Recomend a helmet please !

[Wedg1e]

I use an Optrel Satellite Evolution, it has grinding setting and 5(!)-13 range. Not cheap however.

 

[Piero]

I remember reading a thred were hotrodder said about the UV light and its effect.

BUT that was not my point.

I compony who investes more money usaly developes a better product, they will have to regain that outlay, and it is seen in the price, BUT also the end product

 

[langy]

I remember reading a thred were hotrodder said about the UV light and its effect.

BUT that was not my point.

I compony who investes more money usaly developes a better product, they will have to regain that outlay, and it is seen in the price, BUT also the end product

Investing large amounts of money and a high price do not guarantee quality I'm afraid !!!

 

[Piero]

never said it did langley, but you know the score, you get what you pay for in this world I am afaid,

seeing as you to bought a Miller ellit, you to must have reolised the need to look after your eyes,

I note you also have a cheaper helmet you say is very good, but to be honest, do you really have the test equipment to comaire one to the other???

I dont, so all we can do is get what we pay for

 

[langy]

never said it did langley, but you know the score, you get what you pay for in this world I am afaid,

seeing as you to bought a Miller ellit, you to must have reolised the need to look after your eyes,

I note you also have a cheaper helmet you say is very good, but to be honest, do you really have the test equipment to comaire one to the other???

I dont, so all we can do is get what we pay for

For a start its Langy or Steve !!!

Yes you do get what you pay for in this life but you also need to do your homework as high price doesn't mean quality always I'm afraid.
Yes i have a Miller and yes its very good but so is the SWP Eliminator i have also, No i have no test equipment but my comments are based on real world experience !!!
If i don't know about things i don't comment.

 

[rtcosic]

After you have a short list, try on a helmet before deciding.

I have a Clarke from Machine Mart. No 1 son arrived with a Chicago Electric from Harbor (sic) Freight in the USA. Same sort of price point and perceived quality. Both appear to have exactly the same auto-darkening module, yet I found I could weld so much more easily (let's not say 'better' - no photos of my 'farmer's welds' will get posted) with the Chicago Electric one.

Took me a while to realise why - the design of the head fitting. The auto-darkening filter module in the Chicago Electric almost touches my nose, whereas in the Clarke it is nearly 50mm away.
The field of view of the Chicago Electric is therefore MUCH bigger, I can get my aging eyes 50mm closer to the weld and there is less interference from light behind me.

Next improvement was much more expensive. I've accepted I need to wear reading glasses when welding - but they have a fixed range and I cannot always get myself in position so that the weldpool is properly in focus. Speaking to my optician I asked about vari-focal READING glasses. He had never supplied such things before but after discussion accepted there was no technical reason not to have such things. So now I have vari-focal reading glasses with a 'normal' reading distance through the main part of the lens of about 400-500mm and a 'close' distance through the lower part of only 150mm. Now I can see properly over the full range of 150-500mm. Great for welding rusty bits of motor-car in confined spaces and also fine assembly work. Also means as I'm typing this looking down at the keyboard it is in perfect focus and as I glance up to the screen to see what I've typed, that's in perfect focus as well!

Can some-one explain the cheater lenses please. Are these like large reading glasses lenses, or just magnifying lenses? Do they replace my use of reading glasses, or add to it?

 

[langy]

The cheater lens is just like a magnifying lens, I wouldn't be without mine, I use a 1.5

 

[pedrobedro]

I very rarely see people talk about much more than the price when it comes to recomending a helmet.

As said, you only ever get one pair of eyes, and the de generation is so slow, you cant go back and compaire them to when your eyes were new.

I am not saying its all down to welding, but why take a chance for a few pounds.

I would advise looking at helmets with more than two sensors

I'm 60 this year and have been welding for about 43 of them off and on. I only started using an auto mask year before last and it was free with my welder. When it became faulty I replaced it with a SWP which has been perfect, better than the cheaper model as it is a uniform shade where the other had dark and light bands. Two sensors is plenty as long as they are in the right place to detect the arc. The difference between helmets with 3 or 4 sensors and the cheaper ones is usually more than a lot of people who come on here asking questions are thinking of spending on a welder. Your eyes are more subject to damage from sunlight than welding with even the cheapest tinted lens in front of them as long as it is UV resistant. How much is "a few pounds" to you ? I would happily recommend anyone on a tight budget to forgo the luxury of an auto and get a £10 bucket with a 9,10, or 11 shade whichever suits them.

 

[Seano]

The cheater lens is just like a magnifying lens, I wouldn't be without mine, I use a 1.5

1.5...... you lucky man Steve.....mine's up to 2.5 now...... sometimes even end up migging with my speedglass on 9 I seem to get so little light into my eyes....night driving is a nightmare....

 

[Seano]

I'm 60 this year and have been welding for about 43 of them off and on.

Passed that milsetone last year pedro and welding about the same amount of time, but things are definitely getting dimmer, I reckon it's all the years of being in refit yards and drydock's with welders flashing up all around...

 

[langy]

1.5...... you lucky man Steve.....mine's up to 2.5 now...... sometimes even end up migging with my speedglass on 9 I seem to get so little light into my eyes....night driving is a nightmare....

I only use the 1.5 for Tig mate, On Mig i seem to fine although i don't use the Mig much these days.

 

[langy]

Passed that milsetone last year pedro and welding about the same amount of time, but things are definitely getting dimmer, I reckon it's all the years of being in refit yards and drydock's with welders flashing up all around...

Your both a year in front of me I was only 59 last monday

 

[gavuk]

I feel like the youngster,45 but I use a x2 cheater for tig,started when welding at 30amps and found I was struggling to stay on the join,not enough flare from the arc....like Steve,don't need it for mig or arc, the amps I use give off much more light.

I started using a cheater lens before i needed to wear specs

 

[Seano]

I only use the 1.5 for Tig mate, On Mig i seem to fine although i don't use the Mig much these days.

I feel like the youngster,45 but I use a x2 cheater for tig,started when welding at 30amps and found I was struggling to stay on the join,not enough flare from the arc....like Steve,don't need it for mig or arc, the amps I use give off much more light.

I started using a cheater lens before i needed to wear specs

I just can't choffing see......that's all there is to it, don't know why I try any more....just can't give it up....