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Author
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Topic: Auto-dimming welding helmets
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lonewolf
Gearhead Posts: 307
From: Colorado; M&M #3117
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 02-09-2004 01:03 PM
   
Has anyone used one of these? If so, what do you like, dislike, what to watch out for?My wife is looking for a birthday present for me and she asked what I would want in a new helmet. Thanks in advance, Rick
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 44921
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 02-09-2004 01:33 PM
After using one I'd never want to use anything else. You can actually see what you're doing before you stick an arc!  ------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 351C 4V/FMX/3.25 Open
'70 Mustang Convertible 250 I6/3 speed/2.79 Open
'72 Mustang Sprint Hardtop 351C 4V/FMX/4.30 Trac Loc
'94 F-150 XL 5.8L/E4OD/3.55 Limited Slip
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n2oMike
Gearhead Posts: 2680
From: Spencer, WV
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 02-09-2004 06:18 PM
A buddy of mine bought one of those Harbor Freight helmets for $50 or $60, and it works great.It's solar powered (never needs batteries) and is solar activated. You don't even need to remember to turn the thing on. It's lightweight, (around a pound) so it doesn't weight you down. It's fairly small, so you can fit into tight places... It gets a thumbs up from me. His was made by Western Safety. Go to http://www.harborfreight.com and do a search for 'welding helmet' Good Luck! ------------------
Mike Burch
66 mustang real street
302 4-speed 289 heads
10.63 @ 129.3
http://www.geocities.com/carbedstangs/cmml_mburch.html
http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/healey/367
http://www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/moi-display.cgi?220 [This message has been edited by n2oMike (edited 02-09-2004).]
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bob emmerich
Journeyman Posts: 66
From: Stratford,Connecticut
Registered: Sep 2000
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posted 03-11-2004 10:22 PM
I've got one, but haven't had the pleasure of trying it(have to re-build my garage first*L*).
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pmhvps
Gearhead Posts: 515
From: Lowville,Ontario,Canada
Registered: Oct 2003
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posted 03-16-2004 12:07 PM
Have one,I agree.... will never go back!
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allford
Journeyman Posts: 5
From: Virginia Beach, Va, USA
Registered: Sep 2003
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posted 12-11-2004 07:41 AM
I got an auto dimming at Harbor Freight on sale for 50.00 (solar powered and uses battery as a backup)...great improvment over non dimming..
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Dubz
Gearhead Posts: 1888
From: Manitoba Canada
Registered: Oct 2002
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posted 12-12-2004 07:20 PM
the one i used was great, couldn't complain about it at all. don't remember the brand though
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 44921
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 12-13-2004 08:04 PM
I'm amazed at how cheap they are now, I paid $225 for mine a few years ago. They make welding so much easier, don't even consider using any other type.------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 351C 4V/FMX/3.25 Open
'70 Mustang Convertible 250 I6/3 speed/2.79 Open
'72 Mustang Sprint Hardtop 351C 4V/FMX/4.30 Trac Loc
'94 F-150 XL 5.8L/E4OD/3.55 Limited Slip
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66351stang
Gearhead Posts: 711
From: sayville,newyork
Registered: Jul 2000
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posted 12-16-2004 08:50 PM
i have had an auto dim for 5 years works great only one problem i had and that was the battery was almost dead (didn't know it) was welding with my mig, and struck the arc and it didn't auto dim....
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Bloose
Gearhead Posts: 751
From: Milwaukee, WI
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 12-23-2004 04:40 PM
quote:
Originally posted by SteveLaRiviere:
I'm amazed at how cheap they are now, I paid $225 for mine a few years ago. They make welding so much easier, don't even consider using any other type.
Actually many of them are still around $200 or more. One thing I've noticed is a few of the cheap ones have a pretty long reaction time, one was .5s. If you do quite a bit of welding that extra exposure to the welding arc could do some real damage. I'm just now starting to look at welding helmets but I think the reaction time is very important. I asked a welder at work about them and he put it like this. "If you eye sight is only worth $50 go for the cheapy, but my eye sight is definitely worth $200". I'd have to agree. B-loose [This message has been edited by Bloose (edited 12-23-2004).]
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n2oMike
Gearhead Posts: 2680
From: Spencer, WV
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 12-23-2004 10:31 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Bloose:
One thing I've noticed is a few of the cheap ones have a pretty long reaction time, one was .5s. "If you eye sight is only worth $50 go for the cheapy,
I've heard the expression, "A $10 helmet for a $10 head." But as far has those welding helmets go.... The Harbor Freight units have reaction times around 1/20,000 second. The 0.5 second time you are referring to is probably the 'delay'. The delay is how long it takes to switch back to the light shade after the welding arc disappears. ------------------
Mike Burch
66 mustang real street
302 4-speed 289 heads
10.63 @ 129.3
http://www.geocities.com/carbedstangs/cmml_mburch.html
http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/healey/367
http://www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/moi-display.cgi?220
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Bloose
Gearhead Posts: 751
From: Milwaukee, WI
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 12-24-2004 10:17 AM
My bad Mike, the helmet that interested me at Harbor was this one,http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=2506 Your right, it's not .5s it's .5ms. Which is still pretty slow compared to most of them. I bought a Hobart for $89 in the mean time. It has a fast reaction time but a fixed shade which kept it cheap. Also the veiwing area is fairly small. I like the Arc One's viewing area but 1/2000 of a sec may be kind of long? B-loose
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