- Thread starter Brad93
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Brad93
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The duct tape stops battery falling out or adflo turning off when knocked, kneeling or sliding round on your ass. As also stops the battery getting too scratched up/gouged.
That helmet was fully cleaned 10 days ago literally full strip in the sink, scrubbed clean. Lens was new yesterday.
That helmet was fully cleaned 10 days ago literally full strip in the sink, scrubbed clean. Lens was new yesterday.
Brad93
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Yes I have been using it, out of necessity rather than choice.
I've noticed more 'cutbacks' compared to the FX helmet, I really should do another video.
Although lighter than an FX helmet, it's actually not balanced on your head, it's very front heavy. It's constantly pulling down on my brow which means I'm fighting it by raising my eyebrows. I guess this is why they've got the huge new rubberised headband on the back, which loves to rip your hair out. Took that off sharpish and went to the original. However no matter how tight you do the headband, it's pulling over the back of your head. Oh. They changed the adjuster on the back of the headband too and that now is hard to do with gloves on, and has no real positive click like the old ones.
The new park and tilt adjusters are useless. You can't work them with mig gloves on. The park side is loose no matter how tight you set the thing, so there is always movement in the helmet even when the headband is super tight on your head.
The park does work properly though, unlike the fx which with the rubber hose in the back it never really liked being in the up position.
The headband parts that go across the top of your head are skinnier than they used to be. This means there's actually less surface area to spread the load of the helmet.
The air adjustment - face and visor etc. Useless. You can feel hardly a discernible difference. There is one setting that points at your eyes, just dries them out!
The variable colour ADF. Pointless. The colours are slightly different, but in practice I can't see they make any difference and I've welded steel, stainless and aluminium with the TIG and steel with the Mig. There's no old school green shade which I love like the XX filters. shade is basically just a very clear natural colour, like the XXi or optrel masks.
Really I'd describe the three colours as Gold, Violet and Natural. Certainly no red or green shades. I used an ESAB helmet once that had a amber/red ADF. Brilliant lens.
in summary:
I should of bought another FX. Not the hyped up G5-01
I've noticed more 'cutbacks' compared to the FX helmet, I really should do another video.
Although lighter than an FX helmet, it's actually not balanced on your head, it's very front heavy. It's constantly pulling down on my brow which means I'm fighting it by raising my eyebrows. I guess this is why they've got the huge new rubberised headband on the back, which loves to rip your hair out. Took that off sharpish and went to the original. However no matter how tight you do the headband, it's pulling over the back of your head. Oh. They changed the adjuster on the back of the headband too and that now is hard to do with gloves on, and has no real positive click like the old ones.
The new park and tilt adjusters are useless. You can't work them with mig gloves on. The park side is loose no matter how tight you set the thing, so there is always movement in the helmet even when the headband is super tight on your head.
The park does work properly though, unlike the fx which with the rubber hose in the back it never really liked being in the up position.
The headband parts that go across the top of your head are skinnier than they used to be. This means there's actually less surface area to spread the load of the helmet.
The air adjustment - face and visor etc. Useless. You can feel hardly a discernible difference. There is one setting that points at your eyes, just dries them out!
The variable colour ADF. Pointless. The colours are slightly different, but in practice I can't see they make any difference and I've welded steel, stainless and aluminium with the TIG and steel with the Mig. There's no old school green shade which I love like the XX filters. shade is basically just a very clear natural colour, like the XXi or optrel masks.
Really I'd describe the three colours as Gold, Violet and Natural. Certainly no red or green shades. I used an ESAB helmet once that had a amber/red ADF. Brilliant lens.
in summary:
I should of bought another FX. Not the hyped up G5-01
Mma man
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I have been using my g5-01 since January. Some bench work but mostly positional ss / mild / Al / tig mma solid wire and fcaw and have found it good to be honest after setting it up it fits nice with no probs. I suppose every head is different maybe but I can where mine all day. The main thing for me is when I blow my nose at the end of 12h of fcaw and its clean not a hint of black so nothing has got through. The lense is nice clear and big but the other colours are a bit of a gimmick and not for me.
Brad93
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Gimmick, that's the word I was looking for. That's exactly what I think of the colours.
