Russ from MN

Well-known Member
Location
Bemidji MN
I see a lot of talk about watching it, is a welding helmet safe enough to watch it through. That's how we did it when I was young, but maybe that's why I'm colorblind!
 
The recommendation is for a #14 lens. That is the darkest, I believe, not found very often, typically for large stick welding or gouging.

Like ckain(mi)said, double them up.

When I was a kid, there was an eclipse. We didn't know any better, took a piece of glass, smoked it over a candle, looked through that. Didn't go blind, but probably didn't do us any good!

Here's a chart, gives some idea what welding lens numbers mean.
Welding Lens
 
You can make a pin hole in a heavy piece of paper, then project the image on another white sheet of paper. It makes a real nice sharp image, and you won't even get a crick in your neck.
 



Iam going to view the eclipse in my eclipse
a168658.jpg
 
NASA cites #14 welding glass as safe. Obviously indirect observation via a pin-hole camera is safest. I'm finding that eclipse glasses are mostly sold out and confess that I would worry about counterfeit knock-offs.
 

HF specs my auto dark helmet at 13. I'll take a peak thru it, won't stare at the sun for an hour straight.

I have some photo sun filters and going to see what they do combined with the HF....

Seems the 14 recommendation was because they don't make a 15. They just want to CYA and have the darkest possible...
 
A welding helmet will work if it isn't one of the auto darkening helmets. Those need the electrical spark to make them work.
 
> A welding helmet will work if it isn't one of the auto darkening helmets. Those need the electrical spark to make them work.

My helmet has a sensitivity adjustment and if I turn it up it will trigger just from sun reflections.
 
El Hombre, I think you are right about not staring for an hour.

Moderation is the key.

Wonder how many hours we've all racked up staring into a rising or setting sun while driving?
 
I stacked two glasses in an arc welding helmet. I also have several pairs of certified eclipse glasses. They give an almost identical result.
 
Any helmets I've ever used you could look directly at the sun and it would never darken no matter how it was adjusted but immediately upon a welding strike and it would darken. I think before anyone depends on one for the eclipse they better try it now.
 
(quoted from post at 04:20:15 08/13/17) Any helmets I've ever used you could look directly at the sun and it would never darken no matter how it was adjusted but immediately upon a welding strike and it would darken. I think before anyone depends on one for the eclipse they better try it now.

Sometimes the sun will darken my auto helmet when I don't want it to.

Dusty
 
My $30 auto darkening HF helmet darkens for the sun. Probably what I'll use. But as already stated I won't look for long.
 
I agree that you need a dark shade , 14 is good. I don't think that if you are in MN you will be able to see it anyway. Check this: http://www.eclipse2017.org/2017/maps.htm
 
OK, guys....I'm gonna make this in capital letters........

I'VE HEARD EVERY SIDE OF THE DISCUSSION. MOST OF YOU HAVE WELDING SHIELDS. NOW- I HEARD A PROMINENT EYE DOCTOR ADVISE AGAINST WELDING SHIELDS.

BUT, WHAT DO I DO?

GOOGLE 'SOLAR ECLIPSE VIEWING GLASSES'.
FOR 5 BUCKS.....I WOULDN'T RISK MY EYESIGHT.

Or go here: solareclipse-glasses.com


Most can be delivered in a week, so get on it.

Jake
 
I see all this talk about watching it and where it will be but nothing about how it will effect me here in northwest Ohio. Will I be in range to see any of it or not or will it make the sky for me dark? How will it effect workers outside not wanting to watch it?
 
(quoted from post at 15:27:38 08/13/17) OK, guys....I'm gonna make this in capital letters........

I'VE HEARD EVERY SIDE OF THE DISCUSSION. MOST OF YOU HAVE WELDING SHIELDS. NOW- I HEARD A PROMINENT EYE DOCTOR ADVISE AGAINST WELDING SHIELDS.

BUT, WHAT DO I DO?

GOOGLE 'SOLAR ECLIPSE VIEWING GLASSES'.
FOR 5 BUCKS.....I WOULDN'T RISK MY EYESIGHT.

Or go here: solareclipse-glasses.com


Most can be delivered in a week, so get on it.

Jake

It's the oxy-acetylene goggles that they're warning against. The arc welding helmets will do the job. Just don't stare at the sun for the entire 3 hours.

Take a peak at how much of the sun is covered, then go back to talking to the person next to you. You can't see any movement of the shadow on the sun, it's a really slow deal.

It's 3 hours....
 
It's kind of like what women used to tell their young sons at puberty. No it ain't gonna blind you if you look at it without a helmet or even if you use a helmet to watch the whole thing. Staring at it unprotected would be kind of stupid but just a look didn't bother me the last time and it won't bother me this time either. Welding is much worse. Course you shoulden't pay any attention to the ramblings of an old man when you can just watch the news and see the gospel truth about anything!
 
I was at walmart today and up close to the checkout they have a map of the united states where the eclipse is suppose to be and under the map is some cheap glasses made for viewing the eclipse.
 
Someone posted on another forum that there are some of those goggles being sold to watch the eclipse, are not adequate.

Dusty
 
My auto dark helmet will not darken from the sun. It will trip if you turn it from a shaded position to direct sun but it will not stay for more than a couple seconds before it lightens up again.

Steven
 
(quoted from post at 07:47:30 08/13/17) I see all this talk about watching it and where it will be but nothing about how it will effect me here in northwest Ohio. Will I be in range to see any of it or not or will it make the sky for me dark? How will it effect workers outside not wanting to watch it?

Leroy, there will be approximately 80% totality in your area, the moon will cover 80% of the sun. The sky will darken some, but you'll still be able to see, kinda like when a cloud passes over. It shouldn't have any effect on anyone who doesn't want to watch it, i.e. look directly at the sun.
The area of 100% totality is where it will be darker than a moonlit night.
BillL
 
Thanks for that information and I don't think I will be living any more at the time for the next one as I would be 84 and not in good health and only one close family member made it that long. Most were gone at 80. Should not affect work too badly then.
 
There was an annular eclipse in May of '95. Moon was near its farthest distance and the sun nearer earth. The moon did not completely cover the sun. BTW, when stacking welding glass, the shade doesn't add up linearly.
 

Latest thing they have the "Know Nothings" that require a new crisis to be a victim of is their "fur babies" and the eclipse.
I don't know if someone is selling level 14 protection for pets but there are a bunch of near hysterical people keeping their pets indoors so the eclipse does not cause eye damage to their pets.
Only animal dull witted enough to stare at Hydrogen Fusion Nuclear reaction with only the minimal shielding of distance, a weak magnetic field and a couple of miles of air is Humans.
 

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