Welding when you’re not 40 anymore…

[Kern Dog]

I spent my life as a Carpenter but have been a car guy even longer. Quite awhile ago I learned that you really limit yourself if you have to rely on others for welding things.
Old cars with crash damage or rust will need repair. You can get on the list and wait your turn or find a way to do it yourself. There are numerous times that having a welder here has saved me money. For almost 30 years, I’ve only done MIG welding. Most automotive stuff can be done with the MIG. I’m not a great welder but I do okay. This past month I started a welding class with another FABO member. This week we did some stick welding, a type that in my opinion, is obsolete for what kind of stuff that I do. I took the class to improve my MIG skills but this class is geared to exposing students to all the common welding techniques. SMAW, GMAW and even TIG. My skills at stick/arc welding are not good but improving. It was so frustrating , I would have quit but I heard that next week (week six of eight) we focus on MIG! The first four weeks were spent learning terminology, symbols, techniques and fabrication. They had us build mini-Hibachi grilles….

They had “plans” we had to follow to cut and shape the sheet metal. The designs of the bases were up to each student to come up with.

That was fun. The welding booths there were often busy so I MIG’d them together at home.
This week, all the work was done in the shop at the college, that brings me to the point…..
As we age, as our eyes age, first we need more light to see….then we need glasses, then thicker/stronger glasses.
I’ve found that even still with strong glasses, I often need more light than I did before. The booths at the college have a fluorescent lamp behind the work that barely lights up the stuff you’re working on. I struggled with the work today….

We all struggled with the stick welding but for me, welding blind sure made it a pisser. The younger guys didn’t have a problem with the lighting.
I stopped at the local welding supply to see about a welding hood mounted light. They had nothing. At home, I made this:

It is fairly simple. Back when I was still working in construction, we often started work before sunrise and needed light to see and work. We al started wearing those LED lights attached to an elastic band with power supplied by rechargeable batteries. I just cut the bands off and screwed it to the hood…

Once welding starts, the lense darkens for protection but before and after, a dim area makes it hard to know where to get started.

 

[Kern Dog]

I’ll do some work tomorrow and report back.
Cheers!

 

[1MeanA]

I need those lights. Try learning tig…it’s even harder when you can’t see.

 

[fishmens67]

That's a nice little grill you made

welding blind sure made it a pisser. The younger guys didn’t have a problem with the lighting.

That's always been my problem, vision, I have a vision problem even with a good self darkening helmet.

 

[Newbomb Turk]

I learned welding with a torch. The stick. Then MIG. Only two of us did the TIG class in high school.

 

[Syleng1]

Hey- I’ve owned a professional weld shop / heavy equipment repair for over 29years now. I took welding as my trade thru high school.
I’m 54. It’s all about breathing, and control. You need to be strong- not like hulk strong but strong enough to control your muscles and stay steady.
Also- reading the welds and keeping every thing clean.
Stick welding is the only welding for thick steel out side. You also can turn up the amperage with stick and burn out the junk. Can’t do that with mig.
Syleng1

 

[Newbomb Turk]

Hey- I’ve owned a professional weld shop / heavy equipment repair for over 29years now. I took welding as my trade thru high school.
I’m 54. It’s all about breathing, and control. You need to be strong- not like hulk strong but strong enough to control your muscles and stay steady.
Also- reading the welds and keeping every thing clean.
Stick welding is the only welding for thick steel out side. You also can turn up the amperage with stick and burn out the junk. Can’t do that with mig.
Syleng1

Yup. If I’m outside and need to weld I use stick welding.

I suppose you could use dual shield but if your not set up for it you need to change the wire. I only ever used that on ships.

 

[Kern Dog]

I need those lights. Try learning tig…it’s even harder when you can’t see.

At home during the day, I have radiant or direct sunlight to help. After sundown and indoors, I'm always at a disadvantage.

That's a nice little grill you made

Thank you! I don't know if I'll ever cook with it but I could do 4 small burgers or several hot dogs at a time.

That's always been my problem, vision, I have a vision problem even with a good self darkening helmet.

I've noticed that even with the auto-darkening, my eyes have to adjust to the light conditions...before, during the weld and after. Low light makes it really difficult.
You can get these lamps on Amazon for around $20. They really are bright enough to work in the dark.
Rechargeable batteries are great for something like this. You could make brackets to hold a standard flashlight to the helmet, some are lightweight so you may not even notice the added weight.

 

[dowboy1970]

Try using the headlight you made for your helmet and cut down on the light behind you that can be sneaking into your helmet.

all your light needs to be Infront of you at the weld.

 

[mopowers]

Nice! It's good that you're branching out of the comfort zone. Many people are too proud to learn a new skill. That light will be very handy. I have a similar head lamp mounted on my welding hood. It may be in the way if you ever plan to weld in tight quarters like a roll cage, mini tubs, etc., but at that point though, looks like you made it so it can be easily removed. Then you can just set up a spot lamp or something.

 

[nutz]

been welding for 45 years ,but still can't weld ......but can grind good
i have welded quarter panels cut down the middle without warping ...but got away from body work for the most part
yes lighting is very important problem i have is welding in a tight area and can bearly get my head in let alone a helmut
trying to get my kid into welding ,want to buy a tig but not ready yet

 

[mopar head]

I chose a different path and used a headlight mounted to a 12Lb. pull magnet, long before magnet lights were ever a thing.

 

[Kern Dog]

???

 

[mopar head]

???

 

[gzig5]

I’ll do some work tomorrow and report back.
Cheers!

