- Thread starter CT85
- Start date
northwest
Searching for the Holy Grail.........
- Messages
- 5,821
- Location
- Manchester UK
But I didn't.
I really need a magnifying lens in my helmet as I do a good bit of small, close up work.
I balanced the features/cost/accessories between a couple of top hoods and bought the Esab Sentinel. It has worked out almost half the cost of the Optrel Panoramaxx. Not cheap at £220ish but the specially shaped magnifying lenses for the Optrel put it well over £400.
So far, I am very happy with it. It is very comfortable, the cassette touch screen looks reassuringly expensive and I have a really good field of view, better than the Spaceview so size is not everything. I am going to have my tea in a bit (Steak n Chips for the curious:-) ) and afterwards, if I don't collapse in a heap (very long day) I will give the thing a trial run. I must say, the colours are really good with it and enough adjustment on the Halo to need half an hour to sort it out.
Dutch Welder
Member
- Messages
- 389
- Location
- Oss, The Netherlands
Speedglas 9100XXi FX Air Adflo, and a Speedglas 100V with Adflo bodged on/in as well.
openworkshop
New Member
- Messages
- 3
- Location
- Newbury, South England
I'm pretty interested in this.
I currently use a speedglas 9000v for mig, with an adflo and a jackson bh3 balder for TIG. Both great masks and you can pick up those old speedglas for around £50 on a good ebay deal now. They're pretty clear, react super fast, but at their age now the solar panels aren't great, so if you don't use it for a while leave it near the window, or be prepare to swap the batteries (2032 are cheap enough on amazon)
The jackson is a great mask, but some sellers sell a cheap knock off, with the same balder lens. The mask is still great, but harness sucks. I ripped another harness off a clear screen that I scuffed up, which I bodged on just fine on mine. My jackson is struggling in LED lighting now though, so It's time to relegate it to my workshop and buy a new lid for site work.
I do range of TIG welding onsite, often in confined spaces inside stainless vessels, where there isn't much light. I also use it for low amperage bits and pieces to make ancillaries for the jobs. I'm really tempted by the optrel panoramixx for its auto adjust feature, but similarly I'm tempted by the miller elite for its 4 sensors. When you're in confined space (especially in a coated pan, with little reflection) you can block the two sensors quite often.
If anyone has a recommendation on either of these I'd be much obliged.
I currently use a speedglas 9000v for mig, with an adflo and a jackson bh3 balder for TIG. Both great masks and you can pick up those old speedglas for around £50 on a good ebay deal now. They're pretty clear, react super fast, but at their age now the solar panels aren't great, so if you don't use it for a while leave it near the window, or be prepare to swap the batteries (2032 are cheap enough on amazon)
The jackson is a great mask, but some sellers sell a cheap knock off, with the same balder lens. The mask is still great, but harness sucks. I ripped another harness off a clear screen that I scuffed up, which I bodged on just fine on mine. My jackson is struggling in LED lighting now though, so It's time to relegate it to my workshop and buy a new lid for site work.
I do range of TIG welding onsite, often in confined spaces inside stainless vessels, where there isn't much light. I also use it for low amperage bits and pieces to make ancillaries for the jobs. I'm really tempted by the optrel panoramixx for its auto adjust feature, but similarly I'm tempted by the miller elite for its 4 sensors. When you're in confined space (especially in a coated pan, with little reflection) you can block the two sensors quite often.
If anyone has a recommendation on either of these I'd be much obliged.
Hood
I am obsessed.
- Messages
- 17,378
- Location
- Carnoustie, Scotland
The Panoramaxx has 5 sensors I believe.
Kent
Member
- Messages
- 9,988
- Location
- Bowland, Lanacshire,UK
Just added one the speed glass keeps Comming in bits and getting in the way when raised. Yet to put into action because I only traveled out to get emergency mig wire supplies
Liquid Metal
Member
- Messages
- 482
- Location
- Essex, UK
Use an Optrel e650 for mig most of the time, save keep up down up down all day long, and for stick welding in the workshop.
Tig work on the other hand, or stick welding outside, then i use a pipeliner that ive fitted a flipup lense holder off of a cheap protoshell mask onto. Stops any flashing if line of sight isnt perfect, and much better for squeezing into tight spots.
One negative with the optrel imho is that due to it being quite wide and probably the shape of it, is that it lets a lot of light in through the back, obscuring view.
One good thing on the other hand is that due to the shape of the front lense having such a curve to it, spatter bounces straight off it and they last for weeks even in an industrial environment.
Tig work on the other hand, or stick welding outside, then i use a pipeliner that ive fitted a flipup lense holder off of a cheap protoshell mask onto. Stops any flashing if line of sight isnt perfect, and much better for squeezing into tight spots.
One negative with the optrel imho is that due to it being quite wide and probably the shape of it, is that it lets a lot of light in through the back, obscuring view.
One good thing on the other hand is that due to the shape of the front lense having such a curve to it, spatter bounces straight off it and they last for weeks even in an industrial environment.
