glasses

[gr8fulpiper]

I hate to start a thread for a question that has probably been answered, but im having some trouble getting an answer. Ok, I have been told that I need at least a shade 3 welding lens to work borosilicate glass. Another tells me an Ace202 should be fine. Will I regret it if I dont go for the shade 3 or 5?

[p.j.]

yes. shade 3 or above. you can work work soft glass with less protection.

[FRGartifacts]

you will regret it so much when you can see straight......:twitch:

on a serious note though, yes you need at least 3-5 if you want your eyes to not completely get screwed. And I feel pretty safe in saying that anyone else is going to say the same even though I am just starting out.

[gr8fulpiper]

Thanks PJ. I figured better safe than sorry, but I found a couple good deals on pairs with less protection. Get what you pay for I guess though. I better just suck it up and get some 5's I think. I am working on a borrowed paid of 3's right now and they seem to be ok. I have had strong headaches after an hour or two on the torch though. Don't know if that is related or not.

[gr8fulpiper]

Thanks Ideal. this was my first question and people jump right on it, I love this board already.

[Icarus]

Thanks PJ. I figured better safe than sorry, but I found a couple good deals on pairs with less protection. Get what you pay for I guess though. I better just suck it up and get some 5's I think. I am working on a borrowed paid of 3's right now and they seem to be ok. I have had strong headaches after an hour or two on the torch though. Don't know if that is related or not.

Hows your ventilation? When I first started out, I had poor ventilation for about a month, and after working unobtainium or anything like that, I would get bad headaches.

[somewhere]

you will regret it so much when you can see straight......:twitch:

on a serious note though, yes you need at least 3-5 if you want your eyes to not completely get screwed. And I feel pretty safe in saying that anyone else is going to say the same even though I am just starting out.

I would not say the same thing.

I just don't like scare tactics. Present the facts and let people make there own educated decisions. Not every has the same sensitivity to light transmission so it is certainly different from person to person.

Walk into any scientific glass shop and tell them what you posted here and brace yourself for the response.

[somewhere]

Thanks PJ. I figured better safe than sorry, but I found a couple good deals on pairs with less protection. Get what you pay for I guess though. I better just suck it up and get some 5's I think. I am working on a borrowed paid of 3's right now and they seem to be ok. I have had strong headaches after an hour or two on the torch though. Don't know if that is related or not.

Try the shade 5 before you jump. A shade five is extremely dark IMO. Shade 3 is enough protection for most but some people have sensitive eyes. You will have to make that decision. I do agree better to error on the side of caution but it sucks to spend hundreds of dollars on glasses that may be to dark.

Headaches? I agree check you ventilation. When I'm working glass that has to bright of flare for my shade I get a ache behind my eyes. Basically makes my eyes feel fatigued.