Hi
I have a question about the glasses I have for lampworking. I got them as part of a kit 18 months ago and have been using them right through from my old hothead set up till now where I have a minor. Yesterday when I came in my eyes were playing me up a bit and when I looked in the mirror I had these 2 reddish brown areas just to the side of my iris in each eye in exactly the same place. I have been trying to establish what my glasses are but they are hard to identify as they are just the basic econmoy frame with a bluish purple lense. Should I be looking for new ones now that I'm using the minor torch? The ones I've looked at on the websites talk about ace lenses rather than didymium (or whatever it is ) but like I say I don't know what these ones are. I'm slightly terrified of ruining my eyeballs as I'd be fairly bloody lost without them, in fact that's one of my greatest fears anything happening to my eyes or my hands, the other bits are much less useful but also very nice to have too! Anybody have any advice or clever ways of establishing what these glasses I have are?
Where did you buy your kit? Can you ask them what the spec' is for the glasses?
Mari
Good idea! I got it as a gift actually but I think it was from somewhere in New York possibley Jodell or something, I'll look that one up. HAs anybody else ever experienced anyhting like this?
we use ace202 glasses in the economy frames and have never had anything like you are explaining.. i would nip out to an optometrist tomorrow and get your eyeballs eyeballed, and then hunt down what type of glasses you have.. i share your fear of anything happening to your eyesight!!!
??? 8)
I have glasses with ace202 lenses but have noticed the last couple of times on the torch that the flair still seems bright and my eyes hurt a little. I wondered if it might also be the lighting in the room.... :-\
Do the lenses deteriorate over time, I wonder? I know welders shades for boro do.
very good question mary, i'll ask phillips....
??? 8)
I read somewhere that the didys are only really for the hh so if you upgrade you should upgrade your glasses... any ideas someone if this is true
I tracked down where my kit came from and they were really good and sent me info on what the glasses are. They are ace rose dydimium. Is that what everyone else is using? The flare is really bright with some glasses. The patches have faded in my eyes but I'm going to the optician tommorrow. This is the info they sent
Ace (Didymium) Glass Working Spectacles in Economy Plastic Frame with Side Shields 48mm Eye Size
Rose didymium is a high luminous transmittance filter specifically designed to absorb bright yellow sodium flare (589 nm) which occurs when heating glass. Didymium lenses protect the eyes from certain visible and UV light produced in the glassblowing process. They enable the glassblower to see the glass while it is being worked in the flame.
This is the classic filter that has been used for many years in all types of hot glass applications, as well as kiln working. The lens is dichromic (exhibits different colors under various light sources). Under incandescent light, the lens is a pronounced rose color, but changes to greenish blue under fluorescent light.
The spectral analysis of this glass at 3.2 mm thick indicates that it has good protection against ultraviolet radiation up to 360 nm, has excellent filtration at the sodium line, and excellent overall visible transmission from 400 nm to 725 nm. The glass does not offer much protection in the near or mid infrared ranges.
In general, this lens is adequate for many glass-working applications where the amount of radiation generated is low.
Suggested uses:
Beginning lamp-work using hot head torches and MAPP gas, or propane torches with soft glass. Periodically viewing small kilns, acetylene torch work on solver and gold jewelry, enameling of jewelry, and operation requiring occasional viewing of heat sources in excess of 1000 degrees, but not for use with high pressure torches on hard materials where very high temperatures are generated.
At the bottom here where it suggests uses it talks more about hotheads and propane only torches. I'm using a minor with 2 oxycons, does that make any difference or is it more down to the type of glass you are working with? Any ideas would be great!
Quote from: littlegiggles on June 28, 2007, 06:27:54 PM
I read somewhere that the didys are only really for the hh so if you upgrade you should upgrade your glasses... any ideas someone if this is true
Hmmmm... I thought ace202's were recommended for softglass...and something else was recommended for boro... rather than single or dual torches... Interesting...
NEVER USE 202'S FOR BORO!!!!!!
There is some debate about whether boroscopes are safe too. Some people consider that they are dangerous because they don't block as much IR as they claim to, but they are dark so the pupils dilate. Auralens do really good boro glasses, but a good compromise seems to be welders shades 3 or 5 as well as didys (goggles or clip-ons).
But like Julie, I always thought that specs were rated for soft or boro, not the torch. Though I suppose it does make sense if the torch is hotter that it will be making more radiation. Sorry, I'm rambling here!
Hmmmmm.....
