Speedglas owners

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I'm about to pull the trigger on a very costly Speedglas 9100xx w/ ADFLO and I'm antagonizing over whether or not to get the integrated grinding shield (flexview) option. I have asked everyone I know about this, read every review and forum post, and I just can't get enough info to be confident in the purchase yet.It's lighter and more functional without the shield, so getting it and not using it would indeed be undesirable aside from the extra cost. Personally, I'm leaning towards the standard (no flexview) option for the lighter weight and simplicity, but I would hate to buy it and find out that switching to shade #3 to grind is not practical on this helmet and I've never owned a Speedglas before.My question is, to existing Speedglas owners, which is better to you? If you don't use it, what do you do when you need to grind something? I even saw a review on Youtube where the guy said he could set it to sensitivity setting #1 and grind without triggering the ADF... anyone know if that works?
Reply:Even if I had great visual acuity for grinding with the hood on, I wouldn't.  Simple reason being the plastic lense IS going to get scratched, which affects your welding.  If I need to grind, I just remove the hood, and rely on my cheater glasses.  If I'm getting crazy with grinding, I'll put on a grinding mask.Maybe the helmet you're talking about, with the integrated grinding shield, offers something to protect the plastic lense.  I just don't know.  Good luck!-AaronJet 17.5" Drill Press1942 South Bend 16x84 Lathe1980s Miller 320A / BP --- 2013 Power Mig 2562012 Jet 7x12 Horizontal BandsawVictor O/A Setup
Reply:There's some truth to that, but when I'm grinding a lot, I really like having an air filter mask.  I don't have adflo, but I'd absolutely use it for grinding if I could.Besides, the plastic covers are relatively cheap, and you can clean and polish them up a few times too.
Reply:Originally Posted by rabidchimpEven if I had great visual acuity for grinding with the hood on, I wouldn't.  Simple reason being the plastic lense IS going to get scratched, which affects your welding.  If I need to grind, I just remove the hood, and rely on my cheater glasses.  If I'm getting crazy with grinding, I'll put on a grinding mask.Maybe the helmet you're talking about, with the integrated grinding shield, offers something to protect the plastic lense.  I just don't know.  Good luck!-Aaron
Reply:I suppose I'd go with the non-flexview by default unless I knew for certain that I'd be doing a lot of weld a couple inches>grind it>weld a couple inches>grind it in the future. It's hard to tell where I'm at now I do a little bit of everything. If I have to do a lot of that where I'm going back and forth all day, and it becomes a common thing, then that sort of out shadows the issues with the flexview like weight or durability.Then again, maybe I'll just get the non-flexview and pick up an Accustrike w/ an 11 gold in case I gotta grind stuff like that... which is $115, price difference between the flexview and standard is $155. It's hard to justify buying something you know how design quality issues anyways. Hmm...
Reply:I would get the flexview. I think i would be in contact with speedglas  asking all sorts of questions as well. You would think 3m would have more buyer friendly information available and you would think owners would be telling about the product too.Replacement lenses are $25 each.
Reply:Originally Posted by RoraMy question is, to existing Speedglas owners, which is better to you? If you don't use it, what do you do when you need to grind something? I even saw a review on Youtube where the guy said he could set it to sensitivity setting #1 and grind without triggering the ADF... anyone know if that works?
Reply:Originally Posted by mike7466Grinding on sensitivity 1 would probably work. I currently use a speedglas 9100xx without the flexview. The settings for sensitivity go from 1-6 like normal however there are two more options to pick from which enable the helmet to stay on the shade the shade 3 no matter the brightness or to have the helmet stay on whatever shade you want no matter the brightness. hopefully that makes sense.
Reply:Wow, re post #4, Darth Vader lives....... if I had to wear that thing I'd have given up welding long ago......I'm glad I changed to the plasma welder.Ian.
Reply:If you can use the flexview, buy it. That and some extra shields and filters. Then get  yourself some Meguiar's mirror glaze #17 clear plastic cleaner. Takes the scratches out and polishes as well. http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...w#.URMCaPLjGClWeld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Originally Posted by Rorayes that makes perfect sense, thank you!  how does shade 3 perform for you? I've heard mixed reviews about whether there's enough visibility for grinding or not. do you tend to use it that way or do you find yourself reaching for a grinding shield or glasses?
Reply:Originally Posted by mike7466in my mind its just more add ons to go wrong.
Reply:Put some pressure on your supplier in a nice way to see if the 3M rep would have a flexview hood you could try.I would think if you made the investment of the non flexview system the rep would let you demo the flexview hood and if you liked it maybe he would swap you at no charge or at least have you pay the up charge......the 3M rep I have dealt with is a GREAT guy!I do understand your indescision.If I had 1500 bones to use on an AdFlo I think I would like the flexview......once I got used to the claustraphobic feeling of the helmet.Last edited by vwguy3; 02-07-2013 at 09:52 AM.
Reply:Even though the 9100xx is an auto dark I always raise mine for grinding and even locating parts and such.Going back and forth and changing settings i wouldnt care for. it is not easy to change the settings on a speedglass. 1OO settings changes on a regular helmet would be a pain but it has to be near impossible on the adflo during the course of a day.
