[TheForge] Eye protection

[Mike Porter]

Fred,
While clearing out old emails, I ran across this one, and am pretty sure
your question never got answered (BTW the ABANA ocular filter article is
planned for the coming issue).

You asked for specific recommendations as follows:

1. Brazing--this is usually done with a #3 or #4 filter. What color is best
depends on what you are doing (red for silver brazing, yellow for grinding,
blue for aluminum, silver, or platinum). Green has been the only color
available until recently, and is still the only color with high quality
views, which is presently offered for sale. It was originally used for
technical reasons (it happened to be the only effective tint with older
glass). Today it is used because green is the color furthest from both
ultraviolet at one end of the light spectrum and infrared at the other. So,
even with dichroics (made with stacked sputter coatings) it is still the
easiest color to produce in accordance with ANSI Table One standards. The
color green does have its own advantage over others; it is the easiest color
for the eye to see, and therefore the least effort to view.

2. Oxy/fuel welding--is done with #5 or higher filters, how high depending
on the amount of light being generated (which fuel choice, and how large an
orifice).
 
3. Coal forging--I don't believe any light filter is really needed for it
based on the little I've seen. If you do want protection, the lightest ANSI
rated green or smoke glasses you can find are more than enough (smoke gray
is not usually rated for infrared but there are gray plastic dyes in
existence that are able to block infrared, so they will be offered for the
purpose sooner or later). 

4. Coal welding--the above advice should cover it.

5. Propane forging--some protection is wise here, but it should be minimal
(shade #1 or #2); easily found in ordinary safety spectacles. AGW-300
glasses are available from Aura Lens for $260: http://www.auralens.net/ if
you want the most comfort. I would recommend light green safety glasses
instead; there is nothing keeping you from modifying their shape for greater
comfort. You will also want to use some sort of anti-fog wipe on product
with them, when you are working hard. Vast amounts of infrared from the
forge exhaust opening is the concern here; not ultraviolet. Very little UV
is created by processes below 6000 F, oxy-hydrogen flames being an exception
to the rule. Therefore, sunglasses are worse than useless as protection. 

There are shade #1 and #2 plastic filters available in some welding stores
or by special order through them for $1.75. They are made by ArcOne as
upgrades for their auto-darkening welding helmets. These can be attached to
low cost jewelers visors (look on ebay, etc.), giving economical,
comfortable eye protection (replace their magnifiers with the 2" x 4"
plastic filter by means of screws). The plastic visors can be further
modified (drill) for even better airflow, upgrading their already superior
comfort (something I would not dare write in a book for fear of lawyers). 
Mikey 

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Fred Zickrick
Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2006 3:55 PM
To: theforge at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [TheForge] Eye protection

Hi,
         Sorry if this is a duplicate.  My virus protector said it 
didn't send it the first time.
         I sort of followed the discussion about eye protection but 
it was a little too technical for me to get the conclusions. I think 
there were different recommendations for the many different types of 
hot metal work.
         Would someone (especially Mike) mind summarizing their 
recommendations for ?:
1. Brazing
2. Oxy/fuel welding
3. Coal forging
4. Coal welding
5. Propane forging

Thank you,
Fred Zickrick, fredz72 at cableone.net 

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