Thread: For the other half-blind geezers

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Dave
Though I am only 31 i have been welding for years. I noticed that my eyes started to get a bit fuzzy about 3 years ago. I also used a high quality (expensive) auto darkening helmet. almost an #12 shade. I since went back to old faithful after a misunderstanding with my expensive helmet flying accross the shop and into one of the poles (LOL). SO i went to a #11 gold lense ( they say its better for stainless) But all around the gold lens is alot better I can see 1000 times better with it, plus I have noticed that my sight has come back a bit.

After talking to a few other welders they have said that even the best auto darkening helmets still will get your eyes everytime you start the arc. They also use a flip down now for that very reason. I was wondering years ago when on the race team all our welders used the flip downs. Well thats my 2 cents hope maybe this will help you..

Since we have about gone to visual impairment with reading this thread, how 'bout us that are half (or more) deaf. This is my biggest problem now. Thanks to my good Uncle Sam in the '60s and some of his more explosive militant moments I have to turn my radio up to the point the neighbors look at me funny. The TV - my wife will leave the room unless I have the closed captioning turned on - then to make it even worse, it seems that every female under the age of 35 talks so fast and jumbles whatever she is saying, that I keep saying What? Huh? Then the phone!! Especially cell phones, seem to jumble and miss entire sentences. Then there's my wife. She has a very soft voice most of the time (it's only when it isn't I worry). I think she is aware that sometimes my hearing can be a bit selective, but not always. And if I'm driving, she's on my deafer side

So, since I've hijacked Dave S' thread(again!!) - any comments on this sad state of affairs

Originally Posted by IC2

Since we have about gone to visual impairment with reading this thread, how 'bout us that are half (or more) deaf. This is my biggest problem now. Thanks to my good Uncle Sam in the '60s and some of his more explosive militant moments I have to turn my radio up to the point the neighbors look at me funny. The TV - my wife will leave the room unless I have the closed captioning turned on - then to make it even worse, it seems that every female under the age of 35 talks so fast and jumbles whatever she is saying, that I keep saying What? Huh? Then the phone!! Especially cell phones, seem to jumble and miss entire sentences. Then there's my wife. She has a very soft voice most of the time (it's only when it isn't I worry). I think she is aware that sometimes my hearing can be a bit selective, but not always. And if I'm driving, she's on my deafer side

So, since I've hijacked Dave S' thread(again!!) - any comments on this sad state of affairs

Geez, I just figured being deaf and blind was just normal aging.... Ya mean not everyone is the same way????

As to the blind part, I had a chat with a Tech from Lincoln Welders when he was calling on the local store... He's doing some research on it back at his office, and promised to get back to me with some suggestions to help the vision while welding issue.... Hopefully he can find me something that will help. I was actually kind of surprised that he even took an interest in the issue!!!!!

Quote:
"Geez, I just figured being deaf and blind was just normal aging.... Ya mean not everyone is the same way????"

I can't speak for "everyone", but I definitely fit that pattern. And there doesen't seem to be a satisfactory resolution to the hearing deficit. Most of the time, folks talking to me, unless they are in a cone about 45 degrees directly in front of me, sound sort of like the teacher in the Charlie Brown Peanuts cartoons - wa-wa, wa-wa, wa-wa. My Bride has a bad habit of talking to my back, and I can't make out what she says, most of the time. Maybe it is a bit selective, though; up until I retired, I had pretty acute hearing faculties, or so it seemed. I still hear things others don't, but not a lot of what others do hear. As to remedies: my Dad had hearing aids, and was always fighting them; a good friend has the same situation - in fact, the last time I saw him, he was without them and said they were more trouble than they were worth. Not only were they hard to regulate, they held too much moisture inside his ears and caused a condition similar to athletes foot.

As to the vision subject: I have a new auto-dark helmet, and it seems to be ok, but I am concerned about the darkening time; even miliseconds are not as fast as light rays, and there must be some "leaking" in the time it takes to get dark. I am thinking of buying a new flip lens one; my old Jackson has served well, but parts are getting hard to get - the suspension is broken, again, and I have had it for over thirty years. With the auto dark, I still reach up to flip the lens or even the helmet; old habits die hard.

My glasses for regular use are progressive (definition: blind as a bat) but I had a set made that are for close-up only. I use a Jackson auto helmet & a bigazz halogen work light so I can find the end of the wire.