Review Optrel Crystal 2.0

[Badger1bear]

A

@Badger1bear
Did Andy do you a good deal??
(Don't need to know exact price as will probably message dealers next week)

I have been offered one for sensible money from a local supplier and so tempted about selling my lid for a fresh optrel.

Andy always offers me a good deal due to the amount I have spent with Rapid over the years.

3 Lincoln electric PC210’s purchased is just one example
Show loyalty to a dealer and they will look after you

 

[Ruffian]

A


Andy always offers me a good deal due to the amount I have spent with Rapid over the years.

3 Lincoln electric PC210’s purchased is just one example
Show loyalty to a dealer and they will look after you

Unfortunatly I haven't spent enough with any dealer yet as only a hobbyist.
Only bought a r-tech welder new and just consumables through a couple of places.
Most of my stuff gets picked up through word of mouth.

Will have to go see local dealer and see what they are willing to do deal wise.

 

[Arc Tourist]

You guys are great sales people, and the choices are getting harder. Being that I'm retired and will only be fabricating stuff for personal use, I'm trying to convince myself to spend the extra amount for one of these helmets ? It will be primarily for Tig welding projects on a workbench indoors.

 

[Badger1bear]

You guys are great sales people, and the choices are getting harder. Being that I'm retired and will only be fabricating stuff for personal use, I'm trying to convince myself to spend the extra amount for one of these helmets ? It will be primarily for Tig welding projects on a workbench indoors.

Do it do it do it

 

[Hood]

Thankyou for the positive review Mr Hood. I ordered the Optrel Crystal from Andy at Rapid Welding this morning

When do you think you will get it?

 

[Bill Edwards]

You guys are great sales people, and the choices are getting harder. Being that I'm retired and will only be fabricating stuff for personal use, I'm trying to convince myself to spend the extra amount for one of these helmets ? It will be primarily for Tig welding projects on a workbench indoors.

It’s easy really, if you want to make welding quicker, easier and nicer for yourself then buy one of these nice Optrel helmets, I very much doubt it’ll become a regret!

I have a vegaview which I liked, but don’t touch since getting a panoramax which is brilliant and I really enjoy using. Having read about the crystal it sounds like it’s a good bit better again and would probably be my choice if buying a helmet now. Hefty price tag of course, but you only live once.

I would never go back to a shade 4 auto again, and would only use a fixed shade if working in really wet, harsh conditions that could destroy an expensive helmet.

 

[Badger1bear]

When do you think you will get it?

It will be processed Tuesday and dispatched for Wednesday delivery

 

[Bladevane]

You guys are great sales people, and the choices are getting harder. Being that I'm retired and will only be fabricating stuff for personal use, I'm trying to convince myself to spend the extra amount for one of these helmets ? It will be primarily for Tig welding projects on a workbench indoors

Go on - break out your lump sum, you only live once!!!

 

[Hood]

It will be processed Tuesday and dispatched for Wednesday delivery

Please post and say what you think, I very confident you will love it.

 

[Arc Tourist]

It’s easy really, if you want to make welding quicker, easier and nicer for yourself then buy one of these nice Optrel helmets, I very much doubt it’ll become a regret!

I have a vegaview which I liked, but don’t touch since getting a panoramax which is brilliant and I really enjoy using. Having read about the crystal it sounds like it’s a good bit better again and would probably be my choice if buying a helmet now. Hefty price tag of course, but you only live once.

I would never go back to a shade 4 auto again, and would only use a fixed shade if working in really wet, harsh conditions that could destroy an expensive helmet.

The price is doable, but one can get to a point of diminishing returns. I figure I'll average maybe One Hour a week welding in a year's time, so as nice as it would be to have a state of the art helmet, I'm not a professional as many of you here are. Speaking of diminishing returns, I will require a cheater lens, and have noticed they only come in a 2" x 4" size, which means the welding helmets with larger screens would seem to be pointless for someone using a cheater lens; or am I missing something ?

 

[Hood]

The Optrels have cheaters to fit them. I just wear my specs so no need for one.

 

[Arc Tourist]

I feel the Optrel noose starting to tighten.

 

[Hood]

I feel the Optrel noose starting to tighten.

I have no idea how much they are though, might be quite expensive

I am sure most of the other higher end lids will also have suitable magnifying lenses available.

 

[Badger1bear]

I use cheater lenses in all of the Optrels I have

If this crystal hood is as good as the reviews then the Optrel E684 hood that I bought a little while back will be up for sale. I seem to collect welding hoods like some people collect grinders lol

 

[Arc Tourist]

I'm looking forward to opinions and reviews about the Crystal 2.0, and plan on stopping by Rapid Weld when we are near Portsmouth later this summer to try one of these helmets; but after reading up on specs and watching just about every video I could find on ADF helmets, I decided to be pragmatic, and today ordered a Lincoln 1840 helmet from Maryanne at Rapid.

I didn't want to buy a cheap helmet, and being that this will be my first auto darkening helmet, and has the higher end 4C technology, I figure it will be good as a reference point to compare against state of the art helmet's and technology when I get a chance to actually try one of them out.

Thanks for the encouragement to spend my money, but at the moment I need some other accessories too.

Cheers.

 

[Hood]

Aye, eagerly awaiting Mr badgers thoughts.

 

[Badger1bear]

Aye, eagerly awaiting Mr badgers thoughts.

Well Mr Hood, Rapid Welding are always true to their word and it was delivered on time including some freebies.
I tried the Crystal hood on and it is indeed clear as day in its resting state with no intense light source to trigger it
I have no welding to do until Saturday afternoon so I will turn on the juice and see what shakes loose later on in the week.......... review to follow

 

[Hood]

Ha ha I can't believe you have not struck an arc yet, I had within 2 minutes of it arriving

 

[Badger1bear]

Ha ha I can't believe you have not struck an arc yet, I had within 2 minutes of it arriving

Does looking at the downlighter count if I balance the on and off switch in the middle and it flickers ?

 

[Hood]

Does looking at the downlighter count if I balance the on and off switch in the middle and it flickers ?

Its a start I suppose