Work lights for welding?

[WranglerX]

The beauty of helmet light concept is you are always pointing light on to your weld from behind the sensors in helmet there for helmet is less likely to respond to light changes and you also have light source pointed directed at your weld when you are "out of position"...
Also I use 2 diopter cheater lens behind the helmet lens, it a great help for old eyes...

 

[ning]

sounds like you need to take the time and set you up a welding area
and stop doing the half @ss setup you been doing , you need good lighting
then set up the lights as well as a welding table .
you get out what you put in
invest in yourself .

You're right, I'll get right on that.
Very helpful!
I guess I'll need one huge@ss table for the 7.5x13' gates I've been making but hey I'll do that for you
Much thank

 

[ArlyA]

If the light is so bright that your weld is now being illuminated. Its then now powerful then the arc's light. You best lighten up on the helmets darkening.

 

[ning]

If the light is so bright that your weld is now being illuminated. Its then now powerful then the arc's light. You best lighten up on the helmets darkening.

Added illumination from the work light won't increase the arc's brightness but it will reduce contrast which makes your eyes more able to see the work since the eyes are actually able to see dark things next to bright things - as long as the dark things are so much darker than the bright that they just can't. I'm not looking to make the work as bright as an arc, brilliant that would be. You'll note that you're able to see clouds in the sky despite the sun, even though they're not as bright as the sun.

As I said previously, things are great when I'm working in the sunlight, which indicates that the helmet is probably set at a good point since I can see the work surface and I'm not being blinded by the arc. If I back off on the helmet darkness, I'll risk eye damage.

I need better lights, I know this; I'm far from a full-time welder but on the occasion that I do weld, I've recognized a need for better work light; I appreciate pointers from folks who've given input on the lights.

 

[etpm]

You're right, I'll get right on that.
Very helpful!
I guess I'll need one huge@ss table for the 7.5x13' gates I've been making but hey I'll do that for you
Much thank

Like you I thought that reply about your "half @ss" setup was out of line. 1 of U had no reason to make that reply. Your reply to that post showed a lot of restraint and maturity and I respect that. Good luck with your lighting. If any of the suggestions here help you out please report back.
Cheers,
Eric

 

[1 of U]

I guess I'll need one huge@ss table for the 7.5x13' gates I've been making but hey I'll do that for you

show pics of that Huge@ss table !! at least you won't be on your hands & knees welding tube ...

dont get Butt -hurt when you get some constructive criticism..

having a good setup is 75% of any project / job.

since your lighting is piss poor and you don't mention what make of hood/glass
your using a HF or a Elite /nex-gen etc , best thing is use a 1.5 or 2.0 cheater
dont go down to 9 it will only hurt your eye's and give you a headache

 

[flyerdan]

Having a table big enough for all your projects is an illusion; my work table was 6x20' and the cantilever gates were usually between 33-54'.
Having good lighting where you can see the material, and not just the arc is important. It's best to have it coming from behind, but not directly so it won't reflect off the inside of your hood.

 

[wrenchit]

I feel like I'm an "ok" welder, but I definitely do my best work when I can actually see what I'm doing.
Unfortunately, I do most of my welding at night and though my shop lights up plenty bright for most work, as soon as that arc strikes I realize I could definitely use twice as much light - and often I end up in front of my shop where it's kinda dim and then I'm really blind.

I've seen some helmets that have LED lights on them, that seems like a possibility (I love my headlamp for other things but havent' tried stretching it over my helmet, doubt it would reach).

My thought is a big LED panel that I could hang from my neck and possibly belt around my chest, so I'm like iron man with this bright glowing thing in front of me, would do the trick pretty well, but I haven't seen anything like that.

What do y'all do for intense work light, ideally something that moves with you?

 

[sdef]

I also use the work lights on a stand but needed multiple light stands due to me blocking the light as I moved around the weld area when welding something like pipe and preferring to make a continuous weld. Stand lights warmed up the area when welding inside my workshop during the hot months.

My Lincoln 3350 helmet has a minimum of shade 4. I just purchased a Hobart Inventor 770890 PureColor helmet from CyberWeld as a spare and looking for a lighter beginning shade. The Hobart's minimum light shade at rest is a #3 which makes things easier and more clear in the beginning.

In initial, very limited testing with the Hobart, I can see better and more clear in all lighting conditions with more natural color visibility. The Hobart will now be my primary welding helmet due to overall better visibility- although it has a little bit less room inside than the Lincoln. CyberWeld also included a Hobart P100 respirator in the deal and I like it better than the larger P95 unit I have been using.

YMMV -

 

[Ed ke6bnl]

In concept..... But you can always add "work" light as ambient light source..... The brighter your work area the less strain to see weld...

View attachment 810846

Something like this may be just what you need for more ambient light ...

