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Looking at one of these because i want to learn welding and fab some stuff up
Unfortunately i have no idea what to look for
Are solar or battery powered better Just wondering what happens if you are welding and the battery dies
Been looking on ebay and there are heaps from $50-$350
Please help
Like this one but don't know if it is too gadgety and un-user friendly: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/3M-SPEEDGLAS-900 ... dZViewItem
I use a Miller Big window elite. It has 4 sensors and im yet to get it in a possition where at least one sensor doesnt pick up. Never had a flash from it. Cost around $400-450 i think. Cheap compared to replacement eyes.
There was an article in our OH&S magazine about the use of these helmets... They were highly recommended for hobbyists but no at all recommended for tradies. The claim was made that there is a slight delay between sensing the arc and the darkening of the glass. In an independent test, over time a cumulative flash effect was witnessed. Used on a daily basis, they claimed damage to your eyes was inevitable. I brought this up with the Fabricator/boilermaker at work and he claimed it to be common knowlege in the field and the company he works for outlawed them.
Just thought it was worth mentioning.
For the record, I have a Speedglass and for my purposes I reckon it's great.
I wish my lawn was EMO, then it would cut itself...
Bluefreak wrote:There was an article in our OH&S magazine about the use of these helmets... They were highly recommended for hobbyists but no at all recommended for tradies. The claim was made that there is a slight delay between sensing the arc and the darkening of the glass. In an independent test, over time a cumulative flash effect was witnessed. Used on a daily basis, they claimed damage to your eyes was inevitable. I brought this up with the Fabricator/boilermaker at work and he claimed it to be common knowlege in the field and the company he works for outlawed them.
Just thought it was worth mentioning.
For the record, I have a Speedglass and for my purposes I reckon it's great.
I remember hearing about that somewhere.
At bunnings we sell one for 145 dollars I am a bit skeptical about it as the company who makes it, well lets just say quality control isn't the biggest concern of theirs. I would rather just use a normal mask, get the head nod action down and you're fine
i had that solar one and it was great, then it got knicked, now i have a cheapie that is crap ( battery )
all the boilermakers and welders here use them everyday, If you're worried about weld flash, then just close your eyes on initial arc. Still better than flipping dark lense down.
if you're just making a few things and not that often, get that solar one.
Speed glassm have an awsome reputation. I would not worry about the battery going flat as it will most likly shudder when not welding but work fine when welding.
LudaCris
Cris's 4 X 4 Accessories & Suspension 0404 736 325 Rock Sliders From $499
Bluefreak wrote:There was an article in our OH&S magazine about the use of these helmets... They were highly recommended for hobbyists but no at all recommended for tradies. The claim was made that there is a slight delay between sensing the arc and the darkening of the glass. In an independent test, over time a cumulative flash effect was witnessed. Used on a daily basis, they claimed damage to your eyes was inevitable. I brought this up with the Fabricator/boilermaker at work and he claimed it to be common knowlege in the field and the company he works for outlawed them.
Just thought it was worth mentioning.
For the record, I have a Speedglass and for my purposes I reckon it's great.
It makes sense to me. The sensor needs to detect the flash before it can respond, and LCD has a response time, which means there will be a measurable exposure time. How long that time is, and the significance of the cumulative effect, I don't really know. 50ms rings a bell for LCD, but that could be out of date.
I'd go with the "close eyes" option - if I could weld.
Slight hijack - do these "solar" masks rely on the welding light to generate the voltage they use?
YankeeDave wrote:i had that solar one and it was great, then it got knicked, now i have a cheapie that is crap ( battery )
all the boilermakers and welders here use them everyday, If you're worried about weld flash, then just close your eyes on initial arc. Still better than flipping dark lense down.
if you're just making a few things and not that often, get that solar one.
Yeah decided that the solar one is best bang for buck as the Solar has
Switching time 1/25,000 sec. from light to dark
and the battery one has
Switching time 1/10,000 sec. from light to dark
Thanks for the help
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.
Bluefreak wrote:There was an article in our OH&S magazine about the use of these helmets... They were highly recommended for hobbyists but no at all recommended for tradies. The claim was made that there is a slight delay between sensing the arc and the darkening of the glass. In an independent test, over time a cumulative flash effect was witnessed. Used on a daily basis, they claimed damage to your eyes was inevitable. I brought this up with the Fabricator/boilermaker at work and he claimed it to be common knowlege in the field and the company he works for outlawed them.
Just thought it was worth mentioning.
