Fixed shade helmet switch to a auto helmet !

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So I've been welding with a jackson helmet with the 4x5 screen for 10 years ! I use gold 11 and 12 lens and welding offroad race truck chassis @ 180 -188 is fine with the 12 lens , but recently I've been doing bench welding all day 8-10 hours at close to the same amps 188 -200  and my eyes have been starting to bug me like it might be a hair to bright , so I call my local welding supply rep and ask him to bring me a 13 gold , he says he has to order it cuz all they Carrie is up to a 12 gold . So I start thinking now might be the time to upgrade to the auto   Darkening helmet I've always wanted , a Speedglas 9100xx . So I talk to some people in my shop and decide to try one of their auto helmets out for the a few days , Conclusion is ! I like how it's easy to change the lens shades , by the press of a button , and the 13 was perfect all day , but the next morning I had a splitting headache , not from flash burn , my eyes felt amazing ,  but I think it was from wherein the helmet most of the day without taking it off cuz u can see through the shade 3 or 5 whatever it is , but the switching from that shade to the shade 13 all day I think is what did it ? Has anyone had any similar problems when switching from reg helmet to a auto darkening helmet ?  I'm trying to figure out the problem before I buy the expensive Speedglas helmet and I really like saving time changing filter shades with just a press of a button !
Reply:i;ve used a miller elite for almost 4 years and i love it, its paid for itself every week and ive had to replace the batteries once in this time frame... its been dropped etc but i also dont leave it around and take it with me when i leavei used a 2x4 auto darkening insert on a normal shield for almost a month at shade 10 doing flux core...  after a month, when i was driving id notice my eyes would have a blue dot almost permanently,,, i was actually worried... when i looked at trees, the stumps would almost appear to move as a hallicuination.... i was f*ing my eyes up... bought a helmet adapter for the miller elite and problem solved, but the helmet adapter wears out after about 2-3 months (30$ where i am)... the teeth wear down to nothing giving the helmet no resistance and drops thats just my situationps: when i grind, i dont use the grind setting... i use the Xmode (i use the welding mode for gouging at shade 13 and higher sensitivity), but the helmet flicks off when it sees the sparks (not all the time) and ive got to let go the trigger of the grinder and i can see again or turn the shield off (depending how much grinding i have to do) and sometimes forget to turn it back on which gives you a good dart to the eyes but no arc flashpros and cons to each i guessLast edited by then3wguy; 08-05-2012 at 03:43 AM.
Reply:If I may make a suggestion, I bet that you are getting a reflection (on the bench with your old helmet).Miller thunderbolt 250Decastar 135ERecovering tool-o-holic ESAB OAI have been interested or involved in Electrical, Fire Alarm, Auto, Marine, Welding, Electronics ETC to name a just a few. So YES you can own too many tools.
Reply:You might try changing your head gear or you are too tight.  I now and then get headachs on the back of my head and have found it due to different hard hats or hoods.Dan
Reply:My normal helmet was put away ,but I did notice I was getting a lot of reflection off the table cuz the Lincoln auto helmet I was trying has bad coverage for the neck , so I made a paper templet and taped it on for better coverage , the problem might be the helmet also it's a low grade auto helmet that my boss got from Lincoln motor sports  program free , the head gear Deffinitly sucks , so that might also be a problem , i have the sensitivity on max and also the delay on max so it stays dark longest after u stop the arc , you no when u tack with it how it switches from light to dark a lot of times if your tacking a big part together ? I think that's what's doing it  ? I guess the helmet I want , the high end speedglass 9100xx has a mode for tacking that only lightens up half way in the shading numbers in between tacks instead of lighting all the way to the lightest shade due to people getting headaches !
Reply:If your still having problems with your AD helmet then spend the 20 bucks on a athermal gold #13 and don't worry about it anymore.
Reply:Originally Posted by JoeMayoIf your still having problems with your AD helmet then spend the 20 bucks on a athermal gold #13 and don't worry about it anymore.
Reply:I read it. Switched to newer style AD helmet but headgear bothers him.I would just order a #13 gold and use your old helmet instead of spending 300bucks on a speedglas. Yes the AD's flip in 1/????? sec but a nice fixed shade gold with your headgear your used to will work out better I think.
