Slow welding helmet response time

[Runner]

I bought a cheapo HF auto darken helmet, but after the first couple of times I got flashed because it didn't work fast enough, I put it back on the shelf in the box. Ever since, I've been back to using the old 50's era Jackson with the flip-up lens I inherited from Dad.

Now, if I get flashed, it's because of my own stupidity, not left to chance on the helmet.

I'm sure there are probably good reliable ones out there, i.e., the brand names mentioned, but for the amount of welding I do, the old manual hood is doing the job for me.

 

[Gizmo36]

All of you that is going to throw them in the trash. Just pm me and I will give you my address . you can send them to me.

 

[ray66v]

the old manual hood is doing the job for me.

Yes, we all used them a very long time before the auto hoods came out, some weldors, (not welders), still do.

While I really like my auto darkening hood, the fact is, unless I'm working in a confined space, like under a car, I really don't need it.

 

[Dargo]

All of you that is going to throw them in the trash. Just pm me and I will give you my address . you can send them to me.

I don't have a braille typewriter.

 

[J_J]

I think the electronics on these helmets work as advertise. 125,000 sec is a really fast response time.

How many of you actually test your auto-darking helmets? There are controls that can be set as you choose. You say, how do I test? First I would set the shade level to max, and spark the lens, use a striker tool, or cigarette lighter, and repeat that for min or low shade number.. You can set the sensitivity, and delay. I believe that most of these use solar with battery backup.

Thinking back, I can't remember even a small recall on any of the auto-darking helmets.

 

[ray66v]

What if the cheap helmets darken but, don't properly protect you from the uv rays? A lot of cheap sunglasses had this problem.

Is there a certification of some sort on the Chinese ones?

 

[J_J]

What if the cheap helmets darken but, don't properly protect you from the uv rays? A lot of cheap sunglasses had this problem.

Is there a certification of some sort on the Chinese ones?

Even the cheap ones have the uv/ir protection. I guess some of you think that the lens in those Lincoln, Miller, etc or very special of something. Some time ago, even the top brands used the same lens as the cheapies.

It is kind of strange, but you take the cheap lens and replace the lens in a top brand helmet, and you would not be able to tell the difference.

Some people will always buy high priced, or name brands and that is their choice. To tell others that they are gonna go blind if they don't buy certain helmets is like preaching to the masses.

Don't get me wrong, every one likes and wants to protect their eyes.

An analogy, would be, don't use those tires on your car, use the ones that I use. You could relate this to safety, maybe.

In the past, I have tried to buy the best and greatest, but after all, there is always something greater, or better. Just because it says it is, doesn't mean it is.

Here is a safety tip for tractor owners. While working around water with a tip over situation, unbuckle that seatbelt. It's to hard to think with that crap in your pants, and that seatbelt pinching your belly.

When that hydraulic hose ruptured on my drive motor, as I was sliding back-wards to the water, total fear came over me, I really don't know what would have happen, but the machine hit a tree and stopped it.

 

[ray66v]

Even the cheap ones have the uv/ir protection.

Is that your opinion? Or, again, is there a certification proving there is the proper level of protection?

I am not someone who always buys top of the line stuff. I shop do my research, and go for the best value.

And I do buy Chinese made products, when I feel there are a good value to me.

However, the concern over Chinese products being safe is well justified. There has been enough documented cases of safety issues and poisonings, to show they occasionally do not care if a product is unsafe. As an illustration, the Chinese made sunglasses for years, with little or no uv protection, even though it was know to be needed.

Anyone who is willing to blindly accept Chinese off brand helmets to be safe, may very well end up that way.

 

[Scooby074]

I think the Princess Auto ones are stamped that they meet the old ANSI Z87.1 standard. However, in my experience the manufacturers can pretty much stamp anything on the products and any "certification" is no guarantee of quality. There's essentially no enforcement so these company's have nothing to lose. Certification or not, i know how my eyes felt after using a cheap helmet. Call it what you will, but i can weld for hours continuously with my miller and my eyes feel fine.

 

[Dargo]

I think the Princess Auto ones are stamped that they meet the old ANSI Z87.1 standard. However, in my experience the manufacturers can pretty much stamp anything on the products and any "certification" is no guarantee of quality. There's essentially no enforcement so these company's have nothing to lose. Certification or not, i know how my eyes felt after using a cheap helmet. Call it what you will, but i can weld for hours continuously with my miller and my eyes feel fine.

This sort of reminds me of going zip lining and renting ATV's in Costs Rica; there was no waivers or any forms to sign. When I asked the guide about no forms, he said in his broken English, "You think any American court is going to sue us you silly man? You get hurt and I've never seen you before. You wanna go or not?"

If you toast your eyes using a cheapo, by any standard, Chinese hood, do you really think that you'll be able to sue a Chinese company? Remember the "you silly man" part from above. And don't think for an instant your blind butt will be able to sue the importer or seller either. They will just claim that they made no further representations than the manufacturer, so they will be held harmless and you'll still be just as blind. If you believe Chinese certification labels, I have some lovely oceanfront property here in Indiana to sell you!