[TheForge] UV/IR query

[Paul M Dunphy]

     I have been studying Jack Andrews' "The New Edge of the Anvil" for 
awhile as I learn more about the craft.  He makes several references to 
eye protection in the traditional sense of physical damage to the eyes.  
I have a great set of goggles and use them regularly. However, they 
certainly don't filter out UV and IR radiation.

     How important is this?  I know fires can emit wavelengths outside 
the visible spectrum.  I'm using a two burner gas forge that gets steel 
yellow enough to forge weld, so I guess I'm getting up there in 
temperature and enhanced light emission.  I don't watch the stock in the 
fire except for the odd quick glance.  I do watch it a lot while forging 
it on the anvil, but I can't imagine hot steel would emit enough 
damaging radiation to cause eye damage.  Should I be concerned about 
UV/IR damage if I'm only doing this for 2-3 hours once every few days?  
It seemed to be overkill when I first read it, but the more I study his 
book, he more I feel Andrews knew his stuff inside out.

     I don't want to wear an arc-welding mask when forging, so what's 
the general feeling of the experts on this list on the UV/IR topic?  How 
can you judge forging and heat treating colour if you have the 
equivalent of even acetylene welding goggles?  I'd prefer to be able to 
see the steel clearly, but not at the expense of eye damage down the road.


- Paul

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Paul M Dunphy
Lake Echo, Nova Scotia