Didn't get flashed...got lucky

[eddie]

Well, I was outside ready to do a weld with HH140 (using gas) and I guess I forgot to look up at the sun to check to see if the helmet would darken...I normally do.

Anyway, squeezed the trigger and I had it set on purge so nothing happened...redialed it to the right voltage and this time before I started I looked up and sure enough, the helmet wouldn't darken.

So, I set it outside in the sun for a few hours, brought it in, looked up at the garage light and it darkened...as it always had.

Now, did I get lucky or if I had struck an arc, would it have darkened? My guess is no.

So, I guess the helmet is OK to use now...right?

[arcackle]

it should be fine to use now. it may have actually still darkened, just taken a little longer than normal. is it a solar powered helmet?

[hankj]

Even in it's light state, you won't get "flashed". You have 100% IR and UV protection whenever the hood is down. It may have been a bit bright.

I've actually run a bead in light state before I realized the hat didn't go dark. Shade 5 isn't all that bad. Might see spots for a few minutes, but that's it.

Hank

[Joe H]

Heck, getting flashed without any eye protection at all isn't going to hurt you. It's only happened to me 50 or so times. It happens from time to time to just about anyone who stick welds. Especially without an auto dark hood. Sometimes while getting in position, before dropping the hood, the rod accidentaly touches the work. You just wait until the spots go away and weld some more.

It takes a whole lot more than a quick flash to burn your eyes, or do any permanant damage.

[Rocky D]

There was an eye dr. here once, that gave a good explanation of flash burn. He said that it was the skin on the eyeball that gets a sunburn, and that, even thought quite painful will heal up in a day or so, and that rarely would someone be able to stare at the arc long enough to permanent damage which would be a retina burn...then you'd be blind. I found that the old remedy of potato slivers on the eye, pulls the heat out and helps to heal quicker.

[whateg0]

Paul Harvey talked about a group in FL (IIRC) who as a ritual stares into the sun for hours on end. No ill effects noted yet. Still, I don't like having a purple circle right in the center of everywhere I look.

Dave

[Gaze]

Eye doc told me the eyeball is the fastest healing organ in the body when it gets damaged.

However, don't think I'll be taking up the sun staring hobby anytime soon :cool:

[eddie]

Thanks for all the good responses...guess it wasn't as serious as I thought...still kinda' scares me though. :o

[Rocky D]

It's good you asked, tho...there are many folks who prolly had the same question.

[MAC702]

Paul Harvey talked about a group in FL (IIRC) who as a ritual stares into the sun for hours on end. No ill effects noted yet. Still, I don't like having a purple circle right in the center of everywhere I look.
...

I did that when I was a kid before I "knew better." I still have 20/15 vision.

[Jonesy70]

I hate all of the pretty colors when you look at the pretty bright light!!

[tonyp56]

As far as getting flashed if your helmet isn't down and someone else is welding around you or something, if you wear safety glasses/goggles you are protected from about 99% of the rays (you can get a flash, but chances are really low, because safety glasses block UV rays). UV is the main factor in your eyes getting "flashed" just like too much time in the sun will burn your skin because of the UV (invisible) light, UV light will burn your eyes from welding. If you block the UV, there isn't anyway for it to burn you... Therefore, safety glasses/goggles and/or auto-darkening lens light state, etc. you are protected, without the above you aren't...

Secondly, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 seconds isn't long enough to burn your eyes (unless you do it over and over and over all day, but once or twice isn't enough). So even if you had nothing at all protecting your eyes, and you striked an ark once or twice (a few) you won't burn your eyes... Also, believe it or not, being outside in the sun while welding or around someone welding can actually make it easier to get your eyes burnt than it would if you were inside out of sun light (or bright lights)... Mostly because you don't look away like you would if you were inside. (visual light from someone welding isn't as bright outside, therefore, you are less likely to look/turn away quick enough, and the UV light has a chance to burn your eyes)

However, all of that said, if you weld a lot with a lens that isn't dark enough (or none at all) for the application that you are doing (Using 5 shade lens while welding) they (warning labels etc.) say it can actually burn out your retina, causing vision loss (complete, partial, does it really matter?) so you should weld with the lens/shade that you are comfortable with, however, dark enough for your application and amperage...