Reply:That is actually what I was thinking but im working something out with the good Speedglas with my boss since it will just save him money and I'll be more efficient , technology has advanced enough that I am ready to make the switch , plus the addflo air system is something I would like to upgrade to eventually and my welding supply guy told me if I don't like it ( meaning it gives me headaches after a few days ) I can return it  , so I'm going to give it a try , thanks guys for all your input and I'll keep u updated
Reply:How's that hood working out for you? I like that bib.As far as working something out with your employer, I would think twice. He may EXPECT an increase in productivity. I would ask him to purchase and allow you to pay him like $40 a month cash until it is paid. Then if you are more productive, point it out on your next review.As far as errant arc flash, I have resorted to wearing amber safety glasses under my hood. Keeps the headaches to a minimum.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:I actually just got it today , took 2 weeks for it to come in , It was a special order for the 9100xx with no side windows at all ,,,,,,,, I also got the bib too , I will let u no after I use it for a few days , !!!! The pic I posted was  an example of the set up I wanted !!!!! I've been using a reg black shade 13 an my eyes have been 100%, with no headaches / minimal ,,,,,. But I do change my lens shades a few times a day which takes a lot of time ( u no finger prints oily smudge's , so it takes time to clean ,,,,,,So the new helmet will be more productive already !!!!,lol And It is very comfortable for the couple min. I had it on to adjust the super comfortable head gear , man I already no this helmet is goin to be amazing  ,,, And I did work it out with my boss
Reply:Sounds like you're pretty stoked.  In your line of work, it should work skookum!
Reply:check out the speedglass 9100fx adflow as well dont know what they cost but the flip up grind lense is pretty awesome, it has all the cloth bits on the one above, is quite comfy. and 3m makes a ventury ac unit for it called a v100 which is truely awesome during the hot parts of summer
Reply:Originally Posted by shovelonHow's that hood working out for you? I like that bib.As far as working something out with your employer, I would think twice. He may EXPECT an increase in productivity. I would ask him to purchase and allow you to pay him like $40 a month cash until it is paid. Then if you are more productive, point it out on your next review.As far as errant arc flash, I have resorted to wearing amber safety glasses under my hood. Keeps the headaches to a minimum.
Reply:Originally Posted by Eric Eickhoff can't wait to get back to work lol
Reply:Hi, one thing ya'll forget and that is at the end of the weld when the arc stops and the shade glass on the AD type instantly lightens up you get an IR blast from the still white hot weld zone......doesn't happen with the flip up type due to the delay in flipping up to see the finish weld.I've seen some people heating steel to do some bending and the almost white hot steel is emitting IR rays that will cause you eye problems big time.If you're welding on the bench for 8 hours a day, you're gonna get IR radiation cooking of your eyes  unless you delay in looking at the weld area till it cools down to red.Some people don't realise it but Infra Red (IR) radiation will go right through glass and burn you, whereas Ultra Violet (UV) radiation will be blocked....one of the reasons you can't get suntanned on a cold day in full sunlight behind a glass window, but you can get warmed by the IR.Even behind the shield, you get a rapid opening and closing of your iris in your eyes as the dark shield of the AD helmet goes from dark to light and your iris closes rapidly (muscle contraction) when the eyes see the bright hot weld metal.I use a plasma welder, and I also use a full face grinding shield but with a #5 dark shield, but at first I was getting dazzled by the bright weld zone when I lifted the shield too soon.....had to wait at least 10 seconds for the weld zone to darken down before looking at it. You can get this phenomena when you do brazing too, and lift the goggles too soon to view the job.You don't get this from stick welding because the slag cools rapidly and never gets to remain that bright at the end of the weld.Ian.Last edited by puddytat; 09-02-2012 at 01:23 AM.
Reply:Helmet is perfect , 50 hours of welding this last week and I felt great , no headaches , and eyes where super fresh feeling ,!!! But I find myself treating it like a new car ,,,, lol
Reply:Originally Posted by Eric EickhoffHelmet is perfect , 50 hours of welding this last week and I felt great , no headaches , and eyes where super fresh feeling ,!!! But I find myself treating it like a new car ,,,, lol
Reply:Originally Posted by puddytatHi, one thing ya'll forget and that is at the end of the weld when the arc stops and the shade glass on the AD type instantly lightens up you get an IR blast from the still white hot weld zone......doesn't happen with the flip up type due to the delay in flipping up to see the finish weld.
Reply:I think it's perfect for me ! Head gear and all ,, I have a brand new 9100xx helmet