Reply:Very good point about changing settings on the ADF all the time.One of my biggest time waster's is looking for where I set stuff down.  After nearly 50 years of hunting for where I put something 50 seconds ago, I realize that problem is probably hardwired into me, so I have learned to find ways to compensate.  (such as having 4 or 5 squares, 6 or 7 tape measures, 8 or 9 pairs of gloves, etc).My process is often weld a little, move a lot... to mitigate against heat distortion.  Moving sometimes involves flipping and refixturing the part, flap discing mill scale away where it was missed the first time around, rechecking square, looking for the tools and clamps again to make all that happen.  It gets old taking off the welding helmet, finding and putting on the grinding shield (which I moved out of the way while welding) and then finding the welding helmet again (which I moved out of the way while grinding). The idea of keeping both on the head at all times sounds rather appealing... especially with positive flow respiration aids that presumably eliminate the need to remove either mask, shield, or helmet every few minutes just to catch a breath of "fresh" air.Respectfully,Charles Brown
Reply:Originally Posted by mikecwikEven though the 9100xx is an auto dark I always raise mine for grinding and even locating parts and such.Going back and forth and changing settings i wouldnt care for. it is not easy to change the settings on a speedglass. 1OO settings changes on a regular helmet would be a pain but it has to be near impossible on the adflo during the course of a day.
Reply:I haven't seen the 9100xx in person.  Looking at the picture in post #4, if I was considering the helmet, I would look closely to be sure no grinding dust or debris could get behind the filter lens when it was flipped up.When I need to grind, I take off my hood and put on a face shield (with safety glasses under both).John-----------------------------------|Craftsman 230/140 amp AC/DC BuzzboxSynchrowave 250
Reply:Another good point.Also, how does one replace the inner protection screen or adjust the ADF without removing the face shield, since the face shield blocks access to the inside surface of the ADF when the ADF is brought down from the upper position.Or must the entire faceplate covering the outside of the ADF be removed, then remove the ADF, then reinstall?This question alone makes me think a reading of the owner's manual BEFORE purchase might be a good idea.  I'm going to go hunt for a link to one.Respectfully,Charles Brown
Reply:Already read the online manual, didn't offer much although I did think it was very interesting they did not list the weight of the flexview models along with the others. It's probably because they were not yet released at the time the manual was written, though.The ADF is easier to adjust on the flexview model because it's essentially a 1/2 cutaway with the ADF module which flips down on top of a full grinding sheild helmet, meaning you don't have to reach up into the helmet to get to the ADF controls. Here's a video on the steps of replacing the inner grind shield.As mikecwik mentioned, the standard version w/ Adflo would be very difficult to adjust... not only would you have to reach up into the helmet, but the Adflo respirator sits right in front of the nose inside the helmet so you'd have to reach over and around it to get to the ADF controls. The solution could be to put the helmet in sensitivity 1 which I have heard is low enough to grind without triggering auto-dark, meaning you wouldn't have to change the controls then just have the helmet down while grinding in shade 3 without adjustment.I'm starting to think the flexview option might be the way to go for full time protection and fresh air, and just deal with 3M in the case of defects. Take a quick glance at:http://store.cyberweld.com/spwehe91se.htmlThe first row of 3 helmets are the standard view, the second row is the same helmets in flexview. The star ratings drop doesn't exactly inspire confidence in this feature which is my hangup. Then again reviews don't always paint an accurate picture of a product.Last edited by Rora; 02-07-2013 at 06:34 PM.
Reply:Charles Brown, I have tried sending you a few PMs but nothing is showing up in my sent folder so I have no idea if you've gotten anything (maybe I'm spamming your inbox?)
Reply:I just have a basic (if you can call it that) helmet, no adflo. I grind with my helmet up, speedglas has pretty nice covers to protect the important lens, I am afraid to even touch it but there has never been a need to as it still looks brand new.I always wear safety glasses, most of the time shade 5s, sometimes clear. There is a lot to think about in a $1500 welding helmet for sure. I wouldn't rush on it like I said I would be talking to someone at 3m as i will be when my time comes to get one.One thing important to me is how quickly you can get out of the helmet leaving just leaving the waste belt in place and how quickly you can get back in of course. I also plan on using mine a lot while the welding lens is removed. Why risk damage to it if youre not using it sort of thing.
Reply:That's ANOTHER thing to think about... the waistbelt blower.  I'll bet it is a lot bigger than meets the eye... easy to bump into things, get caught on things etc.Although, the benefit to one's personal health seems worth that little bit of hassle.  The question becomes though, when having to lie down on one's back to finish the underside of a weld, how hard is it to take off the entire darth vader outfit, so as not to have to have a $1,000 plastic blower box being smushed under one's lower back when scooting around, and to prudently switch to an overhead approved helmet.Respectfully,Charles Brown
Reply:Thanks for posting that video Rora... got your pm's, and emailed you now as well.Respectfully,Charles Brown
Reply:Welding below is different from above and of course you are not going to lay on your back on the filters. Its not about short term welding. If you are laying on your back all day you come up with a solution that doesn't put the unit there in the small of your back.I like to weld where everyone tells you not to. Right on top of it, helmet acting as the proverbial chimney, or is it the literal chimney?I guess I have to buy one and give an in depth review on what transpires. I dont know why anyone would want a 9100xx model, nobody needs that view but they have discontinued a lot of models.