Speedglas safety question

By _TJ

Date 11-05-2004 15:31

I've been using the Hornell Speedglas 9000X for a year now and really like the thing. Very light and comfortable and the visibility is great. There are a few downfalls though like the very expensive cover plates and the ocational flash I get when the sensors get covered. Why didn't they put 4 sensors on this thing?

Anyway, my question... Been doing 4hrs a day of GTAW and my neck is getting sunburned pretty good. I guess I'll have to get a bandanna but it got me wondering if that UV light could be seeping up under my hood and getting to my eyes? I mean, it's reaching my neck pretty good, even the back of my neck is getting it, so it stands to reason it may be getting to my eyes, and that's a bit scary.

Any thoughts/suggestions/experiences on this?

By Lawrence (*****)

Date 11-05-2004 15:43

Hey TJ,

If UV light were reflecting (bouncing) under your hood and getting in your eyes, chances are good that visible light would be doing the same thing, so if your not experiencing extra bright reflection your likely OK.

When I did alot of heavy aluminum and magnesium GTA welding my wife made me special bandannas with a leather triangle sewn to fit right in that neck area. A tube of barrier cream in the toolbox is also a good precaution if you find yourself working with extra high amperages or in a situation where arc rays are reflected. There are also little leather flaps that can be clipped onto the bottom of the welding hood.

TIG welders sometimes get a little too comfortable with the clean nature of their work and wear plain or white T-shirts when welding. Than when that high risk job comes up the arc rays scortch the shirt or reflect off the white right under the helmet. Best to at least have a nice green cotton jacket in the toolbox.

By MICHAEL B (*)

Date 11-05-2004 19:46

The guys at my shop use a piece of leather that hangs from the bottom of the hood. You can get these from any welding supply company.

By RonG

Date 11-05-2004 20:26

If it was getting to your eyes you would most assuredly know it. Get a bib like the others suggested.

The back of your neck means something is reflecting the light or maybe some one is welding behind you.

I've had the back of my neck burned by reflection while welding in the bed (all shinny metal) of a dump truck also shinny Alluminum pipe wrappings.

By _TJ

Date 11-05-2004 20:45

I tried one of those clip-on bibs and hated it cause it would hang down in my eyes when I flipped the hood up and would also pull the hood back down while I was walking. Nope, it had to go.

The booth I'm in is probably reflecting the light to the back of my neck I supposed. I'll just get a bandanna for that.

I do notice as it gets later in the evening, my eyes will get blurry and I have a hard time focusing. I'm not sure if that's just from getting old or from the strain on my eyes from welding.

Anyway, thanks for the replies.

By RonG

Date 11-05-2004 22:03

What filter are you using and what material are you welding? It makes a difference. There is a lot of eye strain when doing TIG, more so than SMAW. We had some booths painted flat black but man that got old. We tried blue also but green was what every one seemed to like the best.

Get a large bandana. I always had trouble with them traveling and winding up with the knot in the front after a couple hours. They make soft cloth bib thats not heavy enough to pull your hood down and it does not need to be so long as to block your vision when you lift your hood.

Good luck!

By _TJ

Date 11-06-2004 02:01

Cool. I'll look out for those cloth bibs. I switch between 9 and 11, as the Speedglas does not have 10 in the TIG settings. Sometimes 11 is a bit dark to see the puddle clearly. It's mild steel, 1/8" or 3/16" thick with 3/32" filler rod-machine's set at 135 amps but I don't have the foot control pegged usually.

By josephd (*)

Date 11-09-2004 19:43

I dont have an answer to your qusetion but 25 years ago when I started welding looking into the scared eyes of the journeyman welders I decided to go back to school and become an inspector. I taught for two years and inspected for 10, now I write inspection and some welding contract clauses and monitor multi million dollor contracts for the government. Just wanted my eyes like the good Lord gave them to me. Be careful.