Helmets and Puddles

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I am not an experienced welder and I have a great auto darkening mask that I am happy with.  My issue is this, I also have a fixed shade helmet and I cannot figure out how a person would weld with it.  I have excellent  vision and cannot see anything through this helmet until I strike an arc.  In other words I'm scratch starting all over the place until it lights then I can see what I'm welding.This is just a general question but what is the technique to using a fixed shade helmet?  I have never really had anyone tell me.  All I know is even if I put a spotlight on what I'm welding I strain my eyes trying to see where to start the arc.  I really wanted to know in case an auto darkening helmet is not handy.Thank you in advance,Matt
Reply:Put the torch where you want it to be, flip the hood and start welding. Easy as that. You aren't supposed to see through it without welding.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:We've all gotten so Spoiled, haven't we? Yea those days of lining everything up and "Jerkin' your Head" without moving your hands seem So Long ago...
Reply:This information is top secret that you youngens are not privy to!Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by mattsseI am not an experienced welder and I have a great auto darkening mask that I am happy with.  My issue is this, I also have a fixed shade helmet and I cannot figure out how a person would weld with it.  I have excellent  vision and cannot see anything through this helmet until I strike an arc.  In other words I'm scratch starting all over the place until it lights then I can see what I'm welding.This is just a general question but what is the technique to using a fixed shade helmet?  I have never really had anyone tell me.  All I know is even if I put a spotlight on what I'm welding I strain my eyes trying to see where to start the arc.  I really wanted to know in case an auto darkening helmet is not handy.Thank you in advance,Matt
Reply:Way back when I learned to weld, my instructor wouldn't allow any new students to use auto darkening hoods. His comment was at some point if you do this for a living, you'll have to know how to use a manual hood, even if it's just as a backup. You learned how to position yourself and nod your head to flip down the hood without changing position.Biggest thing I find with guys using manual hoods is that at the same time they nod their head, they also move their hands. You have to learn NOT to do this. Most times when they move their hands, it's because they aren't really nodding their head, but "bowing" with their whole chest. That automatically shifts your shoulders and thus your arms, moving your hands out of position.Also a lot of new guys have issues starting rods if doing stick. That's fairly common if they are using 110v stick machines or cheap imports. Even 220v AC tranny machines can have this issue with some rods. When in doubt go heavy on the amps. I usually suggest starting in the middle to upper end of a suggested rod setting. that usually makes it a lot easier to get the rods to light. Also many times guys don't realize that drag type rods like 7018, 6013, 7014 burn back into the flux slightly. That makes restarts harder unless you break off that little bit of extra flux, or the glassy slag that forms on the ends of some 7018's. They'll just peck and peck at the material hoping the rod will light. I see it all the time in class. An old file will quickly remove the end coating, just don't lay it on the grounded table or work... I usually just break off the stuff with my gloves. It's amazing how many times I show this to students, then come back later to find them still pecking away. .No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Thank you all for the replies!  I figured it was something like that I guess when lining it up and nodding the hood down you'd have to be careful not to flash yourself, it seems like it might be easy to flash yourself in an awkward position.Once again, great info!Matt
Reply:Originally Posted by mattsseI guess when lining it up and nodding the hood down you'd have to be careful not to flash yourself, it seems like it might be easy to flash yourself in an awkward position.
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPOh that never happens!
Reply:I'd always heard that one of the main reasons behind the development of the auto-darkening hood was so that little high school girls wouldn't have such a hard time learning to weld.
Reply:I can actually see better with my $35 dollar helmet with shade 10 gold lens than I can with either of my 2 auto darkening helmets. One is a miller elite ($300) and the other a speedglas ($400). The auto darkening helmet does come in handy on something critical where you can't have any arc strikes or if you are doing a bunch of tacking. Also comes in handy when you don't have room to flip a helmet, such as welding roll cages in tight spots or being under a car on jackstands. Definitely need to use an old school helmet though.
Reply:I'll agree my fixed shade $35 Jackson has optics as good or better than my $300 Elite. I run into this all the time at the tech school. Guys go out and buy the cheapest AD hood they can find, then wonder why they are having issues. As soon as they try on my Elite and weld they immediately notice the difference in clarity and detail. The excuse they always give at that point is that they can't afford an expensive hood. I can't get them to even try my fixed shade Jackson, even though it's less expensive than what they bought, and the clarity is as good or better than my Miller. They just don't want to be bothered with actually learning to lower a manual hood. Biggest reason I use the Miller in class is so I can quickly change shades if I'm going from someone doing tig to someone doing mig or stick and back, not that it's auto darkening..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWI'll agree my fixed shade $35 Jackson has optics as good or better than my $300 Elite. I run into this all the time at the tech school. Guys go out and buy the cheapest AD hood they can find, then wonder why they are having issues. As soon as they try on my Elite and weld they immediately notice the difference in clarity and detail. The excuse they always give at that point is that they can't afford an expensive hood. I can't get them to even try my fixed shade Jackson, even though it's less expensive than what they bought, and the clarity is as good or better than my Miller. They just don't want to be bothered with actually learning to lower a manual hood. Biggest reason I use the Miller in class is so I can quickly change shades if I'm going from someone doing tig to someone doing mig or stick and back, not that it's auto darkening.
