Welding Helmet

I've always used a standard helmet, Never trusted teh autodark thing. When I first started welding the auto sensor tech was somewhat spotty and there was a pretty good chance of getting flashed.

I might reconsider after watching the video. My current helmet has been around not for almost 20 years.

 

You better be right, I just ordered the same one!

 

I got the autodark HF helmet...but we have yet to wire in the welder (probably because I haven't been home since welder purchase which is just part of the job). Let you guys know when I start using.

 

Hope it works out better for you than the guy in my welding class, flashed him pretty bad the first time out.
Personally I would never trust my sight to anything from HF..

 

I've got one of those as well as one of these: http://store.cyberweld.com/miwehepeauda3.html

I can definitely tell a difference in visibility with the nicer Miller, but my old one is nice too. I've used non-auto darkening helmets and goggles on the trail. Nothing spoils you faster than a good auto-darkening Miller helmet.

 

I got spoiled to when I got the Elite at work. I got the phansy one...

 

i scored the HF blue flame helmet too... and i like it A LOT!...

quick reaction time, and plenty dark... but i'm a noob, so if i go blind, i'll let you guys know in braille...

so far (after 10+ hrs) i havent had any discomfort or issues

 

Well if I get flashed I'll go to the weld shop and pick up a new helmet and keep the HF one for back up use. I haven't even taken the welder or the helmet out of the box yet (been away from home working for a while)

 

I jsut tried this thing out yesterday for the first time. Works great. I just set the switches to "fast" and "high" sensitivity, and set the darkness dial to about 11 or 12, and it was comfortable and no noticable flash while welding @ 100 amps with the AC stick welder

definitely reccomended.

 

I have a Jackson auto darkening, be darned if I can remember the model. I picked it up at my local Pawn Shop for $100.00 a couple years ago. I was looking around for one for a few weeks before I purchased this one. Price, and name were my biggest factors. I am glad that I picked up the one I have. I have never experienced weld flash or helmet slip. It is very comfortable for my bald head.

 

cheap one will protect you but i prefer masks with a large sight glass and a gold iridium coating they don't autodarken but with the highly reflective coating they don't have to be as dark in the first place which works well with my resistance to to electronics and technology

 

any tips on reducing the light that seeps in around the sides/back of the helmet..a hood or something..

 

I'm going to learn to weld (well, I sorta know how to weld, I need to learn how to weld correctly) and I read that an auto darkening helmet can be somewhat dangerous for beginner welders. It takes a fraction of a second for it to darken and if you do a lot of start again-stop again welding those fractions of a second add up to larger does of harmful rays to your eyes.

I'm not sure if I believe that or not, any thoughts? I just bought one and I haven't used it yet but I'm hoping to play with my mig welder this weekend.

 

I think that would be BS, you can turn the sensitivity up or down. Heck you can set it so its pretty much dark from the background light before you even start the spark.

I would just buy one and forget it.

 

Been welding with a two sensor and a four sensor for at least 5 years now.Still have great vision. The trick I was tought was if you lift your hood and see any rings you need to go up a shade until it goes away. But the fractions adding up is IMHO crap. Been welding 15+ years and going.

 

I like this one from Lincoln. A real nice unit. http://http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=lincoln+welding+helmets&hl=en&cid=9602248666491759350&os=sellers#

 

I have a Lincoln auto darkening adustable from grinding to shade 13. It is rugged, and has been a great helmet from day 1. Gets used about every day, or at most, every other day. I also have a Harbor Freight one, for when my son wants to watch or play around. It has been good, but the lenses are some wierd size, and I have to cut them down from regular ones.

 

I started with a traditional dark helmet. Count not see boo and could not weld. Got an HF auto dark and it worked well. I could at least draw a bead. But after using it, on fast dark and dark as I could get it, my eyes itched and watered. Then the band broke and it would not stay in front of my eyes. I had to prop it up with a rag on my chest so I could see. For Fathers Day my wife and kids picked up one of these...http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200416894_200416894. It is fantastic. I can see, my eyes don't itch and I can weld much better. FOr the money, great welding helmet.