Optrel Weldcap

[Hood]

Ok quick thoughts on an afternoon using the new lid.
The view is very crisp and clear, colours are slightly better than the Phantom XL I have been using but it is the best I have used up until now and was a huge step up from all previous ones I have had. The actual detail however is much better with the Optrel.
The Auto shade selection is great, I was expecting it to be a sort of gimmick which would err on the dark side but no, it works very well and seems to adjust it just right even for my failing eyes. Where I really noticed a difference was when I tried some tig on stainless, I was about 30 amps and it was much clearer than anything I have used before so obviously it automatically adjusted to lighter than a shade 9, all my previous lids have been 9-12 or 9-13, this is 5-13.

When I was doing the Alu tig I had clarity I have not seen before, the cleaning action was really visible and you could actually see a slight orange colour at the leading edge of the pool and when I did a bit of dirtier Alu I could see the containments floating on the surface of the weld pool.

I also did some Alu mig and you could see the smoke swirling around the edges The outside of the helmet got grey sooted up but the rubber gasket did its job and never allowed any inside the front lens. This was just a short test so obviously I will have to see how well it does when I am doing much more Mig Alu.

Now a big difference I noticed was the comfort and also the ease of adjustment to get it sitting just right. It is the most comfortable helmet I have had, doesn't slip around on my head and you hardly know you are wearing it. Also it doesn't fog up nearly as much as every other helmet I have had. Why this would be I can only assume is the shape it must allow the expelled breath to flow out the bottom better.

So far I am loving this and not so bothered about the price of it now

Oh also the place I got it from has 10 packs of front lenses for £22.70 plus VAT, so at under £3 a lens I think it is pretty cheap.

 

[Shox Dr]

I keep the lens cover clean with lens wipes. So long as you keep on top of the muck, the cover stays useable for a lot longer.

first get used for TIG then MIG..Arc. Never had a problem with any type of ingresss behind the lens cover, and they get swapped around a fair bit.

When I've some spare cash I'll treat myself to a Vega for TIG

 

[Hood]

I was torn between the e684 and the vega, would have been perfect if the e684 had had the 2.5 light state of the vega.
I still think I made the right choice as the auto is sweet and I can see the 5-9 shade options being of benefit on occasions.

 

[Hood]

One other thing I am loving about this helmet is the way the lenses clip in, much better than any helmet I have had before. I have often snapped the wee tangs that usually hold inner lenses in place but this has lovely sprung catches which are a breeze to use.

 

[Badger1bear]

Ok quick thoughts on an afternoon using the new lid.
The view is very crisp and clear, colours are slightly better than the Phantom XL I have been using but it is the best I have used up until now and was a huge step up from all previous ones I have had. The actual detail however is much better with the Optrel.
The Auto shade selection is great, I was expecting it to be a sort of gimmick which would err on the dark side but no, it works very well and seems to adjust it just right even for my failing eyes. Where I really noticed a difference was when I tried some tig on stainless, I was about 30 amps and it was much clearer than anything I have used before so obviously it automatically adjusted to lighter than a shade 9, all my previous lids have been 9-12 or 9-13, this is 5-13.

When I was doing the Alu tig I had clarity I have not seen before, the cleaning action was really visible and you could actually see a slight orange colour at the leading edge of the pool and when I did a bit of dirtier Alu I could see the containments floating on the surface of the weld pool.

I also did some Alu mig and you could see the smoke swirling around the edges The outside of the helmet got grey sooted up but the rubber gasket did its job and never allowed any inside the front lens. This was just a short test so obviously I will have to see how well it does when I am doing much more Mig Alu.

Now a big difference I noticed was the comfort and also the ease of adjustment to get it sitting just right. It is the most comfortable helmet I have had, doesn't slip around on my head and you hardly know you are wearing it. Also it doesn't fog up nearly as much as every other helmet I have had. Why this would be I can only assume is the shape it must allow the expelled breath to flow out the bottom better.