Reply:Originally Posted by SquirmyPugLots of guys even here on WW don't think the cheap hoods are bad. I don't understand how they don't see a difference. When I used the hf hood I could see the puddle, but couldn't see anything around it. Seen several posts where the op can't see where they are going...
Reply:Originally Posted by HT2-4956I'd always heard that one of the main reasons behind the development of the auto-darkening hood was so that little high school girls wouldn't have such a hard time learning to weld.
Reply:Works for little high school girls and old men with cervical fusions as well.  Flipping a helmet isn't happening with my neck.30+ yrs Army Infantry & Field Artillery, 25 yrs agoMiller 350LX Tig Runner TA 210, spool gunLincoln 250/250 IdealArcESAB PCM 500i PlasmaKazoo 30"  vert BSKazoo 9x16 horiz BSClausing 12x24 lathe20T Air Press
Reply:Originally Posted by HT2-4956I'd always heard that one of the main reasons behind the development of the auto-darkening hood was so that little high school girls wouldn't have such a hard time learning to weld.
Reply:I am also a firm believer of the fixed shade. It is funny to see guys that always had a drop try and do something.Sent from my SCH-I545 using TapatalkCRIME SCENES, COURT DATES, FUNERALS, RIDING THROUGH THE CITY WITH A BITCH THAT IS JUST BEAUTIFUL IT'S JUST BUSINESS AS USUAL.
Reply:DroSent from my SCH-I545 using TapatalkCRIME SCENES, COURT DATES, FUNERALS, RIDING THROUGH THE CITY WITH A BITCH THAT IS JUST BEAUTIFUL IT'S JUST BUSINESS AS USUAL.
Reply:Way back when I started there were not any autodark hoods yet. The crappiest were the school hoods and we bought our own. Best decision ever. It was recommended to me to get the lightest possible, and that is what I looked for. I quickly found that drag pivot hoods were a pain, so I settled on a catch type, the Huntsman 711p. The old ones with the metal catches were so smooth, catching at the top, position my hands and a slight nod sliding down to the other catch. My hands stayed put the whole time. I rebuilt the catches when they wore out after about 10 years of constant use. Lost one, threw one into the parking lot and cracked the other. Now I buy Jackson/Huntman 411p full face with the plastic catches and slides. They take a year or so to break in but they still are so smooth. I hate the ratchet type slides that Miller uses. I also hate the screw pivot slides that Cherokee uses as the threads tend to strip, but both of these hoods have cooling fans and gold lenses with cheater lenses so they come in handy on occasion. As far as Autodark, they have their place, just I learned the hard way early on to use and enjoy fixed shade. And with my astigmatism they are the clearest for me.Weld 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 shovelonAs far as Autodark, they have their place, just I learned the hard way early on to use and enjoy fixed shade. And with my astigmatism they are the clearest for me.
Reply:Originally Posted by HT2-4956I'd always heard that one of the main reasons behind the development of the auto-darkening hood was so that little high school girls wouldn't have such a hard time learning to weld.
Reply:I switched to an ArcOne auto lens a few years ago. One thing I think the auto lenses are very good for, is eliminating arc strikes out of the weld zone.  Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by storemanWorks for little high school girls and old men with cervical fusions as well.  Flipping a helmet isn't happening with my neck.
Reply:My 9001xx is amazing. I cant use non auto hoodsOriginally Posted by DSWI'll agree my fixed shade $35 Jackson has optics as good or better than my $300 Elite.
Reply:I too prefer a fixed shade in a Huntsman hood.   It really ticked me off when they quit making them with the metal pivot mechanism.   I had some correspondence with them back when they first changed over to plastic trying to see if they still had some of the metal ones left that I could buy.  They wouldn't sell me any claiming there were insurance liability issues.  The story I got was that some one got electrocuted by getting that exposed metal adjustment screw in contact with an energized electrical source while wearing one of those hoods and it killed them.   So basically they got forced to switch over to the plastic mechanism by the insurance industry lawyers.
Reply:Yeah! That moving is the fun part!