Auto Darkening Welding Helmets

[chunderlicious]

i use a very crap trade tools one. dont bother, i got it for free so i cant complain but they suck balls, at the end of the day i always see a white light in the middle of my vision. i also have very light unsensitive (cant think of a better word) as i work as a roofer and shiny tin is farken bright.

[cleanskin]

Have to agree with most of the lads on this one, dont buy a cheap one spend $200 plus, the batteries dont last and neither do the lenses on the cheapies. My opinion just use a normal mask. you get use to it no dramas

[bogged]

so whats the current thoughts on this...
Can you get a good helmet for $200?
Sure as fawk aint spending $500 for something I will use 2 times a year.

[-Nemesis-]

I will use 2 times a year.

Waste of money I reckon. It's not hard to flick your head and lower a normal mask. I just built a whole exhaust with bench and under car welding with a normal helmet, I lived hehe...

[hillbilliywheelchair]

i love mine it evan has an ajustable darkness and my welding is alot better with it

[Slunnie]

We keep throwing the $100 Techen ones at the kids. Auto dims are most definately the way to go IMHO, though if they are neglected these ones can slow to dim. Unreal value though.

[Gwagensteve]

I will use 2 times a year.

Waste of money

X2. I've got a speedglas and love it, but for a home welder I weld a lot. For very occaisional use I can't see the point.

Steve.

[bogged]

I will use 2 times a year.

Waste of money

X2. I've got a speedglas and love it, but for a home welder I weld a lot. For very occaisional use I can't see the point.

Steve.

yea, I looked at speedglas from the bloke I bought but at $500 tis more than double what I paid for welder.
$200, it will do everything I need for once/2 times a yr.

near new cig 170 amp arc welder
its fan cooled and will weld up to 4ml rods

[Weiner]

I got one of these, got it a lot cheaper than the rrp there

I agree, its made me a better welder

http://www.migomag.com.au/products_detail.asp?id=224

[RoldIT]

I will use 2 times a year.

Waste of money

X2. I've got a speedglas and love it, but for a home welder I weld a lot. For very occaisional use I can't see the point.

Steve.

What's your eyesight worth to you?

I have the entry level speedglas and be luck if it gets used 5 times a year but I feel it's worth it and it will last forever.

[RV80]

I can do a cigweld Arc Master auto helmet for $255 inc. I have Miller Elites for $450inc. And cigweld weldskill helmets for $125 inc. Plus freight if outside of Brisbane. Let me know if i'm to dear? And give me a link.

Grant

[MICK77]

I will use 2 times a year.

Waste of money

X2. I've got a speedglas and love it, but for a home welder I weld a lot. For very occaisional use I can't see the point.

Steve.

What's your eyesight worth to you?

I have the entry level speedglas and be luck if it gets used 5 times a year but I feel it's worth it and it will last forever.

I couldn't agree more. I have the Speedglas 9002X which is an exceptional helmet. Adjustable sensitivity, adjustable darkness etc. it has an extra large viewing window which makes welding in confined spaces a lot easier. It cost me about $500-600 when I purchased it. I do a fair bit of welding for "home use". But as was stated earlier it's a lot cheaper than a replacement pair of eyes!

[bogged]

Theres a place up road from here in Ringwood doing Cigweld auto tint helmets $99...

Tint range 9-13 I think it was.

Is this a good range??

or the old flip down mask with std tint of 11, but can put 13's in there for $25.00..
thorts?

[Mudzuki]

Theres a place up road from here in Ringwood doing Cigweld auto tint helmets $99...

Tint range 9-13 I think it was.

Is this a good range??

or the old flip down mask with std tint of 11, but can put 13's in there for $25.00..
thorts?

The Cigweld ones are good value for money, there is a fixed shade 11 thats cheaper than the variable. Shade 11 is the standard one that you get with a flip helmet, 9 - 13 just lets you see more or less depending on conditions.

[Gwagensteve]

There's plenty of evidence to suggest a speedglas increases exposure to UV compared to a normal helmet due to the response time.

I welded with a normal helmet for years. I chose the speedglas for convenience. If you weld a couple of times a year there's no reason to step up to the expense of a speedglas.

Steve.

[RV80]

Theres a place up road from here in Ringwood doing Cigweld auto tint helmets $99...

Tint range 9-13 I think it was.

Is this a good range??

or the old flip down mask with std tint of 11, but can put 13's in there for $25.00..
thorts?

The cigweld for $99 sounds good.

The old sckool helmet should be around $15 aleast thats what i sell them for.

