Thread: Welding Mask

Hi,
I have a tecmen adjustable-shade Auto helmet that gets occasional use.
Good price for what it is (solar powered).
Always do a quick test (look up at fluoro or TV remote to the face) to confirm it is working OK.

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

Hi there,

I have a Speedglas. I reckon they're up there with the best. Quite light in weight, you can set various levels of sensitivity, and they have different shade settings as well. If you want one that won't wreck your eyes - get one. But yes they are pricey. I ended up getting one on ebay from America and it cost about $400 (they're more in the shops here). But since I use one for work I claimed a little bit back on tax.

Cheers

Cheers mate. $400 is a lot though. What is available in between the bunnings ones and this one? what changes regarding switching speed?

I'm told the cigweld auto helmets are half decent, as far as I know they are fairly new to the market.

I'm using a good old style helmet, although this one has some fancy mechanism that allows you to open the visor with your chin.

I got an Aus Pro AP-B1190 from Glenfords for about $90.

I am fairly happy with the range of settings & the way it works BUT....
It is too easy to bump the shade setting with a gloved hand as you raise the helmet &...
The adjustment of the tilt knob(s) that change how easy it is to raise & hold up drive me batty.
You really need to take your glove off to get it set right & then, after you have raised it & lowered it a couple of times, it slackens off & falls down.
The other small gripe I have with it is that the inside of the helmet is not Matt Black enough & it lights up with any lightning behind or above & it also picks up reflected flashes from the welding

With the auto helmets light will always strike your eye, no sensor is faster than the speed of light so if that initial flash annoys you in one helmet chances are all of them will.

Not the flash coming through the lens, I am happy with the way it works... it is the back scatter from around the shed that is lighting up the inside of the helmet around my head that I don't like much.

a have a cigweld helmet cost $120 i am very pleased with it's got varying shade setting and grinding mode and i use it for everything mig,tig and stick

I bought the Tecman from Repco a few years back.

I have used it alot with both MIG and MMAW. I had some hassles with it not darkening at one stage. Cleaned the front lense and all was good. Light sensor was obviously obscured.

I do find it hard to use outdoors though. Just have to make sure you're not facing the sun or it darkens when you don't want it to.

Hey Brendon,

I use an E Pay $60 auto darkening job that doesn't have a brand name, works good, my boss does't lke it, he says that it's too light and makes his eyes sore, I think that might be your problem also, not the switching speed, I think it's about shade 9, I wear glasses that auto darken so I don't notice it. Try and get one with Shade 11 thats pretty dark.

HazzaB

If you are wearing a helmet with any sort of lens you cannot get a flash.
The plastic protects the damaging UV from entering your eyes.

What you do get is a small moment of intense bright light for a micro second.This is not a flash and cannot harm you.

The bright light is akin to getting a high beam hit while driving your car at night.
Your eyes react but won,t suffer damage.

Even with the auto lens it is safe practice to wear clear safety glasses under the helmet.I don't know how many times they stopped hot slag from entering my eyes.

I agree with the lens cleaning re the Tecman.Scored some genuine Tecman lens replacement or thought so.They were all 1/4" too big and I had to take the snips to them.

With the transition start time up I think you would have to do a lot of stops/starts, cos thats where the problem is.Perhaps its eye strain but cannot be flash.

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

Cool, thanks for the tips.

Cliff I hear you re the light coming in around the helmet, thats so annoying when that happens!

Good to hear that my sore eyes from using the tecman wasnt doing any permanent damage.

Originally Posted by Grahame Collins

.......it is safe practice to wear clear safety glasses under the helmet.....flash is from the direct entry of UV into the eye,ie no sheilding what so ever.

Yup, if you have any sort of glasses on under your helmet they will reduce the UV that can get to your eyes.