Choosing a Helmet

admin

Hey guys...Well, the high school welding class that im in is going very well, and i really enjoy it. At the beginning of the year, part of the equipment that we got was a really nice Jackson welding helmet, but being the seventeen year old that i am, i wanted something with technology and flames, so i picked up one of the metalman autodarkening helmets from tsc. It works very well, but it always hurts my eyes. So, i took it home with me and brought back the one that i got from the school, and that one i can use all day without any discomfort. At home, ive found that i can wear the auto-darkening helmet to tack things together which is nice, but if i use it for any extended period of time, that it still hurts my eyes. So, i got a Hobart shade 10 non-adjustable auto darking helmet, and took that to school. Same problem.Ive tried my older adjustable helmet on all its shades (9-13) and the problem never goes away. So, maybe it is something with my eyes? Does anyone else have problems wearing autodarkening helmets, but not the old school ones? Ive got very good vision, my doctor says its almost superhuman. I forgot the exact number, but its considerably better then 20/20, if that might cause an issue. Any advice?[Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:You have to get one with a very fast shade speed. The northern tool one reviewed by tips and tricks is the best cheap auto darkening you can get. Its 1:25000 of a second speed. most cheap helmets are only 1:10000 of a second. I have used it for almost a year of 8 hour days doing many mig tacks and have never had a problem with eye strain. I cant gurantee it will work for you but thats what the poblem is for most people.[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUhD63fmB-k[/ame]Last edited by Skeluhtor; 01-11-2011 at 04:19 PM.
Reply:That makes alot of sense, thanks man :-)The helmet that i got is only 1/3,600th of a second reaction time, so tomorrow, i think i'll wear it at school, but close my eyes when i strike the arc, then open them a second later. If that helps, then i think thats problem solved :-)[Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:Wait a minuite, i take that back... My older helmet has a 1/25,000 reaction time... It cant be that!!   Oh well, thanks for trying.http://www.tractorsupply.com/welding...helmet-3004655[Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:You just may have very very sensitive eyes. I think there are some masks out with 1:40000 of a second speeds maybe borrow one from someone in class if they have one thats that fast.
Reply:Do you have blue eyes?  Are you being bothered by light reflecting in from behind?
Reply:Unfortunately, yes... My eyes are a very light blue. It does have some glare, but im not sure. Thats a possibility tho, thanks.[Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:Yeah thats another thing try wearing dark colors to absorb the light and maybe hang some leather off the front of the mask to block it from getting in underneath.
Reply:This problem has nothing to do with the speed of the auto darkening helmet.This problem is about shades of darkening and what welding process is being used.People do have differences in their vision. BUT in general...If you are TIG welding you will need a #10 or #11 shade.For stick or MIG welding you will need a #12 or #14.There is no way you can Mig weld with a #10 lens!!!Remember you should be focusing on the weld joint and the molten pool, not on all the things in the general area.Many big box stores sell helmets and welding shade glass that is #10 grade and is unfit for 90% of possible uses. Many people by 110V Mig machines and get a #10 lens with the cheapo helmet or a just get a welding lens not even knowing there are different grades offered for different welding processes.BTW... The cheap auto darkening helmets are the ones that only have one light sensor or two light sensors.The good ones have 4 sensors and you need them because many times something you are welding has a part of the weldment obstructing your view.A good auto darkening helmet also has auto shut off when not in use so you do not waste batteries.The time from light to dark should be about or at least 3/100,000 of a second because that is how long it takes for your brain to record a response.One more thing..The Huntsman 411P is still the lightest weight and easiest welding helmet to get parts for. It is the standard of the industry.All other helmets are based on that design. IT will easily outlast those flimsy wiggly plastic things.Also have some dignity. Would you rather hire a welder with flames and crazy clowns on his helmet, or something that looks professional like they know what they are doing.  It is a tool not a toy.For production TIG or MIG welding the auto darkening helmet can save you a lot of neck snapping leading to permanent injury and increase your production. Many good brands available.Last edited by Donald Branscom; 01-11-2011 at 05:45 PM.AWS certified welding inspectorAWS certified welder
Reply:Originally Posted by SkeluhtorYou have to get one with a very fast shade speed. The northern tool one reviewed by tips and tricks is the best cheap auto darkening you can get. Its 1:25000 of a second speed. most cheap helmets are only 1:10000 of a second. I have used it for almost a year of 8 hour days doing many mig tacks and have never had a problem with eye strain. I cant gurantee it will work for you but thats what the poblem is for most people.
