Where To Get A Filter Lens To View The Eclipse

If you want to see the eclipse Monday (August 21), you'll need a special lens to do so without Stevie Wondering your retinas. A lot of women call me Stevie Wonder, but that is beside the point. A lot of people are also calling Lowe's, Wal-Mart, 7-11, Cumberland Farms and other businesses looking for a hot and generally sold-out item... solar eclipse viewing glasses.

I'm not the only one bugging these customer service people for solar viewing glasses. The girl at Lowe's in Attleboro answers the phone with one of those too fast to interrupt greetings like "Hello-Lowe's-Attleboro-we-don't-have-eclipse-glasses-how-can-I-help-you?"

I'm not bugging clerks anymore, because I remembered the last eclipse in the 1990s. I was working at a factory then (CDF, in Plymouth), and I just borrowed the mechanic guy's welding mask. With that in mind, I did some Google and found a nearby welding supply shop. Boom... $6 and change for 3 lenses.

You need at least Shade 12 for viewing the eclipse safely. Shade 14 is better, but it costs more and is a bit of a pain to find. Made In China, but sold in America.

I got mine at New Bedford Welding Supply. They had a bunch, right at the desk. They know what you're talking about, so you don't need to know any real-man welding talk. They also have a shop in Taunton, and perhaps even Smithfield, RI.

Other shops include Total Welding Supply in Freetown and Brockton, Standard Repair Welding Supply in Wareham and Plymouth, the Airgas Store in a bunch (Hingham, Dorchester, Seekonk, Hyannis, Stoughton, Rochester, Brockton, North Attleboro) of places... Google it up, you'll do OK.

Enjoy!