Auto Darkening welding helmets

[machinist@large]

Yup it burns like someone shot napalm in your eyes, burns like h3ll with your eyes open, burns like h3ll when your eyes are closed.
Did I mention painful ?

Has anyone mentioned that you have a flare for understatement?

 

[devino246]

Haha, funny, that almost exactly how Id describe the beach-sand-in-eyes-wash-it-out-with-salt-water sensation. Alot of people starting out get lazy with the helmet and end up with burned retinas. Most people never have it happen again.

 

[machinist@large]

Haha, funny, that almost exactly how Id describe the beach-sand-in-eyes-wash-it-out-with-salt-water sensation. Alot of people starting out get lazy with the helmet and end up with burned retinas. Most people never have it happen again.

The ones who do it to themselves a 2nd time are on their own, in my book.

 

[ryf]

I have been researching this stuff all week and pretty much all the ones sub $150 are made in china and korea and I dont see any that I can afford that are spotless performers, they are all reviewed highly including the HF with a few people who got bad units, that happened with all of them though (unless the review base was small) I hear what you are saying, but I dont have 300 bucks for a pro helmet, I saw a decent looking affordable auto miller but the response was something like 1/3600 and it cost twice the HF and is slower, and unlike the HF, pure solar. conservatively one fifth as fast doesn't sound like a good investment to me? if there is a golden egg I am missing drop the name on it I suppose

 

[redsox985]

My school bought a 6 new Chicago Electric cheapies from HF after my teacher used mine once while trying to teach a kid to weld. The kid was wearing his $125 auto darkening so he wouldn't flash the kid (HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!) and realized how bad the flip downs suck so he borrowed mine and liked it just as much as his, despite being $35 on sale.

 

[Simon Thomas]

Solar vs. Battery Powered?

I am quite new to welding and never attended any professional welding course. Most of my welding works that I do now, just learned from friends and relatives. Some from youtube and asking here and there. I ever used the conventional type of welding mask and recently purchased an auto darkening welding helmet. To save some money, I just purchased the China made a unit around RM200 (probably USD60-70). So far so good. I only weld with 60-90 Amps with small rod and never had flashing problem with it. Only weld occasionally depending on the need.

I just wonder how to check whether my auto darkening welding helmet with / without the battery powered:toetap05:? During the purchase, the shop owner just demonstrated with the cigarrete lighter spark and it turns the screen to darken. As simple as that! The box keeping my auto darkening welding helmet does not have the specification as well. My unit has two knobs inside the helmet for (i) filtration and (ii) sensitivity.

Without opening the casing, hope those that know the answer can advise whether my welding helmet is with / without the battery powered?

 

[ryf]

what brand and model number? easiest way is to check the manufacturers website for spec or the instruction manual.

I am quite new to welding and never attended any professional welding course. Most of my welding works that I do now, just learned from friends and relatives. Some from youtube and asking here and there. I ever used the conventional type of welding mask and recently purchased an auto darkening welding helmet. To save some money, I just purchased the China made a unit around RM200 (probably USD60-70). So far so good. I only weld with 60-90 Amps with small rod and never had flashing problem with it. Only weld occasionally depending on the need.

I just wonder how to check whether my auto darkening welding helmet with / without the battery powered:toetap05:? During the purchase, the shop owner just demonstrated with the cigarrete lighter spark and it turns the screen to darken. As simple as that! The box keeping my auto darkening welding helmet does not have the specification as well. My unit has two knobs inside the helmet for (i) filtration and (ii) sensitivity.

Without opening the casing, hope those that know the answer can advise whether my welding helmet is with / without the battery powered?

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Some helmets appear to have a non-replaceable, rechargeable battery. They use the photoelectric eye to trigger, but run on some sort of capacitance.

A few years ago when I was welding as part of my job, I had two identical Lincoln-branded auto's. One was a backup and rarely got used. Every now and then I'd have to leave my main mask at a job and go to another and whip out my backup. OUCH!!!

