Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet

[LAXPatrick]

I'm lucky - my wife splurged and got me the high end Miller with the stars & stripes. SWEET!

Now if I can just remember to turn the stupid thing on in between welding sessions... OW! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[BB_TX]

After reading all the posts praising auto-darkening helmets, I have been considering buying one. I don't weld a lot so I haven't been in a hurry.
But 2 weeks ago something struck me as very odd. I spent several days in a power plant where a lot of modifications were going on including a LOT of welding. Saw tool boxes from at least 3 different welding companies and guys welding everywhere you looked. But what I also noticed was that not one of these "professional" welders had an auto-darkening helmet. These were guys welding 6" to 10" gas piping standing on ladders at odd angles making beautiful welds around the pipe. Why would they still be using the old helmets? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[kossetx]

These helmets are better for amatures I would think. The guys who do it everyday know exactly where to set their amps, strike a perfect arc and almost do it by instinct. Those of us who weld 2X a year need to see what we are doing more because it is not so "natural".

It may also be a "i'm salty" type attitude umong the pro's.

 

[Cord]

Also, it's hard to use a autodarkening helmet around other people who are welding.

 

[BB_TX]

<font color="blue"> Also, it's hard to use a autodarkening helmet around other people who are welding. </font>
Ahh! Good point. I guess the lens may be turning on and off from other welders. I rarely make back to the weld shop at the company I work for, but I don't remember seeing any auto-darkening there either. May have to go back and ask one of them if that is the primary reason.

 

[Farwell]

I had my auto darkening helmet for almost a year before using it. Last weekend I used it for the first time. I bought the $149 helmet from TSC. I like it but I tried using it out in the Sun and it was a trick to keep it from going dark. I may not have it set right and by the time I finished my project I learned how to function with it. I have not used my stick welder in at least 10 years, it is amazing how much I have forgotten. My welds will hold because I know that the penetration was good but cosmetically the welds looked like a pre-schoolers first experience with crayons. I was using 1/8 inch 6013 rod on 1/4 inch steel. 6013 which in my opinion is one of the more forgiving rods out there was around 20 years old and had not been stored well so I am hoping that it was the rod and not me. Going to buy some new rod and see if it was me or the rod.
Farwell

 

[TheKid]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The only issue I have had with some of the less expensive ones is the turn on time can be a little long )</font>

Harbor freight sells a couple of models. One darkens in 1/20,000 of a second the other in 1/25,000 of a sec. The top of the line Miller helmet is 1/20,000 same as the slower HF one.

Something to think about:
Light travels one meter in about 1/299,000,000 of a second. I don't know any auto darkening helmet that switches that fast.

 

[RonR]

I bought a $50 HF auto darkening. It might be my imagination, but it feels like my eyelids got more "sun" when welding with the autodark helmit. Like I said, might be perception and/or I got more sun working outside that day other than welding.

I suspect most production shops are using mig. Put the wire where you want to start, cover, and pull the trigger. I see less need for auto-dark when using mig. Stick--it is NICE.

I found that I can't wear sunglasses under my AD hood. Have to put on clear glasses---can't see anything with the shades on!

I can't believe AD helmits could be sold if they are less safe than standard ones, but I might be wrong. All I know, no one at my house uses the old ones now that I own one autodark!

Wonder how long the battery will last???????????

Ron

 

[3RRL]

I've TIG welded for over 30 years and always used a standard helmet (with magnifier now). But when I started acrwelding again not too long ago on my tractor projects, I bought one of those Harbor Freight auto darkening ones. Like said above, it was much easier to strike an arc than with my standard helmet. I really sucked at trying to start the arc in the right place and struggled with the standard helmet. Now I use the auto darkening one all the time for arcwelding and wear my reading glasses under them. I still use my standard helmets when TIG welding because of familiarity.

