Welding Helmet

**JoshStratton** · 07-06-2005

What is the best welding helmet you can buy? I want one with a larger viewing screen and auto darkening. If money was no object up to $400 eBay bucks, what is the best you can get?

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**deadcarny** · 07-06-2005

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...sPageName=WDVW

how about this one?

**Ralph LoGrasso** · 07-06-2005

I've got a hornel spedglas and I'm pretty happy with it. It's supposidly a top of the line hood. I think I paid $279 for mine. cyberweld.com or something like that is where I got it from, they were by far cheaper than anyone else.

**Tig Man** · 07-07-2005

Haven't heard of anything faster than the speed of light yet?? Something to consider when buying the auto darkening helment!! Time will tell the story on them!! Maybe I'm just old school though.

Mark

**JoshStratton** · 07-07-2005

I think I want the auto darkening helmet cause I cannot see out of the others. I have basically gotten to the point where I put the Mig where I want it and turn my head away and shut my eyes before I pull the trigger. I really hate doing it, but I cannot see otherwise. Plus I want added protection from welding sunburns

**Jagarang** · 07-07-2005

I've always wondered about the point that Mark is making? What happens to your retinas between the time that the initial weld arc light gets through the window before it darkens? Do you start the weld with your eyes closed or your head turned? What effect does this brief lack of attention to the weld process have on quality, particularly if you’re working on a plainly visible weld that needs to be purdy!

**68protouring454** · 07-07-2005

jag, i have used both old school and auto darkening, for extened welding i would use a old school, however i have used my auto darkening doing plenty of body work with no problems, long term i a cannot say anything about, but you do not get flashed from it.
jake

**JoshStratton** · 07-07-2005

Originally Posted by 68protouring454

i have used my auto darkening doing plenty of body work with no problems

Do you close your eyes with the auto darkening helmet for a moment?

**CAMAROBOY69** · 07-07-2005

I just picked up an old school one yesterday for my girlfriend for $30.00. I must say shes doing a great job on her floors instead of me doing all the work.

Cant wait to have her do the quarte panels real soon.
I could never get myself to pay the money for an auto darkening helmet.

**parsonsj** · 07-07-2005

True there is nothing faster than the speed of light.

However, it is exactly that (the light from the arc) that triggers the auto-darkening lens. Good ones react quickly enough to prevent enough light energy (photons) from reaching the retina to cause any harm.

Here's a way to check: stare at a bright light. Then look away. See the afterimage? That's what happens when your retina is saturated with photons. Do you see afterimages when you use an auto-darkening helmet? If not, then you should be safe.

I use two helmets: an auto-darkening one for MIG welding, and a cheap ordinary one (I have #9, #10, and #11 glass) for TIG welding.

When I'm MIG welding, I position everything, tip my hat, verify my position by looking at the torch through the lens, then pull the trigger and weld.

Now ... remember: you only have two eyes. If you are unsure of all the free advice you are getting here, consult with a welding professional. Or go to the Lincoln and Miller websites and ask there (they have forums there with experts assigned to support them).

jp

**paul67** · 07-07-2005

I used to get headaches from using an auto darkening helmet went back to old school type with no effects, also a mig glare is stronger than an ark welding glare by about 2 points on an auto shield.
paul67

**JoshStratton** · 07-07-2005

If I went old school, any one have suggestions on one with a large viewing window?

**Matt@RFR** · 07-07-2005

Originally Posted by Kuhlryde

If I went old school, any one have suggestions on one with a large viewing window?

Huntsman. They let you look down further than the Jackson does, and are alittle lighter. Be prepared to buy headgear for any of the manual HOODS as the ratchet mechanism wears out quickly. Cheap though.

I've had my two Huntsmans for probably 10 years, one for MIG/stick and one for TIG. You'd get a kick out of what my MIG hood looks like, and I'd post a picture, but it's not exactly safe for work.

Make sure to buy a good selection of shaded lenses. I have two each of 8-14, but you'd be good with 9-12 more than likely. Also, do NOT listen to ANYONE about shade selection. Everyone is different! I run a 9 where other guys would use an 11....and you might need a 12 for the same situation. There's also lots of choices in colors (and plastic or glass). There's blue, green, gold and (the elusive) black. Try 'em all. If you want to try black, I'll have to give you the part numbers...it took me a month to track 'em down. Hopefully I still have the part numbers!

My only comment on the auto hoods is this: If you get into a situation (very likely on a car) that the sensor could get blocked, then you WILL get flashed. Get flashed a couple times and you'll want to pry your eyeballs out with a crowbar rather than sit there all night not being able to get away from the pain.

Here's an "I'm an idiot story": In a production setting, I came back from lunch and was bullshi11ing with a co-worker, struck an arc (dual shield @ about 300amps) and finally realised THAT I DIDN'T HAVE MY HOOD ON. Didn't sleep at all that night, and my eyes finally were able to open, after the swelling went down, mid-day the next day.

**Jagarang** · 07-07-2005

Ouch

**JoshStratton** · 07-07-2005

Ok. Here is another question...another kink in the decision process. What is the best way for incorporating a respirator into the mask or process. I heard there were a lot of gasses (which I can understand) being given off of molten metals. I decided to try and better protect myself since I am still young. Better now than later.

**Matt@RFR** · 07-07-2005

Originally Posted by Kuhlryde

What is the best way for incorporating a respirator into the mask or process.

http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRIT...07199&PMT4NO=0

Comfy and cheap. Worst case scenario is welding galvanised steel all day....you're dinner will taste funny, but no ill-effects.

Wearing one of these for welding well prepped steel is in no way necessary.

**sanddan** · 07-07-2005

parsonsj,
What's the difference between mig and tig that would require different hoods? Is it only the different number shade?

**Matt@RFR** · 07-07-2005

It has to do with the sensitivity of the sensor on the hood. When you strike a TIG arc, it starts at extremely low amperage and works up from there as you ramp the pedal up. Most cheap auto hoods won't pick up low amperage stuff like that....so it might not darken until the arc reaches a certain amp number.

**sinned** · 07-07-2005

Originally Posted by sanddan

What's the difference between mig and tig that would require different hoods? Is it only the different number shade?

TIG arc is much brighter and I have never seen an auto darkening helmet that actually worked well enough to TIG for any length of time with seeing spots for an hour afterwards.

Originally Posted by Matt@RFR

When you strike a TIG arc, it starts at extremely low amperage and works up from there as you ramp the pedal up.

See, now I was taught differently. I mash the pedal then back off to an amperage I am comfortable with....yes my instructor was a "real" welder by proffession.

**Matt@RFR** · 07-07-2005

I mash the pedal

Two words: Thermal shock.

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Welding Helmet

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jag