DIY infrared goggles

Step-by-step instructions for creating infrared glasses using welding goggles and cheap gel-filters. Looks kinda crackpot — but hey, if it works, it'd be pretty cool.

At one point I started wondering just how much IR light a human eye could see. After all, if the infrared light was EXTREMELY BRIGHT, such as the IR of a sunny day, human eyes might still detect it. (And remember, if 30KHz ultrasonic sound is loud enough, you will hear it. Same basic idea.) I got some of the black IR filter plastic and cut it into oblong disks to fit the eye-depressions in my skull. I taped them onto my face with black electrical tape. Yes, I looked odd, but it worked! After I became used to the darkness inside the filters, I could see through them. Going outside on a sunny day was stunning. The sky was almost black, while the trees and shrubs where all frosty pink. The grass looked like fluorescent red cherry Koolaid powder. Different colors of human skin were always the same light grey, people's eyes looked very black, and certain dark clothing looked white. I was afraid that I might damage my eyes, since the IR sunlight was very bright, and my pupils were wide open. (After years of playing with these, I still haven't hurt my eyes, so they're PROBABLY somewhat safe to use.)

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(Thanks, Pete!)