Hi all - started my welding unit, first time with a MIG welder -
WOW!!! what FANTASTIC machines. Only trouble is, my LCD helmet, with a
fixed setting of DIN 13 goes so dark I cant see the weld line - all I
can see is the arc, and maybe a little each side of it. So doing a
straight line is impossible, it wanders off.

With my DC inverter Arc welder, no problems - the arc provides plenty
of light, I can see what I am welding, no problems...

So - whats going on? - does MIG give more or less arc intensity, do I
need to get a helmet with a different DIN setting? - any input
welcome.

Andrew VK3BFA.

On Nov 21, 7:37*am, wrote:
So - whats going on? - does MIG give more or less arc intensity, do I
need to get a helmet with a different DIN setting? - any input
welcome.

Andrew VK3BFA.

A Shade 13 helmet is extremely dark for anything except high-amp arc
welding. You want a shade 11 or 12 for MIG (the arc is quite a bit
less intense).
If you are going to do alot of welding, you might consider investing
in an autodarkening helmet with variable shade darkness. My Miller
Elite is variable from shade 9-13, which covers everything from 5 amp
TIG through 400 amp stick.

13 is way too dark. You didn't say how big the mig is but somewhere
around 10 or 11 is pretty normal.

The shade and the cover sheets are completely replaceable. I have 3
different grades, use one for very light work and tack welding, a medium
grade for moderate amperage steady welding, and a higher grade for high
amperage welding.

Cleaning the shade and replacing the cover shield will make a huge
difference. When I do precise stuff I use a brand new cover.

wrote:
Hi all - started my welding unit, first time with a MIG welder -
WOW!!! what FANTASTIC machines. Only trouble is, my LCD helmet, with a
fixed setting of DIN 13 goes so dark I cant see the weld line - all I
can see is the arc, and maybe a little each side of it. So doing a
straight line is impossible, it wanders off.

With my DC inverter Arc welder, no problems - the arc provides plenty
of light, I can see what I am welding, no problems...

So - whats going on? - does MIG give more or less arc intensity, do I
need to get a helmet with a different DIN setting? - any input
welcome.

Andrew VK3BFA.

wrote:

(snip)
with a fixed setting of DIN 13 goes so dark I cant see the weld line - all I
can see is the arc, and maybe a little each side of it. So doing a
straight line is impossible, it wanders off.

Andrew VK3BFA.

Hi Andrew,

Shade 10 or 11 works up to 150 amps for most folks...

Also a common error for folks new to mig is getting the eyes too close
to the work. Short circuit mig has a very "nervous" arc and puddle
action with shadows and puddle edge reflections going everywhere.

When I was teaching my son to mig he was all over the place...(he tig-ed
race cars fine at his real job). I gave him a cap screw and nut and
asked him to put them together, which he did at arms length, I then
asked "why didn't you do that 4" from your nose so you could see
better?". At arms length with the torch he got better fast...

I've been mig-ing for years and if I have a horizontal flush butt weld
weld that needs to look good I'll follow a wide soapstone line. I think
it just keeps me from looking at the arc.

Matt