Looking at the sun with welding glasses is possible, but not all welding glasses are suitable for this purpose. Only welding glasses with the darkest shade level of 14 can protect your eyes properly. Shade level 14 is specifically designed for extreme welding conditions and provides complete protection to your eyes, limiting visibility only to the area surrounding the sun itself. Welding glasses with lower shade levels are not adequate to protect your eyes from the suns harmful rays. It is important to beware of welding glasses without a marking that designates the shading level, as using them can be a risky gamble for viewing the sun. It is also important to note that sunglasses are not designed for direct sun viewing, as this can cause severe damage to the eyes. If you are unable to find reliable solar eclipse glasses, a welding mask is a viable alternative to consider. However, it is crucial to use the right protective gear, and shade ratings of 12 or 13 may be adequate in certain situations, but shade 14 is the darkest and most recommended rating for solar eclipses.