For the record, I have a Speedglass and for my purposes I reckon it's great.
It makes sense to me. The sensor needs to detect the flash before it can respond, and LCD has a response time, which means there will be a measurable exposure time. How long that time is, and the significance of the cumulative effect, I don't really know. 50ms rings a bell for LCD, but that could be out of date.
I'd go with the "close eyes" option - if I could weld.
Slight hijack - do these "solar" masks rely on the welding light to generate the voltage they use?
Scott
They sure do! So if you have one and you haven't used it in a while, it is important to lay it out in thesun for 10 or so minutes. Well according to the guy who taught me how to weld.
I used to do aluminium fab for a while and bought one as i was continuously stopping and starting all day long,enjoyed it for about six months and after six months of trouble and sore eyes,not welding flash i went back to my good old shield,i think people generally buy them cause they think it looks cool sought of like brand label clothing.cheers the Bastard.
I've had two off them and bth have fucked up.
Speed glas one top of the range all the toys cost me an arm and a leg lasted a year and a half fucked up and caused me two very uncomfortable day.
The second one lasted a year and then stopped working.
for someone starting out they are handy.
I work as a welder for a living I use a CIG $20 helmet works just fine no drama's in 4 years. Work have offered to buy me a auto one, i'm still usung my CIG helmet
Anything is possible, it just comes down to time and money.
Ferals build www.outerlimits4x4.com/ftopic164570.php
AFeral wrote:for someone starting out they are handy.
I work as a welder for a living I use a CIG $20 helmet works just fine no drama's in 4 years. Work have offered to buy me a auto one, i'm still usung my CIG helmet
Seems to be the common suggestion; learn with one and once you have your welding skills up to scratch, learn to use a manual flip down mask.
I find the auto's great when I'm 20ft up a ladder holding the workpiece in one hand, the stick in the other and no spare hand to lift the the lid all the time. Maintenance guys will know what I mean.
The auto's were developed primarily for mass production welding stop/start/stop/start etc. but now it seems they do more harm than good with the darkening delay.
I think they are more prone to give full on welding flashes too when they fukc up or there is a particular light source interfering, other than the arc, even reflections from fluro's on s/s will cause the auto's to go light and freakin blind you, especially the solar ones. Sometimes a structure or a silly workmate will block the light path to the solar panels and that'll do it too:shock:
I had a battery powered Speedglass once but it never reacted like that, wish I could afford one again but, damn that blind forklift driver!
Luxyboy if you only going to weld occaisionally go the auto, so easier, just be aware of the hazards that arise with them. IMO the auto's rule u can get a good solar one for around 200
Bordertrek 4X4 & Fabrication
0400 250 734 Bordertown SA
I love terra firma-the less firma the more terra
sudso wrote:Luxyboy if you only going to weld occaisionally go the auto, so easier, just be aware of the hazards that arise with them. IMO the auto's rule u can get a good solar one for around 200
Just a hint to save the costs on replacing lenses. Polish them with car polish like turtle or similar before you even use them and continue to keep them polished once or twice a day if you are a full time welder.
We both use speedglass at work and one helmet is 4 - 5 years old while the other is 2-3 years old and are still going strong.
As from last night I now close my eyes on the initial start of welding.
LudaCris
Cris's 4 X 4 Accessories & Suspension 0404 736 325 Rock Sliders From $499
RUFF wrote:I use a Miller Big window elite. It has 4 sensors and im yet to get it in a possition where at least one sensor doesnt pick up. Never had a flash from it. Cost around $400-450 i think. Cheap compared to replacement eyes.
These are an Awsome helmet. Even Orange County Choppers use them
agree with ruff on this, got one myself a while ago, very handy for tig welding, can adjust the dark to light delay so that if the tig is pulsing it won't flash on and off, very comfortable, haven't had any eye problems yet.
I was happy with the flip helmet when i stick welded as i usually had a free hand to flip it and was doing bigger and not as neat welds than i required with the tig. Smaller neat welds, its an absolute godsend, when i parted with the cash i was a bit hesitant but after the first day of use it was well worth the money, also comes with a few replacement lenses for the inside and outside - just clear polycarbonate so as not to damage the expensive bit.
There are no stupid questions, but there are a LOT of inquisitive idiots
speed glass are shit. It is my second auto helmet and i regret its purchase. I get flashed when welding in holes plenty big enough to let light out of like inside 150x100 box etc the boc no name picked it up easy.
the replaceable lenses are replaceable alright as i go through them like mig wire, you cannot beat glass in that application. the lens holder always drops off.
