eclipse

[hinoonaz]

Kept putting off getting glasses unless I wanted to pay 30 dollars. Guess what, my welding helmet is a 13 and more than enough for this viewing. Will look kinda stupid driving down the road though I will stay in my back yard to be safe.

[DanEC]

I've read a minimum of 14 welding lenses is recommended. A 13 is probably OK for a quick look. I still would not look at it for very long.

[DanEC]

I just went out and tried my auto darkening helmet (which only goes up to a #13 also). I could tilt the helmet up while keep my eyes lowered until I sensed that it had darkened and then look up for couple of seconds to see the partial (early) stage of the eclipse.

However, when the eclipse progresses, I'm not sure if there if there will be sufficient brightness for the helmet to darken. Any clouds going past the sun, hindered it's darkening when I tried it.

[hinoonaz]

That is what happened with me also. Not enough brightness to darken. oh well

[DanEC]

I was less than impressed anyway - sort of like a mid-winter sunny day outside at the peak.

[strictlypersonl]

Originally Posted by DanEC

I was less than impressed anyway - sort of like a mid-winter sunny day outside at the peak.

Unfortunately, the eclipse has been hyped everywhere in the US. Generally, it's a bit of a snooze if you don't experience totality itself. Totality is not part of a continuum of the partial eclipse experience. When the corona appears (spectacular!), crickets chirp and it becomes darker than twilight, that's the real thing. This is my forth.

[joyridin']

I used a #11 lens with a #13 lens and it worked very well. I tried a 13, but it was still pretty bright.

Personally, we were at the 80% coverage area and I thought it would be a lot darker. It was like looking outside at maybe 6:00 or so in the afternoon.