I grew up on a farm, and in a small town service station, where I had access to MIG and oxy acetylene. My father taught me to use both. A bit later (in my mid 30s) I did a one day MIG course that basically reinforced what I'd been taught as a kid.

It's now nearly 30 years later and I'm wanting to weld some exhaust pipe on a bike I'm resurrecting so I bought the cheapest, nastiest, little flux core welder on sale - reduced from $249 to $149. It's not my father's Kemppi, but it melts stuff so I figure I should be able to get it done.

My big issue is - I can't see shit! As soon as it arcs the lens in my (cheap, nasty) hood goes dark and all I can see is a haze of smoke. My memory is really bad but I'm pretty sure I remember being able to see a pool of molten steel and moving the wire around in it as needed.

Did I buy the wrong lens or is flux core just like that?

Not a welder but I’ve done a bit before. Flux core is def more smoky than mig, you could try clearing it with modest airflow from a fan.