Thread: Welding Mask

If the glare comming from the lights,reflections or sun is a problem with the internal view with your Helment,you could resolve the problem with some type of Flame retardent material.
I have found that an old Welding Apron works well or what ever you choose as long as its not a Synthetic.
You can cut up a big enough piece of the Leather and attach it to the Rear of your Helmet with either Pop Rivots or insulation tape.
Make sure its wide and long enough to cover any Exposed portion of the Rear of the Helmet.
It simply blocks the Light from entering from the rear and allows you to see more clearly by virtually putting you in the Dark.
The Leather also keeps the Hot dillbrees off your neck when doing overhead.

Originally Posted by Grahame Collins

If you are wearing a helmet with any sort of lens you cannot get a flash.


Again, flash is from the direct entry of UV into the eye,ie no sheilding what so ever.

I was told as Aprentice that clear safety glasses will reduce UV by 80% and anti flash glasses by about 90%

I have not had a flash in the last 25 years by alway wearing safety glasses at all times when in the workshop

The only problem I have found with the CIGWELD helmet is they may lighten while being used for TIG it they are being used in a factory with the really bright "halogen"? lights.

I personally use a fully auto Orion helmet which can be adjusted manually if needed.
They sell for around $400.00

cheers Bob

I've been researching heaps about welding on various forums (mainly here, of course). I did read somewhere that one bloke had problems using an auto-darkening helmet with an inverter welder.

I'm thinking of picking a BOC SmoothArc 130, and was wondering if anyone had advice re suitablity of using an AD helmets with it? e.g. if I got the Tecmen AD helmet from Bunnies (or this one http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....m=380138396596 from Token Tools) could I expect to have any problems?

Just as a follow up, I used the tecman all weekend doing a fair bit of welding in my shed and I had no probs with sore eyes after it. Perhaps the first time was a once off?

Aldi has one on sale in Vic, I think from memory its $79 sale started last Thursday but may be some left

I got a unimig auto dakening mask for $135, seems to work just fine with my arc welder.

Mines doing fine with the mig. Used a bit with the arc as well. Only prob I have is sometimes it creeps down a bit when the mask is flipped up. At the price I paid I'm happy to live with that.

Couldnt resist when it was sitting on the shelf for $115

Already burnt thru one lens cover. Overhead welding, what fun!!! Melted into the bottom part of the LCD; still working fine. One thing I noticed are the covers are thinner than most of the off the shelf ones stocked at the shops. As a result they wont fit. Have to go OEM.

For those having trouble hunting down some replacement lens covers for your auto lenses.

A visit to the plastics shop with the old lens will get your a sheet of cost effective substitute at the right price.

I have about 6 replacements for $3. Cut to size with scissors.

Grahame

Originally Posted by 19brendan81

What welding masks does everyone use? I have used the auto darkening one from bunnings before and it gave me sore eyes. I noticed that it switches in 1/10,000 of a second whereas some of the others advertise 1/25,000 of a second switching. When i was in the local welding shop the other day the only prices I could see on masks were $350. Im not keen to spend that much on one, but would be happy to spend between 150 and 200 to get one if they exist in this price point, and switch faster than the bunnings job.

Cigweld helmet has a 1/30,000 response and various settings for $100 you can't go wrong. If you weld all day go for the $400 one otherwise, the Cigweld is good value. I read somewhere that they have two models and that one is better than the other. I only came across one.

Cigweld have 3 auto helmets, 1 is shade 11 only comes in black only for around $100.00, 2 is a fully auto variable shade with grinding mode colour blue for around $129.00 and the other is also fully auto but has graphics on the outer shell for around $260.00 and it comes with a carrybag.

cheers Bob

I got the blue one for $100 and it works a treat.

I use a Miller Elite ($300+) and also suffered sandy eyes until I worked out that it was actually the switch off time delay that I had to extend. The Miller has shade, sensitivity and delay settings. Very happy once I worked that out, the sensitivity range is great for low amps TIG work too, although I do manage to obscure all 4 lights sensors occasionally but this is not a problem as it means the welding is not visible anyway.
Frank.

Originally Posted by aussietrueblue

Cigweld have 3 auto helmets, 1 is shade 11 only comes in black only for around $100.00, 2 is a fully auto variable shade with grinding mode colour blue for around $129.00 and the other is also fully auto but has graphics on the outer shell for around $260.00 and it comes with a carrybag.

cheers Bob

Bob, what's the difference between the blue cigweld helmet and the "autopro" one besides the decorative graphics. I got one given to me after I bought the blue one.

I know its a little old now, but thought I'd add my 2c.

I own a Miller Digital Elite and it is sensational, pricey though at $400+ and also a little on the heavy side, but that is ok for me as I use one at work too, but the one at work has the Vortex filtered air supply with it so is a fair bit heavier..

Has 4 light sensors instead of the usual 2 and also has a 'X' mode that triggers the lens using an electromagnetic field detector, ie the arc is detected without the light. I can look at the sun directly with my helmet on without it going dark and strike an arc off to my side and the lens will darken! It also can have the shade set anywhere from 5-13 which is handy as at times I need to tig stainless as low as 10 amps and even on shade 9 you can struggle to see what you are doing!

We also have Mach II's at work that are also good, not as good as the Miller but still good and are around the $250 mark, would be a great helmet for serious home use.