Helmet "Cheaters"

[Shield Arc]

What's the reason for only one side covered?

When welding pipe, one ear or the other is exposed to the sparks. Right handed welders need to cover their left ear. Left handed welders need to cover their right ear.

 

[yomax4]

Crazy Pipe Welders.. You guys have inspired a ton of welding inventions in the past 50 years. :thumbsup:Not just the hoods and lenses, How about the funny hats!!! I used to sell a crap load of Kromer Caps to the Pipe Welders.. Wilder print the better..

 

[tglass]

And I've heard from the safety people at work you can not wear contact lens while welding. Any insight in this?

 

[Haywire]

I have heard that if you get flashed, they will stick to your corneas. Don't know how true that is.

Ian

 

[Don87]

I have heard that if you get flashed, they will stick to your corneas. Don't know how true that is.

Ian

I found this on Snopes: snopes.com: Contact Lenses Fused to Eyes

And this: Contact Lens Wear


A small excerpt from the latter: Since 1967, the American Welding Society has received reports concerning welders who have claimed to have had contact lenses fused to their eyes, either by the heat of the arc or by microwave radiation. Not one of these reports has been substantiated, ( from The American Welder)

 

[Haywire]

I found this on Snopes: snopes.com: Contact Lenses Fused to Eyes

And this: Contact Lens Wear

Well, now I know. :thumbsup:

On the cheater question, I looked in my HF helmet and don't see any clip that might accommodate one of them. It would be helpful, I end up taking my glasses off so I can see to weld, and then put them back on to see around the shop.

Ian

 

[texasjohn]

This is why I love TBN.... I learn things I didn't know I didn't know and needed to know...ya know...now, I know I know:laughing: Thanks, rustyiron, for your post:thumbsup:

 

[moored4]

On the cheater question, I looked in my HF helmet and don't see any clip that might accommodate one of them. It would be helpful, I end up taking my glasses off so I can see to weld, and then put them back on to see around the shop.
Ian

We had a welder that did this till one day out in the field welding stick he raised his hood and the (slag) popped off and landed on his eye lid and stuck, pretty bad burn!:thumbsup:

 

[Haywire]

What I meant was that I swap my prescription glasses for safety glasses to weld and chip, and then back to look across the room. I learned quick that hot slag goes a good distance when you smack it with a hammer. :confused2:

Ian

 

[Shield Arc]

What I meant was that I swap my prescription glasses for safety glasses to weld and chip, and then back to look across the room. I learned quick that hot slag goes a good distance when you smack it with a hammer. :confused2:

Ian

Where you want to be extremely careful is when welding stainless steel with SMAW process. That slag will sometimes pop off before you finish the weld, and hit your helmet. Can't tell you how many times it's happened to me, even the split second after you get the helmet up the slag will pop off and hit you in the face.

 

[moored4]

Where you want to be extremely careful is when welding stainless steel with SMAW process. That slag will sometimes pop off before you finish the weld, and hit your helmet. Can't tell you how many times it's happened to me, even the split second after you get the helmet up the slag will pop off and hit you in the face.

Thats what I was trying to elude to, is the lenth of time that you lift your hood to the time it takes to get your SAFETY glasses on.

Thats another point, if we are working in "our Shop" (shop, barn, garage, or where ever) as welders and mechanics we need safety glasses, not off the eye DRs. shelf stuff, but REAL safety glasses. they don't cost that much more.

Who knows when that bearing we are putting on/off will explode, drill bit shatter, or welding slag will decide to hit you . As an old millwright I use to know would say "son you got ten fingers but only two eyes"

Oh! by the way he only had one eye!! Yes he lost it cause he didn't have his safety glasses on! It was his own little soap box. :thumbsup:

 

[Haywire]

Safety glasses worn under helmet...

 

[Window Geek]

Safety glasses worn under helmet...

:thumbsup:
Me too. A friend says people think safety glasses are a pain in the butt. He says the pain in your eye is way worse! So wear 'em!

 

[dstig1]

Where you want to be extremely careful is when welding stainless steel with SMAW process. That slag will sometimes pop off before you finish the weld, and hit your helmet. Can't tell you how many times it's happened to me, even the split second after you get the helmet up the slag will pop off and hit you in the face.

I quickly learned to chip slag with the helmet down. The burn on my lip from flying slag was all the warning I needed... I at least get the bulk of it off with the helmet down, and then lift it up for a closer look as needed.

The SS warning is another good to know too!

 

[IslandTractor]

I quickly learned to chip slag with the helmet down. The burn on my lip from flying slag was all the warning I needed... I at least get the bulk of it off with the helmet down, and then lift it up for a closer look as needed.

The SS warning is another good to know too!

I am not an experienced welder but have found using a wire steel wheel on a grinder to be a lot faster and easier than chipping and brushing. Is there any reason other than lack of that tool or ability to reach a given weld with it that someone would need to chip and brush?

 

[moored4]

I am not an experienced welder but have found using a wire steel wheel on a grinder to be a lot faster and easier than chipping and brushing. Is there any reason other than lack of that tool or ability to reach a given weld with it that someone would need to chip and brush?

With this you really, I mean really need to wear EYE PROTECTION!:thumbsup:

 

[IslandTractor]

With this you really, I mean really need to wear EYE PROTECTION!:thumbsup:

Yep. Dewalt wrap arounds always in place while in the shop.

 

[crash325]

Almost 50 years ago I got my eyes flashed. On a structural steel job the governor went out. Well over 75 feet away I was playing governor, way to close to watch a welder. It is also possible to get your eyes flashed working in the same room as a welder. The reflected light can get you.

It felt like both eyes were full of sand. To get some relief a potato was grated up, put in a clean white rag. Kept the packs on my eyes for several hours. It does work and sure gave some relief.

A little off topic. Do you ever get use to sparks going into your shoes? Was cutting 1/8" sheet metal today using an angle grinder and skill saw. No matter where I put my feet, sparks were finding my shoes. Need a new pair of tall boots. :thumbsup:

 

[IslandTractor]

A little off topic. Do you ever get use to sparks going into your shoes? Was cutting 1/8" sheet metal today using an angle grinder and skill saw. No matter where I put my feet, sparks were finding my shoes. Need a new pair of tall boots. :thumbsup:

My instructor was very strict about personal protective equipment. Glasses, welders hat to keep sparks going down your neck, cotton clothing with full coverage as well as welding jacket. Tall boots and no synthetic socks. As a newbie you wonder exactly why but watching someone dancing around with an ember down his shoe drives the point home real quick.

 

[dcyrilc]

It is also possible to get your eyes flashed working in the same room as a welder. The reflected light can get you.

It felt like both eyes were full of sand. To get some relief a potato was grated up, put in a clean white rag. Kept the packs on my eyes for several hours. It does work and sure gave some relief.

BTDT. No fun. I learned a hard leson that day. You don't have to be able to see the arc to get flashed. IIRC it was a couple of days before it didn't feel like I had sand in my eyes any more. Never heard of the potato trick. I'll have to remember that.