WELDERS HELMET

escavader · Jan 20, 2006

WELDERS HELMET

TO ALL you guys who,fabricate,weld ...check out this helmet wify bought me for xmas.AUTO DARKENING it is awesome!!!!!Great visibility,great adjustment strap devices,lightweight,comfortable awsome.HARBOR FREIGHT 49 BUCKS!!!! I used it all day,my eyes aint even stuck togeather /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Gonna get another to keep in my box at work
ESCAVADER

Bully · Jan 20, 2006

Re: WELDERS HELMET

I got one of them about four months ago, still working fine.... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

PineRidge · Jan 20, 2006

Re: WELDERS HELMET

I'm using a Harbor Freight helmet also. Mine doesn't have the jazzy paint job like yours though. Yours is cool /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

shvl73 · Jan 21, 2006

Re: WELDERS HELMET

Mine's the same unit minus the flames, as well. Works well. I do more rod sticking than actual welding however /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif.

sandman2234 · Jan 21, 2006

Re: WELDERS HELMET

You might appreciate yours a little more, if you knew that when they first came out, they were very expensive. When I got mine, in 1989, they were selling for over $350. Fortunately I have a sister who sold safety products, and she sent me one of their salesman's samples. I bragged on it so much, she sent me a couple more.
The drawback of those, was when you dropped and broke it, it really hurt!!! They also hadn't progressed to the fancy shapes and pigment layers.
Nice headwear/eyewear!!
David from jax

kossetx · Jan 21, 2006

Re: WELDERS HELMET

You know, it's funny you posted this. I was thinking of doing the same post. I bought mine a year ago at christmas from hf for 29.99. They had some steep discounts right then. Used it the other day for the first time, AND I LOVED IT. It is so cool to be able to see what your doing right up to the time you strike an arc. At first I couldn't see the weld very well and then noticed it was set on 13. I backed it off to 11 and could see just fine. This is a cool toy. The idea that you can change filter intensity without changing lenses is wild. I've been using my old hat for a year while this was setting in the box. What a waste. Do I need to say I'd recomend it /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. This should really help those starting to learn.

3RRL · Jan 21, 2006

Re: WELDERS HELMET

( I've been using my old hat for a year while this was setting in the box. What a waste.)

It's funny you posted this too. I bought one of them about a month ago and it's still in the box. I've got 3 other helmets and continue to use them like dumb sh$% because like I'm going to wear this new one out or something?? What's up with THAT?
Actually, 2 of the old ones have magnifiers in them for my really tricky mold welding (TIG) but I found out I can use my reading glasses under the other for arc welding. ...So the new one is coming out of the box....Really neat you say, though, huh? Looking forward to it.

Mith · Jan 22, 2006

Re: WELDERS HELMET

Hey, I got a Auto darkening one for Christmas too /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

It has all the fancy changind shade thing too, you can actually see what is going on now, wish I had one of these when I started learning /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
Its even got a fancy grinder setting so you dont have to have a seperate sheild for grinding the crap welds off, makes the sparks look green /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

cant beat em really can yeh!

BobReeves · Jan 22, 2006

Re: WELDERS HELMET

Adding my 2c

Bought a HF auto dark several months ago and have used it quite a bit. Threw my old non auto dark away and will never look back. The only down side is it's not real comfortable due to the cheap head gear but for what it cost I can live with it.

3RRL · Jan 22, 2006

Re: WELDERS HELMET

( The only down side is it's not real comfortable due to the cheap head gear but for what it cost I can live with it. )
I noticed that and thought about taking the headgear off my old helmet and putting it the new one. The old helmets have comfortable lambskin lining and an adjustable turnknob instead of the slip adjustment.

escavader · Jan 22, 2006

Re: WELDERS HELMET

Mabey i thought mine was comfortable,because i wear a hat with it.Them sparks hurt like .... on top of your head,so instead of burning my beanie, i turn my hat around and adjust the helmet to fit.I really like the adjusters on this helmet.
ALAN

Highbeam · Jan 22, 2006

Re: WELDERS HELMET

My cheapy HF helmet from a year or two ago has an adjustment knob. The auto darkening is top notch.

At the time that I bought it my welding shop, same as the steel shop, had the 350$ ones for sale. Now this shop is in Bremerton which is a shipyard town and there are lots and lots of people who weld at home using skills from the yard. The salesman told me that the cheap HF helmets darken too slowly and people were getting flashed unless they bought her 350$ helmet. To that I said BS and I'll just have to see. I have never gotten flash on my eyes yet. Burned the heck out of my hands and forearms though.

