I just found some fairly large chunks of old copper buss bar, the sort of stuff one finds in large substations and smelters.

Do you ever use copper "backers" or "Chill Plates"

Would be glad to cut a coupla' pieces and fire off in you general direction. I weld copper, and can fit the things up with handles and clamping lugs,....lemme know.

Re: visibility

I had a good look at the setup linked below, and it's just about one of the neatest things I've seen in a long time. Beats the crap out of that old leather executioner's hood that was hard to breath in or keep pointed straight

Link: http://www.millerwelds.com/products/welding_protection/head_face/goggles/weld-mask-auto-darkening/

Member, Clan of the Border Rats
-- “Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it.”- Mark Twain