Grant

[RoldIT]

There's plenty of evidence to suggest a speedglas increases exposure to UV compared to a normal helmet due to the response time.

I welded with a normal helmet for years. I chose the speedglas for convenience. If you weld a couple of times a year there's no reason to step up to the expense of a speedglas.

Steve.

Not disputing this at all, it's the cheap-o-ching auto helmets that worry me.

[bogged]

Not disputing this at all, it's the cheap-o-ching auto helmets that worry me.

thats wh Im not buyin of fleabay.. But would hope the CIG gig is ok..

[Gwagensteve]

Good point Rold - I've used a cheap auto helmet and it wasn't anywhere near as good as the speedglas.

My vote would be a quality auto helmet or a conventional helmet, not a quality auto helmet vs a cheap auto helmet.

PS Bogged - check the specs on darkening time etc. I don't believe there is an AS on these helmets yet, so anyone can sell anything and so long as the tell you its performance, they're not doing anything wrong.

They should data available. Cigweld were selling their own when I bought my speedglas, but on the specs, I chose the speedglas. You'd hope cigweld were selling a quality product though - they have a reputation to uphold.

Steve.

[Harb]

I've had cheapies....first time you strike arc and it stays clear you will throw it across the shed and look for the tea bags.....
I ended up geting a Miller and have never had an issue since.
I do however always take a quick look at the sun if its up to make sure its still working if I haven't used it for a week or 2.
The main thing I like about the auto helmet id the fact I can dial the shades down if I am only welding light stuff with the tig and the amperage is only low.

[bogged]

They should data available. Cigweld were selling their own when I bought my speedglas, but on the specs, I chose the speedglas. You'd hope cigweld were selling a quality product though - they have a reputation to uphold.
Steve.

Cheers Steve. thats what Im counting on

[me3@neuralfibre.com]

I use a BOC cheapie solar one. From what I understood the battery one's have variable darkening, whereas the solar ones are fixed.

The solar ones can be "shaded" where your eyes see the light, but the sensor / panel doesn't.

Regarless of if they are darkened - they *should* block 100% of the UV light. You get a bright flash - like a camera photographer, but that's all it is. There is never any damaging UV even when they are not darkened. That's why I use one, tacking with eyes closed lets UV through, this way, even when both hands are busy and I can't flip down, I get 100% UV block.

I have never heard of visible light flash being dangerous, short or long term.

I suspect this is mro urbn myth than proven fact - There would be a standard - anyone read it?
Paul

[KYSI]

Being a Boilermaker by trade we all tried these helmets but the facts are our helmets get thrown, kicked and dropped all day. $400.00 dollars is a lot of money gone with one bad drop. $20.00 gets you a good conventional one that has lasted me 19years.

Im with you im a boilermaker and went out and got a speedglas 9002x, cost me around $650 i cant remember the last time i used it, i love my $20 dollar flip down one!!

[Gwagensteve]

Which is a point, but it would have to be a BAD drop. I've dropped mine heaps and heaps.

Steve.

[bogged]

Being a Boilermaker by trade we all tried these helmets but the facts are our helmets get thrown, kicked and dropped all day. $400.00 dollars is a lot of money gone with one bad drop. $20.00 gets you a good conventional one that has lasted me 19years.

Im with you im a boilermaker and went out and got a speedglas 9002x, cost me around $650 i cant remember the last time i used it, i love my $20 dollar flip down one!!

I'll buy you 2-3 flip down ones and swap you for your speedglas

[bru21]

I'd go the flip down over speedglass any day.

Miller prices have dropped.

$380 for analogue (like mine)
$420 for digital

[fat496]

to each their own i guess, but i have had my speedglas 9000x through a 4 year apprenticeship as a boily and 4 more years in the trade and never had an issue. it's been dropped, kicked, wet, oily everything. after using it every day i'd put on a mates miller and hate it, and he'd do the same with mine. but never had a problem with flash. at real high amps up close sometimes i had clear disposable screens warp and buckle under the heat but even this never caused any problems internally.

[awill4x4]

This one for work.



And this one for home.



Both use the same digital cassette.

[Harb]

i have the exact same as the top one for home, works a treat

[fester2au]

I
I have never heard of visible light flash being dangerous, short or long term.

I suspect this is mro urbn myth than proven fact - There would be a standard - anyone read it?
Paul

Interesting you are the first person to say this Paul as when I went through TAFE the question popped up and none of the teachers could say they ever had seen factual evidence that welding flash caused any permanent damage. Would be good to know the facts one way or the other.