How do i hold a welding filter against a lens?

philbaum · 06-11-2011, 11:33 AM

I was in a flickr group the other day and saw a really interesting water picture made by using a welding glass filter (used to protect the eyes during welding) as a ND filter. I don'[t think they are that expensive, but how would one hold it still in front of a camera?

LowVoltage · 06-11-2011, 12:05 PM

I saw something very similar on DIY Photography.

Here's a link to that very article.

For those of you not clicking the link, it seems they left the lens hood mounted in the reverse mode on the lens. The welding glass was then rubber-banded in place using the slots created by the petals on the hood as divots which hold the bands in place.

Simple solution, although I doubt welding glass is coated. Or maybe it is... I don't know if a welder would appreciate glare on the thing he's trying to see through.

Anyway, yes, a 10-stop ND filter for all of $5-$10 is pretty reasonable!

rhodopsin · 06-11-2011, 12:12 PM

Buze over at Manual Focus uses a Cokin holder: Welding glass photography (Page 1) - Gallery - Manual Focus Forum

newarts · 06-11-2011, 12:49 PM

Don't expect very good optical quality from a welding glass - but you may be lucky.

jolepp · 06-11-2011, 01:14 PM

One might glue the glass to a step-up ring which would go on the filter thread; using rubber bands with a reversed petal hood sounds very handy too

maltfalc · 06-11-2011, 02:14 PM

i don't recommend using welding glass as an nd filter unless you already have one lying around. a cheap nd filter will give you better results and be easier to use than welding glass in the same price range.

twitch · 06-11-2011, 02:16 PM

Be ready for a massive colour cast

philbaum · 06-11-2011, 03:33 PM

Thank you all, as always there is a terrific amount of knowledge available from the PF members. I'll look into it on Monday. I've done both gas and arc welding before, and remember that the acetylene gas filters were weaker and had more of a cast to them than the arc welding filters. Some of the TIG welders are involved in high quality work, so i believe the quality isn't too shoddy. may well not be up to Pentax standards

though.

I'll write back if i come up with anything interesting.

best wishes,

**Ex Finn.** · 06-11-2011, 06:42 PM

Originally posted by philbaum

Some of the TIG welders are involved in high quality work,

That would be the welder, not the glass.
Don`t waste your time, just get the proper ND filter.

RioRico · 06-12-2011, 09:02 PM

Test a filter with the rubber-band method. If you like the results and want a 'pro' version, get a glass shop to cut it down to a circle that will fit into a standard filter ring, maybe 58mm or whatever.

philbaum · 06-13-2011, 07:32 PM

Well, thats my one and only picture taken through a #11 welding lens. Total cost: $3.20 American.

For some reason, it wouldn't meter correctly, i went +5 steps EV, and then probably another +2 in pp. Lots of green which might have affected metering, i don't know.

Ex finn was right. IQ was crappy. I focused prior to installing the welding filter over the lens, and there was a bit of wind, but trees were not as sharp as they should have been.

It does make me appreciate my Pentax lenses all the more

Lloydy · 06-21-2011, 03:55 PM

Welding glass is good quality, it has to be because welders are looking through them all day and it's a basic health and safety issue. If the glass is distorted then the welder is at more risk.

I've used smooth edged welding glass in Cokin P filter holders and it's fine, you just need to experiment a bit to get the desired effect rather than looking at a chart to see what settings to use.

There's also many different grades of tint that are for different types of welding, from gas to mig / tig and arc.

06-13-2011, 07:32 PM	#11
philbaum Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Port Townsend, Washington State, USA Posts: 3,659 Original Poster	Through a welding lens, darkly Well, thats my one and only picture taken through a #11 welding lens. Total cost: $3.20 American. For some reason, it wouldn't meter correctly, i went +5 steps EV, and then probably another +2 in pp. Lots of green which might have affected metering, i don't know. Ex finn was right. IQ was crappy. I focused prior to installing the welding filter over the lens, and there was a bit of wind, but trees were not as sharp as they should have been. It does make me appreciate my Pentax lenses all the more

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06-11-2011, 11:33 AM	#1
philbaum Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Port Townsend, Washington State, USA Posts: 3,659	How do i hold a welding filter against a lens? I was in a flickr group the other day and saw a really interesting water picture made by using a welding glass filter (used to protect the eyes during welding) as a ND filter. I don'[t think they are that expensive, but how would one hold it still in front of a camera?

06-11-2011, 12:05 PM	#2
LowVoltage Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Mount Joy, PA Photos: Gallery Posts: 544	I saw something very similar on DIY Photography. Here's a link to that very article. For those of you not clicking the link, it seems they left the lens hood mounted in the reverse mode on the lens. The welding glass was then rubber-banded in place using the slots created by the petals on the hood as divots which hold the bands in place. Simple solution, although I doubt welding glass is coated. Or maybe it is... I don't know if a welder would appreciate glare on the thing he's trying to see through. Anyway, yes, a 10-stop ND filter for all of $5-$10 is pretty reasonable!

06-11-2011, 12:12 PM	#3
rhodopsin Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Deep Forest Posts: 643	Buze over at Manual Focus uses a Cokin holder: Welding glass photography (Page 1) - Gallery - Manual Focus Forum

06-11-2011, 12:49 PM	#4
newarts Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Ames, Iowa, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 2,965	Don't expect very good optical quality from a welding glass - but you may be lucky.

06-11-2011, 01:14 PM	#5
jolepp Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Finland Photos: Albums Posts: 3,196	One might glue the glass to a step-up ring which would go on the filter thread; using rubber bands with a reversed petal hood sounds very handy too

06-11-2011, 02:14 PM	#6
maltfalc Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Winnipeg Photos: Albums Posts: 396	i don't recommend using welding glass as an nd filter unless you already have one lying around. a cheap nd filter will give you better results and be easier to use than welding glass in the same price range.

06-11-2011, 02:16 PM	#7
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	Be ready for a massive colour cast

06-11-2011, 03:33 PM	#8
philbaum Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Port Townsend, Washington State, USA Posts: 3,659 Original Poster	Thank you all, as always there is a terrific amount of knowledge available from the PF members. I'll look into it on Monday. I've done both gas and arc welding before, and remember that the acetylene gas filters were weaker and had more of a cast to them than the arc welding filters. Some of the TIG welders are involved in high quality work, so i believe the quality isn't too shoddy. may well not be up to Pentax standards though. I'll write back if i come up with anything interesting. best wishes,

06-11-2011, 06:42 PM	#9
Ex Finn. Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern Maryland. Espoo. Kouvola. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,975	Originally posted by philbaum Some of the TIG welders are involved in high quality work, That would be the welder, not the glass. Don`t waste your time, just get the proper ND filter.

06-12-2011, 09:02 PM	#10
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Test a filter with the rubber-band method. If you like the results and want a 'pro' version, get a glass shop to cut it down to a circle that will fit into a standard filter ring, maybe 58mm or whatever.

06-21-2011, 03:55 PM	#12
Lloydy Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Shropshire, UK Posts: 1,114	Welding glass is good quality, it has to be because welders are looking through them all day and it's a basic health and safety issue. If the glass is distorted then the welder is at more risk. I've used smooth edged welding glass in Cokin P filter holders and it's fine, you just need to experiment a bit to get the desired effect rather than looking at a chart to see what settings to use. There's also many different grades of tint that are for different types of welding, from gas to mig / tig and arc.