It didn't take too long to figure it out. After sitting in a dark storage cabinet for months at a stretch, the mask would lose it's charge. I'd put it on, hit the trigger (FCAW), and promptly blind myself. After doing this a couple of times I learned that if I had to use my backup mask, I would leave it for 5-10 minutes directly in front of a lightbulb to charge before using. You see, normally, they'd charge themselves just from the welding process, but months in storage would leave the unit drained.

 

[allreadygone]

Moreover ususlly the photocell has about a 4-5 year life and then the helmet is a throw away. Go batteries.

 

[fowler]

i did what toystory did but i pulled a new helment out of the box and started welding
ouch

worked it out and left in the sun for 10 mins

 

[CaptCanadia]

I've never looked at someone welding naked eye, on accident or not..I couldn't imagine how bright that would be though..

 

[fowler]

like someone pointing a lazer in your eyeor looking at the sun after being in the dark for half thev day

a little 100 amp welder is like the sun and ist that bad
a 350 amp stick is like a high powered lazer and burns for hours

depending on how good it got u

 

[Simon Thomas]

Great info

Some helmets appear to have a non-replaceable, rechargeable battery. They use the photoelectric eye to trigger, but run on some sort of capacitance.

A few years ago when I was welding as part of my job, I had two identical Lincoln-branded auto's. One was a backup and rarely got used. Every now and then I'd have to leave my main mask at a job and go to another and whip out my backup. OUCH!!!

It didn't take too long to figure it out. After sitting in a dark storage cabinet for months at a stretch, the mask would lose it's charge. I'd put it on, hit the trigger (FCAW), and promptly blind myself. After doing this a couple of times I learned that if I had to use my backup mask, I would leave it for 5-10 minutes directly in front of a lightbulb to charge before using. You see, normally, they'd charge themselves just from the welding process, but months in storage would leave the unit drained.

This is a useful info. Thanks toystory_4wd. I normally keep my welding helmet in dark store room and just take it when I need to use it without knowing that I need to recharge the battery first.

 

[Simon Thomas]

what brand and model number? easiest way is to check the manufacturers website for spec or the instruction manual.

I checked my welding helmet again and found the box and manual inside. Yes, it uses the battery. Not much info could be obtained / shared as well bacause it is not a branded unit. So far this unit is very useful for me for part time DIY works without problem.

 

[Simon Thomas]

Generally how long normally auto darkening helmet can last? 5 years? 10 years? 15 years? Do you know?

 

[Mrrcarney]

got mine from ebay cheap £30

never had a flash with it at all used it welding up a diff at 250 amps never had a problem adjusts from 9-13 i used about 10-11 that day

also use it with my mig and my tig never a problem

had a miller one about 5 years and it was way slower than this one shield got cracked needed a fast replacement ebay cheepo was better

 

[birddog1148]

I have the HF Blue flame one too. Had used others before and I took a Mig class a few years ago to improve my skills. Used that helmet 2 nights a week for 2-3 hours at a time and no complaints. Just dont burp White Castle in it, that DOES burn the eyes.

 

[snowman86]

I bought mine 4-5 years ago at northern tool, it has the adjustment on the side. The reason I bought it was it was cheap, it worked good and I have not been flashed trying to tack weld in tight places since. And yes that crap hurts badddddddddd!!!!!!!!!

 

[allreadygone]

Is this Your Last Helmet ?

I weld MIG. The party line I got from the Miller rep was "the $90 photo cell helmets probably will work for 4-5 years but the cells will not be be replaceable when they eventually fail. I believe him and spent $200 on a low end battery powered Miller helmet.
I have been "burned" many times buying 'Chinese' before and my eyes are my last.

 

[Simon Thomas]

Because of the useful sharing and advice from you guys, yesterday afternoon before welding, I exposed my welding mask under the sunlight about 30 mins before use. This is to ensure its battery is properly charged. After that, I did a simple test by looking at the sunlight with the welding mask before weld to ensure the mask screen turn dark and protect the eyes. After confident with the response time, then I started welding. This is a good tips to protect the user eyes and new to welding like me which I learned from this forum and all of you master in welding.

Thanks again.