Auto Darkening Helmets. Is there a difference?

[Gary Fowler]

I don't see that amount of welding has anything to do with being able to see or not. I can't see what I'm doing whether I am doing a tiny job or a big project. So, I need to do something to correct this and if it costs, unfortunately, that's just the price of being able to see given my eyesight. Or, just throw in the towel.

Being able to see has nothing to do with the helmet. Get some cheater lens or a cheap pair of reader glasses that fit your vision. Set the shade of the lens to fit your eyes, older eyes like mine (maybe yours too) need lighter shade since I dont see well in the dark.
As I said, the blue filter seems to work better than the green which most helmets have.

The one big difference in AD helmets is the number of light sensors that they have, most have two at the top but some high end will have 4, 2 at top and 2 at the bottom which keeps them working even when you may block the top two.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

I don't see that amount of welding has anything to do with being able to see or not. I can't see what I'm doing whether I am doing a tiny job or a big project. So, I need to do something to correct this and if it costs, unfortunately, that's just the price of being able to see given my eyesight. Or, just throw in the towel.

Do you have cataracts? After my cataract surgery it was astounding how much better I could see where the puddle was going and even finally follow the soapstone line or edges of the crater. Still need magnification which is provided by my ANSI corrected safety glasses.

Ron

 

[the old grind]

I've been welding at <100a both Mig & stick and could never see the puddles for sour hen crap. Then someone said I should have the shade at ~10 vs at 13. :laughing: Cataract and internals floaties in my shootin' eye, but still a few years out for cataract surgery.

So I buy a nice Helmet on line, seems too good to be true, then I find out why it might be. "Outer" shield is 4.75" x 5.5" vs the everywhere 4.5 x 5.25. I'll ask at LWS when I go to sign up for gases/bottles. (Meanwhile to cheer myself up after failing to vet the product, I ordered a MTS251si direct from Everlast.)

Anyway, the hood has 4 sensors, cut/weld/grind switch, 'true color', & a test switch, and battery access is easy enough. Slot for 2.0 cheater is well placed about middle of the viewing area. I've worn glasses since '57 (2nd grade) and bi-focals since '90 (precision tool grind/inspect).

Welder cost a few bux, but I got the hood for <$100 to balance that out. My two biggest buzz boxes are AC-only, and may be cemented into plastic drums for ballast.

 

[Industrial Toys]

This quest has kind of been put on hold with other projects getting priority and funding. YES, first thing will be to get reading glasses with different prescriptions for each eye. Not much point trying to determine the visual performance of helmets when your vision is compromised.

 

[dragoneggs]

This quest has kind of been put on hold with other projects getting priority and funding. YES, first thing will be to get reading glasses with different prescriptions for each eye. Not much point trying to determine the visual performance of helmets when your vision is compromised.

Yep, get your short distance vision corrected best you can first.

 

[Big Barn]

Meanwhile to cheer myself up after failing to vet the product, I ordered a MTS251si direct from Everlast.)
:

Excellent plan. Always works for me!

Keep us updated when you get the new Everlast plugged in.

I know you won’t be one of those morons showing how to unpack new toys on YouTube

 

[the old grind]

This quest has kind of been put on hold with other projects getting priority and funding. YES, first thing will be to get reading glasses with different prescriptions for each eye. Not much point trying to determine the visual performance of helmets when your vision is compromised.

Are you one that has 'staggered' contacts for near & far? (AKA bifocal contacts) Get ones that would require you use readers, then just use a std cheater?

 

[Industrial Toys]

Yes, but staggered right eye to left eye. So, nothing Bi-Focal.

 

[the old grind]

What I meant.

What I said.

Or not?

 

[Industrial Toys]

I thought Bi-Focal Contacts were just kind of like B-Focal Glasses, only in a tiny version. You need to whip your head up and down depending on whether you wish to see far or near.