Danger for young eyes?

[ametcalf]

This week HF had $79 auto darkening helmets on sale for $34 for "Inside Track" members. I bought 2 of them because I would like to teach my 11 year old twin granddaughters what little I know about welding this summer. The welder is an old Lincoln 225A tombstone. I mentioned this to a friend of mine this morning and he said he would be worried about hurting their eyes at this young age. I showed their mother how to weld when she was not much older than they are. I never thought about hurting her eyes, we were very careful not to flash our eyes while striking the arc. Any thoughts on the subject?

 

[deereman75]

This week HF had $79 auto darkening helmets on sale for $34 for "Inside Track" members. I bought 2 of them because I would like to teach my 11 year old twin granddaughters what little I know about welding this summer. The welder is an old Lincoln 225A tombstone. I mentioned this to a friend of mine this morning and he said he would be worried about hurting their eyes at this young age. I showed their mother how to weld when she was not much older than they are. I never thought about hurting her eyes, we were very careful not to flash our eyes while striking the arc. Any thoughts on the subject?

I am in high school now. My dad showed me how to weld with his tombstone when I was 10. I always used a fixed shade helmet until a few months ago, when I got a lincoln auto dark. As long as you use proper safety, I see no issue with teaching people to weld at a young age. (I support it) As for the auto dark helmets, I know nothing about the HF ones, but I hear many people use them with great success. I find it easier to flash myself with a fixed lens helmet then with an auto dark. In short, I say teach them, it could help them later in life. Good to get them started when they are young, and willing to learn.

 

[Shield Arc]

I don't know about using a Harbor Freights welding hood, I personally wouldn't spare any expense on my grandkids eyes.
But I've read numerous articles about the eyes and welding, with todays filter lenses there seems to be more worry about our lungs, than our eyes.

 

[Craig Clayton]

I have never used an Auto welding helmet, I am still old school grade 10/11. Excess UV light can come from many sources. Many years ago while camping my father recieved ( ARC EYES ) from boating. The owner of the private camp ground was a semi retired MD. He said my father burned his eyes from the many ripples on the water each time the angle reflected the sun light. He wore sun glasses for the rest of the week and had the classic (SAND ) in his eyes.
I have heard of Auto helmets not switching if they are low on charge.???

As a safety measure you might teach your grands if they ever see a strong light to shut their eyes fast and tight.
My oldest daughter went to University for Art and did some welding of metal.

Craig Clayton

 

[tglass]

I am in high school now. My dad showed me how to weld with his tombstone when I was 10. I always used a fixed shade helmet until a few months ago, when I got a lincoln auto dark. As long as you use proper safety, I see no issue with teaching people to weld at a young age. (I support it) As for the auto dark helmets, I know nothing about the HF ones, but I hear many people use them with great success. I find it easier to flash myself with a fixed lens helmet then with an auto dark. In short, I say teach them, it could help them later in life. Good to get them started when they are young, and willing to learn.

auto darkening is the only way to go, but before use make sure everything is set. intensity, darkening speed, etc.. I've saw a lot of people get flash or eyes burnt because of this commen mistake. keep them clean and set right and they will last a long time and prevent alot of flash.

 

[Willl]

"I don't know about using a Harbor Freights welding hood, I personally wouldn't spare any expense on my grandkids eyes."

Cause the more expensive models are made at a better china shop than the HF china shop ?

 

[Shield Arc]

"I don't know about using a Harbor Freights welding hood, I personally wouldn't spare any expense on my grandkids eyes."

Cause the more expensive models are made at a better china shop than the HF china shop ?

Yeah, no kidding! I just bought a Miller auto darkening lens, bigger than sheet right on the package, made in Korea!

 

[yomax4]

Look for approval ratings from UL or ANSI. If approved. It has been tested. I think there is only 1 AD manufacturer in the US and that is Jackson ?. The rest of the 50 or more come from Korea, China, Taiwan or the Swiss. Also, Those countries are eons ahead of us in electronic technology just as Europe is eons ahead of us in Welder technology.

 

[crazyal]

I bought a HF auto helmet a few months ago while on sale for $35 plus an extra 20% off coupon. It's worked fine and it's extremely quick when darkening. I don't think it has a delay setting, just an adjustable darkness. I find that even on the lightest setting it's a little dark.

 

[yomax4]

What people don't seem to understand is that in most all cases, Your eyes are protected to an equivelant of shade 16 even in the light state before your lens turns dark. That don't mean you want to keep welding in the light state it only means you are protected as far as UV and IR are concerned.That makes switching time not that important. It's done with UV and IR Filters. Delay only keeps the shade in the dark state a second longer so you don't have to look at the white hot puddle after the weld. Sensitivity is more for "Tig" than Mig or Stick. It makes the lens Stay dark instead of flickering while welding.
So many posts on here are people thinking that Delay keeps the lens from Darkening and that is not the case. It keeps the lens from lightening after the weld. :confused2:

 

[Gary Fowler]

