[fastfredracing]

Yeah man, dont even take a chance , it is one of the most painful things I have ever experienced.
I was about 18, and got an old broken mig given to me. I got it to work, and decided to have a go at welding up a frame section on my old pick up truck.
It was my first time welding, and I was having a very hard time. I found it much easier without the helmet on. I just tried to squint my way through it .
I was down for 2 days, in just awful pain, like sunburn on your eyeballs, with sand mashed in . There was never a second when it did not hurt. It was so bad, I could not even sleep.
I make repairs like this all the time. Just take your time. If it takes a few tries to get it closed up so be it. Getting up on the top can be a pia . Sometimes, you can take the pipes out of their hangers and get an extra inch or 2 and that can make all the difference in the world
Good luck buddy, hope your eyeballs don't start hurting.
From what I remember, it was several hours before the pain set in .