What would you like to see in a welding shield?

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I've been toying with the idea of a new shield design and have been writing down some idea's and sketching out some designs for a more versatile shield than what you can typically find on the market now.  My question for everyone here is what would you like to see in welding shields that aren't yet in them or would like to see improved?Some points that I've looked at are better thermal insulation, lighter weight but increased structural safety from impacts to the top and all sides including the back of the head and neck, increased viewing area to the sides and bottom and quick swap lense options for manual and auto.Welding Supervisor Department of Corrections.
Reply:I like my 1990 Jackson with a 10 gold shade the way it is....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Fog proof in cold weather and tougher headgear, seems like the headgear is the weak point on all the hoods I have.Trailblazer 302Hobart Stickmate AC/DCLincoln SP 135 TSmith torchSpoolmatic 30A
Reply:I know it's not do-able, but an automatically adjustable cheater, so I can see in-focus regardless of face-to-work distance.
Reply:Originally Posted by welds4dI know it's not do-able, but an automatically adjustable cheater, so I can see in-focus regardless of face-to-work distance.
Reply:Good idea man!! Im known for stripping out headgears, because I crank down on them and they're made out of plastic. Ughhh. Ive only killed 2 sets so far, so defiantly improve on that. Plus, add in a cool looking leather throat guard that would come standard and keep the light out of the inside of the helmet. Id buy atleast 2 on the spot.[Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:Leather will be a part of it for the more standard model and possibly the extreme condition one.  There are a few idea's that I need to work out for options add on items to make it hands free and time cutting but I am in the beginning stages of researching it all and the electronics is something that I'm looking hard into for reliability and minimalist weight load.  I've chosen an exceptionally light thermal insulation and a light weight but very durable shell material to cut down on weight.Would it be more helpful to have a lense that increased the viewing area for peripheral vision as well as below the horizon line for improved walking and moving around?  And would it be helpful if the shield could double as a hard hat and met ANSI guidelines?Welding Supervisor Department of Corrections.
Reply:I'd like a heads-up display of the power supply's settings, wire speed, and the current and voltage RMS of the last pass and I'd prefer this was wireless over cabled to the hood.If I were working in a hazardous environment I'd like the heads up display to monitor and display LEL, O2, CO and any toxics known to be present.I'd also like a decent interface to the tunes, head phone jack for the Shure ear buds and wi-fi to the MP3.I'd like a touch pad on the side of the helmet that was activated only by a chip inside the index finger of my torch hand glove; so I could make setting changes with the hood down but not bump the touch pad while moving around and get uncontrolled changes. This could be a couple of slider areas of the outer skin to allow sliding adjustments of the values of heat or trim or other programmable values.I'd like the material to be lighter wt than the Optrel and the balance to be as good or better, and the head band to be pneumatically pumped up so that the band didn't have a hard spot in the back at the rachet/knob.As long as we're just kicking ideas around....cheers,Kevin MorinKenai, AK
Reply:I want a 6x4 hd lcd screen with ear buds so i can watch movies while i act like i work. To bad i work for myself so i guess it wouldn't be very productive, but it sounded like a good idea, as far as a hood for me , i prefer the fibre metal hoods and nothin else. None of that auto darkening stuff either.I forgot how to change this.
Reply:Other hoods do this right now, but if you're making the "best" one, gotta have a battery-pack respirator built in, Preferably designed so that the airflow provides maximum possible cooling effect to the user as well, some sort of heat exchanger maybe?For those who do a lot of grinding at their job too, adding an integrated grinding faceshield is great. Makes it really easy to see, move around and do other things without taking the helmet off, the filter just flips up out of the wayDefinitely gotta accept "standard" 4 1/2" X 5 1/4" cover plates, and accept both the standard "passive" lenses & and autodarkening lens. Make sure it's designed to minimize the possibility of any light leaking around the lens.... This is what I hate about the helmets at work Lastly.... I think it'd actually be really nice to have a built in LED lighting system, that can be switched on to illuminate the area directly in front you, for welding in low light situations.---Also, maybe make it adaptable to a hard hat? Or have that built in as an optionLast edited by Primetime; 08-15-2011 at 02:44 AM.Give me fuel, give me fire, give me that which I desire.
