The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Welding lighting.

Do any of you use some sort of workpiece lighting when you are welding?

I've got overhead florescents, but I'd like to have some light right down on the project.
I plugged in a halogen worklight, but it keeps triggering my self darkening mask.

Any good tips or tricks?

Jim,

Have you tried blocking the light that comes into the back of your helmet? It helps with glare and contrast. I'm not dodging your question, I found that I didn't need additional lighting if I blocked the back lighting.

With my poor eye sight I like to have as much light as I can get when Im welding. The funny thing I found out was that my "transition" eyeglass lens were makeing everything DARK! So being near sighted I just take off my glasses and get real close to my work. I do use a regular work light when the situtation permits.

I've got a florescent light over the welding table, it's plenty to get things positioned.

Otherwise the actual process of welding is a light, and it can't get any closer to the work... after getting started there's not much difference between welding in a dark room or with work lights.

Grigg

Grigg, I'm kinda like Yakima, I have to remove my glasses to see up close. I don't need extra light when I'm welding, I need the light when I'm getting set to pull the trigger.

I might look into a full headcover type helmet. 1953 (above) might have a solution.

Jim Bow I use a rag when I have glare in the helment and you could do the same by using a light off to the side and covering your helment with a shop rag or leather piece.
62blue
Don

I have tried all kinds of helmets and I keep coming back to the old fashioned flip style. The larger lenses act like a rear view mirror for me. I can see light behind me, but can't see what I'm doing. I have fluorescent lighting above a welding table, but a lot of welding I do is in awkward positions and I have to depend on the light the arc gives off which isn't much with wire.

Jim Bow...My fluorescent shop lights cause the same problem with autodarkening lens. My solution is my 18 volt Milwaukee incandescent work light...can aim it right where I want to start the weld and still see what I'm doing.

I've worked with quite a few oldtime welders who actually had magnifying lenses built into their helmets. A good professional welder's supply store should be able to refer you to a supplier that sells vision-corrective helmet lenses.
Jerry

Jim Bow, a buddy of mine who's a fellow professional geologist and amateur welder suggested that I try a gold colorerd lens for a better view of the puddle when tig welding aluminum. He was right! The gold lens does help and also a magnifying inner lens for my old (66 years) eyes.

I aim a small clamp light with a 40-60w spot bulb directly at the area I'm working. The focused beam keeps light from flooding the entire room and thus the back of my mask.

A buddy of mine wears goggles and a bright led head lamp in spot mode.