What Shade Lens do you use for MIG.

[unkle spike]

Was wondering what shade of lens people use, I use a 10 but it seems too dark, this is for MIG. I don't want to damage my eyes.

[DetailerDave]

I always used a #10 for welding everything. Innershield, stick, mig, tig, carbon arc.

[Dan]

It depends on which hood I am using, and the amperage I am welding at. Mostly in the 9 - 11 range though.

[spuddown]

Shade 10 for .045 down, Shade 11 for anything bigger.

[RcRacer]

When TIGing at low amps, I use 8 to 9. For everything else, usually in the 10 to 11 range.

[c25]

I voted 10, but I'll use a 9 sometimes too if I've got the power turned down. Anything about 1/8" or thicker gets a 10, sheetmetal gets a 9.

I like a darker lens with tig, I was using a 9 at about 60 amps and switched to a 10. The darker shade makes it easier to see the puddle vs the arc vs the tungsten, with a light shade things tend to blend together.

[Roger]

Your eyes will not be damaged doing the following.
If light from arc seems too bright use higher number shade and if it seems too dark use lower number shade.
A shade 10 is ok for most of my MIG welding. When welding 20 gage and thinner steel I use shade 9.

[Terry Lingle]

I use an auto dark helmet with an exterior shade adjustment. I dial it up for best viewing under the ambient conditions . since the helmet is a 9-13 it is probably somewhere in that range.
I find that if I weld for a long period i Will darken the setting as my eyes adjust . Terry

[garth]

I use a shade 10 for most every thing but do change up to a 12 for extended carbon arc and stick welding.

[whateg0]

I usually have my hood set for between 9 and 10. This is for use with my 125A welder. If I am stick welding bigger stuff, I will set it as dark as is comfortable.

Dave

[ATCOent]

FYI, this was just printed in the AWS Welding Journal.

Looks like only 10% of us are comfortable.

[Sundown]

#9 for most mig & FCAW, #8 for most MS/SS Tig & #9-10 for Tig Aluminum.

[weldrwomn]

For small TIG Jobs, I use a 9. I do mostly FCAW (self, and gas shielded) and for that I set my BWE at 12 and my manual helmet is a shade 14 gold lens. If I could get the shade 13 setting to work properly on my BWE, I would probably use it.

I just looked at the AWS link after I typed the above paragraph. Most of the FCAW that I do is between 250-550 amps....very hot

[firebird77clone]

I use a good ( inexpensive ) auto dark, and put it exactly where I like it for what particular job I am doing.

[koreanbeefcake]

with stick and mig ive always just unsed a 9 or 10.

i noticed when i was doing lots of dual sheild i would use a 11 and the more i did the more i noticed i kept setting it higher to like a 14.