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Re:Amazon recalls eclipse glasses by danieldk on Monday August 14, 2017 @01:16AM (#15006690)
I am not an expert, so take this with a grain of salt: but you cannot visually check whether it blocks ultra-violet or infrared. So, this visual inspection seems bogus to me, since you cannot be sure whether all wavelengths are blocked.

Be careful!

Re:Amazon recalls eclipse glasses by typpo on Monday August 14, 2017 @01:48AM (#15006778)
This is correct. Visual inspection can't verify glasses, but it can identify clearly fake ones. Being able to see a house light through these glasses is a bad sign IMO.
Re:Amazon recalls eclipse glasses by hellbanner on Wednesday August 16, 2017 @05:26PM (#15031513)
This has happened for 2 brands of glasses I've ordered, 1 from Amazon & 1 from manufacturer directly.

Guess I won't be looking at the sun :)

Re:Amazon recalls eclipse glasses by gambiting on Monday August 14, 2017 @06:47AM (#15007738)
Heh, when I was a kid I remember our "eclipse viewing equipment" was a piece of glass blackened over a gas hob or a lighter. If someone's dad had access to welding equipment then welder's mask worked just as well.

I don't mean to say that people shouldn't take safety seriously - just saying that it's interesting how we used homemade solution to this and don't have any (obvious) sight problems.

Re:Amazon recalls eclipse glasses by piva00 on Monday August 14, 2017 @06:53AM (#15007769)
Welder's mask (specifically a number 14 filter) is one of the recommended ways to safely watch an eclipse :)
Re:Amazon recalls eclipse glasses by syshum on Monday August 14, 2017 @07:23AM (#15007897)
Shade 14 is key, as common welding Masks are only Shade 5 and still cause eye damage if used
Re:Amazon recalls eclipse glasses by convolvatron on Monday August 14, 2017 @12:19PM (#15009836)
to be clear gas welding masks are 5, its more like wearing sunglasses.

arc welding gear is generally around 10-11.

many newer electronic helmets go up to 13/14 which is enough, you have to remember to turn up the sensitivity on the sensors so that its always dark. otherwise it will stay open at around 3-4

Re:Amazon recalls eclipse glasses by jostylr on Monday August 14, 2017 @05:37AM (#15007491)
Amazon should do a sampling of inventory and check whether they pass or not.

And it may happen to be that blocking the visual with the counterfeits also blocks the invisible wavelengths. Or it may not.

There should be some statistical evidence provided.

I did read from one of the recommended manufacturers that they tried to warn Amazon about this for months. They also tested them and they appeared safe in the tests they ran even though they were not legitimate.

But only Amazon knows what they have actually sold.