Tom Orrow L
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The clarity of the Crystal is obviously better. However I really like the flip up front, side windows and headgear in the Tecmen.
- Thread starter Adam Marshall
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Tangledfeet
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Whilst we're discussing the merits of various helmets... hope the OP doesn't mind me interjecting;
I've got the A50 (it was my fiftieth birthday present from family and wife!) and I'm very impressed with the clarity, especially in the clear state. I also got to have a go with the Crystal when I paid casa del @Hood a visit last mont; it was up there with it, but the Optrel was ahead - but then it would be as it is much more expensive. Do fully agree that it is more suited to a cleaner environment!
I've got the Optrel Neo P550, which I keep for MIG, and whilst I like it I know that technology has moved on; since getting the A50 I find it quite dark in the clear state.
Does anyone know if the newer and budget ESAB helmet, the Savage, uses a simpler version of the A50's screen - and might be clearer?
Thanks.
I've got the A50 (it was my fiftieth birthday present from family and wife!) and I'm very impressed with the clarity, especially in the clear state. I also got to have a go with the Crystal when I paid casa del @Hood a visit last mont; it was up there with it, but the Optrel was ahead - but then it would be as it is much more expensive. Do fully agree that it is more suited to a cleaner environment!
I've got the Optrel Neo P550, which I keep for MIG, and whilst I like it I know that technology has moved on; since getting the A50 I find it quite dark in the clear state.
Does anyone know if the newer and budget ESAB helmet, the Savage, uses a simpler version of the A50's screen - and might be clearer?
Thanks.
Hood
I am obsessed.
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You taking the pi..?
Tangledfeet
Think outside, no box required.
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Hood
I am obsessed.
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Ah, that's ok then, would hate for anyone to describe my workshop as a clean environment
I was referring to the A50!
Adam Marshall
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I have the A40 savage, it is a good helmet but isnt as clear as the sentinel in the light state. Headgear is good. When I'm next in my workshop I will take a photo looking through it.
Hood
I am obsessed.
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Here is a vid I took when I got my first Crystal.
As for them not standing up to abuse, well I am a rough basket at the best of times and they have stood up well for me, including once dropping 10m from a boat on the slipway which is concrete and several times falling 2 or 3m onto concrete.
Menno Bruinen
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Esab A50, such a nice control display!
Tom Orrow L
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PITA when you've got to keep taking your gloves off to adjust it though
Munkul
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I don't really get that... how many people keep adjusting their hoods? set it once for MIG, once for TIG/stick, and once for plasma... It's not like you're adjusting it all day, is it?
TBF mine are set up to flick between presets of shade 6 plasma and shade 10 for stick/TIG... the grind mode button is well placed and works OK IMO, but I barely ever use it, I'd rather just flip it up and use safety glasses
It's the comfiest headband bar none for me. And the ADF is close enough to your eyes that the smaller viewing window isn't a problem.
The main way the speedglas is better from a usability point of view, is those side windows. If you're hood-down most of the time with an air-fed, then the side windows give you just that extra bit of peripheral vision that's missing from the A50. TBF I only noticed it after a long period of using the a50 air, and then straightaway did some tacking with an older 9100xx.
What's the headgear like on the newest Optrels? I tried them on in the shop a few years back, the e684 and vegaview, I wasn't impressed. They might have the best lenses in the world, but I like a headband that doesn't slip about or nip your hair
TBF mine are set up to flick between presets of shade 6 plasma and shade 10 for stick/TIG... the grind mode button is well placed and works OK IMO, but I barely ever use it, I'd rather just flip it up and use safety glasses
It's the comfiest headband bar none for me. And the ADF is close enough to your eyes that the smaller viewing window isn't a problem.
The main way the speedglas is better from a usability point of view, is those side windows. If you're hood-down most of the time with an air-fed, then the side windows give you just that extra bit of peripheral vision that's missing from the A50. TBF I only noticed it after a long period of using the a50 air, and then straightaway did some tacking with an older 9100xx.
What's the headgear like on the newest Optrels? I tried them on in the shop a few years back, the e684 and vegaview, I wasn't impressed. They might have the best lenses in the world, but I like a headband that doesn't slip about or nip your hair
Menno Bruinen
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I'm really amazed that the Sentinel is put down as a pita everytime!
For the price it's a fantastic helmet and half or even maybe a third of the price tag of a Speedglas XXi.
Parts are easily available, and if you say that the lenses are more expensive over the Speedglas...... Look how many you can buy ove the price difference between the two.
I'm very happy with my Esab, and do not know if it's fair to compare it to the "superior" Speedglas......
Whatever you choose, do not take the A50! You certainly do NOT want to buy a pita....
For the price it's a fantastic helmet and half or even maybe a third of the price tag of a Speedglas XXi.
Parts are easily available, and if you say that the lenses are more expensive over the Speedglas...... Look how many you can buy ove the price difference between the two.
I'm very happy with my Esab, and do not know if it's fair to compare it to the "superior" Speedglas......
Whatever you choose, do not take the A50! You certainly do NOT want to buy a pita....
Munkul
Jack of some trades, Master of none
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Aye to be fair, £5/lens for the A50 is a bit of a downer. Speedglas aren't much cheaper at £3/lens though.
Was raging the other night - used a hand cleaner to wipe a nearly new lens on my airfed - completely wasted it with the solvents in it
Was raging the other night - used a hand cleaner to wipe a nearly new lens on my airfed - completely wasted it with the solvents in it
Hood
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With the Optrels there is no messing around with shade, the Auto Pilot works great. Set initially to +/-2 as per your preference then no matter the process or the amperage it sets the shade correctly, automatically
Only thing I ever have to adjust is the sensitivity and that is only when I am out welding on a boat and the sun is shimmering off the water and I have to reduce the sensitivity.
Only thing I ever have to adjust is the sensitivity and that is only when I am out welding on a boat and the sun is shimmering off the water and I have to reduce the sensitivity.
northwest
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I have a Sentinel A50. It is a lovely helmet. When I think of some of the (really dangerous) POS I have used over the years it is pure luxury. In the world I live in, I could have bought the Optrel Crystal complete with ADF and spare lens covers etc. etc.
But I try to be a realist, I weld seldom and owning my own Mig is a bit of an extravagance really so when it came to choosing a lid it was most definitely price/performance. I do have aTig though and although I had a rather decent Panavision, I decided I wanted something with a bit more clarity. The Sentinel fit the bill.
I don't really care that I have to take a glove off to adjust the settings, I usually set them to one of the presets before I actually put my gloves on because most of the time I actually know what I am doing.*
*no guarantees.
But I try to be a realist, I weld seldom and owning my own Mig is a bit of an extravagance really so when it came to choosing a lid it was most definitely price/performance. I do have aTig though and although I had a rather decent Panavision, I decided I wanted something with a bit more clarity. The Sentinel fit the bill.
I don't really care that I have to take a glove off to adjust the settings, I usually set them to one of the presets before I actually put my gloves on because most of the time I actually know what I am doing.*
*no guarantees.
Tom_ERST_S2
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I've got both the A50 and a 9100xxi. Both great hoods in my opinion though obviously you get what you pay for and in that respect the 9100xxi is a better helmet in the respect that it's so much clearer for low amp tig.
That's just my perspective though and I'd say a prospective buyer needs to try out various helmets to see what they like most for a given budget.
cheeRS
Tom
That's just my perspective though and I'd say a prospective buyer needs to try out various helmets to see what they like most for a given budget.
cheeRS
Tom
Adam Marshall
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I weld mig most days never tig. I have the a40 already but thought the a50 would be even better without worrying about damaging it.