So far I am loving this and not so bothered about the price of it now

Oh also the place I got it from has 10 packs of front lenses for £22.70 plus VAT, so at under £3 a lens I think it is pretty cheap.

Very good review buddy, it is an excellent lid.
Now.......
We are coming up to the colder time of the year and you will find that the inner lense will start to fog from warm breath on a cold lense, if you wear the mask I gave you the link to it eliminates all of the fogging problems and it fits under the helmet so well you won't know it's there.

One bit of advice I would add as well is have a couple of spare batteries for the helmet. Getting halfway thru a job and then have the auto lense start throwing a fit because the batteries are low is not fun. Yes there is a wee light that comes on when the batteries are low but if your like me your carry on till their dead lol

Enjoy playing with your helmet lol

 

[Hood]

Yes, going to get one to try it out. Don't particularly like wearing masks and I have a beard so often they don't fit too well but it is cheap enough to give it a try.
Going into the workshop today to do some more welding of the plasma table trays so I will get a play with the lid

 

[Badger1bear]

Yes, going to get one to try it out. Don't particularly like wearing masks and I have a beard so often they don't fit too well but it is cheap enough to give it a try.
Going into the workshop today to do some more welding of the plasma table trays so I will get a play with the lid

Yeh, leave ya helmet alone LOL

 

[Hood]

Did some steel with Tig this afternoon and there wasn't so much difference than with the Phantom XL, maybe slightly clearer but nothing like the difference when doing Alu or SS.
Lens didn't fog up at all but my specs did
Have one niggle about the helmet so far, I had tried adjusting the shade when I was welding the steel and the silicon boot covering the knob came off. I just popped it back on but again later when adjusting it came off again. If I didn't have the glove on it wouldn't likely have happened, just the lack of feel I think that was allowing me to turn it further than the knob could go. A dab of super glue would likely stop that happening but I am not sure how that would affect the warranty so won't do it unless it becomes a problem.

 

[Hood]

I have been welding on and off all day today, been doing stainless stick welding on a boat, vertical, overhead, horizontal etc.

Usually the first thing I do when I have finished doing a particular weld is haul the helmet off until I get the next part ready, not so with this, it was on my head from start until 5pm and hardly noticed it Was even wearing as I went back and forth to the workshop to prepare other parts, only time it was taken off when I had a break at mid day.

 

[cianh91]

On the matter of fogging up i got one of the kinda a scarf only its a full loop with bands type thing(javen a clue of what its called) last year as id to get a tooth out and the cold killed me so by chance found the svarf thing to stop any fogging up and be very comfortable under the shield il get a pic if needed descriptions terrible but i think any biker might no what im talkin about .

 

[Hood]

I think maybe it is a snood you are talking about but yes a pic would be good.

 

[Hood]

Is it this kind of thing?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Motorcycle-Motorbike-Cycling-Lightweight-Balaclava/dp/B00BY8WADC

 

[cianh91]

Ye like that only one i got was a bit thicker by the look of that pic but it was great and kept the knose down good and snug

 

[Hood]

Thanks, might try something like that if I do get issues but so far it has hasn't really misted up. Every other helmet I have had it was a problem but this gets full marks so far
Will have to make sure though that, if I do get one, it is fire resistant as I do a lot of positional work and don't fancy it getting melted to my neck :d

 

[Bill Edwards]

Oh also the place I got it from has 10 packs of front lenses for £22.70 plus VAT, so at under £3 a lens I think it is pretty cheap.

Where from, I've just paid £22 for five...

 

[Hood]

Where from, I've just paid £22 for five...

http://www.westcoweld.co.uk/consuma...ding-helmet-spares/optrel-expert-outer-lenses

 

[Hood]

I wonder if they have made a mistake, only shows 5 in the pic but description says pack of 10.

 

[Bill Edwards]

Ta, think I'll get some. Should then last me a loooong time but it's horrible with a scratched visor vs clean.

 

[Hood]

Was just about to buy myself but total is £40 because of postage so think I will hang off a bit.