what shade for plasma ??

[fun4now]

maby i just need more light in my shop but the only time i can fallow the line with my cutter is in shades for the beach or to look cool
i tried my #11 (mig shield) couldnt even see the cutter lol
thought id try my #5 (torch shield)can see better but still real hard to see line?
am i just going blind or should i be in a #3 ?
what is recomended??

[fun4now]

125c

might make a differance might not but im using a miller spectrum 125C plasma cutter on 14 gage steel sheets.

[Paul Seaman]

Fun4now;
I use a shade 5 which is the off setting of my speedglas. I prefer the full shield as to the goggles and you can get a flip faceshield for around $25 with a shaded lense it might be slightly higher. The school I attend supplies shade 5 flip shields to use with oxy cutting and plasma cutting. The light setting when my speedglas is on is a shade 3 and it is too light for me, I get spots and eye gravel the following morning so I think shade 5 is right.

Good luck,

[RST200]

I was cutting expanded metal sheets #9 yesterday using a cutmaster38.
The setting on the Nexgen shade was set on 5.
Ryui

[fun4now]

more light

well it sounds like i just need more light in my shop or i am going blind??
i bought a realy cool pair of safty glasses with #5 shade for oxy welding and cutting but had a real hard time seeing with them when im plasma cutting but it seems like you all use #5 so be it looks like ill find some more lights or just wing it
on the up side the #5 shades look realy cool

[HAWK]

fun4now,

I too use a shade 5 on my Optrel Satellite for most of my plasma work. If I am cutting aluminum, I use a shade 9 to due the increased light reflectivity of the material. I must agree the full face helmet is the better way to go. A spark can really burn the unshielded face.

[klsm54]

A plasma Arc is much brighter than an Oxy/Acetylene torch cut. The actual reccomended shade is a 9 or 10, IF you are going to "directly" view the plasma arc. Fortuneately, few welders use a plasma where they look directly at the arc when cutting with plasma. Usually in hand cutting applications, the torch head usually shields the welder from the arc, so most of what you need protection from is reflective light and the sparks and molten metal. I would useno lighter than a shade 5, and like HAWK does, darken that up for aluminum, or stainless, when there is more reflective light. If you can't see your work with a shade 5, brighter lights are easier to come by than new eyes.

[HAWK]

Forget To Mention

AS KLSM54 JUST MENTIONED: I DO NOT VIEW THE ARC DIRECTLY AS I TYPICALLY DRAG CUT WITH A STRAIGHT EDGE GUIDE. IF I CUT FREE HAND WITH A STAND OFF, THEN I DO USE A SHADE 9 OR 10. I HOPE THIS HAS NOT CREATED ANY CONFUSION!

[timw]

I think Ray Charles uses #5 lens! (sorry about that) I use #5 cutting glasses and they seem OK, I don't feel like I saw a flash bulb when I'm done cutting. I stand off cut quite a bit, I haven't had a problem with sunburn on my arms from plasma cutting so I'm guessing it's not quite as intense. I don't know what effect the air mixing with the arc has. I have read that the plasma arc is 25,000 degrees verses 11,300 for stick arc. I do know with my hood on, turned all the way down, I can't see what I'm doing.

[fun4now]

have to see the line

im mostly using my cutter fo artsy fartsy stuff and realy need to see the line im free hand cutting. this is y i got a plasma cutter for free hand cuting of metal art. so it is nessesary to view the cut to keep on line. i put a haligin work light on the table b4 cutting today it helped a lot not shour if it will work 4 my welding hood ill have to try if all think i need #9 and up to view the cut.
problem is plasma dosent light up the place like everything els.

thanks all ill try my helmit tonight i would like to keep my peepers

[timw]

A friend who does a lot of custom auto work told me he uses the edge of masking tape to lay out precision cuts. He said by the time the heat gets to the tape he is past that area. It's worth a try.