Reply:i want to see a penthouse centerfold live sitting on my welding table. but in reality at my age that would probably cause the trigger on my gun to get sticky225NT bobcatAEAD200LEScott 125mm175, mm252 w 30A, PT225mm211, TA 181iHyper Therm 380, cut master 529100X & XX, Digital Elite6 Victor setssmith little torch, meco midget kalamazoo band sawsteel max saw evoulution circular saw
Reply:How about a sensor that detects how much change I have in my pocket and atomatically picks the correct lottery numbers for next week?
Reply:Wow.  I can't imagine what the R&D figures would be for developing a wireless interface impervious to high frequency spark.  They do it cars, but those sparks arent jumping through open air five inches from the receiver...  There was a design student on here a while back kicking around ideas for new helmets...  Haven't heard from him on that in a while.  Perhaps apple pie recruited himSeriously though I think it would be nice to incorporate a built in IR viewer or heat vision.  For stainless.  maybe just a IR non contact thermometer?  Some kind of light would be cool, Perhaps soon they will just be able to sell us new eyes and skin so we will not need hoods at all,
Reply:Originally Posted by Big65moparAutomatically as in you have a set magnification or it would adjust to the distance between the face of the shield and the welding surface kind of like an auto focus on a camera?
Reply:Originally Posted by PrimetimeLastly.... I think it'd actually be really nice to have a built in LED lighting system, that can be switched on to illuminate the area directly in front you, for welding in low light situations.
Reply:1.  Lock in the up position, like a Jackson.2.  Automatic ON.3.  Light weight less 10 oz.4.  Throat coverage.5.  Good Optics.6.  Sturdy headgear.7.  Cover lenses at all LWS.8.  Changeable batteries. 9.  Large viewing area.10. Large magnifier.
Reply:weld4u,  I'm  right there with you it's not always possible to stay in that little range that I can see clearly any more, getting old is great isn't it!!!!!
Reply:How about one that fits tighter to the face so that you can get your head in tight areas to see what your doing. I know there is one out there that might fit this description but really something like a mask with a welding lens. It would also eliminate the problems with light leakage as the face would be fully covered and the lens would be closer to a pair of goggles than anything.
Reply:Wider base for people like me with big necks.Go Cards!!!!!
Reply:A nekid woman...They already make hoods with the other stuff Sorry--couldn't resist the opening
Reply:Originally Posted by brewmiesterweld4u,  I'm  right there with you it's not always possible to stay in that little range that I can see clearly any more, getting old is great isn't it!!!!!
Reply:Goofs aside there are some good idea's suggestions here some of which I will definitely have to talk with people who specialize in certain electronics area's.  Fit is one of the big ones that I've been focusing on along with neck coverage front and back and the hard hat coverage included.  Wider body sizes is a good idea as I work with a guy that literally is a mountain and I think they had to special order an extra large hard hat and harness for him.The thermal insulation I want to go with will hopefully allow for a closer more conforming fit and I want to go with more realistic head shapes for the built in hard hat.The built in heads up display is something I've been working through on paper for a infrared thermometer though I was looking more at a small lcd stamp size display to the side.Welding Supervisor Department of Corrections.
Reply:Hahaa, You forgot digital, programmable flux monitors installed on the front. Perhaps an infrared monocle that gives you real time updates on the heat affected zone of your weld....Oh, and some type of x-raying software that gives you snapshots in 10 second intervals to make sure your weld is completely sound.On a side note:   If its possible, I would like a song played from "Jesse and The Rippers" (from Full House) played from pre-installed, fixed ear buds whenever I put a sweet weld down.
Reply:Back to the LED headlight idea....have them powered by a small rechargeable battery, and fit a small solar panel on the front to recharge it from the arc light.
