pipes,
I'll respond in your order of comments. If you need a remedy, how can that be fun? I take everything seriously regarding my personal safety, ESPECIALLY the eyes! You can resent the implication whether you were wearing eye protection, but your eyes were damaged, so how were your eyes protected? Please don't indicate there is no way to protect your eyes while doing this kind of work. Some may not like the auto-darkening helmets or goggles, but they do work quite nicely. If not auto-darkening, there are lenses that will allow you to see what you are doing, yet offer adequate protection from arc flash. If any fitter worth his salt gets flashburn from time to time, what would that indicate? As John Wright posted, does lost time from the job benefit anyone? No, I have never fit pipe. If I did, I would investigate what is entailed to do the job safely and maintain my personal well being.
"THE FITTER GETS ENOUGH GUTS"!!!!!!!!!!....your quote. What in the world does that say? Are you telling me and everyone else here that possibly going blind by a lack of personal safety takes guts???? DUUUHHHHH!!!
Pipes, I enjoy fun as much as anyone, but I feel having fun can be so much more enjoyable being able to look at it.....that takes VISION! What I am saying is that safety has to be serious and this forum is to discuss all the parameters of keeping oneself safe in the welding arena. When you "lighten up" concerning safety and your personal well-being, you will pay the price....and that is an absolute.
I don't have hard feelings either. Pipes, I was in total darkness for over a week and it was an awakening I will never "lighten up" on. And it allows me to have a lot of fun on this earth before I die.....Denny