Thanks: 0
Likes: 0
Needs Pictures: 0
Picture(s) thanks: 0
Results 1 to 15 of 40
Thread: Tecmen welding helmets
-
17th October 2009, 06:48 PM #1.
- Join Date
- Feb 2006
- Location
- Perth
- Posts
- 27,757
Tecmen welding helmets
I am interested to know how others tecmens helmets are traveling.
I bought one of the basic non-adjustable intensity Tecmens ($79?) two years ago. I has worked sort of OK (see below) until a few months back, a part of the clamp/bracket that holds one side of the helmet onto the head band broke. It has held together by just clamping harder but now the other side has broken as well.
When I think about the design, it is on the urine-poor side of the spectrum.
The viewing area is a bit too small
The helmet is too close to my face - probably it's setup this way to increase the viewing area.
The helmet clamps have never really has been able to hold the weight of the helmet when the helmet is flipped up and the helmet would drift down which led to me tightening the knobs harder which probably stretched the plastic and is why it eventually broke.
I knew I was getting something cheap but I did expect it (even though it was cheapie) to last for more than two years.
For anyone that would care to answer questions are
Has this happened to anyone else?
Are the adjustable or more ones Tecmens traveling any better?
What about more expensive brands, how are the clamps on those?
If this happened to you what did you end up doing
I'm not an everyday (or even every week) welder so something like a Miller Elite is a bit of overkill but I don't want to buy another Tecmem if the brackets are only going to last 2 years.
-
17th October 2009 06:48 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
- Join Date
- Always
- Location
- Advertising world
- Posts
- Many
-
17th October 2009, 07:05 PM #2
Hi Bob, I have the adjustable one, so far so good, it would be about 3years old now give or take a little. Haven't had any trouble with the head gear, there is always duct tape. I gave one to my dad too as far as I know its ok also.
-
17th October 2009, 07:17 PM #3.
- Join Date
- Feb 2006
- Location
- Perth
- Posts
- 27,757
-
17th October 2009, 07:27 PM #4
You never know Bob on here someone may have an old helmet or some spare bits. Keep your fingers crossed. put a photo of the broken bit so we can see what you need. I seem to remember having one 20 years ago that had a bolt, wing nut and half a wooden cotton real in the side of it.
-
17th October 2009, 07:34 PM #5
No trouble with the couple I own, but the ones from high school took a beating, but hey kids don't look after the good stuff.
Grahame
-
17th October 2009, 08:11 PM #6.
- Join Date
- Feb 2006
- Location
- Perth
- Posts
- 27,757
Unfortunately the piece that is broken is the bracket that is integrally moulded into the headband.
Firstly it cracked at the lower half of B, then A broke and now B completely broke. BIL has a nice little piece of black powder coated ally that I can use to fix it. Should keep me going for a while longer.
-
18th October 2009, 10:39 AM #7Senior Member
- Join Date
- Aug 2009
- Location
- Quindanning, WA
- Posts
- 175
I have the adjustable one and its going strong after 3 yrs of use. I don't abuse it but then I don't take special care of it either. All the brackets are working fine and the only issue I ever had with it was the side of the head band used to catch and pull my hair. I fixed that by wrapping the sides of the band with some rag.
I would happily buy another of these helmets.
-
19th October 2009, 04:51 PM #8Senior Member
- Join Date
- Aug 2006
- Location
- Melbourne
- Posts
- 400
Same thing happened to mine while I was using it at trade school, I just turfed that head band and the teacher gave me a head band from a cigweld helmet to fit to it, from memory I had to drill out the holes (it was awhile ago now)
I no longer use that helmet anymore.
The genuine cigweld helmets are pretty strong, there are quite a few copys out there that dont last very long. Usually the adjustment to tighten the head band goes first on the copys.
-
20th October 2009, 08:08 AM #9SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Feb 2004
- Location
- kuranda north qld
- Posts
- 717
some of the head pieces from other helmets such as clear visors or even old welding helmets may be able to be fitted? as long as the welding lens is ok .
-
29th December 2009, 10:33 AM #10
I have had one for around 3 years now and still no problems.As some of the others have said I am not rough with it but I am not gentle either.I use it 2-3 times a week and I love it.I seem to use it more than my cig mask.
Warning Disclaimer
-
29th December 2009, 11:02 AM #11.
- Join Date
- Feb 2006
- Location
- Perth
- Posts
- 27,757
I managed to fix my helmet band using some 1 mm thick black powder coated ally plate - It's all good now!
-
4th January 2010, 11:35 AM #122-legged animal
- Join Date
- Jan 2008
- Location
- Murwillumbah Nthn NSW
- Age
- 68
- Posts
- 205
I,ve fixed a lot of plastic things over the years with a big soldering iron an polly pipe etc as filler rod if required. Even chainsaw kickback brakes, jerry cans etc.Often ends up much thicker and stronger than new but a bit home made looking .
-
14th March 2010, 05:00 PM #13Novice
- Join Date
- Oct 2009
- Location
- Melbourne
- Posts
- 14
I bought a Tecmen auto helmet from Bunnings the day after my first welding lesson. Flipping the old school helmet up and down was proving to be a real hindrance - I'd either be pecking around in the air trying to strike an arc, or getting an arc flash by getting the timing of closer-closer-closer-flip slightly off.
I'd read good things about them here, so had no hesitation in swapping it for another when the first one failed to work at all, even pointed directly at the sun. The replacement seemed to work well, and I was enjoying the course ten times more when *FLASH* - the thing turned off mid-weld! I gave it the benefit of the doubt, and tried again, going for another ten minutes at least before the thing turned off mid-weld again. This time I went back to the old school helmet for the rest of the lesson and took the Tecmen back for a refund. I think I'll try one of the CIG adjustable helmets for $100.
As a plus though, each swap, I accidentally kept the spare shield, so I now have two of these if anyone wants them, as I understand it's near impossible to find replacements for the Tecmen.
PM me if interested.
Cheers,
Mike
-
14th March 2010, 05:34 PM #14
Hi
Been there ,done that,and got a tee shirt.
Before you dispose of the helmet, try this.
Place the helmet in the sun for an hour or two.I reckon the helmet has an inbuilt battery which needs a charge via the sensors on the external face.Perhaps your helmet has not seen the light of day for a good while.
I am fairly surethat you will have little trouble after that.
Also know that the arc has to activate the sensor, so if you put something in way between arc and sensor ,yes it will switch off.
This has come up fairly regular on this forum.It is a result of the cheap cost of the helmet.better ones have a long life replaceable battery.
Grahame
-
14th March 2010, 05:46 PM #15SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Feb 2004
- Location
- kuranda north qld
- Posts
- 717
i found that i had to clean the lens and solar /starter , and worked fine after . good tip to leave in the sun . cheers Bob
Similar Threads
-
TIG welding helmets
By Pete F in forum WELDINGReplies: 91Last Post: 9th May 2011, 10:11 PM -
Where to buy motor bike helmets in Brissy
By Buzzer in forum MOTOR VEHICLESReplies: 3Last Post: 6th September 2009, 08:57 AM -
Auto darkening welding helmets
By scooter in forum WELDINGReplies: 124Last Post: 21st November 2008, 04:35 PM -
Cover lens spares for Tecmen AD helmet
By Grahame Collins in forum WELDINGReplies: 1Last Post: 1st September 2007, 06:30 PM -
On the Effectiveness of Aluminium Foil Helmets
By doublejay in forum NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH WOODWORKReplies: 17Last Post: 11th November 2005, 08:28 PM