Safety glasses suggestion? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: manticore00
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2013, 03:54:31 pm
content: When I work at my bench with anything that has the possibility of getting in my eye(wire fragments, spitting flux etc) I'm religious about wearing safety glasses, my only gripe is that they're not as optically clear as they could be and introduce noticeable distortions as well. Does anyone have any suggestions for reasonably priced but good quality safety glasses?

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2013, 05:52:11 pm
content: I really don't think it's necessary. Choose a flux that doesn't spit, and cut away from you, or blink when cutting.

author: ddavidebor
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2013, 05:54:00 pm
content: For flux just use a little fan!

author: manticore00
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2013, 06:12:59 pm
content: Maybe I gave bad examplesBut there are plenty of situations where using safety glasses are a necessity, especially when using a dremel or drill.

author: dr.diesel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2013, 06:19:14 pm
content: My old work place provided these:http://www.safetyglassesusa.com/sb5710d.htmlI've been quite happy with them, no noticeable distortion to me.

author: Dave
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2013, 07:03:17 pm
content: When you will have enough experience with soldering, you will subconsciously be able to control your breathing, not to inhale flux fumes. Trust me, you will.As for the eye protection, you just need to keep a finger above the lead, when you are snipping it. The only really hazardous bits are the ones you already snipped once, but found out you didn't cut them enough. Smaller bits of component leads tend to fly faster when snipped. I really doubt you will find any flux that would spit hard enough that you would need safety glasses. Most of the spat flux will end on the circuit board and test bench.But bear in mind that this is just my opinion. If you think that you should wear safety goggles, by all means, wear them. I have been usingthis typeof glasses while etching, cutting (Dremel with a cutting disc and aluminium base PCBs are the devil) and drilling, and so far they haven't let me down. They don't distort vision and don't reduce visibility. It has even occurred to me a few times, that I forgot I was wearing them.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2013, 12:29:19 am
content: FWIW, they also make distortion free versions with loupes and/or lighting attached to them for dental/medical fields that don't cost an absolute fortune if you're interested (http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=dental+surgical+safety+glasses&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313&_nkw=dental+surgical+loupe+glasses&_sacat=0).

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2013, 01:12:22 am
content: The bigger the solder, the more flux, and the bigger the chance of taking some to the eye. I feel you there. After one close call, I wear the glasses when I'm doing big through hole stuff with lots of heat. They are also on when I'm doing anything that has any chance of blowing up.The ones I use look kind of like large reading glasses with flat actual glass lenses (0 power). They don't have side shields so it's not 100% coverage, but the real glass is super easy to clean and is distortion/scratch free. It's kind of funny when someone sees me wearing them for the first time they always ask if I forgot my contacts or something since I don't wear glasses.I unfortunately can't tell you where to get a pair since I just found these in an office drawer and no one remembers where they came from. They don't even have a brand marking

author: manticore00
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2013, 01:26:56 am
content: I wasn't always so crazy about protective eyewear but a few months ago I was working on a project and during the course of soldering a wire splice my elbow slipped and somehow I managed to flick solder onto my face, fortunately it only singed my beard but I couldn't help but think then and now how lucky I was that it didn't land a few centimeters up my face. Since that time I always wear safety glasses.

author: MacAttak
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 06, 2013, 05:44:30 am
content: I guess I don't understand the aversion to safety glasses since I wear pretty strong prescription spectacles myself... but there is no way in hell I would work on any electronics without some form of eye protection. Shit happens!If you are concerned about comfort you can visit an optometrist (the same guy who sells prescription glasses). They can fit zero-correction lenses into any frame. So you can find something comfortable AND safe AND stylish (if you're doing photo shoots in your workshop like Dave does).Real lenses are also very clear and free of distortion, especially if you take care of them and clean them regularly with the microfibre clothe they give you and some cleaning solution (the kind made for eyewear).And P.S.: the majority of the price of fitted spectacles is in the frame. The lenses themselves are usually about $40 to $90 for me (with heavy correction and expensive anti-glare and anti-smudge coatings), with the frames easily running from $100 to $300.

author: ddavidebor
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2013, 07:54:53 am
content: Yep frames has a biiiiiiiiig price range, from 20€ to 20k

