illuminated welding helmet

[optima21]

@optima21 what leds did you end up using?

my latest helmet uses 0.5Watt straw hat LED's like these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152296030733

although it is hard to find the specifications for them. the "straw hat" style of LED are wide angle and have viewing angles between 170 and 200 degrees so illuminate a wide area

 

[slim_boy_fat]

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.

View attachment 122450

It's very bright!

View attachment 122451

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

View attachment 122452

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!

There's plagiarism afoot , see post 7 here http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/...-for-an-old-mans-eyesight.76779/#post-1068230

 

[Turbo]

my latest helmet uses 0.5Watt straw hat LED's like these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152296030733

although it is hard to find the specifications for them. the "straw hat" style of LED are wide angle and have viewing angles between 170 and 200 degrees so illuminate a wide area

Thanks for the link!
My problem is due to the shape of my lid there's nowhere flat to mount leds at the top corners, I may have to get creative with some glue!

There's plagiarism afoot , see post 7 here http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/...-for-an-old-mans-eyesight.76779/#post-1068230

Somehow I missed that entire thread. Great minds think alike!

 

[Donkey]

Cheap head torch strapped round the lid always works for me or a torch duct taped to the side in an emergency!!

 

[heldtogetherwithblutack]

Anyone took this a stage further or thought about auto switch on when mask down.
Could be either mini micro switch or contacts on/around friction screw, other ideas anyone?.

 

[MBB]

Cob led light £2.59 at Home Bargains complete with batteries. You cant look at it when on top setting

 

[Lordspectre]

Just throwing up a pic of my mates helmet for Xmas the mad beggar

 

[olek]

Hello,

I do not understand if those lights are enough to put the LCD "ON" (dark mode) or if the pics show what you see in a fixed shade 9 or 10 with those led lights around ? I suppose that as they are really near the piece the light is optimized. Is it enough to locate confortably with a fixed shade ?

I am a little obtuse so I strive to learn how to manage the flip flap and it is really not that difficult, but seing better during the 1/4 second before light may be cool.

BTW probably due to my eyes sensitivity (my LCD is fast enough) I like to wink eyes at the very moment the rod light up, this create a way stronger light than later and it seem to "flare" my eyes so opening them just after the contrast is just perfect, better anyway than the strong flash. WIth the fixed shade 11 it is less important but I do it sometime, that way I can immediately focus on the puddle, not disturbed by the contrast light/darker from the initial lightening - for instance with ESAB 7018 the graphited part make a strong light, but LIncoln too .

 

[bourbon]

Thanks to this Forum. I have hot glued a headlight to my helmet. Haven't used it yet but I certainly looks that it will work