2ND GENERATION PORTABLE LED WORKLIGHT W / SINGLE TRIPOD-3500LM (MC) – Honeywell LED Lighting

honeywellledlighting.com

Just did that to my helmet a few weeks ago and it makes a great difference. I t has help a lot.

 

[kmesr9]

I have an adjustable lens and it seems set to the right point for the brightness of the arc; reducing the darkness would endanger the eyes.

Better would be to illuminate everything else more so that it is slightly visible still. I do OK welding in direct sunlight when everything is well lit, but shop & night when the metal is dark but the arc is just as bright not so much.

Unfortunately as much as you want to lighten up your work area the filter setting or lens is going to darken the same amount. I know it’s hard to see and keep your eye sight. It’s something you have to get used to. Most of the welders I know that are retired now have issues with their sight now.

 

[MarshSt]

I have had the same problem trying to get enough light and one thing I found that helps is to block the light coming in from the back of the weld hood. It really helps when working outside or with bright overhead lights. I just tape a towel to the top edge of my hood and let it drape over my shoulders. I searched for "Weld Hood Crown Cover" and found a couple more elegant options.

 

[al3]

As an FYI, helmets are available with settings that sense electronic magnetic pulses and the like. Where as my twin halogen stand light would trip the normal auto darken function, when switched to the “X” setting I can crank up the halogens and/or locate them very close to the work with no effect on the helmet. Indeed a great help with depth perception and seeing the needed travel path.


An in spite of my general dislike of high tech devices, pleased to say this helmet has worked flawlessly for over 14 years.

Good luck.

 

[Soloz2]

I'm a novice welder for sure, but I did decide spending a little more to improve my ability was worth it for me. I have a combination of Sunco and Costco 4ft shop lights in my garage/shop and over my welding table I think there are 3 of them. For everyday I'll just have one on, but when I'm welding I'll turn them all on.

Additionally, I have this hood and I absolutely love it! I can actually see what I'm doing which goes a long way!

Lincoln Viking 3350 4C Matte Black 4th Gen Welding Helmet - K3034-4

The Lincoln 3350 Welding Helmet is all about optics, comfort & versatility. This Lincoln Electric welding helmet features an extra large viewing area.

bakersgas.com

The new version has a built in light! If I were buying one today I might opt for the new version just for the light. I'm not sure I'd use the connected features all that much. That said, you can absolutely wait for a sale!

Lincoln Viking 3350 ADV Matte Black 5th Gen Welding Helmet - K3034-5

The Viking 3350 advanced series Welding Helmet is here! Let us know if you have questions! Get yours today at Baker's Gas!

bakersgas.com

 

[5030]

The ambient light in my shop above the welding table is always enough because I have the 'grind mode' on my hood.

Buy yourself a good hood and be happy.

 

[aircommuter]

You might try a fixed lense helmet with darkness shades you can change to verify your existing helmet. I don’t know what shade is appropriate unless I was there. But try 8,9,10 for starters.
When I learned to weld in 1959 with my dad teaching, we had an open un branded transformer, a fixed helmt of course, a 14” rod of 6013. When I put that helmet down I said I can’t see anything! My dad said you will, the door was open in that old unlit shop. I had no problem seeing and never have unless the lens was too dark for conditions.
Light coming in the back of the helmet like mentioned is always a bad thing too.

 

[Soloz2]

Just adding to my post. I added some expanded metal to my grill over the weekend to make it more a brush guard and was able to see where I was placing my gun and what I was doing when the arc was lit with my hood. There's just a momentary period when the arc first strikes and when it goes out it's black for half a second or so, but otherwise I absolutely can see what I'm doing and I'm positive my ability to see makes me a better welder than I otherwise would be.

I'm a novice welder for sure, but I did decide spending a little more to improve my ability was worth it for me. I have a combination of Sunco and Costco 4ft shop lights in my garage/shop and over my welding table I think there are 3 of them. For everyday I'll just have one on, but when I'm welding I'll turn them all on.

Additionally, I have this hood and I absolutely love it! I can actually see what I'm doing which goes a long way!

Lincoln Viking 3350 4C Matte Black 4th Gen Welding Helmet - K3034-4

The Lincoln 3350 Welding Helmet is all about optics, comfort & versatility. This Lincoln Electric welding helmet features an extra large viewing area.

bakersgas.com

The new version has a built in light! If I were buying one today I might opt for the new version just for the light. I'm not sure I'd use the connected features all that much. That said, you can absolutely wait for a sale!

Lincoln Viking 3350 ADV Matte Black 5th Gen Welding Helmet - K3034-5

The Viking 3350 advanced series Welding Helmet is here! Let us know if you have questions! Get yours today at Baker's Gas!

bakersgas.com