Welding helmet magnifying lens

[cgarr]

I can’t see squat, nothing lined up right with the bifocals in my glasses, anyone add a whole magnifying lens in their helmet or will that burn my balls out? I’m tig welding btw. Yea I’m old!



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[dad911]

I don't understand why we still use welding helmets. I would think a video cam with a screen would isolate your eyes 100%, and you could zoom in.....

[Daves911L]

Pretty much every welding shop on the planet has a selection of "cheater" lenses in various powers hanging on the wall. Most helmets have clips to hold them. Only a few bucks a piece. Been using them for years. You will weld much better. Yeah, I'm old too (and almost exclusively TIG).

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by cgarr

I can’t see squat, nothing lined up right with the bifocals in my glasses, anyone add a whole magnifying lens in their helmet or will that burn my balls out? I’m tig welding btw. Yea I’m old!

I’ve met you and you aren’t old. (My grandsons still have photos attesting to your graciousness BTW).
I can find lenses that help, but I’m finding an additional problem is the time it takes my eyes to adjust to the change in light levels. I’m essentially blind for the first second or so while the arc is burning away.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by dad911

I don't understand why we still use welding helmets. I would think a video cam with a screen would isolate your eyes 100%, and you could zoom in.....

I did some work in a place that did just that - 30 years ago. They were welding hemispherical caps on the ends of 1/16 diameter tubes. The operators controlled the holders for the tubes and the caps as well as the electrode and the wire by watching it on a 13 inch b&w crt screen. They were in a separate room from where the welding was going on

[Mark Henry]

Originally Posted by Daves911L

Pretty much every welding shop on the planet has a selection of "cheater" lenses in various powers hanging on the wall. Most helmets have clips to hold them. Only a few bucks a piece. Been using them for years. You will weld much better. Yeah, I'm old too (and almost exclusively TIG).

I've used a cheater lens since I hit 40, they mount behind the shade, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5, I can't weld without one.