+1 on Yomax: Why would anyone think that a manufacturer would have a setting to adjust the time it takes to darken (DUH) on a welding lens. I see the main thing to look for in welding helmets is the fit of the lens in the helmet so that there is no light leaks from the perimeter and of course the comfort of the fit. The AD lenses all seem to work well with regard to protection. A lot of folks on these forums like to brag about what they paid for their helmets so they think they are getting better eye protection while all they are really getting is less money in their bank account. I am not saying that some of the helmets arent more comfortable or better made than others, but for most home uses, a HF (or other brands of equal price)AutoDarkening helmet is sufficient and you dont need to spend $300 on a helmet that you only use a few hours at a time at most. Jackson and Hobart used to make great hoods, but lately, I cant see much difference in them and any Chinese or Korean made one and very likely most of them are made in the same countries.
PS: I can tell you that excessively sweating onto the HF lens will ruin it as it is for sure not waterproof. I have had to throw one away due to that problem

 

[Monster5601]

Look for approval ratings from UL or ANSI. If approved. It has been tested. I think there is only 1 AD manufacturer in the US and that is Jackson ?. The rest of the 50 or more come from Korea, China, Taiwan or the Swiss. Also, Those countries are eons ahead of us in electronic technology just as Europe is eons ahead of us in Welder technology.

Seems welding helmets are rated as meeting the ANSI Z87.1 standard. Unfortunately, the standard doesn't mention auto-darkening of the lenses unless I'm missing something.

I wonder if there are standards that cover auto-darkening requirements.

http://www.safetyeyeglass.com/ansiz8712003.html

 

[troutsqueezer]

Also, Those countries are eons ahead of us in electronic technology just as Europe is eons ahead of us in Welder technology.

Nothing could be more untrue. They may manufacture more than we do but they get the theory from this country. Microprocessors, lasers, audio, communications, satellite, wireless, you name it, most of it was invented in the U.S. with a few exceptions and then copied by Asian countries. The most complex, mass-produced product ever manufactured by mankind is the large microprocessor and that is an Intel invention and they still lead the markets by a long shot.

 

[Piperflyer]

I would als like to know if there are standards that cover auto-darkening requirements

 

[dstig1]

ANSI Z87.1 is an impact resistance standard for safety eye wear and face shields. It has nothing to do with the autodarkening aspects of the helmet or protection from arc flash. I'm not aware of the standard for welding arc protection.

 

[Shield Arc]

How about this one?

 

[yomax4]

ANSI Z87.1 is an impact resistance standard for safety eye wear and face shields. It has nothing to do with the autodarkening aspects of the helmet or protection from arc flash. I'm not aware of the standard for welding arc protection.

ANSI still comes into play because there are several manufacturers that use lexan or another resin type material. Sellstrom sells a lens from Sweden that is water proof but may melt in the sun. The other can crack just by squeezing it. As far a regulatory agency that tests AD filters, I am looking for one too.

 

[Soundguy]

What people don't seem to understand is that in most all cases, Your eyes are protected to an equivelant of shade 16 even in the light state before your lens turns dark. That don't mean you want to keep welding in the light state it only means you are protected as far as UV and IR are concerned.That makes switching time not that important. It's done with UV and IR Filters. Delay only keeps the shade in the dark state a second longer so you don't have to look at the white hot puddle after the weld. Sensitivity is more for "Tig" than Mig or Stick. It makes the lens Stay dark instead of flickering while welding.
So many posts on here are people thinking that Delay keeps the lens from Darkening and that is not the case. It keeps the lens from lightening after the weld. :confused2:

yep.. that's what the manual on my 35$ auto dark / chinese helmet states. full uv protection even if the bat is dead.. it's built in to the lense.

I usually set mine outside on the mornign before I weld to make sure it has some charge built up.

I've never had an arc burn or been flashed with that helmet. have been flashed many times with an old flip down fixed shade.

have seen a few arcs that i though maybee didn't darken fast enough.. or whatever.. but notheing that hurt or made me blink.. and no spots when looking in a dark corner.. and no sand inteh eyes.

I also wear a high collar weld jacket to prevent reflection flash under the helmet...of course.. now the 'beard' helps with that more and more..

i've only used my flip down helmet once in the last 2-3 ys since I got the auto.

I tend to runthe auto on about 11... once kicked it to 12 or 13 with my glove and thought I was going blind.. couldn't see the puddle..

soundguy

 

[dstig1]

ANSI still comes into play because there are several manufacturers that use lexan or another resin type material. Sellstrom sells a lens from Sweden that is water proof but may melt in the sun. The other can crack just by squeezing it. As far a regulatory agency that tests AD filters, I am looking for one too.

Yomax - Not sure what you are saying there...I wasn't implying Z87.1 wasn't applicable, as it is - but for impact protection, not for welding arc protection. Z87.1 eyewear is required for use when welding for impact protection by OSHA standards. But Z87 says nothing about welding arcs to my knowledge.

 

[ametcalf]

Thanks for all the feedback. I have used my HF auto darkening helmet for at least three years and love it. Now we are a three helmet family. When you are as uncoordinated as I am being able to see the stick helps a lot to strike the arc. I know I will never make good welders out of them but at least they will be introduced to welding and if they would like to pursue it then we can get them into some classes.
Thanks again.
A.Metcalf