Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Are your eclipse glasses safe or fake?

A friend saw a news report this afternoon. Apparently, millions of pairs of fake eclipse glasses have been sold across the country and millions of people are going to hurt. They said to get a bright LED flashlight and hold it behind them. If you see any light at all, they don't meet federal safety regulations, regardless of what's printed on them. A good share of the fakes have been sold by Amazon but not all by any means. Amazon supposedly has sent emails to everyone who bought the bad ones recalling them but not everyone got the emails...me included. I returned mine for a refund but tomorrow is the last day they'll accept returns on them.

My welding shield should work.

I think I you'd covered.... Welding goggles! memtb

We got the e-mail from Amazon and they said they were going to refund our purchase price and they asked us to throw the glasses away. And, in bold letters they warned us not to trust or use the glasses. We already had some from another company from Amazon so we called to make sure they were good, which they are. The BAD glasses have red and white stripes and blue and white stars. I hope everyone safely enjoys the eclipse.

Most welding goggles go to 12 or 13 shade. You need 14 or stronger.

This was news about 4 weeks ago.

A pin hole viewing box is a better way to see one anyway. There are instructions online for making one, but it can he as simple as poking a small hole in a paper plate and watching the circle of light on the pavement. This way your back is to the sun and by looking down you won't strain your neck by looking up.



They recommend 14 and for looking directly at a full sun for extended periods is probably best. But even as low as a 10 works for short periods and there isn't much reason to start looking up until after the eclipse begins and the sun is partially obscured. By the time you get 50% blockage I wouldn't be concerned with a #10. I think they are just being extra cautious. Looking through a pair of sunglasses would not be a good idea and that sort of thing is what they are trying to prevent.

And most of the shades sold by Amazon and others are just fine. They just were not certified by NASA.

Mine will work if I also wear my gas welding mask. It's not nearly as dark as an arc welding mask and the 2 work good together. An arc welding mask will work IF it has a #14 or darker lens.

If you use an auto darkening mask, be sure you can set it extra dark, 13 or higher, and to stay dark all the time. Most won't. From what I've read, the sun pulsates and the mask will pulsate with it. It happens faster than your eye can see it. During the light times, it will let enough IR through to do some damage.

There's nothing to keep someone from printing the cert # on a fake. They're already breaking the law so what does it matter to them? Mine have the cert # on them but you can shine an LED light right through them. The sun is infinitely brighter than that. There's no way that they're safe. In fact I tried them out. After only 2 or 3 seconds, I could feel it in my eyes. Watching continually would be deadly.

Ours are stars and bars as described above. We called Bi Mart where we bought them, they gave the OK. They are made in the USA so that makes a person feel somewhat safer.
I did look at the sun using them and they seemed to be fine. In fact my thought was, "I wonder if these are to dark to see much at all?"
Household lighting cannot be seen, a LED flashlight held against them can barely be detected.

Welding shield lens, I just put a 12 shade and a 5 shade together. Works great!

Thanks for that info. I was wondering.

Or just don't stare at the f'ing sun. Go stare at the sun while your country is overrun...

Wait... wait... wait... There's an eclipse?

Only the auto lens will pulsate! Good old fixed lens are safe if over 14. Like girls use two eights and you'll be happy.

Some advice:

- Lighten up.
- Stop taking yourself so seriously. Nobody else does.

Safe or fake doesn't matter. Our stores are all sold out anyway. A pin hole box is far safer and what we used last time in Kansas City.
This time I will look during total dark when it is safe and the glasses don't work anyway.
The rest I will watch on TV. That is the safest and best way of all.

I have a #7 Shade torch goggles, so I plan on just Keeping one eye closed!

I always get a kick out of someone saying that great grandpa Ben was so tough that he could stare directly at the sun without sneezing. Of course he could. After 1 time of that he was totally blind.