IR glasses question

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Nov 17, 2006
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Will the glasses from a glass blowing supplier be whats needed for forging/damascus work? They sell some that range in the 160+ range and some for around 40.00. The 40 dollar ones are not recomended for brosilicate work, which I think is in the 4000 degree range, but forging work is much lower. Wondering if I should spring for the 160+ ones.
 
I just bought some #3 welding goggles that protect against UV and IR. After researching some of the other lense types (Dididium / Didymium and hybrids) I found some disturbing facts about low IR protection. Not wanting to cook my eyeballs from the inside, I went with the tried and true #3's. However, I know a lot of black / bladesmiths that don't like the green tint which skews the colors for welding steel and such. Stacy Apelt has been involved in some of the dicussions and I'd welcome any other input on more "natural" color lenses (not too fond of green myself). Hope this helps..
 
I have used Didymium lenses for a while. I liked them for their color ability. I have since been advised by Fitzo (and others) that the IR protection is insufficient for extended forge use. The welders lenses are safer. I will pull up the thread on this subject. Tips to protect your eyes:
Avoid staring into the forge. Break up long forging sessions into short segments broken by non-forging tasks. ALWAYS wear eye protection. A cheapo pair of "cool guy" , wrap around welders glasses ($15-20) is most likely one of the better choices. Professional lenses are the best choice. Do yourself a favor and don't light the forge until you have eye protection. The damage is accumulative and does not show up for years.
Fitzo will chime in soon, I hope. I have great respect for his knowledge on this subject.
Stacy

I now use a pair of glasses with #3 lenses for general use,and have a special pair of #5 lenses for welding platinum. The old $350 Didymium glasses still get occasional use, but are mostly retired. My Cobalt glasses for platinium are hardly ever used anymore.
Stacy

Here is the old thread. Read Fitzo's posts.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=467924&highlight=forging+glasses
 
Thanks for the kudos, Stacy. Your advice is all that's needed; there's nothing I can really add beyond that thread.

All the info one should need is to read those graphs at Auralens and compare. That particular lens I suggested is excellent, I know that firsthand.

Unfortunately, I'm not conversant with other manufacturers' options, so that's the only choice I know.
 
Yep, Weldors lenses. Crews makes a #2 in a regular safety glasses.:cool:

Don't stare into the forge.
 
Make sure they are welder rated. Many glasses out there protect against UV but only welder rated glasses protect against IR. If you wear the UV only glasses it will open your pupils larger and allow more IR into your eyes causing greater damage. The best advice is do not stare into the forge. Since I got my temp probe I do not look in the forge much at all. Just bring it up to temp, make sure I have a reducing fire and let it go.

Chuck
 
Thanks for the input guys. My optometrist of all people told me welding glasses wouldnt be any good as they are UV and not IR. So in short, blade forums regulars know more about eye protection than your eye doctor lol. I thought glass blowing eye protection would be a good choice since I know they are IR and blowing temps go well over 2400 F. I will read through tthe other thread and get the proper welding lenses. My eyes and myself thank you.
 
What makes Didymium special is its ability to filter out a specific wavelength of light specific to the sodium in soft (efrette) glass. That's why the peculiar red tint to the lens. Borosilicate glass work takes another lens yet.

I checked my forging glasses watching my wife make glass beads. No workee at all...
 
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