Arc eye

[Pipe Dreamer]

Is a momentary flash (a fraction of a second, 115A @ 16") enough to lead to arc eye, or do I just need to chill out?
I get that I'll find out soon enough and all I can do with it then is deal with it, so really it's just curiosity rather than a panic question.

 

[rory1]

Youl be alright

 

[premmington]

I have never had arc eye in all these years welding.

I have had a few doses of metal fume from Galv over the years - not nice.

Also I have a few red necks and arms from pulse MIG's of late - always cover up now.

 

[Moose McAlpine]

A quick flash and a little swearing comes out. You'll need a bit more exposure to get arc eye.

Like Premmington, i've got a bit of welder's tan on one arm from not cobering up properly.

 

[500e]

Was all ways the burnt face & neck from tacking never had ark eye now people who have not nice

 

[brianblock]

My tutor told me the chances of getting arc eye by flashing yourself is slim apparently
There’s more chance if you’re not looking at the arc straight on

 

[MattH]

From what I understand arc eye is the surface of the eye getting burned just like skin.
A flash shouldn’t be enough to cause this.

 

[Pipe Dreamer]

No ill effects 24hrs later. Yay!
Thanks for the input.

 

[Richard.]

Actually it really does depend on the person and in some cases a quick flash is enough. Your skin is much tougher than your eyes and the length of exposure time to burn your skin is a lot more than what it would take to give you arc eye.
A brief look at 115 amps from a tig could see you with an uncomfortable night but it looks like you’ve gotten away with it.
Your lucky because it’s very unpleasant

 

[premmington]

Actually it really does depend on the person and in some cases a quick flash is enough. Your skin is much tougher than your eyes and the length of exposure time to burn your skin is a lot more than what it would take to give you arc eye.
A brief look at 115 amps from a tig could see you with an uncomfortable night but it looks like you’ve gotten away with it.
Your lucky because it’s very unpleasant

Prey explain please - why is pulse Mig so bad for (sun) burning you skin - it is far worse than other types of welding.

Your thoughts please?

 

[Richard.]

Prey explain please - why is pulse Mig so bad for (sun) burning you skin - it is far worse than other types of welding.

Your thoughts please?

Pulsed mig is a really potent arc
I assume it’s down to the irregularities between current and voltage creating the pulse that makes it so potent. Tbh the worst type of arc for giving you a flash is the least potent ones like an open arc (MMA/ gasless wire etc) reason being because people will look at it and take chances with it as it looks fairly harmless compared to a pulsed mig or spray arc. The ones you think that aren’t that bright and potent and feel quite comfortable being around are the dangerous ones that will give you the flash. Very bright potent processes are the ones you’ll take more care with as they are uncomfortable to be around.

 

[Hitch]

Pulsed mig is a really potent arc
I assume it’s down to the irregularities between current and voltage creating the pulse that makes it so potent. Tbh the worst type of arc for giving you a flash is the least potent ones like an open arc (MMA/ gasless wire etc) reason being because people will look at it and take chances with it as it looks fairly harmless compared to a pulsed mig or spray arc. The ones you think that aren’t that bright and potent and feel quite comfortable being around are the dangerous ones that will give you the flash. Very bright potent processes are the ones you’ll take more care with as they are uncomfortable to be around.

I've had navy blue overalls gradually turn light blue from heavy pulse welding. Certainly much much brighter than a 'normal' arc.

 

[premmington]

I've had navy blue overalls gradually turn light blue from heavy pulse welding. Certainly much much brighter than a 'normal' arc.

I have taken to - fitting "bibs" on welding helmets - because of - pulse MIG.

Optrel lid I have - I have leather bib attached to it.

Speedglas one - I have a grey cloth speedglas bib on it.

This has sorted the "red neck thing" out.

Overhead on vehicles - does expose your neck a bit...

 

[Yamhon]

I'm very new to welding, but I have a sadly chronic condition which is similar to arc eye, and a contributing factor is contrast... so if you're walking through a brightly lit workshop and get a quick flash, that will have a lesser impact than if you are walking through a dimly lit area and get the same duration flash. I can't remember all of the reasons for it, but it's something to think about... you can get similar affects by staring at a bright monitor in a dark room - which is what I did, after awhile you can stop blinking and if you don't notice and keep working away on that computer you can burn part of your eye away, which is sadly what I did. My eyes haven't felt the same since.

 

[Liquid Metal]

I have taken to - fitting "bibs" on welding helmets - because of - pulse MIG.

Optrel lid I have - I have leather bib attached to it.

Speedglas one - I have a grey cloth speedglas bib on it.

This has sorted the "red neck thing" out.

Overhead on vehicles - does expose your neck a bit...

Did the same thing with an old headshield i had but it got on my nerves after a while, keot falling down.
In the end i bought a couple of these to protect my neck,:

http://www.ukwelder.com/shop2/shop_index.php?page=cloth_hoods

Keep slag and spatter out of the ears and stop it rolling down your collar, protect your neck completely, and suprisingly arent as hot as youd think

 

[brianblock]

I've had navy blue overalls gradually turn light blue from heavy pulse welding. Certainly much much brighter than a 'normal' arc.

I faded my navy sweatshirt doing aluminium tig at about 160A no pulse
It was pretty funny you could see the original colour around the front where my hood had been

 

[zeppelin builder]

you will know when you get it for sure think mag at high volts is the worst ,can turn ears into something resembling potato crisps in a couple of shifts

 

[DTS]

If there’s welding going on I always wear safety glasses anyway. They’re mostly made of polycarbonate which blocks nearly all UV light. Exposure to sunlight/uv can contribute to the formation of cataracts later in life.

 

[qwakers]

arc eye hurts, a lot.

and a 5 second or so exposure (in my case a faulty cheap welding helmet) can do it.

 

[Richard.]

You shouldn’t get arc eye through a welding mask despite how faulty or cheap it is as the arc rays cannot penetrate any of the perspex or glass layers. You must of exposed your eyes to the arc at some point