Am I finished as a welder?

[Hammell]

I have two friends with failing, failed eye sight when it comes to welding that were once good welders. Eyes have failed them, cant see the puddle anymore, sad but just part of life.

 

[Alchymist]

Update: Had a welding job come in today for a friend, total disaster. Changed out the #10 autodarkening lens for a fixed #8, and back to the head nod helmet. Can see the weld pool a little bit better, but still can't see well enough to follow the weld path - keep running off to the side. And tried a vertical down weld - pretty much lost that skill too. So, hanging up the hood and gloves permanently.

 

[KEH]

Sounds like maybe you need new glasses. I don't have an auto darkening helmet and I can tell a difference when I change prescriptions in the glasses. However, with the lower lens in the bifocals I can see the puddle ok. Crossing my fingers for the future. However, I do not weld for a living and don't even do jobs for friends anymore.

Don't give it up unless you have to, Good luck.

KEH

 

[becker_atc]

I still have young eyes but I want a pancake shield as most welding I do is outside keeps from getting a glare from behind. Seems like every welder that comes through work uses one. Only time ever seen another style used was a guy doing structural stuff with a Lincoln ranger (sub contractor on a job).

Sent via message in a bottle

 

[WhiskeyRanger]

Some guys add a piece of cotton duck or leather to the top of the hoodso it hangs down the back and blocks ambient light from reflecting off the inside of the glass. Another piece hanging from the chin prevents the light from reflecting off your chest. It might help cut down on the ambient light making it easier to see the puddle.


I've used the hood of a sweatshirt to do something similar and it really helps.

 

[yhprum]

Have a look at what this guy did to his helmet:
http://www.metalmeet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13890&highlight=welding+helmet

 

[jd_1138]

Update: Had a welding job come in today for a friend, total disaster. Changed out the #10 autodarkening lens for a fixed #8, and back to the head nod helmet. Can see the weld pool a little bit better, but still can't see well enough to follow the weld path - keep running off to the side. And tried a vertical down weld - pretty much lost that skill too. So, hanging up the hood and gloves permanently.

As we age our near vision gets bad. Whether you have bad vision with a thick prescription or perfect vision even. I have severe astigmatism but I used to be able to see close up things well with my regular glasses, but now at 43 I have to hold stuff out at least a foot to see it clearly. I think I need reading glasses.

Might want to go to the eye doc and tell them you need some up close glasses for welding.

 

[readhead]

When I got my first pair of prescription glasses I couldn't weld at all. When that's how you make your living it's a real problem. I went right back to the doc and explained the problem. He came up with a new prescription that focuses closer than normal. Problem solved.

I could always tell when my guys needed glasses. They couldn't follow a line at all. Usually a cheater lense would solve the problem. In my case a severe medical condition changed my eyes and I had to go to glasses.

 

[Thumper68]

I just went to the eye doc last week and had my eyes checked I had him do 3 prescriptions, I have bifocals BTW, First up was normal, with a focal length of about 22 inches for computer use, second was welding with a focal length at 12 inches, (My safety glasses have far vision in the middle and up close on both the top and bottom so that I can see to weld both top and bottom helps a lot.) Third was his recommendation which I won't be getting.

I was having the same issues as the OP, the better safety glasses with the 12 inch focal length made a world of difference. Have you tried a cheater lens that fits in your helmet? That was what I did before getting the new safety glasses.

I have also heard of guys pointing a bright work light at the area to be welded, haven't tried that one yet.

 

[royce]

I still have young eyes but I want a pancake shield as most welding I do is outside keeps from getting a glare from behind. Seems like every welder that comes through work uses one. Only time ever seen another style used was a guy doing structural stuff with a Lincoln ranger (sub contractor on a job).

Sent via message in a bottle

I used a pancake for 20+ years, but when my eyes turned for the worse, I went back to a flop hood with a 3.00 cheater and prescription trifocals.

Royce

 

[ovrrdrive]

Welded in the sun a little this weekend and couldn't see ****. I threw a towel over the back of my head and it came back to where I could see again. Light behind your helmet is a killer. Of course I couldn't find my cheater so I couldn't see it that great, but I could at least see it.

 

[BoostAddiction]

I have had increasing problems seeing the weld puddle, and had kind of gotten bummed about welding in general.

I'd tried cheater lenses, wearing glasses under the helmet, variable darkness lenses, etc., and none really made a difference.

I recently had cataract surgery and had to weld something recently and was stunned that I had suddenly become a better weldor overnight!

Yeah, for me it was the cataracts that were killing me, and now that the worst one has been removed and a better lens implanted, it has made all the difference. I can now get a pretty good sense of the puddle and the torch, and welding has become enjoyable agai.

 

[ndnchf]

I'm almost 60 and have the same diminishing vision. I put a 2.0 cheater lens in and added a bright, inexpensive LED light to my HF helmet. By using screws with a stack of washers underneath the mount, I can adjust where it points. I leave my glasses off when using the cheater lens. The light is a few dollars from HF and really helps by shining a bright light at the work. This combination really made a difference for me.

 

[KenC]

another vote for cheater lenses and a 500w flood light directly on the work. I'm 74, still welding but can't without those aids. especially true with MIG as the little electrode wire leaves no margin of error when welding tight fitting sheet metal or cracks!

 

[Al Borland]

Discovered that my glasses with the lenses that darken in sunlight are an issue welding/cutting. Now I don't wear those, mostly just stay close to my work and I'm fine.