Eye Protection for Forging

This is a great thread; I honestly hadn't thought much about the subject of UV/IR rays coming from a forge. Thanks for all the info.

This is a bit off-topic, but do any of you guys wear a face-shield when grinding?
Currently I'm using dust-masks (yup, I know, I need a proper respirator, I promise I will buy one before I buy any more tools) and standard safety glasses that fit over my specs. I work pretty close to the belt and have some concerns about chips flying into my pretty face, if a belt lets go and whaps the hell out of me, etc.
 
I wonder has anyone accually measured the IR/UV radiation produced by a forge and the various fuels? I've looked a little but have found nothing. Without knowing what levels of radiation are present we can't know what protection is needed. We are just guessing based on research for other applications and may be doing absolutly no good at all.

ron
 
I don't know if anybody's done that work or not. That said, the folks at AuraLens have extensive experience with lenses for gas-fired refractory-coated furnaces for glass work. They use all Schott glass and make their own lenses. When I called them, they had a staff optometrist call back and asked me questions for a good 20-30 minutes regarding refractory types, forge sizes, temps, exposures, yaddayadda. Two days later they got back to me and told me their proper lens was the AUR99 and said 2.0 was adequate for my needs. they said shade 2.5 wasn't really necessary in their opinion, but if I felt more comfortable with a darker lens, it would provide even better protection.

So, rather than someone who sold welding equipment, I figured that place was about as close as you could come to what we do. Forging equipment places don't really have a clue, comparatively. AuraLens at least evinced a sense of expertise that I didn't find elsewhere.
 
Wow, I'm humbled. I'm gonna graduate next May with a bachelors in Occupational Safety & Health and I'm completely unfamiliar with Dydidium or AUR99. Having said that I'm really interested and will likely look into it some more. I may have sources available to me this summer during my internship. (BIG construction...so welding is definitely part of there "inventory".)

Now for you older guys who are use to forges: I'm a young 'un...and long story short, I spent the better part of a two week using a cutting torch for at least 4-5 hours a day of actual "burn time". I HAD to wear sunglasses by the third day. My eyes flat out hurt. (I made sure they were UV blocking. Most are nowadays.) It's subjective...but there was a difference. So there definitely IS measurable and damaging exposure if you're sitting in front of a forge several days a week!!!

Now, something nobody's mentioned is Cataracts!!! UV radiation is pretty much the sole culprit with cataracts. (It just takes years and years to have it's effect so it's an "old person's" disease.)

Cataracts are worth whatever inconvenience the glasses are. And certainly more expensive to correct!!!

I'll try to dig around for you guys and see if I can come up with any objective info about profane flames. Propane is the standard fuel for these forges,yes? (And find out how different a propane flame is from an Acetylene/Oxygen flame.)

Edit: Dydidium brings up results but Dididium brings up many many more.
 
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I'm glad to see the interest in this thread. There is nothing that is more precious, and as easily destroyed/damaged, as eyesight.

The IR/UV output from a forge is mostly a product of the temperature of the forge chamber, and the type of refractory lining and coatings.I don't think the normal fuels used in forges would affect it much (unless you are running a hydrogen/oxygen mix for melting platinum !) Also remember that, once you pull the hot steel from the forge, you are focusing your eyes directly on an emitter source of intense IR, and in welding up billets, probably some UV.
Stacy
 
I just got my pair from AuraLens yesterday, great people to deal with, I got the AUR99 2 and to my surprise they are very light as mentioned above they are not even as dark as sunglasses.
I read another thread here about a week or so ago about this and phoned them up and ordered a pair. I figure it is well worth the price to save my eyes any damage, I did notice after forging things were not %100 so I am looking forward to useing them.
I would like to see a thread as good as this dealing with ear protection.
Cheers Ron.
 
This is a good topic. You need both UV and IR protection while forge welding or even forging for that matter. As with welding you need glasses that do both. Regular polycarb sunglasses only block UV and will not stop the UV. If you wear tinted safety glasses they actually may cause more harm since they cause the pupil to dialate and will allow more of the harmful rays that do get through into the eye. Welding glasses will stop both and from what I have seen so will the AUR99's. The best thing is use either and don't stare into the forge. I rely on quick peeks and my pyrometer. I have only had one problem in the past few years and it was because I did not wear welding glasses but regular untinted safety glasses.
 
When I went to get AuraLens glasses I couldn't stand the cost of prescription... needed bifocals or progressives. So I got a pair of non-prescription lenses in a frame designed to fit over a pair of glasses (my all day, progressive bifocals) I had to modify tframes a little to make them work but they do.

Wayne Goddard solved the IR problem by getting a green face shield and cutting off the bottom half... look at the forge through it and look under it for forging and other stuff.

