Welder question for you folks

[Bobalos]

I have a mig that I have been using for about 2 years now & all thats fine. I fired it up the other day & tried to use it, but I cant see anything. the welder works fine, its the mask that im having issues with. do the lenses in the masks get messed up or darken up or something over time? its clean, just REALLY dark.

I dont remember having such a hard time trying to see what I was doing. I dont weld worth a beans anyway & for me not to be able to see what im doing it just maddening.

thanks
Bob

[SNYPER]

Try putting a drop light on what you are going to be welding, will brighten up the mask by far!!! :supz:

[DOTracer]

Is it an auto darkening helmet, or a standard fixed shade helmet? The batteries went dead in my Speedglass auto darkening helmet a few years back and it wouldn't worky too well.

[Stiffler]

If it's a fixed shade, run to the welder's supply and try a #9 or 10. I think most helmets come with something like a 12. I even tig with 9 for short term, but I'll bump it up to 10 for all day zapping.

[Bobalos]

Its a fixed shade setup. I think I will go down there & see what they have thats a little lighter. I only burn up a few things @ a time, I dont do it all day every day, so...............

thanks guys.
Bob

[k-star]

Something else i do is put a clear in front and behind the shade lense. This will keep it from geting full of spatter marks..... Then you can just replace the clear lenses as needed and have a good shaded lense....

Keith

[Bobalos]

Cool. I need to replace them as well, so off to the welding place I go.

tanx
Bob