How close are you supposed to be?

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I recently posted a video on a welding page on fb and everyone was talking about how close to the weld I was I didn't even realize it was that close I just like to see it up close I suppose maybe I should get a cheater lens?      Is it really that close? Is there really a reason not to besides the smoke risk and the risk of melting my clear lens?  ( For the record the wind was blowing fresh air into my hood from behind)
Reply:That might be a bit close. I get pretty close myself. Don't forget that magnifying lenses all have a fixed focal length. The higher the magnification the shorter the focal length. I had my opthamologist write me a prescription for single vision (not bifocal or progressive) reading glasses goof for about 18 inches. That's about how close I get to the computer for work, and how close I get for welding. Work with your eye doctor to figure out the right solution. You can buy the cheap glasses from Costco for welding (I paid <$100). It will almost always be a better answer than store bought cheaters...lens inserts or glasses. The other thing you can do is add light shining on the work piece. I have a nice bright LED shop light that I point at whatever I am welding. It helps me a lot.Miller Multimatic 255
Reply:I am in the far away crowd  if even there is a crowd. 12-24".Do what you want to do I don't see it as bad of a thing as no respirator.
Reply:The proper distance is however close you need to be to see what you're doing.
Reply:I wonder if I could still as I wear contacts I wonder If I could wear both I get retested in a few months we'll see.  Thanks.
Reply:I was told years ago that you should not weld with contacts.Something  about if you get flashed could dry your eyes out behind them. Don't know if it is true or not.
Reply:i think the closer you are, the more rays youre eyes will catch.     a certain percentage of rays bleed through your lens/filter.      it's in the ten thousands of a percent if i remeber right.    i'm not saying our eyeballs will melt, but it certainly couldn't be helping them
Reply:Originally Posted by Bls repairI was told years ago that you should not weld with contacts.Something  about if you get flashed could dry your eyes out behind them. Don't know if it is true or not.
Reply:My wife is an Optician and I asked about contacts too. She said the same, ABSOLUTELY NOT. She got me a new pair of safteys that have a +0.6 or 0.8 "like a bifocal"  but it really isn't.  I couldn't believe how much better it was... awesome. Too strong a magnification and you only have a small focal range.RyanMiller Multimatic 200 tig/spool gun/wireless remoteMillermatic 350P, Bernard/XR Python gunsMiller Dynasty 350, Coolmate 3.5 & wireless remoteCK WF1 TIG wire feederMiller Spectrum 375 XtremeOptrel e684Miller Digital EliteMiller Weld-Mask
Reply:I start at around 18 inches and by the time the weld is finished I am around 6 inches lol trailblazer 302thunderbolt ac dc machine Hobart fluxcoreAHP tig 200x 2015
Reply:Be more worried about your back and neck long term if your hunched over like that for too long very often. Catch up with you when you get older.
Reply:Originally Posted by Bls repairI was told years ago that you should not weld with contacts.Something  about if you get flashed could dry your eyes out behind them. Don't know if it is true or not.
Reply:Originally Posted by Bls repairI was told years ago that you should not weld with contacts.Something  about if you get flashed could dry your eyes out behind them. Don't know if it is true or not.
Reply:you're waaay too close to that weld. besides getting an eyeful of uv you have to be sucking in too much smoke.i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:I older I get the harder it is to see, most days I position my glasses so I can see over the top,(I'm near sighted),some days I leave them off and stumble around looking for them after.
Reply:I'am with you louie 1961 had my eye doc give me prescription   for about 18" to 20" ,when welding pipe I was always behind the stinger watching the weld.
Reply:IF you are a beginner in welding, it's pretty common for a newbie to do that. I would check with your optometrist on you wearing contacts welding and what would happen IF a hot spark came in contact with them. I don't know what type of material the contacts are made with.
Reply:If he is that  close to see the weld and puddle he  might have the lens adjusted too dark.Klutch 220si mig , stick, and dc tigHobart 140 AHP ALPHA 200X 2016Lotos LTP5000DSmith O/P
Reply:He must replace the front lens daily.Miller 211Hypertherm PM 451961 Lincoln Idealarc 250HTP 221  True Wisdom only comes from Pain.
Reply:We have a new welder at work that welds like that, he melted his hood doing fluxcore. Anytime I see somebody doing that I think they need to get their eyes checked.
Reply:I didn't have a chair or stool so I was sitting on the steps of a ladder.
Reply:I've only melted it once and that was doing spray on mig.  I have had the same lens for about 2 months now.
Reply:Originally Posted by EvilBunnyI've only melted it once and that was doing spray on mig.  I have had the same lens for about 2 months now.
Reply:Originally Posted by EvilBunnyI've only melted it once and that was doing spray on mig.  I have had the same lens for about 2 months now.
Reply:With the tig I get within 12" even closer with small stuff. I have a hood with cheater for tig. For wire feed, I am about 18-20" away & use a diff hood w/o cheater.-c-(edit: melt my hood one time, , , set it on something I had just welded, , , , oops.)Last edited by cornemuse; 05-08-2016 at 09:51 AM.Reason: feng shuiWhat is the sound of one knee jerking?When I got my VA eye exam and trifocal prescription last month, I got a second prescription for single vision lenses at a 12" distance.  Sent that off to Zenni optical and got 2 pair of single vision horn rims for $17 incl shipping.  The magnify factor is 3.5.  Took the 2.5 cheaters out of my helmet and difference is like night and day on clarity.  I needed the cheaters but the trifocals really screwed things up as they transitioned from reading distance to computer distance at precisely the point where I need to see.  Haven't welded with the new setup yet but I expect to be able to see the puddle for a change.Jerry  30+ yrs Army Infantry & Field Artillery, 25 yrs agoMiller 350LX Tig Runner TA 210, spool gunLincoln 250/250 IdealArcESAB PCM 500i PlasmaKazoo 30"  vert BSKazoo 9x16 horiz BSClausing 12x24 lathe20T Air Press
Reply:It depends on how dirty my clear lens is.Big F**king HammerJumper cables & 2 marine batteriesJaws of life