welding helmet

[tinman]

lincoln 3350 one of the best

ill second that.

i have one about 6 or 8 mths now and its a great helmet, ive had origio and esab auto helmets before this one and the lincoln viking is the muts nuts.
buy a good helmet once, it might be a bit dearer but its cheap in the long run imo.
this is the one i bought,
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lincoln-V...507917&hash=item3d2e581220:g:smAAAOSwLnBXVVIo
altho i see its up a bit, i paid 205 for the one i have.
its a great mask tho and a few lads tried it here and liked it very much.
i done a lot of research on them at the time, i have a habit of that unfortunately but this is the one i settled on taking everything into account and im well happy with my choice i must say.
but thats just me, less may do your job.

 

[millsy]

An esab warrior is what I use new there about 70-80 I think great Helmet

 

[Mike6120]

I have an auto darkening one here. Can't remember what make it is (possibly Draper), but it wasn't expensive, and I think it's a great job.... However, just reading through this thread and seeing posts about them needing charging and batteries going flat, I am wondering what happens when the battery does fail? Does it not auto darken like you expect it to, an you end up blinded, or is there some other warning sign?

 

[Gulli]

I have an auto darkening one here. Can't remember what make it is (possibly Draper), but it wasn't expensive, and I think it's a great job.... However, just reading through this thread and seeing posts about them needing charging and batteries going flat, I am wondering what happens when the battery does fail? Does it not auto darken like you expect it to, an you end up blinded, or is there some other warning sign?

It doesn't darken as quick or at all. Won't blind you if you stop welding straight away...

 

[Gerbert]

before you spend a lot have a look at AvE on Youtube. he has been testing several, cheap and expensive.

As said. Also very interesting insights on how they work and his usual great comments on the marketing stroke behind it.

 

[sgoti]

I have gone through a few expensive £100-£200 masks over the years. And find that the cheap £12 ebay ones last just as long. I once had a expensive mask that stoped working just 2-3 months old, and still under a year of warranty. Took it back and i was told "oh its got weldin spatter damage" warranty void

 

[Bob lincs]

I’ve just brought an Esab sentinel and it is really good but around £200 . My last helmet was a Miller and was crap also around £200 ! We also have a cheaper one from parweld about £40 and it’s also very good .

 

[spanners and hammers]

optrel been spot on for me for years ,,, loads of features for all types of welding

 

[davieh3350]

I work away with an old school one now. Was getting sore eyes with the one I had (it was bought in 99, so probably not the most advanced)

How can it change quick enough?
Light'll be through the lens to your eyes instantly.

 

[Scruffywelder]

Think my next one might be one of these:

https://www.weldingsuppliesdirect.co.uk/gys-spaceview-auto-darkening-welding-helmet.html

I quite fancy the bigger lens.

Of course a PAPR Speedglass would be nice but I'm pretty sure I was given 2 kidneys for a reason!

 

[Shovelhands]

I work away with an old school one now. Was getting sore eyes with the one I had (it was bought in 99, so probably not the most advanced)

How can it change quick enough?
Light'll be through the lens to your eyes instantly.

I watched a YouTube test on this, iirc it should be safe if it doesn’t change at all, not long term maybe, but the fact that there is something in front of your eyes at all is the key. Like you can’t get a suntan through glass.
Auto darkening are the way forward I think.

Just waiting for my new air fed helmet to arrive! The new legislation has meant demand has outstripped supply apparently.

 

[Bob lincs]

I was in our local welding shop today and they had over 50 air fed helmets on order but all makes in very short supply.

 

[aidan]

with a standard helmet you have to replace the clear plastic in front of the dark glass every day I guess if you were doing a lot of welding. Well I would anyway as I always move my eyes and head in v near the weld. I find it easier see what Im doing when Im arc welding.

Is there a clear plastic glass you replace on the Auto Darkening shield

And I guess warm breath will cause the Auto Darkening tol fog up if your using it on a cold day ?

 

[Shovelhands]

with a standard helmet you have to replace the clear plastic in front of the dark glass every day I guess if you were doing a lot of welding. Well I would anyway as I always move my eyes and head in v near the weld. I find it easier see what Im doing when Im arc welding.

Is there a clear plastic glass you replace on the Auto Darkening shield

And I guess warm breath will cause the Auto Darkening tol fog up if your using it on a cold day ?

Yes they usually have a replaceable plastic cover shield over the top of actual unit, and also a cover lense on the inside to protect the back of the auto darkening unit. My old Optrel masks had big front lenses, and the Esab masks are very similar. Esab offer a yellow tint lense, which in the right conditions can offer better clarity.
You’d not want to be replacing these every day though! If you are careful they will last a good while. And I think you’d find you don’t need your head buried in the weld all the time? It’s probably not great for you, fume wise, if you are right in there.
If you struggle to see, possibly a cheater lense on the inside might help you out?

I rarely find the inside fogs up tbh? Not an issue in my experience.