Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet

[EddieWalker]

My welder came with a fairly cheap helmet that worked fine. It wasn't very comfortable and the glass was too small, but since I already had it, I just kept using it.

The other day the head strap broke off at the point it attaches to the hood. No way to fix it, so on a trip to Lowes I looked at what they had. Lincoln was the only brand available and I think they are decent quality. The auto darkening helmet was $100 and the standard one with a large face was $32.

I don't do allot of welding and have this fear that the auto darkening one will stop working on me one day, not to mention it will sitt for months at a time with out being used.

I bought the $32 one.

Eddie

 

[Cord]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( <font color="blue"> One other thing I noticed with most of those "pros" at the power plant, they would hold the end of the rod with their other hand (with glove) just off where they were going to weld, then a quick flip of the head to lower the helmet, and then they strike the arc. And they always strike an arc the FIRST TIME.)</font>

I wasn't going to mention it, but I was thinking the same thing when I posted above. I'll bring the rod with in an inch of where I want it. Mark in my mind which direction I need to move the tip and then rapidly dip my head which brings the helmet down. Usually I can get an arc on the first tap and then make a quick adjustment to the exact location of the bead. What sucks is when you accidentally bump the rod and get a flash. **** that hurts. For the average home user, the autodarkening helmet is a god send.

 

[JohnF_ASI]

I bought one but found it won't turn off (become lighter) because of the small spotlamp I use on my welding table.
I've always found that I weld better and can see better when the work is well lit.
I thought it was because it was a halogen lamp but I changed it for a normal bulb and still the same.
Strangely, I can walk towards a window with it where the sun brightly lights the bench and can look at a very bright reflection on a piece of aluminium - much brighter than my bench lamp - on the bench without the helmet darkening.
I'm wondering if the better quality helmets (this one is a $79 Aust. model) are not so sensitive to what I see as normal lighting conditions..
I also don't like the fact that it's a bright blue light when welding when I'm used to green..

 

[wushaw]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I bought one but found it won't turn off (become lighter) because of the small spotlamp I use on my welding table.
I've always found that I weld better and can see better when the work is well lit.
I thought it was because it was a halogen lamp but I changed it for a normal bulb and still the same.
Strangely, I can walk towards a window with it where the sun brightly lights the bench and can look at a very bright reflection on a piece of aluminium - much brighter than my bench lamp - on the bench without the helmet darkening.
I'm wondering if the better quality helmets (this one is a $79 Aust. model) are not so sensitive to what I see as normal lighting conditions..
I also don't like the fact that it's a bright blue light when welding when I'm used to green.. )</font>

I noticed this also and what I found is if the sensor or sensors don't SEE the light then it won't darken, the $$$ helments have more sensors so it will darken in any position.

I will use a halogen light directed on my welding area to see my work when working at night in my shop (overhead floresent not bright enough) I have to position it correctly usually beside me so the helment won't darken before I begin.

Change the position of your light to see if it helps.

 

[Berniep]

I have a miller autodark. Not sure if it's the BWE or not but the lense is bigger than the ones at Tractor Supply. As for the work light making it go dark, mine has a sensitivity knob that I can adjust when I am working outside or under a bright light.
I love this thing.
I have been told that Hornel/speedglas is a very good brand.
they were certainly more expensive than my Miller when I was shopping for them