I’ve finished building my shop, outfitted it with metal working tools, and have gotten back into some welding and fabricating. I purchased a new Lincoln 3350 auto dimming helmet to use with my Miller 252 welder. I have the shade set at 13 (highest it’ll dim, sensitivity right in middle of high and low, same with the delay time. I welded a table together and a few other things yesterday, and today my eyes are quite sore. I didn’t get flashed, it darkens immediately, and I wore my helmet 100% of the time I was welding. It has a battery test button, and shows it’s fine. I’ve confirmed the slide on the shade is set on the 9-13 side. No issues that I can see with the glass or cracks. I don’t have an old helmet to compare with, as I recently purchased the welder as well. Wondering if I’m missing something, or if the helmet or lens could be faulty from the factory. Or if it would have anything to do with not having welded in a long time.
Welding helmet and sore eyes
- Thread starter schurtjl
- Start date
The glass is treated for UV protection all the time so you're always protected. The dimming is just for comfort and to make it dark enough to be able to see. Your eyes aren't damaged or anything to worry about. If it's dark enough that you can see the arc and the puddle and it's not all washed out it's likely working and it might just take a little bit of time to get your eyes accustomed to this type of work. If it seems super bright at 13 it might not be dimming correctly. I'd recommend borrowing one from a friend or neighbor. Or you can always grab a cheap fixed shade off craigslist or ebay to have as a spare.
f150skidoo
Well-known member
Does your helmet have other modes in it like a grind and plasma mode? If in one of the other modes it wont go into darker shades.
It does have grind mode, but you have to hold the button for a bit to get there. A light flashes in that mode, so I know it’s not in grind mode. Plasma is not a separate mode.
matt_i
Well-known member
Maybe change the battery just as a precaution?
Iron Beaver
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- May 3, 2020
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I was once in a similar position with a fixed shade helmet. I finally conlcluded that I might be using too dark a shade and giving myself eyestrain just trying to see what I was doing. That was with shade 12 lenses. I got myself a fancy auto-darkening helmet after that and the problem went away. Maybe turn your hood down to shade 10 or 11? I think everyone has to find a shade that works for them so take my ideas with a grain of salt.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Graham08
Well-known member
Dumb question, but do you have the clear lenses installed inside and out? That's where the UV protection comes from.
I have the same helmet and have not had an issue like this.
A 13 shade is really dark. I do low amp TIG welding most of the time and generally run between a 9 and a 10...occasionally dipping down to an 8 on really light stuff.
I have the same helmet and have not had an issue like this.
A 13 shade is really dark. I do low amp TIG welding most of the time and generally run between a 9 and a 10...occasionally dipping down to an 8 on really light stuff.
LS1-IROC
Well-known member
It's probably just eyestrain. I get it too when I'm welding a lot. Apparently I need glasses.
Monza Harry
Well-known member
I too have that helmet and I can't explain how really happy I am with it! I think as mentioned above that you may be too high on the darkness settings. I have only used 9-13 setting once in the last 8 mos. of having this helmet. I usually end up in the 8-9 range as I approach 150 amp with TIG welding. This helmet also has the provision for a "Cheater Lens" [magnifier], if you are over 40 try a lower power one if over 50 go to a 2X or higher one straight away and try again. This may take some trial and error to find your happy place. Also the advise to borrow another [or buy a really cheap one for a spare/2nd] I think is an excellent avenue to pursue. Harry
Ign
Well-known member
I did get a CHEAP auto dark from Amazon once and the shades were nowhere near dark enough. I had to crank it up well beyond where I'd normally run to not feel flashed afterward.
On a quality hood I would not expect this, and I do run the 3350 often although I actually have a lower end SpeedGlas I actually prefer, oddly.
So, it's possible the settings on the Lincoln are wonky but it'd be defective in that case.
Tired eyes I'd say is likely eye strain. If you feel like you've been flashed and everything goes bright/washed out and takes a few seconds to come into focus after you blink, that's more my experience with not-dark-enough
On a quality hood I would not expect this, and I do run the 3350 often although I actually have a lower end SpeedGlas I actually prefer, oddly.
So, it's possible the settings on the Lincoln are wonky but it'd be defective in that case.
Tired eyes I'd say is likely eye strain. If you feel like you've been flashed and everything goes bright/washed out and takes a few seconds to come into focus after you blink, that's more my experience with not-dark-enough
Yep, I mentioned that in my original post that I made sure it was slid to the right (9-13) range
It’s suppose it’s possible running it at 13 is causing the eye strain.
510ebl
Well-known member
Do you wear glasses for reading?
Not yet.
welder4956
Well-known member
13 is pretty dark for most welding unless doing stick or flux core at over 250 amps. Does the arc seem pretty bright or is it hard to see?
csp
Well-known member
I've found that turning mine down to 9 helps me see my puddle much better and I get much less eye strain as a result. I didn't actually know it was eye strain that was causing the pain after welding for longer periods of time. My welds have improved as a bonus.
Yep, I mentioned that in my original post that I made sure it was slid to the right (9-13) range
It’s suppose it’s possible running it at 13 is causing the eye strain.
I have a Miller helmet and it's set at 8 or 9 so I can see. I wouldn't be able to see **** with a 13 shade.
Granted, my contacts say they have UV protection, but seriously, is it really worth a shade or two of darkness ?
Milton Shaw
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- Feb 11, 2011
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Make sure you are not getting flashed from spill light coming in the back of the helmet. A white shop wall behind you or white ceiling above you will flash you unless you use a cover over the back of your head.
gmwelder86
Well-known member
Agree with others either switch is on the lower setting or light is bleeding in from
Behind the hood or even under and reflecting back into your eyes. I have that same hood and although very clear don’t find the headgear very comfortable so don’t use it much. One thing that would help is to use standard safety glasses under the hood while welding. Not just a good safety practice but they also block UV rays that might be bounced off from things around you. That light can be a killer in a painted mechanical room where the light bounces off everything and back into your face.
Behind the hood or even under and reflecting back into your eyes. I have that same hood and although very clear don’t find the headgear very comfortable so don’t use it much. One thing that would help is to use standard safety glasses under the hood while welding. Not just a good safety practice but they also block UV rays that might be bounced off from things around you. That light can be a killer in a painted mechanical room where the light bounces off everything and back into your face.