Auto darkening welding helmets ?
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New User
Joined: Oct 2004
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Auto darkening welding helmets ?
I have used a large view helmet with the flip up lens for a long time. The auto darkening helmets are starting to temp me. Are they worth the money? Do they change shade fast enough? I have looked at dozens online and the price range is from $40 to $200+ . I am only a hobby welder so I dont need a high end version, but are the cheap ones fast enough in switching shades to prevent eye damage. They all claim to meet ANSI spec # such an such what ever that is. Do I need one that goeas to a #13 shade or is a #10 dark enough. I dont ever recall having my mig or arc welder over 200 amps. Thanks for any knowledge that can be pased my direction.
Jeff
Jeff
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,230
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From: East Flat Rock NC
The Lincoln auto helmet works real good, sure is easy on your neck in the
owners manual it does say that if you use it all day it can cause your eyes
to burn some, almost like being in the sun all day! But if you don't weld all
day with it or a lot in one day you will never feel any burn.
P.S I would guess that if you spend more you may get more, but thats not
always true! This one was 129 dollars 2 years ago ,it works great!!!!!!!
owners manual it does say that if you use it all day it can cause your eyes
to burn some, almost like being in the sun all day! But if you don't weld all
day with it or a lot in one day you will never feel any burn.
P.S I would guess that if you spend more you may get more, but thats not
always true! This one was 129 dollars 2 years ago ,it works great!!!!!!!
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Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: "Islander"
I have a Speedglas 9000X, goes from 9-13 and love it. It prevented alot of tungsten contamination with Tig as well as weld marks not on the joint when Mig welding. Far as light flash the time it takes to go dark is harmless that's what my optometrist tells me. He said you have more light damage being outside without sun glasses. One bad thing with auto dark hoods, if your outdoors the sun will make the hood go dark even when the sensitivity is turned to maximum. No more flipping but then there's old school welders that believe flippers are the only way. Go to your welding supplier and test both on their test bench then decide.
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i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,507
Likes: 5,563
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
i got a cheepie($39.99).don't use it that much, but when i do, it is fine. as far as changing, it will change fast enough that you will not see any flash. if you are in the sun, direct sunlight will change it. mine has an adjustable lens, from 8 to 13.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 480
Likes: 1
From: Elyria, Ohio
Have used a standard dark helmet with stick welder for years. My neighbor recently let me use his MIG welder and his new $40 autodarkening helmet. It was great. It is definitely a next buy item.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 116
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From: Bridgewater, NJ
I've been using a Jackson flip-style helmet for several years, and recently I got to use my boss's auto-darkening Miller helmet - it works very well, and saves the hassle of having to flip the shield up and down especially when working underneath something. It's definitely a worthwhile investment, but I'd suggest getting a bag to go along with it for storage, I've heard rumors that if you leave the sensor exposed to sunlight it can get ruined (don't know how much truth there is to it though)
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Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: "Islander"
sc4x4, Speedglas specs for 9000x show switching time to dark at .1ms. The 9000x has been around for 5 plus years, now replaced with 9002x.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 936
Likes: 25
From: La Ronge Saskatchewan
I bought one off ebay for $75 and really like it. It's nothing fancy but for a hobby welder it has suited me. Adjustable tint and out side it works fine. It can make you a better welder because you can see where you want to start.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,550
Likes: 5
From: Lancaster County PA
I teach an introductory arc welding class and we bought autodarkening helmets for the students a couple of years ago. Sellstrom helmets@ $129 each. The kids love them, and unlike many other tools we provide for them, they take great care of these helmets.
I make 'em start out trying to use the old style helmets where you can't see anything until you establish an arc, then let them try the autodark helmets.
Shortened their learning curve dramatically!
I make 'em start out trying to use the old style helmets where you can't see anything until you establish an arc, then let them try the autodark helmets.
Shortened their learning curve dramatically!
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Oct 2004
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Do you guys with the auto dark helmets find the small viewing area to be annoying? That was the reason I went to the large view area helmet to begin with. I found a Lincoln auto dark at the local Lowes on clearence for $90 but it has the small viewing area.
Thanks,
SC4x4
Thanks,
SC4x4
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,550
Likes: 5
From: Lancaster County PA
The small viewing area is fine. The advantage of the large plate in the non-auto helmets is that you can see better when you are fumbling around getting the arc started. Since you can look right at your work and know exactly where you will be striking the arc with the auto helmets, the smaller view area is perfecty acceptable.
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,658
Likes: 4
From: "Islander"
The Speedglas 9000X has a larger viewing area (don't have the numbers) over a standard lens. Yes your right small windows are a pain. With the 9000x welding is a pleasure but it has one fault, when welding outside the lens will go dark even with the sensitivity turned to maximum.
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