Eyes hurt after welding

**zlek131** · #1 Mar 1st, 10, 07:23 PM

I've been doing a bit of MIG welding on the car and it seems my eyes hurt after welding. I have a nice welding helmet with the auto darkening glass. It has three dials that allow you to set the Shade, Sensitivity and Delay. I recently upped the Shade to 13 (max). The delay is set to min and sensitivity is set to medium. I've played with the settings today so I don't know if my eyes are sore due to the previous or current settings. It seems like the auto darkening my not be kicking fast enough...Anyway, what should these settings be? What do you use?

**Mkelcy** · #2 Mar 1st, 10, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zlek131

I've been doing a bit of MIG welding on the car and it seems my eyes hurt after welding. I have a nice welding helmet with the auto darkening glass. It has three dials that allow you to set the Shade, Sensitivity and Delay. I recently upped the Shade to 13 (max). The delay is set to min and sensitivity is set to medium. I've played with the settings today so I don't know if my eyes are sore due to the previous or current settings. It seems like the auto darkening my not be kicking fast enough...Anyway, what should these settings be? What do you use?

You're clearly getting welding flash through the lens. Is your helmet solar or battery powered? If battery, change batteries. I've got a solar powered helmet, and I make it a point to leave it out in the sun for a couple of hours if I'm going to be doing a lot of welding. I don't think your auto-darkening helmet is darkening.

**jr68** · #3 Mar 1st, 10, 08:34 PM

Why don't you grab a bare bones helmet for a while to compare.
Try a few different shades in it. Not worth taking chances with this helmet.

AlexFolino · #4 Mar 1st, 10, 09:48 PM

Check those lenses and remember if you ever get flash burn.. ive always been told to put a cold potato on your eye lids

**KevinW** · #5 Mar 2nd, 10, 04:23 AM

I've had sunburn of the retina's from stick welding in my youth, Eyes feel scratchy right away, then hours later, BAM the real pain starts. Dr says I was lucky and did not lose an eye. I am much more careful now. I think the custom car TV shows that show welding without helmets (they just close their eyes!) are setting a bad example!

**Pro-Street69Camaro468** · #6 Mar 2nd, 10, 04:41 AM

You say your eyes are hurting.If you get a welders flash you will feel like you have sand in your eyes.You realy cant get a flash if the sheild doesn't go dark quick enough ,just plain glass stops you from getting a welders flash.If your eyes hurt you may be straining to see.You may want to get a cheater lense...

**zlek131** · #7 Mar 2nd, 10, 06:22 AM

Thanks for all the input. I will change the batteries for sure and see if it makes any difference.

**sean69cam** · #8 Mar 2nd, 10, 06:44 AM

As an eye doc, I remind my guys to always use the best safety protection. I have seen so many injuries from welding, some are minor, but some serious damage is possible. Welding burns can scar the cornea(the front of the eye) and the retina(the back of the eye). Too many scars and vision can be affected. Saying that, I see many guys who use their safety equipment and seem to do well. Well, maybe a burn every now and then.

**Moonpie** · #9 Mar 2nd, 10, 08:56 AM

I have two auto darkening helmets. The solar powered one won't darken quickly enough for butt welding and I found out the hard way. So, I use the battery powered one for butt welding and the solar for plug welding. I can see easier pre-spark with the solar jobby. Both are made in China. By the way, new batteries helped mine considerably. Anyone know if the solar one can be converted to battery?

slaphead65 · #10 Mar 2nd, 10, 11:50 AM

I have not had any problems with solar powered helmets and have been using my present one for 5 years , maybe it not made in China . I use a 10 shade i find 12 way to dark . I got flash burn bad once i had blurred vision for 2 days felt like an eye full of sand i am real careful nowdays . Listen to the eye doc you only get one pair of eyes if you think your visors bad get another you buy cannot buy new eyes .

**DHH** · #11 Mar 2nd, 10, 12:27 PM

A good helmet darkens in 1/20,000 of a second or faster, my eyes are worth the $200 I recently spent on my Miller performance helmet. The cheap auto darkening helmet I had wasn't getting it done.

**DOUG G** · #12 Mar 2nd, 10, 01:15 PM

Also do NOT ware a light colored shirt as the flash reflects inside the shield.

On my auto shield I try to look through the top third (stays dark) while I'm welding and through the middle when I need to see (changing sticks,chipping,where I left off,and such)

kart11 · #13 Mar 2nd, 10, 02:05 PM

Are you sure you havent maybe made a few tacs without the helmet ? That will do it , even if you think its just a tac....it only takes one good flash.

kart11 · #14 Mar 2nd, 10, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pro-Street69Camaro468

You say your eyes are hurting.If you get a welders flash you will feel like you have sand in your eyes.You realy cant get a flash if the sheild doesn't go dark quick enough ,just plain glass stops you from getting a welders flash.If your eyes hurt you may be straining to see.You may want to get a cheater lense...

What is a cheater lens ?

**Calpantera** · #15 Mar 2nd, 10, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kart11

What is a cheater lens ?

Magnifying lens, like reading glasses for welding.

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