Thread: For the other half-blind geezers

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Ah ...... the joys of senior maturity!!!

I have multifocal glasses (no line trifocals plus). Then to top it off, they are auto darkening(need these to see outside) so whatever ultraviolet light gets through, they darken up. Then to make it difficult, I have a different 'scipt and a major and different shaped astigmatism in each eye - all of which means I can't use the Wally World off the shelf specs. I'm resigned to what Uncle Bob has suggested - lots of cut off and grinding wheels and an occasional weld bead that runs wild.

My welding supply laughs at my AARP card and I believe does a 10% ADDER

One thing that helps me is to grind a bevel on the butt welded pieces.

Gives you a good line to follow.

[QUOTE=IC2;336373]"I have multifocal glasses (no line trifocals plus). Then to top it off, they are auto darkening(need these to see outside) so whatever ultraviolet light gets through, they darken up. Then to make it difficult, I have a different 'scipt and a major and different shaped astigmatism in each eye - all of which means I can't use the Wally World off the shelf specs. I'm resigned to what Uncle Bob has suggested - lots of cut off and grinding wheels and an occasional weld bead that runs wild".

I have the very same problems. I've tried several different remedies like all of you but always come back to "..oh crap I missed the seam again.." . TIG is easier than mig just because I have to position everything and get in close. No more laying on the floor, mig gun at arms length trying to reach what I should have put on the bench in the first place.
Ain't getting old just so #&%&$^* much fun
John

Well you old folks, I'm glad I found this thread-------Dave!
I too have that trouble. Mostly with the MIG. Stick I do pretty good. My eyes don't do so good with light pickup now. And I have those newer style lenses that graduate without the bifocal line. Been about five years, and I still have trouble adjusting to where to hold my neck to have the best portal for my eyes in those lenses. Would I do it again???? I dunno, they are a pain though. Perley

I think the no line bi or tri focals are only good for desk /reading type work---in the real work world (away from a desk and chair) they are pretty well more of a pain than help--with them you need to be looking squarely at whatever and in welding sometimes you can't turn your head/helmut and need to focus out the corners of the glass---a larger single focal lense would be best and needs to be for focal lenght that YOU weld at

Originally Posted by dmw56

Same problem here. I use an 8 shade for mig, 10 or higher for stick. Put a couple of good bright light on your work from different directions seems to help too.

I agree with strong lighting on the work, helps me a bunch...along with my Wal-Mart $10.00 readers.

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

I think the no line bi or tri focals are only good for desk /reading type work---in the real work world (away from a desk and chair) they are pretty well more of a pain than help--with them you need to be looking squarely at whatever and in welding sometimes you can't turn your head/helmut and need to focus out the corners of the glass---a larger single focal lense would be best and needs to be for focal lenght that YOU weld at

Sounds like good information, think I'll call my eye doctor. He of course knows my perscription, so if I tell him the usual distance my eyes are away from the actual weld, he should be able to do me up a pair of glasses that are correct at that distance, right???? Just ain't quite ready to have someone else doing my cage welding, I guess.... Hate to think I'm gonna crash test one again, but you never really know.......

Dave--that should work--when I was flying, many guys would get bifocals---some would get trifocals--distant, instrument panel distance(aprox 30 in or so) and reading distance for instrument charts

Have any of you bats looked into lasik surgery? I was talking to a guy when i had mine done who was in his late fifties, and had been a welder for years. he was having the same vision problems you guys have, but the lasik fixed him right up! I had a super bad astigmatism in both eyes and they fixed it, they even hooked me up with night vision. It was by far the best 4 grand ive ever spent.

Lasic (sp) is a possible alternative, if you are otherwise healthy enough to tolerate it. My D-I-L had it done, she's 40, and sees batter than she ever has - had worn glasses all her life.

The mention of multi-focal lenses reminded me of something that I experienced with mine: I had a terrible time walking and working on jobsites with them, and finally went back to single vision lenses; I kept tripping over grade changes, or misjudging a low clearance and trying to take my cabeza off, or I'd reach for something and miss. If I was working on a piece of equipment that required a lot of eye movement and different focal points, I'd get a headache, or make myself dizzy from moving my head around to accomodate them. I still have a pair of bi-focals, but only use them rarely, on work on a bench, like carb work, or such.

woo-hoo, I actually have a suggestion no one else touched on:

Use a 500W work light, put it very close to the work.

this tip also helps for those whom don't have an autodark helmet.

I'll have to gve that a try the next time I'm melting parts together.

I tried reading glasses and I tried a magnifying helmet lens and I STILL can't weld worth a flip.

The only thing I tried that really works is to take the job over to my brother's shop and let him do it.


Jim

Dave
Though I am only 31 i have been welding for years. I noticed that my eyes started to get a bit fuzzy about 3 years ago. I also used a high quality (expensive) auto darkening helmet. almost an #12 shade. I since went back to old faithful after a misunderstanding with my expensive helmet flying accross the shop and into one of the poles (LOL). SO i went to a #11 gold lense ( they say its better for stainless) But all around the gold lens is alot better I can see 1000 times better with it, plus I have noticed that my sight has come back a bit.

After talking to a few other welders they have said that even the best auto darkening helmets still will get your eyes everytime you start the arc. They also use a flip down now for that very reason. I was wondering years ago when on the race team all our welders used the flip downs. Well thats my 2 cents hope maybe this will help you..

Since we have about gone to visual impairment with reading this thread, how 'bout us that are half (or more) deaf. This is my biggest problem now. Thanks to my good Uncle Sam in the '60s and some of his more explosive militant moments I have to turn my radio up to the point the neighbors look at me funny. The TV - my wife will leave the room unless I have the closed captioning turned on - then to make it even worse, it seems that every female under the age of 35 talks so fast and jumbles whatever she is saying, that I keep saying What? Huh? Then the phone!! Especially cell phones, seem to jumble and miss entire sentences. Then there's my wife. She has a very soft voice most of the time (it's only when it isn't I worry). I think she is aware that sometimes my hearing can be a bit selective, but not always. And if I'm driving, she's on my deafer side

So, since I've hijacked Dave S' thread(again!!) - any comments on this sad state of affairs