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.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

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.

Speaking of bifocals, as a younger man, I had always wondered how woodworkers, older woodworkers with years of experience, managed to cut their hands and fingers until a friend of mine pointed out the difference where one's hands appear to be relative to where they were looking through their bi-focal lenses.

Everybody stay safe out there.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I notice my limbs coliding with more and more object. Not sure why. Not good if it's some sharp, spinning thingamijig.

 

[Big Barn]

Speaking of bifocals, as a younger man, I had always wondered how woodworkers, older woodworkers with years of experience, managed to cut their hands and fingers until a friend of mine pointed out the difference where one's hands appear to be relative to where they were looking through their bi-focal lenses.

Everybody stay safe out there.

That’s a good point.

 

[RandyT]

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.

No Bi-focal or sometimes called multi focal contact lenses use your standard prescription on the outer part of the contact and the reading distance prescription on the center. So when you are looking at distance your eye uses the outer part of the contact to focus, but when you move into reading distance your eye tends to focus more toward the center which is the reading part of the contact.

I have worn the bi-focal contacts for about 4 years now, but some doctors will set you up with a distance contact in one eye and reading distance in the other and then you use which ever eye for what you are doing. I can't to that because if my contacts are out of focus from each other it gives me headaches.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Thanks for clearing that up. I always wondered how they would keep the bi-focal contacts in the correct orientation.

I once tried a system where contacts worn at night reshape your eyeball so you don't need correction during the day. What a disaster!

 

[the old grind]

.. some doctors will set you up with a distance contact in one eye and reading distance in the other and then you use which ever eye for what you are doing. I can't to that because if my contacts are out of focus from each other it gives me headaches.

What I had in mind about any 'bi-focal contact lens' method/system. I gotta think that this is for folks with 'mild' prescriptions. Say 3.00 or less on myopia, and 1.5-2.00 on presbyopia at most.

Looking forward to trying out new hood with new Everlast welder this weekend. If the helmet works ok, I might admit which cheapo I bought.

 

[Big Barn]

If the helmet works ok, I might admit which cheapo I bought.

Either way we’ll get it out of you.

Hey. Those two AD’s I bought for five bucks each were so cheap they couldn’t afford to print labels for them.

 

[Sodo]

I bought a low-end Miller helmet.
I have always thought it was strange.
Like the its blurry the first couple seconds after darkening.

Then I bought an Harbor freight helmet, so I could help folks learn how to weld.
I found ther Harbor Freight unit to be much better than the Miller.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I was reading some welding stuff tonight and stumbled upon two articles relevant to this thread. First, about 20 auto-dimming hoods grouped by price range were compared and Jackson's True Sight II, W70 lens won the upper end. https://weldingequipmentpro.com/buying-guides/best-welding-helmet/
Second, an article that explains the EN379 rating system of auto-dimming hoods is interesting and a good way to judge what to expect from a welding hood when you see it on a shelf, in a box at your local store. 1+1+1+1 = Clarity

 

[dragoneggs]

I bought a low-end Miller helmet.
I have always thought it was strange.
Like the its blurry the first couple seconds after darkening.

Then I bought an Harbor freight helmet, so I could help folks learn how to weld.
I found ther Harbor Freight unit to be much better than the Miller.

Exactly the opposite of my experience. First bought the HF cheapo. First AD helmet I ever tried. I think it must have been defective so I returned it and bought the cheapest Miller. Much better. Do wish I could step up to a larger viewing area with hopefully better optics someday. Just too low on the tool priority list. Trying to convince myself that I need a ‘spare’ hood for a buddy if they stop by.