welding helmets

wroughtn_harv · Nov 28, 2004

You can call me Henro's backup.

I've got two high dollar hoods and a couple cheaper ones. They're all quick change. The one I use ninety nine point nine percent of the time is a Jackson something another with all the adjustments, 9 to 12, sensitivity and timing for sensing flash and timing for returning to clear, along with setting at shade five for cutting and clear for grinding. The only step up from it is with not batteries I believe.

You can use the hoods without batteries and while it's difficult to see the arc clearly you will not hurt your eyes is my understanding.

As for the arc flash. The worst I ever got burnt was working with my father when we'd both be welding on the same object. Invariably as I flipped up my hood he'd be striking an arc. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

I can't count the times I'd not use the hood to tack up using a mig and have mild burn that night.

I wear 1.75 reading glasses when reading. I also have a 2.00 cheaters in my hood. I don't think my needing glasses has anything to do with my welding. It's more about being fifty six years old. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif And when it comes to anything just beyond the reach of my arms I'll read anything anyone can without binoculars.

You can get your eyes burned around welding. But to do serious damage you have to exert some effort or have a natural weakness for eye damage. Most people are going to respond to the discomfort that comes with going bareback when watching arc welding and get away from it before they get seriously hurt.

The disclaimer has to be all of us have different degrees of resistance to the burning of the eyes from welding. Not unlike our differences when it comes to sunburning, reaction to poison ivy etc.

I've always been told thirty to fifty feet was the distance where it could be safe to watch a weldor work without damaging the eyes.

I've been around this stuff for over thirty years now. Still learning, have been wrong more than once too. But I have noticed that most weldors are quick learners when it comes to burns, eyes or otherwise. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

PineRidge · Nov 28, 2004

I doubt that 1/10000 or 1/25000 of a second can be sensed by any of us...or that it makes any safety difference at all. I have a cheap auto darkening helmet and a very expensive one. They both seem to go light to dark at about the same speed as far as I can tell, even though the Jackson NexGen probably changes faster...


Bill electronic helmets really do work but if you strike a new arc 50 or so times in a day, your eyes will itch at the end of the day if you are using an electronic helmet. That's because the fraction of a second that it takes the lens to darken from #2 to #10 or#12 allows ultraviolet light to strike your eyes. The effect is cumulative. It adds up by the end of the day. The time lag for darkening is noticeable.

PineRidge · Nov 28, 2004

I've always been told thirty to fifty feet was the distance where it could be safe to watch a weldor work without damaging the eyes.


Harv If you can see arc-weld flash from any distance, it can burn your eyes. The closer you are to the flash, the more sever the burn will be. The same rule applies to pets and other animals.

slydog · Nov 28, 2004

Just bought a solar powered auto darkening last night at TSC. $79.00. They go all the way up to the cool paint job, full face models which are around $240.00.

Ken

Gary_in_Indiana · Nov 28, 2004

Bill,

I'd like to believe that I would have responded as well as those above me here but I'm not sure that would have been the case. Nonetheless, I will say part of 'protection' in my mind is protecting my sight as well as protecting my eyes from contact damage from flying debris.

As I mentioned, I have the Hobart. Knowing what I learned later, I would have spent even more and bought something (like a Jackson) with even quicker darkening. As it stands now, I have twice the lag time before my lens darkens as I could with a better helmet. Granted, we're talking about differences of fractions of percents of percents of a second, but we're also talking about someone's sight.

rswyan · Nov 29, 2004

( If you can see arc-weld flash from any distance, it can burn your eyes. )

Mike, not that I'm doubting ya (much /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif), but what is the source data for the above statement ?

Harv's statement of 30' - 50' is inline with what my neighbor told me - he's also professional welder with 30+ years of experience.

I mean we folks here on planet Earth are being constantly bombarded with UV - but most of it is filtered out by the atomosphere - if it wasn't we'd be toast in a heartbeat.

rswyan · Nov 29, 2004

BTW, I'm a beginning welder and I'm using an el cheapo ($49 on sale) Harbor Freight auto dark helmet - solar powered with battery backup. I think the switching time is either 1/20000th or 1/25000th of second.

Seems to work fine, haven't been flashed yet (by the helmet at least /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif)

Henro · Nov 29, 2004

Bill electronic helmets really do work but if you strike a new arc 50 or so times in a day, your eyes will itch at the end of the day if you are using an electronic helmet. 

Pineridge,

At the risk of sounding harsh, I do believe if you research the subject you will find your statement to be absolutely false. I don't doubt your eyes may itch, but it is probably from eye strain rather than damaging effects from the arc.

If it were true, can you imagine the number of law suits that would have been filed by now? Would auto darkening helmets be on the market if they did not offer complete protection from harmful light rays? I don't think so...

I am pretty sure most, if not all, manufacturers claim "100% protection from harmful raidation" (or different words, same meaning) in their sales literature, whether or not the lens darkens.

This almost certainly has to be true. It is too easy to block the sensors and have the lens stay light when the arc is struck. Well, ok maybe not that easy, especially if your helmet has four sensors, but even then it can happen.

The only reason I am taking issue with your statement is because I think it is important that accurate info be posted.

I don't believe your statement is correct, and I doubt it will be possible for any of us to cite a reputable reference that agrees that harm is done to one's eyes during the transition period from light to dark...

slowrev · Nov 29, 2004

Gary,
I saw the Hobart helmet at TSC, looked identical to my $60 Harbor freight helmet with a Hobart sticker. The $60 harbor freight helmet works nice too. I had about given up finding the right shade to see the puddle with a fixed shade helmet. The adjustable shade is fantastic, I can weld again!

Ben

slowrev · Nov 29, 2004

I looked at some of the expensive welding helmets at a trade show in the spring. I liked the features on some of the cheaper ones better. For instance the shade adjustment is on the inside of some of the helmets. I like it much better on the outside so I can adjust it after I strike an arc.

One thing to note. My friend says he can see a flash when he strikes an arc with my helmet, but has had no adverse effects. From my understanding ALL autodark helmets are supposed to protect your eyes from the damaging effects of UV whether they darken or not.

Ben