 

[BB_TX]

<font color="blue"> I can't believe AD helmits could be sold if they are less safe than standard ones </font>
I did a google search for <font color="orange"> auto darken weld helmet danger </font> and could find no reports or studies that indicated there was any danger. Of course most of the sites were vendors touting their helmets. One site did say however that OSHA required a certain minimum level of IR/UV protection in the lens even when it was off, just in case it failed to darken on the first flash.
One other thing I noticed with most of those "pros" at the power plant, they would hold the end of the rod with their other hand (with glove) just off where they were going to weld, then a quick flip of the head to lower the helmet, and then they strike the arc. And they always strike an arc the FIRST TIME. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Not touch, stick, pull, touch, stick, pull as I have been known to do. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[EddieWalker]

My welder came with a fairly cheap helmet that worked fine. It wasn't very comfortable and the glass was too small, but since I already had it, I just kept using it.

The other day the head strap broke off at the point it attaches to the hood. No way to fix it, so on a trip to Lowes I looked at what they had. Lincoln was the only brand available and I think they are decent quality. The auto darkening helmet was $100 and the standard one with a large face was $32.

I don't do allot of welding and have this fear that the auto darkening one will stop working on me one day, not to mention it will sitt for months at a time with out being used.

I bought the $32 one.

Eddie

 

[Cord]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( <font color="blue"> One other thing I noticed with most of those "pros" at the power plant, they would hold the end of the rod with their other hand (with glove) just off where they were going to weld, then a quick flip of the head to lower the helmet, and then they strike the arc. And they always strike an arc the FIRST TIME.)</font>

I wasn't going to mention it, but I was thinking the same thing when I posted above. I'll bring the rod with in an inch of where I want it. Mark in my mind which direction I need to move the tip and then rapidly dip my head which brings the helmet down. Usually I can get an arc on the first tap and then make a quick adjustment to the exact location of the bead. What sucks is when you accidentally bump the rod and get a flash. **** that hurts. For the average home user, the autodarkening helmet is a god send.

 

[JohnF_ASI]

I bought one but found it won't turn off (become lighter) because of the small spotlamp I use on my welding table.
I've always found that I weld better and can see better when the work is well lit.
I thought it was because it was a halogen lamp but I changed it for a normal bulb and still the same.
Strangely, I can walk towards a window with it where the sun brightly lights the bench and can look at a very bright reflection on a piece of aluminium - much brighter than my bench lamp - on the bench without the helmet darkening.
I'm wondering if the better quality helmets (this one is a $79 Aust. model) are not so sensitive to what I see as normal lighting conditions..
I also don't like the fact that it's a bright blue light when welding when I'm used to green..

 

[wushaw]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I bought one but found it won't turn off (become lighter) because of the small spotlamp I use on my welding table.
I've always found that I weld better and can see better when the work is well lit.
I thought it was because it was a halogen lamp but I changed it for a normal bulb and still the same.
Strangely, I can walk towards a window with it where the sun brightly lights the bench and can look at a very bright reflection on a piece of aluminium - much brighter than my bench lamp - on the bench without the helmet darkening.
I'm wondering if the better quality helmets (this one is a $79 Aust. model) are not so sensitive to what I see as normal lighting conditions..
I also don't like the fact that it's a bright blue light when welding when I'm used to green.. )</font>

I noticed this also and what I found is if the sensor or sensors don't SEE the light then it won't darken, the $$$ helments have more sensors so it will darken in any position.

I will use a halogen light directed on my welding area to see my work when working at night in my shop (overhead floresent not bright enough) I have to position it correctly usually beside me so the helment won't darken before I begin.

Change the position of your light to see if it helps.

 

[Berniep]

I have a miller autodark. Not sure if it's the BWE or not but the lense is bigger than the ones at Tractor Supply. As for the work light making it go dark, mine has a sensitivity knob that I can adjust when I am working outside or under a bright light.
I love this thing.
I have been told that Hornel/speedglas is a very good brand.
they were certainly more expensive than my Miller when I was shopping for them