I don't know if you've had a FX but that's what I am comparing this helmet to.
I guess compared to an ESAB or other brand it's leagues ahead. But it's not as good as the tried and tested FX
Munkul
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You tried the XXi true colour ADF in your FX a year or two back, didn't you? I remember you had an ADF for sale anyway. I take it you didn't like it?
Mma man
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Hi Brad yes I've got a trusty fx had it for many many years I still use it but the lens is just the old X one so viewing area is small. Very good lid though and to be honest with you if it had the xxi filter it would be my go to lid and keep the g5 for more clean environments. Now you got me thinking budy I might keep my eyes open for a xxi for it.
Brad93
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I had two XXi ADF's
I like it. It is still in the FX. By XX lens is in my standard helmet.
Huge thanks for that follow up Brad, really good to know!
Damn shame that such an expensive bit of kit has all those failings, but jeez I'm glad I found this thread before getting suckered in by the marketing material. A lot of the the downsides you mentioned are the sorts of things that I'd notice and get shirty about.
I'll stick to getting an FX (new job gets them for us at a lower cost), might try to track down one of those XX lens when I do.
btw loved the comment about going bald if you bought the G5 in the video, gave me a solid laugh!
Damn shame that such an expensive bit of kit has all those failings, but jeez I'm glad I found this thread before getting suckered in by the marketing material. A lot of the the downsides you mentioned are the sorts of things that I'd notice and get shirty about.
I'll stick to getting an FX (new job gets them for us at a lower cost), might try to track down one of those XX lens when I do.
btw loved the comment about going bald if you bought the G5 in the video, gave me a solid laugh!
Brad93
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The XX or XXi lenses are both good. XXi is definitely clearer and a more natural colour but can be harsh on the eyes
bletchmonster
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It's a very subjective thing!
I can't comment on the the G5 build quality compared to the fx
'but' I find the G5 incredibly comfortable, especially when compared to much earlier speedglas lids, I found those extremely unbalanced. I can wear the G5 all day and hardly know it's there.
The clear visor up position parking is a joke (disappointing).
I find the air direction control very useful. It's difficult to figure out which air control does what but the ability to balance air in your eyes with demisting is very useful. Especially in the cold winter!
The different colour modes on the lense I also find useful. The first shade I use for higher amp mig work and the second blue shade I find is good on low amp tig, just seems to give better clarity. The 3rd colour setting I find unhelpful. Too murky.
I don't like the grind/plasma mode at all.
Switches the lense into a fixed shade which I find too dark for following marking out with the plasma torch. I usually stay in weld mode and turn the sensitivity down so it doesn't switch.
I can't comment on the the G5 build quality compared to the fx
'but' I find the G5 incredibly comfortable, especially when compared to much earlier speedglas lids, I found those extremely unbalanced. I can wear the G5 all day and hardly know it's there.
The clear visor up position parking is a joke (disappointing).
I find the air direction control very useful. It's difficult to figure out which air control does what but the ability to balance air in your eyes with demisting is very useful. Especially in the cold winter!
The different colour modes on the lense I also find useful. The first shade I use for higher amp mig work and the second blue shade I find is good on low amp tig, just seems to give better clarity. The 3rd colour setting I find unhelpful. Too murky.
I don't like the grind/plasma mode at all.
Switches the lense into a fixed shade which I find too dark for following marking out with the plasma torch. I usually stay in weld mode and turn the sensitivity down so it doesn't switch.
When I first saw this feature in the ad, I thought that it's a not very useful gimmick, made for marketing. Guess I was right. I think it would have been more interesting, if SG decided to make variable colours more distinct from one another. For example -first colour is the standard true colour that xxi has, another one is the classic green and the last one is yellow or amber. It would also helped people with a partial colour blindness, I guess.
Pigeon_Droppings2
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Thats a good tip....also great review.
Looks like I'll be keeping my fx a while...the 3m lens (xxi) is blooming great I have to say.
Like a lot of stuff these days "made in Germany" actually means the bits are made on the cheap in China and then shipped to Germany for assembly. They still get away with it though as many people haven't figured out what's happening.
Brad93
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The FX was the best helmet 3m made. Hang onto it and your original face seal. New one is crap with the bit missing at the top.
