Used or new air-fed helmet?

[Chris152]

Thanks both.
I guess maybe the filter colour is more important than I'd considered, Munkul - my lad (who's going to be using it) is red - green colour blind and anything that might make that worse is important. We'll have to look into that too, now! Is the contrast better with true colour (you mentioned it in your post)? I know reds and greens can disappear into browns for him, maybe a green filter will make it all go brown.

I grew up just outside Trowbridge, hotponyshoes, but we're now in South Wales so a bit of a trek to you these days, but really appreciate the offer. We'd read about the importance of the distance from the eyes to the screen but I'd not really understood tbh, but think I get it now in this context.

ps Apparently one person at his class has a 9100 mask and another the Sentinel a50, so he could try those and see what happens with both colour for his eyes, and distance of eyes from the screen (tho they both end in a 2 for optical clarity, so he'll miss any '1-effect'!). They're on a week's break now so that'd have to wait, but it's a possibility.

Thanks again both, really helpful.

 

[Munkul]

Just to be clear,
I know quite a few professional welders and none of them even know about, let alone care about, the "1-effect". It's just a number

Definitely get him to try a few hoods, that's the best way to work out what works best for you.

 

[Chris152]

Just to complicate matters, what are Universal sets like? I was just looking at this one in particular after a suggestion:

Universal PPE Quantum Welding Helmet With P3 PAPR System​

https://www.universalppe.co.uk/shop/rp158-quantum-helmet-with-quantum-air-papr-kit-bag-complete-9572#attr=

Seems to tick all the boxes we've established so far.

 

[hotponyshoes]

Just to be clear,
I know quite a few professional welders and none of them even know about, let alone care about, the "1-effect". It's just a number

Definitely get him to try a few hoods, that's the best way to work out what works best for you.

This /\
A 2,2,3,2, Helmet that fits perfectly and canb be adjusted to get the adf in exactly the right position on your head will be much nicer to look through than a 1,1,1,1 that doesn't fit right.

Much like a 700gram lid with #2 will feel better after a few hours than a 1.5kg #1

The noise level from the blower pack (both inside and outside the helmet) is worth assessing as well

 

[Ged93]

Just to complicate matters, what are Universal sets like? I was just looking at this one in particular after a suggestion:

Universal PPE Quantum Welding Helmet With P3 PAPR System​

https://www.universalppe.co.uk/shop/rp158-quantum-helmet-with-quantum-air-papr-kit-bag-complete-9572#attr=

Seems to tick all the boxes we've established so far.

Looks like a 3M copy.
Never seen one .

 

[Chris152]

OK, we just popped out to have a go with the Sentinel a welder up the road uses and the lad really liked the way it works. So, decision made, order in with Elmdale Welding Supplies - we spoke on the phone and they were really helpful, and the price is good for an A60 with air.
Hopefully that's the last big purchase for a while (well, it'll have to be), so I'll leave you in peace. For a while... :-)

Thanks for all the comments and thoughts, really helped us along the way and I think it's a great choice.

Chris

 

[trigger3]

i like speedglas green x and xx just fine. tru color is nice also but i dont mind green

 

[Deepwinter]

Ive been using The Savage A50 LUX for the last 2 months, I have to say its I really like it, I love the gear same as the sentinal A60 same ADF just in a smaller 100 x 60mm package, the outer lens is also recessed easier to keep from scratching than the A50 and A60 Sentinals.
Pit also comes with a built in torch which ive found suprisingly handy at times.

I paid €209 Excluding VAT €257 including VAT in Ireland

 

[not done it yet]

I expect he’s sorted it out in the intervening 10 months?

 

[Beanwood]

I expect he’s sorted it out in the intervening 10 months?

Useful feedback though.

 

[Deepwinter]

I expect he’s sorted it out in the intervening 10 months?

The answer isn't restricted to the OP and is there for anyone who happens to find it helpful.
I couldn't count the number of forum replies I found helpful, that were not posted for me specifically and may have been years after the OPs original post

 

[Chris152]

I expect he’s sorted it out in the intervening 10 months?

Yes, my lad's sorted now - we went with the Sentinel, it's great apparently.