Reply:Originally Posted by rootweaveOn a side note:   If its possible, I would like a song played from "Jesse and The Rippers" (from Full House) played from pre-installed, fixed ear buds whenever I put a sweet weld down.50 pounds of gold
Reply:How about a camera on the front to feed to a larger screen view inside the helmet.  That way you can't burn your eyes, and the camera will show great detail.  Once off then the screen goes to normal lighting conditions like an auto darkening helmet.   Cooling fans, larger buttons while wearing gloves to make adjustments.  Better sweat bands, bluetooth with some speakers inside or a spot for your bluetooth devise?   Just ideas right?---No good deed goes unpunished---
Reply:Idea's yes and I am enjoying some of the jokes coming up.  I do like the idea of the camera feed but the cost of such a set up would put it out of the hands of the regular Joe welder and would probably require additional equipment adding significant weight.  There is a lcd type out there that will go from clear to %100 solid grey as fast as an AD lense will but there isn't one that will do that plus overlay a secondary image yet.I agree on the sweat bands and was thinking of something that would actually help with dealing with that without adding more than a few cents in cost.  Multimedia is something I want to steer away from out of concern for safety of the welder and that many companies won't allow ipods or other items to be worn.Welding Supervisor Department of Corrections.
Reply:If money were no object and I could built whatever I wanted, I would have a very LIGHTWEIGHT helmet that I pulled on very similiar to a motorcross helmet - It would have a very large clear viewing area and a large ADF that dropped down from above my head in the helmet - Think of the target aquisition on the pilot's helmet off of Airwolf from back in the 80's...The helmet would then snap on to a bellows collar on my cape sleeves (No more burning bits down the neck) and the sleeves would supply the cooling and breathing air from the PAPR.  No more hoses to tangle up or roll on.Kinda nuts I know... But I like it anyway.A lot of the suggestions (hard hats etc) are already available:What I use at work:http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawe...6EVs6E666666--Updated version that I would LOVE to get my hands on - The 9100 FX Air - This is a crappy link, I have a better one on my other computer, but you will get the idea.http://solutions.3m.co.uk/wps/portal...glas9100FXAir/Later,Jason
Reply:Almost all the digitally controlled welding power supplies that we use have circuitry of components originally designed for other markets.  Miller, for example in the Dynasty at least, uses 'PC-style digital circuit boards' that control the arc; as a result of the last 20 years in computer tech development.  The newer power supplies can perform welds not easily (not possible in some cases) done with the former analog circuit controls.So too, auto-darkening hoods, employ both cesium cells for power and photo-sensing switching to bias the lens circuits; all the 'parts' of these lens' were originally from other technology.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencete...ld-vision.htmlHere is a link to some technology that will eventually end up in our hoods, in my view.  The reason is that some other larger market place will drive the sales of this type of 'high(er)tech' display and it will become affordable, compared to its current pricing, and as it becomes much less overall cost ( because some form is made for wider sales) I think it will appear in a welding hood version.Head's up display of wire speed, amperage, voltage, surface temp and lots of other variables look to me to be just a matter of time?What about a (visual) overlay guide & movement timer as a puddle width guide in a "training mode"?  I think it would be 'doable' and if an onscreen picture or lines and timer were provided then learning to weld could be helped along by this 'visual guide'. (of course, that would require built in video and a processor but we're just guessing here so -why not?)This may seem unneeded or of little use (?) and I know that many welders are happy with their current equipment.  On the other hand, I don't know of anyone reading this Forum on an Underwood mechanical typewriter.So, just like the next 'new' cell phone or "iThing-pad-display", changes in the tools we use are coming and I'm sure willing to try a hood with more 'bells and whistles' than the one I'm using now, which is a far cry from the paper and fixed lens version I started using 40 years ago.Cheers,Kevin Morin
Reply:I do think it'd be really cool to at least have the option of a HUD (Heads up display) showing the actual welding amperage and voltage. Mig welders, for example, could benefit I think from actually seeing the exact amperage they are welding at, based on the contact tip to work distance they're holding. And especially TIG welding, so you could know exactly what amperage you're at even while using the pedal.Give me fuel, give me fire, give me that which I desire.
