, under florescent lights
Reply:The low quality optics in that hood are probably partially to blame. Take a look at these threads about the HF hoods. Note that Gamble posts up what a big difference a quality hood made in post #11 of the 2nd thread. Just the a couple of the many threads here where guys have commented on how much better they can see with a better hood.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=65891http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=60820http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=51641Every ones eyes are a bit different, but quality optics will help no matter who you are. You might see if some one will let you try another hood. I frequently let students at the tech school try my Miller if they have cheap hoods and are having difficulties seeing the weld puddle. Quite a few come back in the next week or so with better hoods once they see how much better they can see with a decent hood..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:I am going to assume that you are standing next to a workbench of some sort.  This will most likely put you in a position of tilting your head down to look at what you are doing.  You may be getting a bit of ambient light in behind your hood which will affect your vision.A couple things to try: Go down to a 9 for a bit to see if it helps any.  This may sound weird, but try to put a hood (like a sweatshirt hood) over your hood.  This would ensure you are not getting any light pollution.  Do you know anyone close by who welds?  Try their hood and they try yours, just to see if it's you or the hood.I know you said you're new to welding, how new?  Is this the first time you've ever been under a welding helmet?  Is it too hard in general to see your soapstone mark or the puddle or what?  Do you know what you are even supposed to be looking at/for?  I don't mean that to sound condescending, but there's a lot going on for a straight new guy to take in all at once. Originally Posted by SundownIIIDon't get me wrong.  They are just as ill informed about politics as they are about welding, they just post more on that subject.
Reply:you said "old guy". do you wear glasses? if so are they bifocals? if yes to both, you might want to go to your lws and get a diopter/cheater lens and duck tape the edges of it to the inside of your harbor freight hood lens. higher dollar hoods are equipped with a holder for the cheater lens.  it will help clear things up and help your eyes not go. all my hoods have cheaters in them. i have to remove them to let the students try my hoods. i usually have different power cheaters with me for the students with glasses to try though to find what works best for them..225NT bobcatAEAD200LEScott 125mm175, mm252 w 30A, PT225mm211, TA 181iHyper Therm 380, cut master 529100X & XX, Digital Elite6 Victor setssmith little torch, meco midget kalamazoo band sawsteel max saw evoulution circular saw
Reply:to jmtebbens,  this is the first time under a helmet.  I am practicing by having cut 1/4 flat bar stock and welding joints.  I have problems seeing the joint to weld, getting offline, etc. I see the green glow, but no details to the puddle.
Reply:to jbmprods.  yes to reading type glasses.  I will try the cheaters, thanks
Reply:shades of lenses:http://www.metalwebnews.com/howto/guide/guide.pdf
Reply:I agree with the posts that said the better the hood the better the site. I went from a cheap Princess Auto here in Canada (Same as Habour Freight) to a Miller Elite and it is night and day better.Miller Diversion 180Lincoln Mig Pak 5000 HDHypertherm 45Uni-Spotter Stud WelderOxy Set-up with Harris TorchMiller 30FX Arc StationMiller Elite - Hockey Canada Helmet
Reply:Another trick is to use an inexpensive halogen spot light / flood light to illuminate your work from a couple of feet away.If you are using flux core a small fan can help a bit to clear the smoke if that is an issue.
Reply:Glasses will have a lot to do with this as well. I knew it was time to look for a new prescription set of work glasses when I started finding myself looking over top of my "normal" glasses to see the weld. Messed with me a bit until I realized just what I was doing with out thinking about it. I'm near sited, so I'd naturally look over the tops of the frames if I needed to see near things. I'd often find I was switching back and forth thru the weld as my eyes would want to change focus.My new lenses are weaker than the old ones. They are set up to focus at roughly 18". Good enough I can still see clearly for detailed things and still protect my eyes from flying debris, yet strong enough I can see to walk around the shop. ( technically they are strong enough I can still drive with them in an emergency,  but I find them uncomfortable for long range sight).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:the nice thing about the cheater in the big window hoods is that you can move it up or down in the holder to get closer or farther with a set of bifocals clued to yer face. great for those up close and personal moments or to get away from your PFC or when you have to look over the shoulder of a student in a booth.225NT bobcatAEAD200LEScott 125mm175, mm252 w 30A, PT225mm211, TA 181iHyper Therm 380, cut master 529100X & XX, Digital Elite6 Victor setssmith little torch, meco midget kalamazoo band sawsteel max saw evoulution circular saw
Reply:The thing I see alot with new welders is the helmet to work distance is too far to see well. Get your head close, if you are worried about the sparks then you do not have the appropriate protection anyway.Tim Beeker.
Reply:Originally Posted by tnjindThe thing I see alot with new welders is the helmet to work distance is too far to see well. Get your head close, if you are worried about the sparks then you do not have the appropriate protection anyway.
Reply:I'm new to welding, and I'm doing it as a hobby.  It seems to me that you "learn" to see as you spend more time welding.  I don't know if I'm just better at sorting out what I'm seeing now, or ???You have some great suggestions, and I'm running a cheater lens now in my helmet, but time running beads seems to make the "seeing" part easier.
Reply:I use a gold lens this helps makes the view much better.
Reply:I've got a Harbor Freight $40 auto with the blue flames and a LWS $160 auto. I've also tried the school hoods. both of mine seamed better than the school's, but I need decent light on the piece no matter what.
Reply:to help in following the line with the bead use a bright colored marker and dot the line for the weld with it and just connect the dots with the bead. it helps till you get used to seeing what you are trying to weld. make the dots close enough that you don't have to take your eyes off the puddle to search for the next dot. see if that helps.225NT bobcatAEAD200LEScott 125mm175, mm252 w 30A, PT225mm211, TA 181iHyper Therm 380, cut master 529100X & XX, Digital Elite6 Victor setssmith little torch, meco midget kalamazoo band sawsteel max saw evoulution circular saw
Reply:Mike I couldn't see with a real highend hood!  Thought I wasted my money, then I was told about the cheaters that slide into my big window!   WOW I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW!It sucks getting old!  I had 20/15 in each eye all the way to 48yrs then one day my arms weren't long enough!  LOLAEAD 200LE, Lincoln precision tig 185, Millermatic 251, Spectrum 625 extreme, Victor torch , Smithy 1220LTD. and  Do all C-4 band saw ,  Always adding.
Reply:Originally Posted by okmikeno other hoods, welding indoors, under florescent lights
Reply:I am old as rocks and simply can't weld without good light.  Generally, outdoors I'm ok but have used a hood cover to stop light from behind.  Large hard hat liner works for me to block light.  In doors I use a halogen light.  More light may not solve all your problems but it sure won't hurt.