Am I getting to old to mig weld

[JEZGUZ]

I agree with the comments about glasses, a good light will make things easier too.

 

[doubleboost]

Optrel Crystal
Different world
Not cheap but amazing

 

[ronan]

I find light is half the battle when the peepers start to deteriorate, no matter what you are doing. Doing a bit of brush painting earlier, just red oxide primer on a casting, but couldn't see where i had painted and where i hadn't (second coat). I had to go get a better light, an led inspection light and it made all the difference.

 

[premmington]

53 - cheater lens in a speedglass helmet.

Gave up on alloy now - just can't see the weld pool.

 

[8ob]

Jeez, is this an advert for Specsavers?

Over 60 and never had or needed glasses.

Same here but still use a cheater, cant always get that close on positional s with plant and machinery, cheaters bring everything closer/magnified which I find useful.

Bob

 

[Country Joe]

I get my pension next year

From what I've heard this morning - there's just been another year added on.

CJ

 

[addjunkie]

I prefer glasses over the cheater lens, Ive found the cheater lens quite poor from a visual perspective, then bith Ive tried have been ebay jobs, not sure if other brands are better quality.

I have a few pairs of garage glasses for different distances. Pain getting old

 

[indy4x]

From what I've heard this morning - there's just been another year added on.

CJ

Nooooo, saw the news article, I'm in the retire at 67 band ATM, looks like it's now gonna be 68

Have the Optrel VegaView, what a revelation that was, still have to have a cheater lense and readers when welding but way better than my previous welding masks

 

[slim_boy_fat]

73. Had laser eye surgery about 9 years ago (to dispense with 2 X pairs of glasses) and it was a revelation. I was told then that I would eventually need specs for reading and it is only now becoming necessary in certain conditions.

@falconho Welcome to the forum, there's a pic I posted ages ago of an LED torch I velcro'd to the top of my helmet ' it helped a lot when I tried TIG. I've since made a 'stand- alone' one for close work on the lathe and mill, there are a couple of pics of that more recently too.

 

[tom2207]

Jeez, is this an advert for Specsavers?

Over 60 and never had or needed glasses.

have you had an eye test though ,,, many folk will say that , till they put on a pair of glasses , the majority of folk over 50 will benefit from wearing glasses , or so Im told , I just make them.

 

[Gritineye]

76, I have two boot fair angle poise type lamps with very bright LED bulbs, a long reach one fixed to the bench that swings over the vise, and a smaller free standing one for awkward positions.

The springs need shortening to compensate for the extra bulb weight, I have them really close to the work, beside my head, best thing about LED bulbs is that weld spatter doesn't make them go pop!

I've replaced one fluorescent tube with an LED one, the other two are fading. I just bought one of these for the bathroom, it's really bright and weighs nothing, so I'm about to get a couple more for the workshop instead of tubes.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B06XW84ZFT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Joe 90]

My father couldn't see to weld with my esab origo but with my new esab a40 he has no problems and needs glasses for close up. Its nice and clear, not like the old green ones.
They aren't expensive. £70-80 should buy one.
The difference is unbelievable.

 

[badabec]

Jeez, is this an advert for Specsavers?

Over 60 and never had or needed glasses.

Yet

 

[badabec]

From what I've heard this morning - there's just been another year added on.

CJ

When I worked I paid extra contributions to increase my state pension. When I checked about 10 years ago, I was due about £195 per week. Since then they have changed the goal posts and I will now get roughly £175. You cannot trust them.
Good job I started a private pension when I was 24.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

True colour mask and a very good lamp....the other top tip is to take the plastic sticker off the lense...well I didn't know!

 

[duncans]

Hi as title really, im really struggling to see the pool of weld as im getting older, closer to 60 than 50, have 3 welding helmets 1 auto darkening that makes it slightly easier, recent visit to optician good outcome with new glasses, is there a particular make of helmet that may help me some more, not to worried about cost if it helps me to see better.

geez im 62 and be 63 this month your never to old get a decent helmet then you should see the pool quite easy i think yes put a light near your weld makes a big difference it does

 

[duncans]

I really do wish you would knock it off you know, you are going to have me in the Poor house!

:-)

I have a number in mind and when they reach that price, I will buy one. My ESAB Sentinel is absolutely terrific and I love it, but I know the Crystal will be another step up. Friend of mine looked through my Sentinel last week and just wanted one right away. He had sort of stopped welding because he couldn't see what he was doing, he is up and away again now.

yeah I've got the A50sentiel what a difference it made from an old parweld I borrowed I couldn't see bugger all through that helmet

 

[MBB]

Coming up to 80 my welds are the same as when I was 40. (terrrible)

 

[tom2207]

Coming up to 80 my welds are the same as when I was 40. (terrrible)

Look on it as more like ,,, consistent .

 

[DAPPH]

Another vote for a strong torch

make sure you don’t have too much back light as it can make it harder to see out of the inside of your visor

To stop back light I made a top cover for my welding helmet 10 x 12 "out of 2 mm black polyethene , it's pop riveted from the inside of the mask and has a steel washers on the rivet bodies to stop the rivets pulling through .. riveted in three places about 1/2 " from the back edge at the top of my head . About four inches from the front of the cover I warmed it up and bent it to about 30 degrees so it goes over my bump of knowledge . It stops any light getting in past my head or ears , allows me to breath easily with a face.dust mask on and makes me look a bit like a crested grebe .

I too have taken to flooding the welding area with a 30 watt led flood light from about 18 " away I also wear a pair of reading or computer use glasses .. it makes a tremendous difference as my eyes each need different strength optics .
As i got older & type two diabetes got to work on me I have to have new glasses every four years , using the 12 pairs of old ones in the mancupboard & 3D printer room . Have to carefully bend the arms for a tighter fit than normal so I can lean over to look at my toes with the glasses stay put on my head .