AND THE SINGLE MOST ANNOYING THING IN MY FABRICATION HISTORY IS THE HEAD PIECE I HAVE NEARLY THROWN THIS HELMET SO SO SO SO MANY TIMES. YOU LIFT IT UP AND IT FALLS, OR WONT FALL OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH. EVERYONE THAT HAS USED HAS COMMENTED HOW POOR THE HEAD PIECE IS
DEF GO THE MILLER
ADHD Racing would like to thank Mrs Bru @ Sunshine Coast Developmental Physiotherapy - www.scdphysio.com.au , Ryano @ Fourbys www.generaltire.com.au Blitzkrieg Motorsport
buy ya standard helmet $20 and take out the dark glass and pic up the universal auto darkening one for around $75, but make sure you place a clear plastic behind as well as in front, iv done some pritty heavy welding with it and not a drama
Bluefreak wrote:There was an article in our OH&S magazine about the use of these helmets... They were highly recommended for hobbyists but no at all recommended for tradies. The claim was made that there is a slight delay between sensing the arc and the darkening of the glass. In an independent test, over time a cumulative flash effect was witnessed. Used on a daily basis, they claimed damage to your eyes was inevitable. I brought this up with the Fabricator/boilermaker at work and he claimed it to be common knowlege in the field and the company he works for outlawed them.
Just thought it was worth mentioning.
For the record, I have a Speedglass and for my purposes I reckon it's great.
When i did my apprenticeship we had another appie who had just done his time and in 4 years he had lost some large %(can't remember exact) of vision from these helmits.
I personally can't uses them because my eyes are too light sensertive. The slight flash you DO get is enough to hurt my eyes.
WE HAD TESTED SEVERAL BRANDS.
Carl
Live fast, die young and have a bloody good looking corpse.
If you want to know how harmfull these auto darking helmets can be to you go and talk to you doctor or skin cancer specialist, my doctor warned me first before he sent me to the eye specialest (I now where glasses) and my skin cancer specialest told me that the latest reserch had shown over time that you will do serious damage using these helmets, If your weekend welder you might be ok but I would not use auto darking again, wereing glasses suxs big time.
chook05 wrote:If you want to know how harmfull these auto darking helmets can be to you go and talk to you doctor or skin cancer specialist, my doctor warned me first before he sent me to the eye specialest (I now where glasses) and my skin cancer specialest told me that the latest reserch had shown over time that you will do serious damage using these helmets, If your weekend welder you might be ok but I would not use auto darking again, wereing glasses suxs big time.
I wouldn't always trust a doctor for advice about things like welding. A GP needs to know a little bit about a lot of subjects, and often don't know as much as they think they do!
My GP swore black and blue that welding in contact lenses is dangerous. The OHS officer at my (then) workplace (700 plus employees), and my optometrist both confirmed that the so called horror stories abut melted contact lenses were just urban myths with no scientific or medical evidence. Plenty of evidence on the net to confirm this also.
However, it is a specialist's job to know these things, and if several specialists confirm this information then it is probably true.
i have not welded without my contacts in since i started wearing them 3 years ago. thats prob 10 x 15kg rolls. i swear by leaving them in. its a little brighter as with all light. As when the light passes through the lens at each interface it dissapates 5% across the lens rather than moving through it (like it normally would) this means that it appears 10% brighter as the lens radiates the light in all directions. Essentially however its 10% less bright at all of the brightest parts as 10% of the total does not make it through the lens at all (brightest parts are now 90% brightness)
I have asked my optomitrist and he said he has never heard of a problem with either contacts or lcd helmets. also the lenses have uv absorbers in them should ark light get reflected off something behind the wearer and make it through the back of the helmet.
lastly I bought a miller elite helmet a few weeks back and it cost $406 delivered. I have used it a bit and my eyes feel so much better than the speeglass i have now retired. the viewing area is so much bigger too which really helps when welding in akward spots as you can better see where you are.
i got flashed big time and was pissed off - ordered the miller that day. my eyes were red etc. i was at the back of the factory and it was dark so i couldn't see if the helmet was on ( i pressed the switch though). i realised the batteries were flat after half an inch of welding! live and learn
cheers bru
ADHD Racing would like to thank Mrs Bru @ Sunshine Coast Developmental Physiotherapy - www.scdphysio.com.au , Ryano @ Fourbys www.generaltire.com.au Blitzkrieg Motorsport
Just wondering what happens if you are welding and the battery dies 
