Yeah, I don't doubt for a minute that an auto-darkening lens would make
life a bit easier. But, since I'm having no real problems welding with
what I've been using just about forever, I have difficulty in allowing
myself to part with the money for a high quality, auto-darkening hood.
Like you, my arms got too short for my reading vision about 10-15 years
ago (I'm 60 now and can't remember exactly when it was). I find the
"cheater lens" to be helpful on the autobody steel, but not essential
(but I still use one at all times, now).
What I've been really lusting after, for the last few years, is that
Lincoln welder that features "stick", MIG AND TIG, plus all of the other
bells & whistles. I think it's about a $3500 unit, so, it may have to
wait a few more years to find it's way into my workshop. But, something
tells me that that welding machine will appear in my shop long before an
auto-darkening hood does ;)
Bud Osbourne
-----Original Message-----
From: Wm. Severin Thompson [mailto:wsthompson@thicko.com]
Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 7:04 AM
To: 'Bud Osbourne'; 'Jim Juhas'; 'Bill Gilroy'
Cc: 'Linda Grunthaner'; 'derf'; 'Spridget List'
Subject: RE: Horrible Freight Arc Welder question.
Bud,
When I worked as a sheet metal fabricator and welder for a year after
high
school... before heading off to college, I did mostly stick welding,
mostly
in stainless. I did some mig and tig welding occasionally. I worked at a
place that made chemical dryers etc. The welds had to be flawless. Of
course, back then...(1974-1975) there were no auto-darkening helmets. I
was
18-19 at the time.
About 1990 I bought a Lincoln 100 mig to do body work. I was 33.
Recently, I got a used (big) Miller tig welder. I'm now 51.
About 5 years ago, my close up vision went to hell. I asked my eye
doctor
what was wrong? He said... "you're old."
In addition to dealing with the usual trials and tribulations of seeing
when
you weld, I was now dealing with needing reading glasses for close up
work.
So, I got a auto-darkening helmet... bought a cheap one at HF. It scared
me.
I found it to be unreliable. I worried about doing eye damage. I ended
up
buying a more expensive, name brand helmet. It just makes the whole
process
easier... when having to wear reading glasses under the helmet.
WST
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