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2013, 09:25:26 am
content: Go to an optician and get a pair of glasses with safety lenses. I have to wear glasses anyway as I am long sighted so I have prescription safety lenses, but they do plain if you want them, sure they cost a bit more than the ones sold in hardware stores but what cost safety. Also if you have less distortion you are less likely to cut or otherwise injure your hands or other parts of your body as well as protecting your eyes, also if you can see clearly it makes it a whole lot easier to read components etc.What is the cost of a pair of eyes.

author: Chipset
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2013, 11:32:04 am
content: Quote from: G7PSK on July 06, 2013, 09:25:26 amProbably a few hundred K on the black market.

author: Fsck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2013, 11:40:29 am
content: universities should have lab gear for students to buy: grab some safety glasses from there?

author: billclay
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2013, 03:47:12 am
content: Phiilips glass safety glasses have almost no optical distortion.http://www.phillips-safety.com/safety-glasses/glass-safety-glasses.html

author: Frenchie
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 13, 2013, 04:48:23 am
content: Quote from: G7PSK on July 06, 2013, 09:25:26 amOr better yet, do this when working at a workplace where they will buy you a new pair every 12 months. Seems excessive, but in the environment I work even proper glasses are really, really ratty after 12 months. Standard Polycarbonate safety glasses are only good for a couple of weeks.Quote from: Chipset on July 06, 2013, 11:32:04 am

author: Dawn
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2013, 11:11:22 am
content: Any biological or scientific educational supply should carry a high quality metal frame with clear glass. They're not cheap, but not expensive either. Good quality frames and distortion free glass with a frame quality that's made to accept custom ground or diopter lenses should you want it. Cost about 30-40 bucks during the 80's if you didn't want to wear goggles or those cheap polycarbonite glasses that were like shooting glasses.Even though I wear glasses, I bought a pair of CraftOptics and had my prescription plus diopter added to them. They also have a flip up pair of telescopic lenses that you can set the interocular distance and purchase high intensity illumination for. Just like Surgical or Dental glasses, but not the price and sold to crafters. My dentist was so impressed with my pair that he bought several of these at the much lower cost for his dental techs. Paid about $200, but that included the custom prescription and illumination option. They're on the web under the same name. There's much cheaper knockoffs for about $75-100 USD on E-bay that appear to be partially plastic, but good enough that a lot of folks are buying them for SMD work. Madell in the states was carrying somehing similar. Don't know your price range, but I still have eyesight after several near misses that left deep marks in my regular glasses over the years. Definite injury had I not been a 4 eye and saved my sight. Same can be said just on a daily basis wearing glasses. Many close calls that potentially could have injured or blinded me had I not been wearing them.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2013, 04:10:02 pm
content: Same here. If you are working with electronics or chemicals always wear safety glasses! I had some tantalum caps blow up in my face (the assembly house messed up).

author: Corporate666
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 15, 2013, 03:34:50 am
content: I tried lots, and my favorite are the Dewalt DPG54-1C. The best things about them are firstly that they are all clear with no frames, so you have completely unobstructed vision. They are also very light so it feels like you're wearing nothing at all. And best of all, they are cheap - $3.97 on Amazon. Cheap enough to buy a new pair every week if you like.They do scratch, but all safety glasses do, because they are polycarbonate, and polycarbonate is susceptible to scratches. Nothing clearer than a new pair of safety glasses, IMO.I haven't had any problems with distortion on the Dewalt ones - not that I've noticed, and I do tend to be sensitive to that sort of stuff.

author: UPI
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2013, 02:06:38 am
content: Quote from: Corporate666 on November 15, 2013, 03:34:50 amI buy the generic version simila to what Dave linked to on eBay. I also buy the tinted "Smoke" colored ones for driving and daytime motorcycle riding. I use the clear for nighttime riding.The tinted ones saved me from an errant frisbee once at the swimming pool (actually, it wasn't errant, I was just distracted by some scenery).http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Keep-Safe-Jaguar-Safety-Spectacles-Glasses-Clear-Lens-/161054829865

author: BurningTantalum
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2013, 07:03:37 am
content: I did some work a few years ago in the UK, and was issued with the requisite glasses. One evening I set off back to the hotel and couldn't see properly to drive. I realised that the glasses were optically very bad so had a root through the stores until I found a brand that I had used for many years- They were 'Bolle' (Bollay) and I had no more problems. The storeman told me that they didn't purchase Bolle any more as they were too expensive!

author: TheBay
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 26, 2013, 01:49:16 am
content: 3M or Gargoyles