Retrofit air feeder

[Johnnybravo]

I’ve got a halfway decent Miller welding Mask. Cannot remember the exact model, bought a couple of years back. I do very little welding but have a project coming up where an airfed mask would be a better option. Does anybody make an air feeder to retrofit inside a lid? Not really looking on splashing out on another seeing this is a good bit of kit with a green screen, xmode etc

 

[hotponyshoes]

I've not seen one that fits inside a lid. There is one (at least) company that makes a helmet mounted version I think but I can't remember who it was/is.

I've not seen any retro-fit "kits" either.

If your helmet was originally available in both air/non-air versions you could look up the part numbers for the shell as, if both are the same, you could just buy the air parts to fit.
More likely it will be 2 versions of the shell though that both use the same adf.

You could buy the air shell as a replacement part and fit swap your adf into it.

3M sell a "conversion to air" kit (obviously only suits the 3m adf) that is basically the airfed helmet shell without the adf. Miller might offer the same?

Check the parts availability and prices for yours.
Problem is, you will still need a blower unit.
In my experience, spare parts don't seem to be readily available used, or available new at much below the retail prices.
Where as you can easily find complete air-fed systems used or new at discounted prices.

I expect if you price up the parts to convert yours and the blower/belt/hose it will just be cheaper to buy a full kit outright and that will also gain you the convenience of having both types of helmet.

Air-feds are great but they do have a couple of down-sides.
Helmet is slightly heavier and more cumbersome when you have the hose and belt pack on.
You have to charge them up and you have to put them on rather than just chuck it in your head.
You also then have a helmet attached to a hose so you have to take it all off or detach the hose each time you want to remove the helmet.
Optrel do a fancy belt clip to hold the helmet but then you have a helmet hanging off you side...

Personally, I'd want both types rather than convert one and just have an air fed.
If I didn't do much welding I'd maybe sell the miller and put the funds towards getting both air and non-air cheap helmets.
Or if its a one off job you have coming up keep the miller and buy a used air fed and sell it on again afterwards.

 

[hotponyshoes]

I've got a couple of optrel air fed systems if you want a relatively cheap used one?

 

[mtt.tr]

I looked into this, was cheaper to buy a Scott duraflow with a face mask that sits under a welding mask

Then I found a Scott welding mask after a few years.

 

[hotponyshoes]

I looked into this, was cheaper to buy a Scott duraflow with a face mask that sits under a welding mask

Then I found a Scott welding mask after a few years.

That's another option if you have enough room under the miller?

That also gives you the benefit of a separate air mask that you could use with goggles or a face shield for other jobs.

The downside to them is they don't stop the welding mask misting up but that probably won't be an issue anyway unless you are running really hot or working in a really confined space.

 

[mtt.tr]

That's another option if you have enough room under the miller?

That also gives you the benefit of a separate air mask that you could use with goggles or a face shield for other jobs.

The downside to them is they don't stop the welding mask misting up but that probably won't be an issue anyway unless you are running really hot or working in a really confined space.

The mask is a slim face shield,

Also they do stop misting as the misting as the misting is a consequence of breath not air humidity

 

[mtt.tr]

Dont know if you went anywhere with this, but ......

Powered Air Purifying Respirator - TH3 | Air Fed Mask

Experience top safety with our powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) mask, combining TH3 protection with full eye, face, and head coverage. This air fed mask delivers 200 liters of filtered air per minute, providing up to 6 hours of continuous use on a single battery charge. Enjoy balanced...

www.rutlands.com

Seemed pretty cheap, and with @8ob not knocking you back the other day well you can probably afford it

 

[Johnnybravo]

Dont know if you went anywhere with this, but ......

Powered Air Purifying Respirator - TH3 | Air Fed Mask

Experience top safety with our powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) mask, combining TH3 protection with full eye, face, and head coverage. This air fed mask delivers 200 liters of filtered air per minute, providing up to 6 hours of continuous use on a single battery charge. Enjoy balanced...

www.rutlands.com

Seemed pretty cheap, and with @8ob not knocking you back the other day well you can probably afford it

The cost of counselling I needed to get over the shock of @8ob not haggling unfortunately has left me destitute

 

[Munkul]

What about an optrel swissair?

 

[hotponyshoes]

What about an optrel swissair?

Swissair is a nice bit of kit. Works with your existing helmet. Just a faff to put it all on.
Once it is on you can wear it comfortably all day long but it's not ideal for a quick 10min job in the garage.

 

[m_c]

What about an optrel swissair?

I keep looking at them, as I really need a new helmet and I should really have some form of PAPR given the smoke haze I often manage to create, but the price.
I'm one of the lesser tight Scot's, but I feel faint thinking about the price!

 

[Brad93]

Swiss air

or there is another one

CleanSpace

 

[mtt.tr]

Looks like fetish kit

And at £1k doesn't seem a good deal

 

[mtt.tr]

I keep looking at them, as I really need a new helmet and I should really have some form of PAPR given the smoke haze I often manage to create, but the price.
I'm one of the lesser tight Scot's, but I feel faint thinking about the price!

I paid £80 for my paper unit and £80 for a lid.



I would say it's worth every penny and more, I have chronic rhinitis and suffer badly from all and any dust, amazingly after a couple days wearing it all day my sinuses are clear.

 

[8ob]

Seemed pretty cheap, and with @8ob not knocking you back the other day well you can probably afford it

Currently in rehab. it wont happen again

Bob

 

[m_c]

I paid £80 for my paper unit and £80 for a lid.



I would say it's worth every penny and more, I have chronic rhinitis and suffer badly from all and any dust, amazingly after a couple days wearing it all day my sinuses are clear.

View attachment 423716

I'm quite fussy about welding helmets.
I got issued with some ESAB thing at work, and I hated it. It was nice on a warm day having a nice cooling air stream though!

 

[Brad93]

I'm quite fussy about welding helmets.
I got issued with some ESAB thing at work, and I hated it. It was nice on a warm day having a nice cooling air stream though!

You've just not tried the right one. The esabs are notoriously uncomfortable.

 

[Brad93]

You've got the option of Optrel SwissAir and also CleanSpace too.

 

[Johnnybravo]

Need to pull my Miller helmet , see what model it is and see if Miller do anything for it.For the ten minutes use in 6 months ,I won’t be dropping £1k on something…

 

[couuub]

I'm quite fussy about welding helmets.
I got issued with some ESAB thing at work, and I hated it. It was nice on a warm day having a nice cooling air stream though!

ESAB is not very convenient. I had one of these ESAB masks and found it to be too heavy and uncomfortable to wear. It is also important to find a mask with good visibility.