I am very happy that the default setting is dark so when it turns itself off I know before striking the arc.

After awhile I noticed that it was getting hard to see. Turns out the lense gets pretty cruddy with smoke crud.

I can't imagine any other way to do it. I kept my old helmet so if someone wanted to watch or learn to weld that we could both look at the weld. Or maybe if I break this one it is nice to have a backup.

Nasty135 · Jan 22, 2006

Re: WELDERS HELMET

Well , I would like to thank you guys for posting the info on these Auto darkening helmets...
I'm by no means a big time welder Dude, but I can get two or more pieces to stick together somewhat successfully...
I have suffered from trying to weld outside in the sun with an older helmet open in the back and couldn't see squat , So yes it has an adverse affect on your attitude especially when your trying to get a nice weld and you can't see... /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif Also using less than excellent equipment and not being real familiar with it(my problem) So I'll go ahead and get one to cover the whole head and the auto darkening will be a very welcome advantage ...

Thanks again for the good review /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

kossetx · Jan 22, 2006

Re: WELDERS HELMET

I like some of the HF Tools stuff and also don't like some of it. I think they have different grades of a lot of items because my helmet has a decent padded, crank adjust headgear. I is better than the gear that I got on my fiberglass helmet from the late 70's.

3RRL · Jan 22, 2006

Re: WELDERS HELMET

Hi, Beam /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
( My cheapy HF helmet from a year or two ago has an adjustment knob. The auto darkening is top notch.)

Well, I just realized that my HF helmet IS still in the box so I DON'T know what kind of headgear adjustments IT has yet. The helmet I was talking about is the one that came with the NEW Lincoln 225AC I just bought after reading one of your posts. THAT helmet has a cruddy headgear adjustment on it so now I have that one too plus the HF un-opened one making 5 total. (But the welder is great) I'm getting as bad as CT Treeguy and his chainsaws.

So you say the HF has a decent adjustment on it, I'm glad to hear that. Geez, I hate getting old and not being able to remeber stuff anymore. The only good thing about that is I can watch the same movies over and over again and hope for a different ending? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I've probably said this before(don't remember) but pretty soon I'll be able to hide my own Easter eggs /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

KubotainNH · Jan 22, 2006

Re: WELDERS HELMET

Wow, I've seen these in the Northern Tool catalog and wondered how well they work. I may just have to get myself one soon. My son and I have been building a go cart in the basement and the auto darkening would be a great plus. Thanks for the post! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

PILOON · Jan 22, 2006

Re: WELDERS HELMET

I read quite a bit on TBN about 'auto helmets' a while back and did an EBay search and purchased a $29.00 job.
It had various approuvals (ULC ?? or whatever) .

Now that was the best $29.00 I have spent in a long time.

Adjustable with battery back up and solar powered as well.

Before I had the odd weld bead go off to the side of the intended track (like hard to weld blind) but now 'on track'.

My welds are much nicer and stronger.

Also I now can do those neat tiny (almost) spot welds on delicate parts.
Just the other day I repaired/modified my tractor chains and was able to cut links to fit and WELD the LINKS because I could really see what I was doing.

Here we are talking if 1/4" chain, the middle link using 3/32" rod.
The hardened studded chain sells $8.50/ft but I was able to cut/splice/weld about 15 cross pieces that I needed from leftover lengths.

The work out I gave the chains over the last 3 days work prouved my welds for me.

Best money ever spent!

slowrev · Jan 23, 2006

Re: WELDERS HELMET

I have had one of the cheapie HF autodark helmets for about 2 years. I love it and it still works fine.
Ben

Mith · Jan 23, 2006

Re: WELDERS HELMET

highbeam
I was under the impression that all auto darkeners has a UV and IR filter on them, so even if it doesnt darken you cant get arc eye, just super-constriceted puplis (from looking at the bright light). If that is the case for the HF ones then even if they darken slowly you still wont get arc eye, just find it hard to see when you look up.
With the filters, if the helmet fails and doesnt darken it is supposed to prevent eye damage. Maybe some of the cheaper ones dont have this?

PILOON · Jan 23, 2006

Re: WELDERS HELMET

On my chepee helmet a mere 'flick of the bick' lighter makes for instant dark.

It' kinda a nice practical 'proof test' that I tend to do before every use.

I found that welding outdoors with bright sunlight is where I see the best improvement over a regular 'non auto' helmet.

Also my inverted and vertical welding skills have improved about 200% as I can actually see puddle movement rather than hit and miss.