Auto Darkening Lens Reaction Time

[Welshman]

Sensitivity is more of a Tig feature for 2 sensor Hoods. Some or most hoods have trouble picking up a Tig Arc because the torch is usually very close to the arc and often blocks it. You can make your lens more sensitive to darken when Tig Welding. However, Higher end hoods have 4 sensors and are able to pick up the Tig arc better compared to 2 sensor hoods like th HF ones and others. Another use for sensitivity is reflective arc from behind or sunshine from behind. You can turn it down to be less sensitive to reflective arc.

Forgive me for being slow this morning. I take it that you agree that this is strictly a sensitivity control as opposed to a "speed control"?

 

[BlacknTan]

I just bought a Speedglas 9100X.

Lots of features for the darkening and undarkening. I didn't want to spend that much money, but I've only got one set of eyes.

 

[yomax4]

Forgive me for being slow this morning. I take it that you agree that this is strictly a sensitivity control as opposed to a "speed control"?

Yes I agree. Sensitivity control is, Sensitivity Control.

 

[yomax4]

I just bought a Speedglas 9100X.

Lots of features for the darkening and undarkening. I didn't want to spend that much money, but I've only got one set of eyes.

I use Speed Glass as well. I would encourage everyone to buy the best name brand they can afford. Eye Damage ( if any ) wont show up for a dozen or more years.

 

[Welshman]

That Speedglas 9100x looks like a first rate helmet. The spec's I read on it shows the lens switching speed as .1 milliseconds. That then, would appear to be "fast enough".

 

[yomax4]

Most AD hoods switch faster than the Arc can travel to your eye. Some use the magnetics of the arc.

 

[Travelover]

Most AD hoods switch faster than the Arc can travel to your eye. ...........

Speed of light is 186,000 miles per second.
4 billionths of a second to go 4 feet.

 

[crazyal]

I have a HF special, $30. Somethings I'll spend money on while others I know will find the floor too often. It works pretty good but it must have a delay built into it when switching from dark to light. Fine for welding beads but when doing tack welds it would be nice if it was quicker.

 

[MrWinkey]

Another vote for Speedglas.
I used to use a cheapie HF one but I found when welding frequently I would come home to itchy eyes.

Speedglas is a great company also. My hat messed up after many years and they sold me all new guts for a great price. It was a nice upgrade to the digital buttons. No more tiny things that I needed to take my gloves off!

You can always go old school and buy a fixed shade?

 

[JoeinTX]

Two years ago I experienced a rather severe eye burn after having gotten my first auto-darkening helmet and not fully understanding all of the adjustments it had or where I needed them to be.

I spent a little bit playing with and it seemed to work perfectly fine and seemed to darken/lighten instantly upon arc to the naked eye. So I proceeded to do a couple hours worth of welding with my new helmet just thrilled at what a better welder I had become with it not realizing anything was wrong. A couple hours later I thought I was experiencing a sudden bought of allergies as my eyes got all irritated and were watering terribly. Then they began to hurt rather badly it hit me what had happened. Didn't have the new helmet adjusted to the correct reaction speed and every time I struck an arc the lens delayed momentarily allowing a minute burst of light through to my eyes but it was not noticeable to me. I dialed the sensitivity up since and haven't had a problem again.

Not fun though. Eyes feel like they're full of sand and you can't get it out. Spent several days afterward stuck in the house with all lights off, shades drawn, tv/computer dimmed way back, and wearing sunglasses until my eyes healed themselves back.