I agree with everything you said about age and lighting. The helmet mounted light is a clever solution. I will try something similar but I’m afraid that setup you have would cause some neck strain for me after a short while. The helmet is already too heavy. Hope it works out for you.

 

[dowboy1970]

I chose a different path and used a headlight mounted to a 12Lb. pull magnet, long before magnet lights were ever a thing.

View attachment 1716371480

Thats a brazing rod friend,
Back in the day we could not afford those at times and used coat hangers!!!

 

[mopar head]

Thats a brazing rod friend,
Back in the day we could not afford those at times and used coat hangers!!!

That`s a tig rod friend. Mr ??? is focused on that I guess, the light is at the far right of the picture. lol

 

[RBConvert]

This past month I started a welding class with another FABO member. This week we did some stick welding, a type that in my opinion, is obsolete for what kind of stuff that I do. I took the class to improve my MIG skills but this class is geared to exposing students to all the common welding techniques. SMAW, GMAW and even TIG. My skills at stick/arc welding are not good but improving. It was so frustrating , I would have quit but I heard that next week (week six of eight) we focus on MIG!

I'm taking the class along with Greg. I've never welded before and I wanted to learn so community college seemed like one of the better choices. Monday we started stick welding with 7018 and 6010, and I was probably more frustrated than Greg. Just about every time I struck up the electrode it would stick to the material. Today went much better, and even though my welds suck, I was at least able to run a bead across the seam. The 6010 is much more unforgiving than the 7018.

The first four weeks were spent learning terminology, symbols, techniques and fabrication. They had us build mini-Hibachi grilles….

View attachment 1716371452

They had “plans” we had to follow to cut and shape the sheet metal. The designs of the bases were up to each student to come up with.

View attachment 1716371453

Looks a lot better than mine.

I’ve found that even still with strong glasses, I often need more light than I did before. The booths at the college have a fluorescent lamp behind the work that barely lights up the stuff you’re working on. I struggled with the work today….

View attachment 1716371454

We all struggled with the stick welding but for me, welding blind sure made it a pisser. The younger guys didn’t have a problem with the lighting.

Yeah, I'm 64 and lighting is an issue. I set the hood's light sensitivity to the lowest setting and also lowered the shading two levels. Greg and I are surrounded my millennials, half of them smell like a cannabis factory. But they can see better than we can.

I stopped at the local welding supply to see about a welding hood mounted light. They had nothing. At home, I made this:

View attachment 1716371457

It is fairly simple. Back when I was still working in construction, we often started work before sunrise and needed light to see and work. We al started wearing those LED lights attached to an elastic band with power supplied by rechargeable batteries. I just cut the bands off and screwed it to the hood…

View attachment 1716371458

I like the idea. I just wonder about the extra weight sitting on top of the hood.

 

[dowboy1970]

That`s a tig rod friend. Mr ??? is focused on that I guess, the light is at the far right of the picture. lol

Well you fooled me.

I will continue with my 110 Lincoln MIG for sheet metal if that is what a tig weld looks like.

 

[Newbomb Turk]

I'm taking the class along with Greg. I've never welded before and I wanted to learn so community college seemed like one of the better choices. Monday we started stick welding with 7018 and 6010, and I was probably more frustrated than Greg. Just about every time I struck up the electrode it would stick to the material. Today went much better, and even though my welds suck, I was at least able to run a bead across the seam. The 6010 is much more unforgiving than the 7018.

Looks a lot better than mine.

Yeah, I'm 64 and lighting is an issue. I set the hood's light sensitivity to the lowest setting and also lowered the shading two levels. Greg and I are surrounded my millennials, half of them smell like a cannabis factory. But they can see better than we can.

I like the idea. I just wonder about the extra weight sitting on top of the hood.

When you get 6010 down you’ll love it. I use it for root passes and 7018 for cover.

 

[Kern Dog]

My ??? pertained to the lamp on a hammer instead of on the hood. These lamps weigh less than a pound, you don't even know that it is there.

 

[mopar head]

Well you fooled me.

I will continue with my 110 Lincoln MIG for sheet metal if that is what a tig weld looks like.

Both get ground down, and tig has less heat/warpage. If you never tig before, you shouldn`t diss someone's welds. I`d put my welds up against anybody's

 

[mopar head]

My ??? pertained to the lamp on a hammer instead of on the hood. These lamps weigh less than a pound, you don't even know that it is there.

Lamp on a hammer? there is no hammer in that pic, should probably read the post again.
They do make hoods with built in lights now, I believe.

 

[RBConvert]

When you get 6010 down you’ll love it. I use it for root passes and 7018 for cover.

That's what our instructor said too. 6010 can weld in the wind, rain, snow, etc. Perfect for off-road repairs.

 

[Kern Dog]

Lamp on a hammer? there is no hammer in that pic, should probably read the post again.
They do make hoods with built in lights now, I believe.

I read the 12 lb part and skipped over the "magnet" part. Still, a lamp on the hood will help in low lighted areas because the lamp will follow my eyes, no need to reposition it. I can appreciate the way you did it, it is another approach worth considering.
Also...All welds by amateurs like me need some manner of "spit and polish" after the fact. If the welds have good penetration and aren't like mounds of licorice, I'm satisfied. I can always tune up the welds after the fact. I'm not looking to do this for a living, I just am a hobbyist like most of you.
When at the welding supply today, the man opened a catalog and did show just ONE hood with a clip on bracket for a cylindrical shaped flash light. Unfortunately, those may not provide a wide enough beam of light for me. I came home and just thought that the 3 bulb lamps I've used for years in wood framing should also work for this. If this idea helps others, all the better.