OT: Venus Transit, is a welding helmet safe? Options

[zymurgist]

Specifically, is an electronic welding helmet safe to look at the sun?

[Rand]

Woah. Depends on the darkening level. My "electronic welding helmet" rocks, but....
You have to adjust the darkening level with a knob. And even at full dark, some critics will still give you grief. Mine was fine.

Like I said before, can you look at it without it seeming too bright, then look away with no artifacts??
There's no substitute for common sense.

Thought I'd share this for fun....

http://gizmodo.com/5916350/this-amazing-sp...dium=socialflow

[ChrisFoley]

Woah. Depends on the darkening level. My "electronic welding helmet" rocks, but....

I used to have an auto darkening lens that was real touchy. It would switch if there was an incandescent bulb nearby. And I know it switched when aimed at the sun. I guess I don't have that lens anymore though.
All arc welding lenses provide 100% protection from UV, including auto darkening lenses regardless of their darkness level. An electric arc is obviously brighter than the sun if the sun won't even make an a/d lens switch to dark.
Just for hahas, today I tried looking at the sun with my auto darkening helmet.
It wouldn't switch to dark state so I couldn't really look at the sun directly.
But I did anyway... it was too bright...I had to look away after only a few seconds. There was a distinct, but not too bright, afterglow in my eyes for a few seconds but there were no lasting effects.