Welding glasses safe to view eclipse with?

[dotancohen]

Are welding glasses safe to view an eclipse with? We will have a partial solar eclipse tomorrow and I'd like to show my daughter. I have welding glasses and wonder if that is safe.

I will also prepare a pinhole-and-screen device to show her the eclipse, but I'd like to let her view through the welding googles if that is safe as well. I see on ebay cheap paper "eclipse glasses" and wonder that if those are effective, than my welding equipment might be as well.

Thanks!

 

[Kracatoan]

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100123162101AAnrdlD covers the issue, but if I were you, I would use a pinhole and screen system, as that is 100% safe, best not to take any risks tbh.

 

[dotancohen]

Thanks, Kracatoan.

 

[Chronos]

A #14 welding glass is entirely safe for naked eye solar viewing.

 

[dotancohen]

Thanks, Chronos. Mine is a 12, so we just punched a hole in cardboard for the show. I did manage to photograph via the welding glasses, though, see attached!

 

[Phrak]

A #14 welding glass is entirely safe for naked eye solar viewing.

I don't think this is a small matter. Do you have any appropriate source supporting your claim that welding glasses block light over the intensity and spectrum of radiation produced by the sun through the Earth's atmosphere to an undamaging level?

 

[Chronos]

I was remiss in omitting sources. Here is a good one: http://www.perkins-observatory.org/eclipsesafety.html. It is important to note that stacking is NOT a safe practice. Two #7 glasses do not offer protection equivalent to a #14. The relationship is not linear.

 

[Phrak]

I was remiss in omitting sources. Here is a good one: http://www.perkins-observatory.org/eclipsesafety.html. It is important to note that stacking is NOT a safe practice. Two #7 glasses do not offer protection equivalent to a #14. The relationship is not linear.

Thanks, Chonos. I was reminded of the time I was encouraged to view a partial eclipse through magnetic recording media. In retrospect it was a really stoopid choice.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

I'm bringing this thread back because my uncle just asked me the same question. Anyone with further input?

 

[Robert Morphis]

Hi, just ran into this rechecking, according to NASA shade 12 and above is acceptable.
This is confirmed by a quote from AAS.
It has also been suggested to use binoculars with one side blocked to project the image on a screen.
https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety

 

[davenn]

It has also been suggested to use binoculars with one side blocked to project the image on a screen.

yes you can do that ... but you still need to filter the objective else you will damage the internals of the bino's

 

[Stavros Kiri]

There's also the idea of using welding helmets (safest of all!, not just for the eyes ...). E.g. see:
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/u-s-solar-eclipse-of-aug-21-2017.866521/page-8#post-5806944

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/u-s-solar-eclipse-of-aug-21-2017.866521/page-8#post-5807112
e.g.

+ forth ...
e.g. (starting with glasses)

I was in the autoparts store today and noticed welding goggle lenses.

and
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/u-s-solar-eclipse-of-aug-21-2017.866521/page-13#post-5823448

 

[Tom.G]

https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety

About half way down the page under "Additional Safety information":

"Viewing with Protection -- Experts suggests that one widely available filter for safe solar viewing is welders glass of sufficiently high number. The only ones that are safe for direct viewing of the Sun with your eyes are those of Shade 12 or higher[/color]"

 

[Stavros Kiri]

https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety

About half way down the page under "Additional Safety information":

"Viewing with Protection -- Experts suggests that one widely available filter for safe solar viewing is welders glass of sufficiently high number. The only ones that are safe for direct viewing of the Sun with your eyes are those of Shade 12 or higher"

See also #10 above:
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/welding-glasses-safe-to-view-eclipse-with.460681/#post-5823749