Auto-darkening helmet

[TractorGuy]

I know this is a month old but I will cast another vote for the HF helmet. Mine is several years old and continues to work flawlessly. They tried to sell me a service contract to cover the "expensive" battery but I figured if the battery cost that much I would just buy another helmet. The level of darkness and the response time are both adjustable on the one I bought.

 

[MFWD]

Hello,
I know this thread is about auto-darkening helmets and I thought about buying one many times. However, I guess I am just too "old school" for one. First, I don't like helmets that you put on your head. My helmet has a handle on the front of it that you can hold with one hand. That leaves the other hand to weld with. When I weld, I do it on my garage apron outside and many times it is cold and I have a hat on. I find that I can set the helmet down quickly, out of the way, when I am done running a weld and I don't have to fool around with an annoying helmet bouncing around on my head. I'm curious if anyone else works this way.

MFWD

 

[Doofy]

My welds are like my mind...they wander. I enjoy my auto darkening hood and there is some improvement but I still can't see all that great. The helmet keeps the sparks off my sparsely populated head though.

 

[Big Barn]

Hello,
I know this thread is about auto-darkening helmets and I thought about buying one many times. However, I guess I am just too "old school" for one. First, I don't like helmets that you put on your head. My helmet has a handle on the front of it that you can hold with one hand. That leaves the other hand to weld with. When I weld, I do it on my garage apron outside and many times it is cold and I have a hat on. I find that I can set the helmet down quickly, out of the way, when I am done running a weld and I don't have to fool around with an annoying helmet bouncing around on my head. I'm curious if anyone else works this way.

MFWD

I do. Most EVERYTHING annoys me these days INCLUDING helmets. If I'm just tacking up an assembly I will just hold the helmet with one hand. The helmet in the flipped up position is also annoying.

Problem is most times I NEED the use of my NONwelding hand to brace my other hand. (Or hold a part to be tacked.)

You would probably LIKE the auto dark feature. Try retrofitting your hand held mask with a new lens.

 

[dragoneggs]

My welds are like my mind...they wander. I enjoy my auto darkening hood and there is some improvement but I still can't see all that great. The helmet keeps the sparks off my sparsely populated head though.

Doofy, I can't resist due to your handle, but I assume you are talking about your hair?

I am a novice and I need my other hand to help position and guide my bead. I can barely weld with two hands so thinking of welding with one is out of the question. I picked up welding again after learning in college 35years ago. The auto-darkening and super lightweight helmets were one of the reasons it makes it more pleasurable to me. I was struggling with wearing readers under the hood but when I got a cheater lens that snapped in to the helmet it instantly made me happier as I didn't have to hassle with putting on additional stuff on my head. Now (and maybe I should patent this design) someone should add a lightweight respirator that easily seals to your mouth/nose when you nod your head to drop the hood. :cool2:

 

[Doofy]

Doofy, I can't resist due to your handle, but I assume you are talking about your hair?

I am a novice and I need my other hand to help position and guide my bead. I can barely weld with two hands so thinking of welding with one is out of the question. I picked up welding again after learning in college 35years ago. The auto-darkening and super lightweight helmets were one of the reasons it makes it more pleasurable to me. I was struggling with wearing readers under the hood but when I got a cheater lens that snapped in to the helmet it instantly made me happier as I didn't have to hassle with putting on additional stuff on my head. Now (and maybe I should patent this design) someone should add a lightweight respirator that easily seals to your mouth/nose when you nod your head to drop the hood. :cool2:

Yep, hair is getting pretty thin. A cheater lens, now that is an idea worth considering. I wear progressive lenses and have a really hard time focusing.

My biggest problem is light coming in the back of the hood and glaring on the lens. I need to find some kind of flame resistant cloth to make some kind of light-blocking flaps.

Don't imagine I could manage a respirator. I get a little claustrophobic as it is and they always fog up my glasses. I also tend to burn lots of small holes in my sneakers. I'm afraid of what will happen if I should get a plasma cutter for Christmas.

 

[stuckmotor]

I have a HF one. It hangs on the tank valve on my mig welder. When I touch the mig wire to the steel without pulling the trigger it makes a small spark that's just enough to force the lens to darken. It's probably 10 years old now and has never failed to work. The biggest issue with it is the protective lens is plastic so splatter does stick to it on occasion and when it gets covered in smoke and dust if you are not very careful you will scratch it. Those scratches take their toll making the puddle harder to see. Now that I'm getting older and my eyes need a little help I'll probably replace it with something nicer with a thinker plastic protector lens (or glass) so I can just replace the glass at will. I'm also going to get something that I can use a cheater lens with.

I had a glass lens once. Spatter runied it after night or two of stick welding. Plastic works much better for me. I replace the plastic ones every so often.

 

[dragoneggs]

Yep, hair is getting pretty thin. A cheater lens, now that is an idea worth considering. I wear progressive lenses and have a really hard time focusing.

My biggest problem is light coming in the back of the hood and glaring on the lens. I need to find some kind of flame resistant cloth to make some kind of light-blocking flaps.

Don't imagine I could manage a respirator. I get a little claustrophobic as it is and they always fog up my glasses. I also tend to burn lots of small holes in my sneakers. I'm afraid of what will happen if I should get a plasma cutter for Christmas.

Progressives for me too... highly recommend the cheaters. I have the cheapest Miller auto-darkening (paid $99 I think) and they are good enough for my occasional use. Yeah a bigger viewing panel would be good but it means more $$$. A plasma cutter was my Christmas gift last Christmas. Man they are fun! Changes things. Don't need a helmet for that... just some decent goggles. Definitely wear a thin beanie then.

 

[Doofy]

Progressives for me too... highly recommend the cheaters. I have the cheapest Miller auto-darkening (paid $99 I think) and they are good enough for my occasional use. Yeah a bigger viewing panel would be good but it means more $$$. A plasma cutter was my Christmas gift last Christmas. Man they are fun! Changes things. Don't need a helmet for that... just some decent goggles. Definitely wear a thin beanie then.

Nice emoji! Does resemble me. I don't think my hood is set up for cheater lenses so I may have to upgrade.

 

[timswi]

Bought a large window auto-darkening helmet from Lowes..Should have done this years ago. I migged with an old school small window helmet and a hand held...Neither allowed for the flexibility that the auto does. Had it for a couple of years and has worked flawlessly.