I've e mailed the people at Jodell again and asked if these are ace 202. I'm still not 100% clear. I'll get back when I get a reply and I'll see if I can find any more info anywhere on what's what. I do think it's the type of glass that you use rather than the torch but wondered why I got these marks on my eyes? Scary stuff!!
Hmmmm.... (sorry, keep saying that!!! ;D) I use ace202 (Downtown) as I'm using soft glass and I'm on a minnow but the soda flair is definitely brighter and I do notice my eyes hurt a little after I've been on the torch (although no spots on my eyes). I've only had the glasses since December... I think I'll have a scout around to see if there are any other options... I had laser treatment on my eyes a few years ago to correct my sight so I don't want any damage to my eyes now 8) 8)
i'm really confuesed!! Are the glasses i got in my starter kit off Martin ok to use with a minor or should i be saving for another pair? my eye sights bad enought as it is!
Billie, i was thinking of saving for laser treatment, would you recomend it? i'm getting a bit sick of contact lenses
first off is to get your eyes checked i guess to determine if there is anything you need to do right now...
didy's have been mostly superseded by ace202 lens's... but both should be absolutely fine for use with soft glass..
if your require a prescription on your lens's it may be worth speaking to boots etc about getting prescription lenses made up for you on one of their deals.
8)
Quote from: Caroline on June 29, 2007, 08:17:38 AM
i'm really confuesed!! Are the glasses i got in my starter kit off Martin ok to use with a minor or should i be saving for another pair? my eye sights bad enought as it is!
Billie, i was thinking of saving for laser treatment, would you recomend it? i'm getting a bit sick of contact lenses
Will PM you with more details about the laser treatment, but in short, yes!!! ;D ;D
The ace202 glasses are recommended with soft glass, I got mine from Martin. I've just noticed over the last couple of weeks that the flair seems to be brighter and it makes my eyes ache a little when I've finished torching... It might be the lighting in my work area, or maybe my eyes are a bit sensitive at the moment. Unless glasses should be checked against the type of torch we use as well as the glass (which doesn't seem to be the case), I don't think we need to be changing what we're using...
I use ace202 and have done for about 9 months and had a recent eye test and theres no damage etc. and I do a fair whack of hours too.
So, from the description that jodell gave me does that mean mine are ace 202 or just plain didy? I'm confused as she calls them ace didymiium? I'm still not sure, the description doesn't mention the number 202 in it . I think I'll maybe be safest just to get a new set. I'm sure these are good glasses I'm not suggesting that they would sell otherwise but maybe these new lenses are better than the old didy's, if thats what mine are.
This is what the description calls them:
Ace (Didymium) Glass Working Spectacles in Economy Plastic Frame with Side Shields 48mm Eye Size
From what I was told by my optician, ace202 is a better type of filter and is a more up to date version than plain rose didymium.
Seems like from the info you got with your kit that they are plain rose didymium as opposed to ace202 (which is weird coz most places give the ace202 with the kits these days). However from Jodels website they say they give ace202 with their kits? But their description matches phillips site for rose didymium and not ace202.
If it helps my optician was happy with use of both rose didymium and ace202! and made all the other people in Specsavers look it up and they were all cooing at what i did for a living :-) and even priced me up a pair of prescription ones.
If it helps, this is what it says on http://www.phillips-safety.com about ace202 and rose didymium
For ace202 -"Phillips-202 Glass utilizes rare earth oxides in its composition to provide the same filtration. This glass is very efficient in filtering sodium flare in addition to providing ultraviolet protection to 390 mm. The Phillips202 (ACE) is becoming a preferable choice of hot glass workers."
For plain rose didymium "The glass does not offer much protection in the near or mid infrared ranges. In general, this lens is adequate for many glass-working applications where the amount of radiation generated is low. Suggested uses:Beginning lamp-work using hot head torches and MAPP gas, or propane torches with soft glass."
So it seems that both are suitable if you are on soda glass, but ace202 is preferable.
I'd think about those ace202s to be honest - also I have heard that auralens products are good as well.
i think you'll find that most safety glasses are now ace202, but that people still refer to them as didy's.... ace202 has become the new standard,a nd jodel may well now be selling ace202 lens whereas before they may have been rose didy's...
8)
Claire, thank you for all that info. I got my kit from Jodell over 18 months ago and it was a hothead kit. I think it's most likely that those were the best glasses available at that time but have now been superceded by the ace 202's. I'm going to get myself a set from Martin just to be sure. I found the box that my original glasses came in and they do just say Didymium but it's reassuring that your optician thinks both are suitable. It'll be interesting to compare them. Thanks for all your help folks :)