[TheForge] RE: [The Forge] didymium glasses?

[Grant Marcoux]

Folks: While forge welding, I look at the sort of "halo" or corona that is
at the top of the fire, rather than directly into the hottest part. While
watching this halo, I can see, before it becomes a problem, the beginnings
of the sparking that indicates burning metal.  Just prior to any sparking,
the halo will be distinctly golden in color.  When this happens, you are a
second or two away from welding heat.  Grant

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of Steve Smith
Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2006 4:25 PM
To: Sponsored by ABANA
Subject: Re: [TheForge] didymium glasses?


As has been said, didymium helps you see what is going on in the fire,
rather than being designed to protect your eyes. As you say, Justin,
they block the sodium yellow, where UV and IR are the problems.

UV will be blocked by most any kind of safety glasses. Plastic stops UV
really well.

With coal your eyes are sort of drawn to watch the fire. Don't do it,
look around the shop while you wait. Another line of defense.

Steve

Justin Fellenz wrote:
> Folks,
>
>   I asked this question on the knife list (I apologize for the spam, those
of you who are on both) but I'm curious to see what y'all think. Everybody
knows you always need to wear your safety glasses, but I wonder about the
intense light....Here's the q:
>
>   Folks,
>
>   I've been doing a little forge welding recently and I'm wondering about
the green flare I get after looking at the steel in the fire. It's annoying
not to be able to see right away and I understand it leads to catarcts in
time. Hrisoulas suggests didymium glasses and Centaur carries them but I
understand they're really about sodium flare that comes with glass blowing.
Seems that iron and coal (or the inside of a gas forge at temp) would be
mostly UV or IR. I obviously need to be able to accurately judge color but
I'm in no hurry to get a nice shiny set of cataracts. Question is, are a set
of these necessary for good long-term eye care or is there some other better
radiation protection, or do you just need to not look into the fire too
much? They're not cheap but they're a lot cheaper than blindness.
>
>   Thanks,
>
>   JRF
>
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