feedback on HF AD welding helmet

Soundguy · Sep 20, 2006

I had a chance to burn a few rods after work today. Mostly 3/32 6011. i had to fab up a few hobby projects using 1/8, 3/16 plate, and some 1/2" bar stock.

I switched between my 'fixed' #11 shade and the AD.

On the AD I started at 13, but backed it down to 12... I like 12.. bright enough to see the work.. but not quite as bright as the 11.. though I like the 11 on smaller rods and a few other circumstances.

On the ad performance. When the rod hits the work, there is some orange light about like you see from an orange LED.. or like sparks from a grinder... no white light.. About the time I percieved the orange spark, the lense went dark... Worked out nice, as I had to tack about 3 pieces together at a time, then run my beads. I like the ad.. it sets on shade 3/4 and is real easy to see the work... one thing i can't use it for, is for grinding or chop saw work. I was in the habbit of using my weld helmet with the #11 shade flipped up to do grinding and chop saw stuff, as in the past I've had some sparks hit real close to the edge of my eye from the side of ansi approved safety goggles.. the fixed weld helmet works great.

After about 20 minutes of welding I went into a closet as a reality check to see if I saw any ghost images or white / green spots.. nothing that I could percieve.. I welded off and on for another 2.5 hours. After i cleaned up the mess in the driveway ( wife had a cow.. I had the chop saw and grinder.. vice,, tools the welder.. my helmets.. a table.. and my metal out.. It was just way to hot to work in the shop / garage today. ).. I did another reality check in the dark closet. Still no spots.. no burning pain.. etc..

I call that a good experience.. as I've been flashed a few times using my fixed shade when she don't flip down right.

More later... I got alot of welding to do over the next few weeks,.

Soundguy

slowrev · Sep 20, 2006

As I said in the other thread SG, I love my HF autodark hood. I had tried from 9 - 12 sahdes on my fixed helmet and still could not see the pool properly with some welding rods and heats. I love the variable aspect and also seeing to position rod for striking.
Have had mine for a couple years or so and it is still working fine.
If it quits tomorrow I will go get another one.
Ben

RobJ · Sep 21, 2006

Same here, couple years on my $50 helmet. There is another super long thread somewhere on this to.

MossRoad · Sep 21, 2006

Have you tried the different delay and sensitivity settings yet?

Soundguy · Sep 21, 2006

Yes.. delay makes it stay dark longer after the arc stops. And I like about a # 12 on the adjustable shade.

Soundguy

MossRoad · Sep 22, 2006

Mine has three adjustments.
1. Shade level. It is a dial on the outside of the helmet and is adjustable from 9-13, I think.
2. Delay. How long it stays on after the spark goes away. It is a two position switch. Long and short. I have mine set on long, which is 1 second.
3. Sensitivity. From what I understand, it is the adjustment for how bright of a spark will trigger the auto darken. It is also a two position switch with a high and low setting, I believe. I have mine set for the most sensitive.

I mention this because you mentioned seeing something orange before it goes dark. Maybe I haven't looked hard enough, but all I see is the stick touch the work and everything goes dark instantly. Do you have that sensitivity switch on yours?

deerhunterf350 · Sep 22, 2006

I am thinking about an AD hood. But I have a question.

Is it like conventional hoods, where a Magnifying lense can be put in behind the Lens system, for My Grandfather who doesn't have the sight that I ( a 30 yearold ) has.

Thanks.

RobJ · Sep 22, 2006

deerhunterf350 said:
I am thinking about an AD hood. But I have a question.

Is it like conventional hoods, where a Magnifying lense can be put in behind the Lens system, for My Grandfather who doesn't have the sight that I ( a 30 yearold ) has.

Thanks.

Don't see why not. The opening looks about standard on the inside. BTW my HF hood came with an extra piece of glass and lense.

I would also think he could wear glasses under the hood.

Dargo · Sep 22, 2006

Soundguy said:
On the ad performance. When the rod hits the work, there is some orange light about like you see from an orange LED.. or like sparks from a grinder... no white light.. About the time I percieved the orange spark, the lense went dark... Worked out nice, as I had to tack about 3 pieces together at a time, then run my beads. I like the ad.. it sets on shade 3/4 and is real easy to see the work...

Perfect. When arc welding that is exactly how I'd describe the HF AD hood. The initial sparks from striking an arc work absolutely perfectly for the AD part to function. Even when TIG welding I can use the HF hood because the torch will initiate the darkening fine. My only complaint, as I mentioned earlier to you, is that (even with 3 different HF hoods - I did take the first 2 back) when MIG welding I get nailed with that hood. Maybe it's because I'm using .035 wire and running fairly hot with 3/8" material. I don't know. All I know is that I positively cannot use the HF AD hood for that. It cost considerably more, but my Miller Elite Big Window AD hood never flashes me, so that is what I use. As I suggested earlier, if you only arc weld or TIG weld, I correctly guessed you'd be okay with the cheap AD hood.