Reply:What would you like to see in a welding shield?Cameron Diaz Gordie -- "I believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant."
Reply:Fibre Metal nailed it with the Pipeliner, all I do is cut the "throat" down when I buy a new one.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:Well for my preference I would like to see a naked Marilyn Monroe inside my hood when I put it down. But that's my preference. Wouldn't get much welding done but sure have a good time trying.
Reply:A way to put somewhere on the screen in a corner the temperature of the part your welding, so you know interpass temp without having to flip up the helmet, reach for the temp gun check the temp. It would make life easier when you have strict procedure.
Reply:You have heard of "Sound cancelling headphones" I am sure. It would be cool to have a light cancelling something that would take the "ARC" light completely out of the field of view. Then it would just look like laying down metal without an arc. Don't know if the technology exists or not or if it could be sized for a helmet but it would be really cool if you cancel out the light because you would not have to darken the lens. Just dreaming right?As for the displays there could be an interface cable to the machine itself that could wirelessly give you all the info you would want including music. The speakers would act as ear covers (something I need all the time). I have always had trouble with headbands and sweatbands. Even though my hair is short I still have always had trouble keeping the helmet on my head. If I bend down to do something with the hood on, it slides right off. I crank the headband down so tight that I either break it or get a headache.And as a huge dream request, have the band do DNA on the wearer and make the helmet not work when my monster headed son uses it. He has his own but always grabs mine and then I can't find it later.
Reply:Just an update on this.I've narrowed down the design for the shield to five designs based on work conditions and settled on a thermal barrier thats extremely light weight and highly efficient though not cheap.  Sensor choices and management is being narrowed down to interchangeable module design but that part is still in very rough stages.  I recently ran across an industry article about a university researcher working on a wearable computer that he's designing to be used in critical welding situations and for training that is years ahead of where I'm at and solves a few problems I had been thinking on and could very well put an end to eye damage from the arc even with lense protection.  I've made a couple attempts to contact him but haven't had any luck so I will probably have to have a prototype put together and travel to Canada and try and get a meeting with him.Welding Supervisor Department of Corrections.
Reply:Originally Posted by Fat Bastard50 pounds of gold
Reply:Originally Posted by TEDTWOFEATHERS1.  Lock in the up position, like a Jackson.2.  Automatic ON.3.  Light weight less 10 oz.4.  Throat coverage.5.  Good Optics.6.  Sturdy headgear.7.  Cover lenses at all LWS.8.  Changeable batteries. 9.  Large viewing area.10. Large magnifier.
Reply:Originally Posted by TEDTWOFEATHERS1.  Lock in the up position, like a Jackson.2.  Automatic ON.3.  Light weight less 10 oz.4.  Throat coverage.5.  Good Optics.6.  Sturdy headgear.7.  Cover lenses at all LWS.8.  Changeable batteries. 9.  Large viewing area.10. Large magnifier.
Reply:Miss Hooters 2012REAL TRUCKS DON'T HAVE SPARK PLUGS
Reply:Originally Posted by welds4dI know it's not do-able, but an automatically adjustable cheater, so I can see in-focus regardless of face-to-work distance.
Reply:picture in picture ,thats skype compatible .satellite radio, LOl may be a hook up for xbox360 so  I have something to do when im  waiting for the fitter to get finished, central heat and air conditioning, built in xray lenses so I dont have to waight on the weld tech . o and a security alarm  a helmet like that needs one.
Reply:wow! what would i like to see in a welding shield of the future? how about one that lets me see like i did when i was 17?? better yet, let's me look like i was 17 when i took it off!! just sayin' if we're supposin'i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:seems like the headgear is the weak point on all the hoods I have.
Reply:Originally Posted by shortarcFog proof in cold weather and tougher headgear, seems like the headgear is the weak point on all the hoods I have.
Reply:pammy anderson!!!i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:Originally Posted by docwelderpammy anderson!!!
Reply:gerry, it might be worth it!!i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:Originally Posted by docweldergerry, it might be worth it!!