Auto Darkening Helmets....Again

[Ugotit]

Helmets Ebay Good Or Bad

Personal I find ebay great been on it since day one. I bought a Clarke Mig Gas / no gas 180EN TURBO AND IT ARRIVED 3 DAYS AGO. It works great. So there is always the chance one can get ripped off. But if you watch there feed backs and they send you a mail response 9 out of 10 time they will be ok.
There is also the chance of getting a bum item such is the luck of the draw.
I'm watching an auto helmet right now and will bid on one. There all mass produce in china or taiwan so your bound to get a piece of junk once in a while.
If I can get it for $ 40.00 canadian its worth a shot at it.

 

[HarryMann]

Indeed! $40 Canadian is well worth a punt for the chance of a useful helmet, even a spare to fall-back on or lend out...

 

[Ugotit]

Yes it's worth a shot. As I said in a past post I bought two on ebay from the same guy. One for me and one for my buddy and both died after after 8 months . Once you used a auto helmet its hard to go back to the back lass ones.
I was just trying out the Clarke to day to do a spot weld on my wide mouth C vise grip, right where the adjusting screw is . It sure is tough for a one shot tack with a back lass helmet. It S _ _ KS if you know what I mean and I'm just getting on to this mig machine.
I did get it after a couple of tries and some grinding So I will bite the bullet for a cheapo and hope to get lucky.

 

[HarryMann]

I find even with an auto helmet, holding a torch alongside the gun, to illuminate the job better, even when welding helps me a lot. I use one of those batteryless shake and charge torches, so its always available and full power... an they're very cheap.

As you get older eyes take longer to snap to the right aperture and focus - even a fraction of a second notices. So more light the better...

 

[Ugotit]

Good POINT about having light

Hi Harry
Your are right about the eyes and the light.
I only wear small 2.5 magnifer glasses to read with. $ 1.00 a pair dollar store type, have a pair on every one of my work benches and by the computer, and in my pockect. Our eyse do get older as we get younger but do use them inside the work helmet. For a while I though I was getting bad at welding, then I realized I couldnt see the puddle and bead to good, and was guessing.
I generaly work in good day light with the light on my work.
If no day light I use a work light. The POINT I was making is an
auto helmet gives you a better chance for a accurate starting POINT instead of guessing. I wouldnt be with out one unless the one I had didnt work, and would get another one. So good lighting, fast auto helmet, eye helpers, good set up of equiptment makes for a better stronger weld. When you have control over your work.

 

[Ugotit]

I find back lass helmets are good with a stick welder as thats the only welder I had till four days ago when My MIG ARRIVED. With a stick welder there is enough of a flash to keep you on track. I find with Mig a mig welder it's a little more tricky without a auto helmet, as youcant see your wire as quick as you can see a welding rod. Just another point here.

 

[HarryMann]

Anyone know what filter number would be required for gas welding - does a normal auto-helmet of 9-13 cover this range?

 

[ray]

never used helmets for gas welding, always used goggles, dont think they do a helmet, do they? anyway, when i put my helmet on to mig. it's a hell of a lot darker, and i struggle to see the welds, i did get given to me extra lenses,when i bought the mig,and i do know at least one of the glass filter is definetly lighter, will change that today,gas are very see through,everything is a lot clearer,as it's not as though your getting a strong arc.

 

[Hitch]

For pro users the advantages of a top end mask outweight the cheap ones easily.

I use a Nederman, (identical to esab) a Swiss mask, complete with fresh air unit.
Spares and accessories are readily available. 6years full time trouble free useage now.
The accessories like hard hat mounting kits and magnifying lenses are available, where as not for the cheapo helmets.

Heres one to watch.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Reactive-weld...ryZ64818QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Brand new ones from a proper shop have a 2 year warranty.

 

[plexer]

Well I just one this one on ebay local to me too so can pick it up. Looks identical to the SIP one I posted a link to earlier.

Ben

 

[ray]

hitachimad .i bid on that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! chelkee

 

[ray]

i bid on that:eek:

 

[Ugotit]

http://cgi.ebay.ca/New-Solar-Power-...612278786QQcategoryZ92090QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Copy the above and paste this site. Copy the whole long thing I bid and won this for $ 26.00 USD + 15.00 SHIPPING
=$41.00 USD So in Canadian I paid $46.00.
You will probably pay $19.00 shipping total about $50.00 USD = $27.00 in your currency.
He still has more got to his list. Grrat feed back great emails so I took another shot at cheap in money but maybe not cheap in quailty.
I'm preety sure all Auto helmets must have a battery in the solar part. Having 14 solar collectors on my house I have to have a battery bank. So this time I will leave the helmet when not in use in the day light to keep the battery charged.
Experiment experiment till we get it down right. When I get it I will post myopinion.

 

[Ugotit]

Sorry thats if you win it @ $ 26.00

 

[plexer]

ray: sorry if you mean you bid on the helmet I won. I put the first bid in then my second with about 3 seconds to go on the auction I think.

As it's close for me to pick up was too good to miss.

Ben

 

[ray]

ben, no probs, you didn't bid on mine, look at hitachimads earlier post, that's the one i made an opening bid on, it's still going, i'll do a bit of sniping on the last mo, cheers ray

 

[Tom-GWRacing]

Well i bought a SPEEDGLASS with the air supply and all the add ons, best thing i ever did, batts changable, had mine 2years and use it at work to,, still on same batt,,,,,,,,,, yep expensive but damned good

 

[MrFluffy]

I bought a esab unit years ago with solar power and backed up by a "lifetime" rechargable battery, and its been pretty good. But now after not doing any welding for a year or so while we was renovating our house, the battery doesnt hold a charge, if I leave it in the sun a few hours first it auto darkens ok, but if its cloudy or indoors forget it. Ive had a couple of flashes from this so Ive gone back to my old hold in the hand freebie I got with a cheapo arc set and its a pain.
Anyone know if the ESAB ones can have their battery changed easy or is the cartridge quite reasonable?

 

[Ugotit]

Dead Auto Helmet

I had the same problem way back keep the helmet and either put a clear glass in it to grind with or if you can get a shade to fit use it as a fix 10 or 11 shade etc.
It's not worth the time and money to fix one I tried, put ne battieries in no luck.
I bought to new ones on ebay cheaper then I could replace the cartridge.
I just check the seller he has no more do a search.

 

[migmag]

I also bought a speedglass 9002 with spatter hood but without the air feed.
Iv'e had it about three year now best head sheild I ever used......