tinted glasses for forge work

[Steve Tirdell]

I have been using dydidium glasses for gas forge work. Now I'm told that they might not be enough. I need some good suggestions. I'm half blind so as it is. Help?

 

[grease-man]

I'd be interested to hear more on this too. -Matt-

 

[JCaswell]

Three thoughts:

1. Didinium is pretty good stuff. I haven't heard any serious discussion about it being insufficient for forge-work. I'd be interested to know what you'd heard.

2. I don't know about you, but I don't spend a lot of time staring into the forge anyway. Exposure to possibly harmful light shouldn't be all that great.

3. There are other things coming out of forges that worry me more, such as metal fumes, ceramic fiber debris, miscellaneous byproducts of combustion ...

 

[Steve Tirdell]

I got the info from a BladeForems post on 4-29-2003 by firkin.

 

[fitzo]

Steve, if you are serious about getting good eye protection, read the following information, and compare the graphs between didymium and AUR-99.
http://www.auralens.net/PDF/GWEBG2005.pdf

Based on Auralens' recommendation, I use AUR-99 2.0 in a goggle-type safety frame. They cost me about $75 a few years ago. They work great, never any sensation of eyestrain, grainy-feeling, etc. I considered it a good investment, since I could replace the money but not my eyes.

Everyone says didymium are fine, but the IR protection just isn't there. IMO there is no sense taking chances due to the extra UV and IR that modern forge coatings like ITC100 kick out.

This may not make a lot of sense to a lot of folks here, especially the young, ten-foot-tall-and-bulletproof variety, but if you grew up eagle-eyed then find at 40 you need readers and it just gets worse with time, well, those eyes take on a new priority we normally take for granted. Eye damage is cumulative.....

 

[Steve Tirdell]

Thanks for the help!!! Much appreciated!!

 

[fitzo]

You're welcome!

 

[Fred.Rowe]

I believe you are correct when talking about the intensity of the light that comes off of the new coatings being used in modern forges. I used the bubble lumina product on this last forge, along with itc-100. My old cobalt blue glasses didn't do the job with these new products. I am looking for a better product. Only one set of eyes to each of us. You want to take care of them.
Thanks for the link, Fred

 

[howiesatwork]

Thanks, Mike!

 

[Chuck Gedraitis Knives]

How about oxy-acetalane cutting goggles?

 

[Sweany]

didium doesn't work for forges, its for glass blowers. This pops up about ever 6 months or so...

Green glass has been used by weldors for years. I use a #2 green if I do a lot of forge welding other wise I just use regular safety glasses

The Best thing you can do for yourself is don't stare into the forge.
my .02

 

[JCaswell]

didium doesn't work for forges, its for glass blowers.

My wife does lampwork, and I've messed with it enough to know that you can get some seriously intense light doing that. Much more so than anything from my forge. (But then again, I'm not using these 'modern forge coatings' mentioned above.)

 

[JCaswell]

The Best thing you can do for yourself is don't stare into the forge.
my .02

That's some good advice!!

 

[fitzo]

nevermind...

 

[Kalimalena]

Hey Fitzo... Thanks for the link....
I've been reading through it.... lots of good info... a bit overwhelming....
If you don't mind me asking... which one did you end up deciding on...

 

[fitzo]

Hey Fitzo... Thanks for the link....
I've been reading through it.... lots of good info... a bit overwhelming....
If you don't mind me asking... which one did you end up deciding on...

Bottom of this page....#9803 AUR-99 Lens, Shade 2.0 $69.95 +sh.

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

They're a little bigger than they make it sound and offer excellent protection against scale flying and flux splatter. This was their recommendation and I've been very happy. Not pretty, but that makes 'em perfect for me.

Fred, Howie, Kalimalena...you're welcome for the link.