Maine_Polack · Sep 22, 2006

deerhunterf350 said:
I am thinking about an AD hood. But I have a question.

Is it like conventional hoods, where a Magnifying lense can be put in behind the Lens system, for My Grandfather who doesn't have the sight that I ( a 30 yearold ) has.

I use a "cheater"/ magnifying lense in mine. It fits fine.

Soundguy · Sep 22, 2006

Hmm.. something you said made me notice a marking on the box and the hood. on the box.. it claims 'great for mig and arc welding;'... however.. on the hood.. there is a little sticker inside that only claims 'grat for arc welding;'..

Hmm... sounds like the hood may not be fast enough for the mig???

Soundguy

Dargo said:
Perfect. When arc welding that is exactly how I'd describe the HF AD hood. The initial sparks from striking an arc work absolutely perfectly for the AD part to function. Even when TIG welding I can use the HF hood because the torch will initiate the darkening fine. My only complaint, as I mentioned earlier to you, is that (even with 3 different HF hoods - I did take the first 2 back) when MIG welding I get nailed with that hood. Maybe it's because I'm using .035 wire and running fairly hot with 3/8" material. I don't know. All I know is that I positively cannot use the HF AD hood for that. It cost considerably more, but my Miller Elite Big Window AD hood never flashes me, so that is what I use. As I suggested earlier, if you only arc weld or TIG weld, I correctly guessed you'd be okay with the cheap AD hood.

Soundguy · Sep 22, 2006

Also.. only those 2 controls on mine.. just delay and shade...

Soundguy

Dargo · Sep 22, 2006

Okay, laugh now, I'm in severe pain to say this, but here it goes anyway; I'd have to agree that the HF AD hood would indeed be a great bargain for arc welding.

sigh

gasp

There, I said it. Quick, get me a drink!

kossetx · Sep 22, 2006

Dargo, There is hope for you yet!!!

PineRidge · Sep 23, 2006

I also use the Harbor Freight helmet and it has worked well since I got it a few years back.It's nice not have to mess flipping a helmet down every time you need to strike an arc and for the 50 bucks it's a real bargain.

OKnewguy · Sep 23, 2006

One thing about the mig versus arc. In the manual for my HF mig welder, it refers to mig welding as arc welding. I think something gets lost in the translation. I use HF ad for mig and arc and it works great.
Dave

wushaw · Sep 23, 2006

Guys.... Mig welding is arc welding

Mig, Stick, Tig..... all Arc welding.

Dargo · Sep 23, 2006

wushaw said:
Guys.... Mig welding is arc welding

Mig, Stick, Tig..... all Arc welding.

Okay, sure, but on this site how many guys are going to know exactly what I'm talking about if I speak of shielded metal arc welding, flux core arc welding, electroslag welding, gas metal arc welding, submerged arc welding, plasma arc welding or gas tungsten arc welding? I think since we are on a tractor site and not a welding site, most people more readily understand the three most common homeowner welding methods as stick or arc welding, MIG welding, and TIG welding; SMAW, GMAW, and GTAW if it suits you better.

wushaw · Sep 23, 2006

Dargo said:
Okay, sure, but on this site how many guys are going to know exactly what I'm talking about if I speak of shielded metal arc welding, flux core arc welding, electroslag welding, gas metal arc welding, submerged arc welding, plasma arc welding or gas tungsten arc welding? I think since we are on a tractor site and not a welding site, most people more readily understand the three most common homeowner welding methods as stick or arc welding, MIG welding, and TIG welding; SMAW, GMAW, and GTAW if it suits you better.

Dargo with your welding experience you don't have to use the technical wording to get the message across, I learned this with airplanes.

Keeping it simple really works when explaining what procedures work or not.
Tractors and welders always seem to get together sooner or later especially since most that buy a tractor want to do their own work sooner or later move on to wanting a welder to build stuff with to go with their tractor stuff.

I am a novice/homeowner (welder) myself, I enjoy building stuff for my tractor.
It's always good to hear what an experienced welder has to say about a product, procedure or just a good fix to the problem (whatever it may be).

Soundguy · Sep 24, 2006

wushaw said:
Guys.... Mig welding is arc welding

Mig, Stick, Tig..... all Arc welding.

The distinction was made, because in the documentation we refer to, the distinction is made.. thus the terminology, and fitness for a specific use.. etc.

Some items say mig and arc.. some only say arc. i take that to mean they are using the word arc in place of stick.

Soundguy