Reply:I guess if it has nothing to do with speed then we should all buy the slowest speed helmets. But then you say "The time from light to dark should be about or at least 3/100,000" So which one is it? The OP also stated he tried every shade from 9-13. Thats what leads me to believe its either speed related,blue eyes, or flash coming in from around the helmet. Most eye strains I have heard of was due to speed. I dont see how you could say it has nothing to do with it.
Reply:Originally Posted by SkeluhtorI guess if it has nothing to do with speed then we should all buy the slowest speed helmets. But then you say "The time from light to dark should be about or at least 3/100,000" So which one is it? The OP also stated he tried every shade from 9-13. Thats what leads me to believe its either speed related,blue eyes, or flash coming in from around the helmet. Most eye strains I have heard of was due to speed. I dont see how you could say it has nothing to do with it.
Reply:I honestly don't really trust speed lenses.  Great for tacking, but I don't think that they protect as well.  About 22 years ago or longer the auto darkening helmets were first introduced. The speed of the lens has improved steadily, but even when they were first introduced they still were used and were fast enough. Otherwise they could not be allowed to be sold and permanently injure the eyes of thousands of welders.
Reply:when i worked for CTI Cryogenics in mansfeild massjackson came out with there1st gen. auto hoodsit lasted 13 years i was going to buy another jackbut the miller elite just looked better for the $$it works great and i sorry looks count the speed glass is just ugly
Reply:Hey guys...Well, ive pretty much given up on the auto-darkening thing... My old (er) jackson helmet from school is working out very well for me, the headgear is the best that i have ever used, and my eyes dont hurt anymore!! WooHoo!! My teacher gave me an eleven-shade glass lens, to replace the plastic 10-shade that came with the helmet. The plastic lens looked better to me, the puddle was orange, everything else was black. the colors clashed, and everything was super easy to see. With the new lens, the puddle is almost blue, and you cant see quite as well, but i couldn't be happier. I also sold my $70 auto-darkening helmet for $60 to another student, instead of attempting to re-package it and return it, which they probably wouldn't take anyway. He has brown eyes, and can use it all day without any discomfort. So, its defiantly something with my eyes. Oh well. Anyways, thanks for all the advice everyone, i sure do appreciate it :-)[Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:Originally Posted by LanseHey guys...Well, ive pretty much given up on the auto-darkening thing... My old (er) jackson helmet from school is working out very well for me, the headgear is the best that i have ever used, and my eyes dont hurt anymore!! WooHoo!! My teacher gave me an eleven-shade glass lens, to replace the plastic 10-shade that came with the helmet. The plastic lens looked better to me, the puddle was orange, everything else was black. the colors clashed, and everything was super easy to see. With the new lens, the puddle is almost blue, and you cant see quite as well, but i couldn't be happier. I also sold my $70 auto-darkening helmet for $60 to another student, instead of attempting to re-package it and return it, which they probably wouldn't take anyway. He has brown eyes, and can use it all day without any discomfort. So, its defiantly something with my eyes. Oh well. Anyways, thanks for all the advice everyone, i sure do appreciate it :-)
Reply:I learned on an old flip it down hood, now I am trained to flip my head when I strike an arc. I tried an auto dark and sure as $hit I left the hood up and flipped it down. I run a fibre metal pipeliner with a gold lens.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."