Gold-tinted #9 lens in stick-weldig hood?

[dstig1]

The difference between the gold lenses and the regular type is that the gold is used to reflect a good chunk of the IR and maybe the UV too. The regular green ones use dyes that absorb the IR and UV, but by absorbing all that, they also absorb a lot of the visible light that you need to see the puddle. By reflecting those parts of the spectrum, the dyes they use to absorb the rest are more selective, so you are supposed to have better puddle visibility and definition. The risk with the gold lenses is scratching the gold - then you have a light leak and exposure. I guess the AO version had that layer sandwiched so it would avoid the risk of scratching. The lens is gone but the company is still around. Been acquired/merged a couple times over the years. Never used one myself - only seen pictures on ebay or forums.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I am not defending the quality of any hood, but darkening reaction time with regard to burned eyes is insignificant whether 1/5000th second or 1/25000. At even 1/5000 of a second, you would need to strike an arc 5000 times a day to get one second of arc light. One second is not going to burn your eyes regardless of what your doctor says. I am not saying that it is good for yoru eyes to do that, but you will certainly do more damage to your eyes from daily contact with the sun than from 1 second of electric arc light. You get more UV light than that from the sun just walking from your house to the mailbox and back daily. The fit of the lens, quality of gaskets & shape of the hood to prevent reflected light is much more critical.
I had one of the AD hoods quit working while under my tractor in a hard for me to get in postion. I actually finished burning 2 rods to finish the weld with the hood not darkening and no flash burn symptoms. The arc was a bit bright but no UV issues. The manufactures claim that without darkening you have UV protection and I think they are not lying about it.
While on the subject, the adjustable reaction time is the delay for returning to light condition after welding stops, not adjusting the darkening reaction time as some folks think.

 

[easygo]

I finally had time to do a bit of welding with the gold lens. I really like the color and clarity. It went from a kind of hazy slightly fuzzy image(green lens) to clear outlines (gold). Like when the picture is suddenly focused. I did not change the clear protective cover on the front. I burned some 6010 1/8 rods and some 3/32 as well. I will have to see if the brightness is an issue on a longer day and longer welds. The current project is to fix/fit some ring chains for my tractor. The welds are rather short. If it does seem too bright I will buy a #10 but I will stick with the gold tint.

 

[Soundguy]

. The manufactures claim that without darkening you have UV protection and I think they are not lying about it..

I know even my cheap 50$ AD helmet claims to have 100% uv protection whether shaded or not.


soundguy

 

[flusher]

I know even my cheap 50$ AD helmet claims to have 100% uv protection whether shaded or not.


soundguy

Any piece of glass will give you 100% UV protection provided it isn't high quality quartz. Normal window/auto glass and the glass used in welding helmets has essentially zero transmission for uv wavelengths (shorter than about 3500 angstroms, 350 nanometers). The problems with some welding helmets is light leakage around the lens window sealing area, reflected uv from the front of your welding jacket getting into the helmet in the chin area and/or reflected light from walls, etc behind your back getting into the rear of the helmet and reflecting into the eyes. That's why I wear a pair of yellow tinted tight fitting goggles (like motorcyclists wear) rated UV400 (zero transmission for wavelengths shorter than 400 nm, your eyes work in the 400-700 nm waveband) under my AD helmet and check for light leakage around the lens before starting the weld.

 

[Soundguy]

i , long ago, duct taped cloth into the chin area of my welding helmets to prevent that light coming in under the helmet. also protects the neck for pops and sparks that try to make it up and over the high collar of my welding jacket. ditto on a good gasket / seal on the lense... very important

soundguy

 

[deereman75]

i , long ago, duct taped cloth into the chin area of my welding helmets to prevent that light coming in under the helmet. also protects the neck for pops and sparks that try to make it up and over the high collar of my welding jacket. ditto on a good gasket / seal on the lense... very important

soundguy

There is a factory made leather flap for that. I am going to et one next time I am at my lws. Hate all the light reflecting up into my helmet.

 

[Soundguy]

i'll ha ve to see if my local welding shop has anything like that. I'd for sure spring for it if it was say.. 30$ or less..

 

[deereman75]

i'll ha ve to see if my local welding shop has anything like that. I'd for sure spring for it if it was say.. 30$ or less..

I saw some nice looking ones at princess auto for about $9. Wish I picked one up, probably the same price at your lws.