Care and Feeding of welding helmet

[woodlandfarms]

So how do you guys keep your glass (Plastic) clean? Do you store your helmet in such a way it gets some light so the batteries are up to snuff when you grab your helmet?

 

[Shield Arc]

I only use flannel cloth to wipe my welding lenses. My auto lenses are solar powered. I just hang the one I'm using on a hook near the welding table in front of a space heater. Here in the north west fogging is always an issue. You can see it in the back ground of this picture.

 

[rankrank1]

My shop stinks compared to most other peoples. I do my welding outside, but my welder lives in a ratty old barn that has part gravel floor and part dirt floor and is drafty and even leaks in spots. I use an old metal file cabinet that someone tossed out by the road (freebie) to store my welding leathers, welding gloves, welding helmet, safety glasses, and even my clear plastic grinding shield. Keeps everything reasonably clean considering the circumstances. The helmets fit nicely in the big square drawers.

I do not use auto-darkening helmets though - still use just old school flip hoods.

 

[robs660]

Pledge multi surface spray and micro fiber. I hang them up high enough that they don't get too dirty when not in use

 

[Scooby074]

Just dont step, sit or drop anything on it and you'll be fine

I usually put mine in a window although it is battery/solar powered.

I clean mine with windex.

 

[Arc weld]

Some people say putting an auto lens in the sun will recharge the solar cell. It might but it won't recharge the batteries if your helmet has both. Liquid soap and lots of water and then a soft cloth to dry.

 

[joshuabardwell]

I always assumed the batteries got plenty of UV from the arc. If I ever left the hood idle long enough that the batteries were fully discharged, I'd worry, but as long as there's enough charge to get the first five minutes of welding, I figure the hood is topping off from the arc, not running down.

 

[Arc weld]

One of the guys at work says the arc doesn't produce UV rays. Apparently some owners manuals say to place the lens in the sun to charge the solar cell. I never had an auto dark helmet but I have used one. I think it would be a fun experiment to see how the new generation welders, with the auto helmets, would do with a conventional helmet having to nod their head to get it to come down. I think it would give some of them a new respect for the old school welders.

 

[Shield Arc]

I've been using an auto lens for almost 2-years now. I still lift my hood after every weld. Hard habit to break I guess. Auto lenses are nice for when you drop the hood, you can find the exact place to start, less chance of chicken scratches outside the weld zone.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have used auto dark hoods since 1991 (first one was a SpeedGlas with batteries) but now I just buy the cheap HF freight models and they seem to work just as well. I was storing mine on the wall hanging on a screw but after about a year it got to where the battery wouldn't stay charged so I rigged up some wire on my garage door so I can hang it in front of a West facing window and now it stays charged up. Before it would be dead and the first few arcs you struck would not darken till the UV light from the arc charged it up enough to darken (a second or so) It still has UV protection even though it isn't dark so it wont harm your eyes, just gets pretty bright for a second.