illuminated welding helmet

Cobbler · Feb 6, 2015

Just tried to order 1, out of stock now, you've caused a run on them. Had to pay £1.94 instead from somewhere else, I'm the last of the big spenders! My son bought me an LED light that clips on the swanneck of the mig some time ago, I've found that handy in dark corners. Don't use it often, but good when needed.

Monkey Harris · Feb 6, 2015

Cobbler said:
Just tried to order 1, out of stock now, you've caused a run on them. Had to pay £1.94 instead from somewhere else, I'm the last of the big spenders! My son bought me an LED light that clips on the swanneck of the mig some time ago, I've found that handy in dark corners. Don't use it often, but good when needed.

I could have sold you one for £2...

The clip on led sounds interesting..

Cobbler · Feb 6, 2015

Google MigLite, you should find it. Seriously overpriced though, nice pressy though.

ukracer · Feb 10, 2015

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/351070204799?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Just got one of these. Might remove the strap and fit it direct to helmet . Not used it in anger but as I had it for the zoom when I found it also has a dimming facility I was not aware of I was impressed. Looks a quality piece of kit (for the price)

Monkey Harris · Feb 10, 2015

^ looks good ... :clapping:

dan.taylor.1 · Feb 10, 2015

Let us know how it is ukracer I've been struggling hitting the right spot stick welding recently when the sun/light is behind me so I could do with a light for my mask.

ukracer · Feb 10, 2015

dan.taylor.1 said:
Let us know how it is ukracer I've been struggling hitting the right spot stick welding recently when the sun/light is behind me so I could do with a light for my mask.

My son is out testing it now . He is painting the rocker cover and strut brace on his Nissan 200 SX and fitting it back using that light. lol

Cobbler · Feb 11, 2015

Cobbler said:
Just tried to order 1, out of stock now, you've caused a run on them. Had to pay £1.94 instead from somewhere else, I'm the last of the big spenders!.

It's just arrived this morning, & guess what, it didn't work. Emailed suppliers & we will see what happens £1.94 isn't the end of the world, but!

ukracer · Feb 11, 2015

ukracer said:
My son is out testing it now . He is painting the rocker cover and strut brace on his Nissan 200 SX and fitting it back using that light. lol

Update on my light. My son , who does not like paying for crap, used this light and stated if it was 26 quid it would be great value. Its so bright! SO now to get it on my welding helmet..

Cobbler · Feb 11, 2015

ukracer said:
Update on my light. My son , who does not like paying for crap, used this light and stated if it was 26 quid it would be great value. Its so bright! SO now to get it on my welding helmet..

Sticky Velcro? Then you can get off to change the battery or put it on a cap. I've got a Petzel Headlight which I use on or under the car etc. but it's an expensive thing to damage.

Monkey Harris · Feb 11, 2015

Cobbler said:
It's just arrived this morning, & guess what, it didn't work. Emailed suppliers & we will see what happens £1.94 isn't the end of the world, but!

Have you removed the piece of paper under the battery...?

Cobbler · Feb 11, 2015

monky harris said:
Have you removed the piece of paper under the battery...?

The one I got had the batteries separate, put a multi meter on them, both ok. Couldn't investigate any further, didn't want to invalidate the guarantee on an expensive item such as this. Besides its all glued together.

Cobbler · Feb 20, 2015

Cobbler said:
It's just arrived this morning, & guess what, it didn't work. Emailed suppliers & we will see what happens £1.94 isn't the end of the world, but!

Email returned, a new one being sent, but still waiting a week later! I think my complaint went in the bin. Still only £1.94 not the end of the world.

Cobbler · Feb 26, 2015

Cobbler said:
Email returned, a new one being sent, but still waiting a week later! I think my complaint went in the bin. Still only £1.94 not the end of the world.

New one arrived yesterday, new one doesn't work either. Took them apart & the switches are knackered on both of them. The downside, no light, upside 4x2032 batteries spare. I'm not going to bother to email for another replacement, I'll take the switch out & twist the wires together, or if I can find a microswitch glue that to the side. The fitted switch is non latching, so that would be ok.

julianthegypsy · Mar 5, 2015

Inspired by this thread, LED light from the 99p shop superglued on. The duracell AA batteries cost more than the light, but for my 99p I didn't have to wait three weeks for it to arrive from China, and it works! It does make me look like a welding miner though....

Edit: Tested in anger today and it works a treat, I can not only see where I'm going but I have a perfect view of whats what before I start, everything is so clear!

RonB · Apr 20, 2015

Looks like a coal miners helmet from Mars. :whistle:

julianthegypsy · Apr 21, 2015

RonB said:
Looks like a coal miners helmet from Mars.

Not only that, but being 99p from China, almost all the LED's have packed up already! Haven't had time to pull it to pieces and find out what's wrong yet, but I suspect the high quality Chinese soldering will have something to do with it! :laughing:

tflnemesis · Apr 21, 2015

julianthegypsy said:
Not only that, but being 99p from China, almost all the LED's have packed up already! Haven't had time to pull it to pieces and find out what's wrong yet, but I suspect the high quality Chinese soldering will have something to do with it!

Just get your head a bit close to the job, the heat from your welding should reflow the solder nicely :P

MCKDAVID · Apr 24, 2015

thanks monkey harris - brilliant idea, copied, tested, and works a treat... :clapping:

being old and blind, all the light is a big help, now if I could just see what I was doing... cheater lense coming up..

thanks for the brilliantly simple idea. 2 x LED cap lights from eBay, some sticky back velcro, job done in minutes.. what a difference, Not sure why the manufacturers don't offer this as an option on their buckets.

Turbo · Oct 28, 2017

Since reading this thread I've always threatened to add lighting to my lid. To see what the advantages are I bolted a head torch to the top of my lid.

It's very bright!

This is the view through the mask with the lights off in the garage & just the head torch.

It might my just me but I think it also helped me see the weld pool when welding. It seemed more defined, I could see the difference between the metal pool & the molten slag, something I always struggled with. I could also clearly see the joint ahead, previously the glare from the rod was so bright that everything else was in darkness.

I just have to go shopping for some supplies & do the job properly!

@optima21 what leds did you end up using?

So if you are considering this then go ahead, you will not regret it!

illuminated welding helmet

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