Thread: TIG welding helmets

I have 3 CIGWELD arcmaster welding shelds 1 at work and 2 at home and I have the same problem with them
Yesterday at work I was welding up a stainless exhaust with the tig and had to put a standard welding lens in my sheld
I thought that is only a problem with my sheld but the other Boilermaker I work with has the same problem

try some new batteries

Originally Posted by echnidna

try some new batteries

In the case of mine it's solar only, no replaceable battery that I'm aware of, but will re-check the instructions. I left it out in the sun for a few hours and not sure if it even made it worse.

Pete

We had one at work that did that, went dark and slowly came back light again, solar only. I opened up the LCD cell and pulled the battery out, hooking up to a bench power supply it still exhibited the same slow lightening of the screen.

Mach II's are a decent value helmet, light, big clear screen. Should be about $250. Better is Miller Elite, massive screen but a little on the heavy side. Wear one for a few hours a day and you'll get a big neck About $400+ though... Plenty of people get a good run out of the 'Tecmen' range so just try a few out. BTW even the super pro helmets crap out once in a while. A bloke at tech is onto his third panel on a miller, we have binned mach II's etc etc

Thanks Ben, I'll check some of them out. You gave me an idea also to pull this apart and check the internal battery/cap/ whatever they use to hold a charge. I had previously presumed the solar panel was used directly to generate electricity from the arc but it would certainly be worthwhile carefully checking what's going on in there. The strange thing was at one stage I was moving the work around a lot and forgot to re-connect the earth. There was enough leakage for the HF start to generate a small spark even without the earth on, and even that triggered the helmet, yet when actually welding it didn't seem to want to stay on. Major PIA and I'll certainly put down the last lot of crappy welds to trying to do them by braille!

Pete

Gidday

I use the Miller Elite n dont have a problem with the weight HAs a great screen that gives high end viewing n excellent features. can honestly say is one of the best investments ive made for welding...........

For me I figure ive only got the one set of eyes So wanted the best bit a kit i could get my hands on. I use mine for Tig n so far shes delivered the goods faultlessly. That being said Autodarkening has its limitations so if u can is handy to carry round a standard screen to use if required

REgards Lou

I bought this TIG welder as my first welder and it was only about $6-700 as I recall. I don't weld much but must admit I do enjoy the TIG aspect, when it all goes well. Huge amount to learn and wish I could get in to classes. With that in mind I just got an inexpensive helmet and it feels a bit goofy to go out and spend such a large amount on a helmet to go with such a basic welder. Still, if that's what is needed I guess that's what's needed.

Some time ago I had similar problems and was concerned I may damage my eyes but as I understand it the lens material does the blocking, and the darkening is just so you can see properly. Some of the better helmets I've looked at have more sensors and I've heard this can be better for picking up a TIG at low currents but obviously have no experience myself.

Pete

Edit: Ben, sorry I didn't recall the model at the time but now see the Mach II was one of the ones I was looking at in H&F the other day. Unfortunately not much to see in a showroom, but thought at the time it looked ok and glad you suggested it

As an aside, what type of eye protection is normally required for plasma cutting?

If you aren't looking at the arc then normal UV blocking safety glasses are fine. If you need to look at the arc then I just wear my miller on about shade 5-6. Or you can use oxy goggles.

That is the other good thing about the miller elite - I have the digital model and can set the shade on anything from 5 to 13. When tigging at 5-10 amps I am on about shade 7! It also has an electromagnetic sensor that detects the arc and triggers the helmet without having to directly 'see' the arc.

HI,
I am the same as NewLou, I have a Miller Flame Elite (Owned since Nov 2003) the Weight has never bothered Me. I use the Helmet for Mig, Stick-arc, AC-Dc Tig have not had any problems with it. I have replaced the batteries in it a few times. Before I had this Helmet I had bought a Hobart Flame Helmet in Oct 2003. The Hobart Flame was good for about two Weeks, then it constantly played up. Seems they did'nt like High Amperage or something. Anyway the Sales Rep that Supplies B.J.Bearings (Bairnsdale) replaced it with the Miller Flame Elite at no extra cost. The Hobart was worth $350.00 the Miller $450.00.
My Boss has had a Couple of Speedglas Welding Helmets and found them to be Rubbish. He uses them for the same as Me Mig, Stick,Tig. I am sure His first Helmet was a different Brand and it lasted for Years. I will check at Work tomorrow and get back on here. He just recently bought a Helmet of Ebay of Ebay Seller Arc industry(Token Tools) which has been all right so far.
All The Best steran50 Stewart

From what I can see the one sold by Token Tools is similar to mine, except mine has an additional fast/slow switch inside.

Think this is still the model http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=46092 never have been especially happy with it, though I guess it's fine for stick. As you can see I think we get a bit touched when it comes to prices here in Australia and I'm buggered if I can see how they can justify 450+ bucks for a helmet when you actually look at what's in it. Never mind, darn sure a US$50 doesn't work too well I'll pull mine apart today and see if it's anything obvious (I used to work in electronics so feel pretty happy doing so). If I get real keen I may even pull the welder apart too, it's pretty basic and doesn't have a post gas flow adjustment on the gas solenoid, it's fixed at about 5 seconds or something and I'm wasting a heck of a lot of gas on short welds.

Pete

HI, I checked at Work Today. My Bosses other Auto darkening Welding helmet was an 'Optrel'. I know He had it for quite a number of Years. They seemed to be a good Helmet, I think they are pricey though to like the Miller..
All The Best steran50 Stewart

Anyone have any experience with Esab helmets?

I've been out "window shopping" today and I'm leaning towards the Miller Digital Elite. Seems like a lot of money to drop on a helmet only used occasionally but having now seen the difference between the cheap helmets and a pro level I can see where the money goes. The alternative may be one of the top range Speedglas, both are about the same amount of money ... ie heaps

With the US$ falling through the floor a Miller digital elite can be bought in for about $335 at my door so it's no longer in the outrageous category. I just wonder when the local importers will all drop their prices due to the strengthening A$ ... I'm not holding my breath