welding helmet

[kaffine krazed]

I'm taking a welding class that covers all types of welding equipment. We have to supply our own welding mask. I don't know much about welding hence I'm taking the class. What should I look for in buying a helmet? I noticed that some of the auto darkening ones that the shade level is adjustable do they make them that will cover both gas and electric welding? Thanks.

 

[cap-n-cray]

Get a good helmet to protect your eyes. Nothing like seeing the blinding light of stupidity. I have a Jackson Next-Gen welding helmet and like it a lot. It has four sensors, so no blind spots. You can also grind with it in grind mode and it does not darken. The shade level is adjustable for what type of welding or cutting you are doing. Expensive, but what do your eyes cost.



I got mine from BR Welding off Ebay.



Here is one



I have purchased from them with no problems. I called them first and got a better deal than Ebay.



Cary

 

[catoiler]

Ditto What cary said,Those blind spots are killer!Nothing like not getting the darking when you get the arc flash You won't like the pretty spots after that!

 

[illflem]

My auto darkening Sellstrom with 2''x4'' glass has always worked excellent, till last week that is. Had to weld a broken hub flange back onto a grain combine axle while it was still on the machine. Couldn't get my head in close enough to see what I was doing, had to switch to my old non auto helmet with 4''x5'' glass so I could look at an angle in order to see what I was doing. First time I had used it since buying the auto-darkening helmet 10 years ago. It was a drag.



So I guess what I'm saying is if I had to do it again I'd go for the bigger lenses.

I personally wouldn't want adjustable darkness or the grinding feature, too much potential to forget to turn it down when you really need it. Only takes a split second of too bright to see spots. Guess that the spots you see are eye receptor cells dieing, you only have so many to lose.

I've found that when doing really long welds like stick hardfacing a dozer blade that black helmets get hot, better to have one with a reflective outside like silver.

 

[CWebster]

Unless you plan on continuing to weld on a consistent basis, I would just purchase a $25 plain jane helmet with a 5" x 4" lens, shade 12. If you plan on continuing to weld, I would invest in the auto darkening hood. Hornell makes a good unit (Speedglass), but can be a little pricey. At the local welding shops around here, you can get auto darkening hoods for under $100 any day. The only issue I have is that the auto dark operates at like 1/250 of a second. That sounds fast, but if you tack together and weld out say a trailer, you can have hundreds of welds. 250 welds (or weld starts) = 1 second of flash. It doesn't take too much welding and you are exposing your eyes to the "flash" for more than you think. And then you won't realize the effect it is having on your eyes until 5-10 years down the road. Just my $. 02



Chris Webster

 

[esommer2500]

I took a welding class in the spring semester of this year, and it was the best class I have taken here at Purdue. The instructor was cool as hell and had mounds of experience. I hope you enjoy it half as much as I did!



As far as helmets, I bought my own because I didn't like the self-darkening ones they had at school; plus I wanted my own to take home and play with. I bought a Jackson with a 5"x4" lense and it's silver in color with a nice suspension. I think it was about $35. I also have the option of putting a self-darkening lens in at a later date if I want to.



Good luck and have fun.



Eric