welding lens #

[chase1994]

What is the lens darkness number yall use for mig welding. I am using a flux cored btw. and what about stick welding. thanks.

[Desertrider33]

I mostly use the auto hoods these days and vary the shade from 10-13, depending on light conditions and process/current. When I do wire and stick with my fixed shade hood, shade 11 works good for outdoors and shade 10 works good for indoors. I've used shade 12 with wire and it can be a little dark sometimes indoors or in low light areas but outdoors in the sunlight it works fine.

[myistar]

I use a Miller Elite. It has adjustable shades from 8-13. For stick welding, I set it at 10.5 or 11. But I go by what is comfortable with my eyes. If it seems too bright I'll turn it up some. If it's too dark, then I lower it.. It's all about what you are comfortable with looking at.

[chase1994]

I have a cheaper 7-13 auto darkening. but I was just thinking that if it is a low # it could hurt ur eyes. Like using a 7 setting or something but i read on lincoln electric.com that it doesn't matter about the # that is just the shade and that the lens should still keep out light. IDK if that is correct.

[chase1994]

OH and i also heard that u want to set it where u can still c ur weld puddle clearly and i went to North Georgia tech for a field trip and went to the welding class and thats the way they had there helmets fixed. JW if this is correct. thanks

[Jeep80CJ7]

I only use two different shades #9 for tig and #10 for mig or stick. I have never had the need for anything darker. No auto-darkening crap hoods. they never have enough neck coverage anyways. I use and love my large view lincoln electric hood i bought from home depot. If you plan on using a good hood(again not an auto-darkening), never use the crappy plastic shade it comes with, everything looks way to orange IMHO(especially the gold ones). Find a glass one like a radnor(brand i use). it's like welding in HD compared to a plastic lens.

[Desertrider33]

I only use two different shades #9 for tig and #10 for mig or stick. I have never had the need for anything darker. No auto-darkening crap hoods. they never have enough neck coverage anyways. I use and love my large view lincoln electric hood i bought from home depot. If you plan on using a good hood(again not an auto-darkening), never use the crappy plastic shade it comes with, everything looks way to orange IMHO(especially the gold ones). Find a glass one like a radnor(brand i use). it's like welding in HD compared to a plastic lens.

I have to laugh a little here.

That Lincoln hood you bought at Home Depot is made by Jackson and is an HSL100, which is the same hood that Jackson uses in their EQC line of auto dark hoods, as well as their fixed shade hoods. That wide view HSL100 is also available with a 2x4 lens opening in the same shell shape/size. I have several Jackson hoods here, some auto dark, some fixed shade. All provide the same degree of neck/face coverage regardless of the lens type. Jackson sells their hoods to several other companies who also put their own names on the hoods. The HTP Striker line of hoods is made by Jackson too.

Glass filter lenses are not used as the first (outter) lens in an arc welding hood. The clear polycarbonate safety cover lens is there first in line to cover and protect the glass filter lens from spatter pitting, as well as cracking/shattering, which will cause your face to have a an unpleasant day or few if it cuts you in the process. The safety lenses are also cheap to replace often as needed, versus replacing a much more expensive glass filter lens every few days when it becomes too pitted to see through anymore.

Try that #10 shade on bright day outdoors for a day of heavy fluxcore or spray arc welding and tell me how your eyes feel at the end of the day and the next morning. Your local Airgas dealer will be happy to sell you a darker shade 4x5 Radnor filter lens to fit your Jackson Lincoln Home Depot hood.

www.jacksonsafety.com
www.htpweld.com

[Desertrider33]

I have a cheaper 7-13 auto darkening. but I was just thinking that if it is a low # it could hurt ur eyes. Like using a 7 setting or something but i read on lincoln electric.com that it doesn't matter about the # that is just the shade and that the lens should still keep out light. IDK if that is correct.

OH and i also heard that u want to set it where u can still c ur weld puddle clearly and i went to North Georgia tech for a field trip and went to the welding class and thats the way they had there helmets fixed. JW if this is correct. thanks

The lenses are typically supposed to keep out rays from certain harmful sections of the light spectrum. I have forgotten the names of them as it's been a number of years since I was in science class. However, if the shade is too light, the brightness will tire your eyes and make them more sensitive to bright light for a period of time after. My eyes hurt and tear for awhile when I use too light a shade for too long. I use the darkest shade I can still see the weld with.

[Jeep80CJ7]

I have to laugh a little here.

That Lincoln hood you bought at Home Depot is made by Jackson and is an HSL100, which is the same hood that Jackson uses in their EQC line of auto dark hoods, as well as their fixed shade hoods. That wide view HSL100 is also available with a 2x4 lens opening in the same shell shape/size. I have several Jackson hoods here, some auto dark, some fixed shade. All provide the same degree of neck/face coverage regardless of the lens type. Jackson sells their hoods to several other companies who also put their own names on the hoods. The HTP Striker line of hoods is made by Jackson too.

Glass filter lenses are not used as the first (outter) lens in an arc welding hood. The clear polycarbonate safety cover lens is there first in line to cover and protect the glass filter lens from spatter pitting, as well as cracking/shattering, which will cause your face to have a an unpleasant day or few if it cuts you in the process. The safety lenses are also cheap to replace often as needed, versus replacing a much more expensive glass filter lens every few days when it becomes too pitted to see through anymore.

Try that #10 shade on bright day outdoors for a day of heavy fluxcore or spray arc welding and tell me how your eyes feel at the end of the day and the next morning. Your local Airgas dealer will be happy to sell you a darker shade 4x5 Radnor filter lens to fit your Jackson Lincoln Home Depot hood.

www.jacksonsafety.com
www.htpweld.com

cool. you know alot about hoods. that's just awesome.


so anyways, he asked what we are using. From what I know that's what i use. me knowing anymore about the model or brand of hood makes me in no way a better welder. So i could care less to learn.

my hood costed me 30 bucks. 8 dollars for a #10 shade and same for the #9. alot cheaper than buying a worthless auto-darkening that makes you in no way a better welder.

[Desertrider33]

I don't know how that came off, but I didn't mean any offense to you. Welcome to the forum.