Originally Posted By: Am_Fear_Liath_Mor
Its not only eye protection that is required for electric arc welding. A full face shield is required to protect the face from the UV light generated from the electric arc as well. Electric arc welding requires a much stronger light filter than gas welding googles. A full flip up/down face mask with a very strong light filter (the light filter is normally so strong that it is completely opaque to normal lighting conditions, hence you cannot see what your doing until the electric arc is struck). With gas welding, the goggles glass filters are much more opaque. So generally you can see what your doing in normal light conditions before introducing the light produced from the Oxyacetylene flame of the gas welding tip. Gas welding temperatures are some what lower and don't really produce UV light during the welding or brazing process. If you are doing any electric arc welding a proper full face mask is required. There should also be no exposed skin in direct line of sight of the electric welding arc either. This include all electric arc welding including MMA, MIG and TIG.


I've used both an oxy-acetylene torch and an arc welder with insufficient eye protection. Grabbing a torch without a proper set of goggles was not something that ever bothered me. Been there, done that, did not see spots. Never tried to arc weld without a mask, but sometimes when you are working on something with someone else who is welding, you don't turn your face away as quick as you should. The arc welding glass is so opaque under normal lighting conditions, that you need the mask so you can find the work using your free hand. In some situations, I might risk not having the right eye protection. Having a makeshift mask would be better. If you had a face shield of any type, you might be able to create a mask.