Mike
 
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I had Lasik almost 10 years ago. I couldn't read the E on top the chart without squinting, had lots of astigmatism. I am 57 and can read all but very fine print without glasses. Part of that is one eye came out just a tad shortsighted. 20/25. The other came out 20/15. I seldom notice and the eye that fits the situation best is dominate at that time. Some times when the light is right and tthe distance I notice a bit. But, it is a LOT less than glasses. I had it done for $1200 in Canada and I still swear itt was some of the best money I ever spent.
 
to those that dont need prescriptions UVEX makes a great safety glass that comes in a 2 or 3 welders shade. a 2 should be fine for the most part, maybe if your using a blower on the forge you might want the 3 but i use the 2 to blow glass (full size not the torch working) and they work great to look in to the glory holes (a furnace like tool that is at 2500*F to reheat the glass).

i used the 2 shades to do my mokume and they were great to look into the forge.

best part... they are less than 20 bucks

-matt
 
I have a bit of a question. I'm switching back to charcoal so forge peaking isn't as much of an issue but I'm going to be doing a large amount of forge wielding, drawing out large stock at high heats, and the occasional large smelt. AUR99 in 2.5 should offer good protection for the work I will be doing, correct?

Thanks
-Dan
 
With all the forging I have done I just wear my regular every day glasses. The only time the brightness from the forge bothers me is if the shop is in a darkened state. I find I can do a better job forging when I do have a light on. I will put safety glasses on if I'm doing any type of welding.
 
Dan Seaver said:
I have a bit of a question. I'm switching back to charcoal so forge peaking isn't as much of an issue but I'm going to be doing a large amount of forge wielding, drawing out large stock at high heats, and the occasional large smelt. AUR99 in 2.5 should offer good protection for the work I will be doing, correct?

Thanks
-Dan
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i would think so but if you eyes bother you you need something higher (just remember that the inverse is not true being that if your eyes dont bother you means that the lens is on, totally not the case)

-matt
 
Dan Seaver said:
I have a bit of a question. I'm switching back to charcoal so forge peaking isn't as much of an issue but I'm going to be doing a large amount of forge wielding, drawing out large stock at high heats, and the occasional large smelt. AUR99 in 2.5 should offer good protection for the work I will be doing, correct?

Thanks
-Dan
Click to expand...

Dan,

The link "Fitzo" put up back in the beginning of this thread (right at two years ago) is still good and about the best place I've been to for good information and variety of options... and as mentioned, a place you can call and get personalized advice.

http://www.auralens.net/m1_eyewear.cfm

Mike
 
o i forgot to mention that any lens will block the UV, the IR is what you worry about but unless you are welding with a torch or machine you wont have much issues unless your eyes are sensitive. how ever i personally would still wear a welding shade no matter what but unless your forging a whole lot with a very hot forge its not a huge issue.

its your eyes so while i assume most will error on the side of caution some wont

-matt
 
This is a great thread, hell I feel right at home with everyone talking about readers. I did good up till about 45 then my lights in my house didnt' seem as bright, and my arms got to short. Nowdays I can't see close up or read print without my readers.
I am going to address something here that someone asked about, grinding with a face shield. Absolutely you need one, or at the very least a good pair of wrap around saftey glasses. I have a pair of readers that are saftey rated and I keep them in a case marked "Grinder Glasses". Reason being I have messed up more than one set glasses from the hot slag off a grinder.
I have been extremely lucky and hard headed over the years. I have had to have steel picked out of my eyes 3 or 4 times in my life the last time I said never again. I went nearly three weeks unable to focus my eyes. I wear saftey glasses religiously now. I chipped a hot piece of slag of a weld one time, you know that "I just got in hurry thing". I seen it come flying at my eye and managed to get the eye lid shut but, the hot slag cooked my eyelid to my face. When I finally was able to get to a mirror seconds later to see what happened I took a pair of tweezer and pulled it out. It alreadyy hurt like the devil and wasn't about to wait to go to the ER and sit for and hour or two and then let them do the same thing. Now I never weld without a pir of satey glasses under my hood.
My ears are shot from years of whinning skillsaws, routers, generators and heavy equipment, not to mention may other motors that I have worked around and with doing construction.
You young guys when it's gone it is gone! Take care of your eyes and your ears. When I come up there wasn't the big stress on eye and ear protection there is now and especially since I primarily worked for smaller companies.
The eyes and ears never regenerate them selves!
Good glasses are $300 - $500 dollars a pop and good hearing aids around $1000+ and no matter the quality you can never replace what you have lost, when you lose you sight and your hearing!Thanks for the lead on the AUR99's!!!!!!!!!!:thumbup:
 
do people wear these to doubel as safety glasses?....or are they different from glasses u would wear while grinding?....what happens to your eyes over time from forging....sorry for the stupid question but i really have no idea....ryan
 
Fitzo are you talking about the AUR99 lenses?

I hate reading glasses, I did not need them until a couple years ago. I hate having to use them worse than loosing my hair. Damn this getting old stuff, but I guess it does beat the alternative.
 
ryan9977 said:
do people wear these to doubel as safety glasses?....or are they different from glasses u would wear while grinding?....what happens to your eyes over time from forging....sorry for the stupid question but i really have no idea....ryan
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when something burns is creates UV and IR, the hotter it gets the more of these you have. the UV is not an issue as basically and lens will kick it out, the IR is what does long term damage with out the proper lens.

if you dont wear glasses at all the UV can cause bumps to form on your eye leading to surgery for them to be removed (i know 2 glass blowers that have the bumps on the eyes and they are late 20s and the other 37)

i honestly dont like not having my glasses on at any time, just feel unsafe even around my house

-matt
 
thanks matt...makes sense now....i appreciate the info....now i gotta add glases to my list...ryan
 
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