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I know several have mentioned wearing cheater glasses with welding helmets... I ran across these on ebay. I could not find them on their web site. This is just one power. They also have other magnifications. Not pushing this guy in particular they are a few others on ebay also.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-00-Magnifi...item56458e7bc5
If the auction is down just search for Helmet Cheater Lens.
Another guy has the mounts for the larger 4x4 windows.
ANy local Welding store should sell them for about $10. The smaller ones still mount in the bigger window. I use the 2x and like it a lot for TIG and cert tests where I REALLY need to see....
Those are good if you have helmet that holds them,,,however I lean towards using the cheap reading glasses at the dollar store,,,they come in any mag you want and they are handy at my age even when I'm not under the hood,,,a little mag is always good for seeing things better..
How do the smaller ones attach to a bigger window? adhesive? Or do these normally snap in place of the normal plastic protective film/lens?Quote:
Originally Posted by Johnson
Helmets that are made for them have some type of clip arrangement on the sides to hold them in place. The downside is that they only give you magnification in a portion of your large viewport, kinda negating that feature.Quote:
Originally Posted by MuttonHawg
I recently put a 1.5X in my cheapo HF hood. I used a strip of duct take on each end to hold it in. Works fine.
I gave in and got no line bifocals a few days ago... the 1.5 diopter lets me see the weld clearly.
Both my cheapo HF hoods came with clips that hold the cheater lenses. No tape required. The wire clips that hold the autodarkening module are made to hold aux lenses, too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Odyknuck
What I like about my helmet design is that you can slide the cheater up and down - so I can choose to use it or not. I find for close work or small welds, I really need the cheater to see the TIG pool, it helps a lot. I also found I could not get that sort of clarity with glasses alone.
I just bought a Miller Digital Elite for 2 reasons protect my eyes and the cheaters lens capability. It's wonderful . My other helmet is a Lincoln made for Canadian Tire and i couldn't see the puddle when mig welding with it.
The other day I put the lincoln on by mistake right after using the miller. What and enormous difference. So i tried both without the cheater. The miller is way ahead of the lincoln.
Chuck
Admit it guys we are all getting older and need a little help to see. I have been using as you call cheater lens ever since I started to weld for over 40 years but I do not wear glass my welding teacher in school told us why strain your eyes to see the spot in the dark put glass on and make the spot bigger.
Quote:
Originally Posted by zoama585
I like both of these ideas! It always seems like I need help seeing sometimes even when I don't weld (reading a tape measure, finding hidden fasteners when doing disassembly work, etc). I had a little mishap as a small child which involved my eyes and lacquer thinner, and after fighting my vision problems for the last 25 years, glasses don't seem like such a bad idea. My Dad uses cheap reading glasses (refuses to see an eye doctor) and he likes them so much, he carries them in his shirt pocket at all times. I might give that a shot and see how it works out. Then maybe see the eye doc when I decide to quit acting so stubborn! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by geezer
We must be brothers - your dad sounds EXACTLY like my dad. Mine won't spend more than about $2 at Walgreens for reading glasses. No price too low, eh?
I'd prefer a cheater lens because I already wear glasses, but my helmet doesn't seem to have a spot for one. So maybe I'll break down and go spend $2 at Walgreens for some reading glasses. Oh my God - can't believe I'm actually considering that! ;)
Yeah, that sounds like my dad. Then after they break, he complains about how nothing is made to last, or how $2 used to get you so much further in the "old days." Too funny.Quote:
Originally Posted by MuttonHawg
The scary thing is when people start telling you "You sound just like your father!"...or you watch a beer commercial that shows half naked women playing volleyball on the beach, and catch yourself blurting out "Geeeeez, look at the melon's on THAT beach hottie!" LOL
It gets worse. One day you will be getting out of the shower, and as you check yourself out in the mirror (come on, you KNOW you do), you start to realize you are showing the same shape as your dad.....
Well I can't say that I am loking like my dad I am 160 lbs 5ft 10" and my dad is 6ft even and 180lbs he looks better then me and 22 years older.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike J
I get horrified when I catch myself saying things that sound like my dad, but at least he sounds intelligent when he speaks :) We're basically the same size, same build, same sense of humor, etc. It's terrifying - I get to see what I'll look like in 30 years. Hope I still have hair like him! We all become our parents (but I'm now a better welder than him - bwa ha ha!)
My dad is almost 60 years old, and at 6'4"/265lbs we look nothing alike other than very similar facial features (we're both stunningly attractive!:P). I've been fighting to keep at 155lbs (5'-11") since 2005, so if I make it another 30 years and grow to his size through miracle, I'll be more than happy! :D
I had to laugh the other day when we went to Costco and a woman in her mid 30's was all over him with the whole "Wow, you look really strong, and your hands are so big! What gym do you work out at? You know, I get off a 6:00 tonight." I couldn't let that go! The entire way out to the car I was giving him hell and teasing him. "Wow mister, your really old and gray, and you smell like my grandpa. Wanna make out and then you can take me shopping until you run out of money?" He was more than amused by the whole thing.:)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Ski
I've tried many "cheaters". I've found Optivisor by far the best quality.
Eg. http://www.loupe-magnifier.com/optiv...ens-plates.htm
They're made to fit the Optivisor headband but I've had no problem fitting them to my helmets. On one it's held in place with hot-melt glue dabs. On another, I cut a rectangular hole in a piece of clear acrylic that slots in place.
You need to take into account how you'll clean both sides. More importantly, they each have a specific focal distance. I use an LP-5 in my TIG helmet because the distance I hold my head away is just right for that lens. On MIG and Stick I use an LP-4 with a slightly longer working distance because for those 2 processes, the distance I hold my head is spot on for the LP-4 to be in focus. You've really got to match the lens to your comfortable working distance otherwise the arc-puddle business end is not in focus. I had to get an LP-3, LP-4, and LP-5 and experiment. I find I have to be aware when welding that I must maintain the correct working distance, or at least to be conscious that if the business end is slightly out of focus, it's because my head's not kept pace with the action.
Martin
I cheap way out is pickup this http://www.harborfreight.com/head-st...ght-95890.html and remove the clip and attach it in your helmet. It comes with a number is lenses also.