seeing double

[Ford1989]

I use a #9 gold lens for most of my TIG welding, and use a greem #10 for MIG and stick, well I bought a gold #10 the other day to try out for MIG and stick, so I tried it while stick welding yesterday and I was seeing 2 arcs/electrodes, so I switched to my green #10 and my sight was fine, switched back to gold and saw double electrodes again. I don't see double with my gold #9 however. Anyone know what is happening or have the same problem?

[Sonora Iron]

Any chance it was a plastic lens? I tried a plastic gold lens about 20 or 25 years ago. Horrible invention!
I only use a clear plastic lens as a cover plate when wire feed welding or SMAW, if I’m doing a lot of GTAW I’ll use a glass cover lens. These old eyes do not like looking through too much plastic.

[Rig Hand]

I use a #9 gold lens for most of my TIG welding, and use a greem #10 for MIG and stick, well I bought a gold #10 the other day to try out for MIG and stick, so I tried it while stick welding yesterday and I was seeing 2 arcs/electrodes, so I switched to my green #10 and my sight was fine, switched back to gold and saw double electrodes again. I don't see double with my gold #9 however. Anyone know what is happening or have the same problem?

Are you wearing safety glasses or using a cheater lens?

[Bodybagger]

It's a reflection within the lens from the arrangement of the lens. The metallized surface is not perfectly parallel to the other surfaces, so the light is entering at an angle and reflecting within the set of lenses... there are 6 surfaces that the light passes through.

This is the same thing that happens in double or triple pane glass when you see an image that is either not head on, or through panes that aren't perfectly parallel.



Look closely and you will actually see a third very weak image of the sun.

If you have double pane glass, hold a candle or a lighter in front of your face and look at the reflection... it will be a single image. Then, move it away and look at the reflection from an angle... you will see double or triple. The same thing is happening here and it means the one lens is out of whack due to being installed backward, or not being flat. Something is causing it to sit at an angle with respect to the other lenses.

[Ford1989]

My exact setup is 1)plastic front cover lens with gasket around it, 2)glass #10 gold, 3)plastic cover lens on inside to protect back of filter lens.

Would the gasket from the 1st cover lens be causing the spacing/wrong lineup, in turn causing the reflection? I used that setup again today while TIG welding and I only saw double part of the time, but I couldn't figure out if it was at specific distances from arc, specific angles, etc.

[Bodybagger]

Any angle other than dead on will cause it if there is a space between two reflective surfaces. Try removing the separation gasket and reversing the direction of the gold filter so the metalized surface is against the front cover plate.

[Ford1989]

Alright, I'll give that a shot next week, thanks for the help.

[trhowesjr]

Bodybagger- Thanks for the lesson.

Learn something everyday. Well explained and interesting. Gez you even had an example...... must be retired.

[JTwelder]

I know this thread is old, but i couldn't find any other info on this.... i have been experiencing the same thing on and off for the past 2 weeks or so. I have a #10 gold lens. I replaced everything except the lens itself. (even new safety glasses-tried cheaters as well) I even put in my darker lens which is a #12. I'm still seeing this reflection of the arc. But heres the catch, the same thing happened when i tried 2 other helmets out. I have never worn glasses or contacts my whole life and my vision seems fine otherwise.... anyone have any clues?

[JTwelder]

really need some help here....

[ironrail]

Use glass filter plates.

[JTwelder]

Use glass filter plates.

i have never used anything but glass filter plates. i switched to a green #10 shade today and it definitely helped a lot but it's still not perfect. i bought a brand new fibre metal hood today as well. If i'm still having issues tomorrow, isn't it safe to say theres something wrong with my vision? then what?

[fjk]

. If i'm still having issues tomorrow, isn't it safe to say theres something wrong with my vision? then what?

If you see double without the hood then you need to see a dr ASAP. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200
If its only with the hood then it could be that the hood stresses or changes things "just enough" that it is bringing out an incipient condition ... Or it could be something weird with the hood.

Frank

[gnforge]

seeing double

I had a friend years ago that started seeing double and something detached in his eye. They corrected it with special lens in his glasses. :-(
Sure hope & pray that's not happening to you.
May be time to see eye doc. Just in case

[JTwelder]

If you see double without the hood then you need to see a dr ASAP. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200
If its only with the hood then it could be that the hood stresses or changes things "just enough" that it is bringing out an incipient condition ... Or it could be something weird with the hood.

Frank

i am only seeing double while welding. i even tried other hoods and had the same issue.. i have found other message boards with people describing the exact same issue i'm having. very weird.

I had a friend years ago that started seeing double and something detached in his eye. They corrected it with special lens in his glasses. :-(
Sure hope & pray that's not happening to you.
May be time to see eye doc. Just in case

was he seeing double all the time?