Speedglas XXi going back.

[Brad93]

Well my Speedglas XXi is going back to 3M, it has developed a problem whereby it gets stuck in its light or dark state.
Only gotta send the ADF off and my supplier will be sending me a new replacement immediately.
Apparently 3M are quite interested to see what's going on.
So thanks Rapid to getting this sorted in a day, will be sending it Special Delivery tomorrow.

 

[Richard.]

Even the best of the best stuff can go wrong but at least they are sorting it for Ya pronto.

 

[gordon stephenson]

I had a Speedglas that i bought second hand,Lens developed some small blemishes at the bottom, Returned it through the local dealer, they examined it and replied saying that is was SIX years old. But sent me a brand new one as a good will gesture, Excellent result.

 

[Brad93]

Yep I can't complain with the service I will let you know what 3m say when they've had a look at it.

It's one of those random things that you can't seen to replicate to get it to happen again annoyingly but glad they're sorting it.

 

[I'm getting on a bit]

By taking it back they are looking for the problem so as to prevent it happening in the future.

All the good for them, and us

 

[Brad93]

I assume so, it is being sent back to 3M by Rapid.

 

[Brad93]

Well new filter received yesterday. Used at work today, an hour in it gets stuck in its dark state, get it out and back to passive by changing the sensitivity. From then on the mask was functioning normally, going dark when arcing up, however if was going into some ridiculously dark shade darker than 13 could hardly see the filler going into the puddle on AC.

Had to take batteries out to reset the mask then it worked correctly again.
This leads me to think it's a software issue with the actual ADF.
Its been working fine all day now but I changed some settings, so I wonder if there is a certain combination of settings that causes it to play up. When it went wrong it was SHADE 12 Sensitivity 3 Delay 1

 

[Richard.]

Ummmmmmmmm. 2 out of 2.

 

[Brad93]

I know Richard very odd for two to be broken unless from the same batch?

 

[Richard.]

Get your brass back, buy a WH70 off Tom O and pocket the difference. It will be every bit as good as the speedglas and Tom is awesome to deal with. He even sent me one to try out. Top bloke with a top product.

 

[Brad93]

You know what mate I may well do something like that, I've just been down the workshop with it, DC TIG at 20 amps, welding fine, then flip hood up, move part, flip hood down flickering and flashing at the lights in the workshop, going dark and light. On sensitivity position 2, cycle through the sensitivity back to position 2, stops flickering welds fine again.

This is a £300 mask that currently is annoying me more than my £75 esab that is actually broken. I hope to hear back from Rapid tomorrow maybe they will even direct me on to 3M. On their email the other day they said they hadnt had any problems, yet I've had two helmets that are both playing up. It's a bloody shame as I really like the helmet, the clarity etc.

 

[Richard.]

Well I'm sure they have sold a good volume globally of the new xxi models but the question is how many are suffering with reactive problems. If the answer is not many the next question Id be asking would be is it going to be something that might crop up over time even if you get a working one now? Are you going to be binning it after the warranty period? The 9100 has proven itself over and over to be a great lid but the xxi is new still and like all new things with new features perhaps there are a few new wrinkles to iron out. If it was me I'd be returning it and buy what I know works. A 9100XX for example. Same lid pretty much baring the little fancy bits. You'll pocket some cash back too.

 

[Landy Lad]

What's the latest on the speedglas Brad?

 

[Tom Orrow L]

Not very often I hear of 3M products with issues with them. I'm about to put a load of them into one of my local customers so I sincerely hope there's not gonna be an issue with those :/

Our usual go to helmet is either the Miller digital elite or the Jackson WH70 which is my favourite helmet i've used but they've specifically requested these.

I've heard so much good about the Lincoln Viking that I may have to see what all the fuss is about. How you getting on with yours @Richard. ?

 

[arthur]

I have two 9100XXi filters, got to say this filter is SOOO clear I sometimes am afraid it's not going to darken when I arc up, this is the BEST filter I have ever used, I upgraded my 9100XX's and thought am I wasting my money, sold the old ones for close to what two new cost me from Rapid, not a day has gone by when I still say to myself this new "i" filter is just SOOO clear, it's so impressive! I use the side button for Plasma and grinding modes, not had any issues with mine, one is a standard 9100XXi helmet and the other in a 9100XX FX, not used the FX much as of yet, lets hope its OK too... Loving the AutoOn too! Good luck, stick with it, well worth the effort imo Brad.

 

[Richard.]

Not very often I hear of 3M products with issues with them. I'm about to put a load of them into one of my local customers so I sincerely hope there's not gonna be an issue with those :/

Our usual go to helmet is either the Miller digital elite or the Jackson WH70 which is my favourite helmet i've used but they've specifically requested these.

I've heard so much good about the Lincoln Viking that I may have to see what all the fuss is about. How you getting on with yours @Richard. ?

Hi tom. It's a good lid and it certainly does everything I need pretty well. I chose it for the internal controls over the Jackson which I'm not convinced was the best move as the controls are useless with a glove on. Other than that it's very very good. Optically I can't fault it but!!!!!!! I'll be honest it doesn't compete with the Jackson wh70 or the esab new techs optics which both use the balder filter. I think now I prefer the Jackson to the Viking but the Viking is a good lid with a huge viewing area and worth every penny.
Imo no speed glas I've used comes close to the optics on the wh70.

 

[Tom Orrow L]

Never really had much love for internal controls of welding helmets no matter what helmet it is, I really like the external shade control knobs.. like the ones that are usually on cheap helmets.
I've never seen any lens clearer than a Jackson WH70, for TIG there isn't anything better IMO

 

[wheresmejumper]

Try a cobalt lense from aulektro.they are hard to find with the right tint of colour but puts an auto shame

 

[Richard.]

Never really had much love for internal controls of welding helmets no matter what helmet it is, I really like the external shade control knobs.. like the ones that are usually on cheap helmets.
I've never seen any lens clearer than a Jackson WH70, for TIG there isn't anything better IMO

I really like internal controls as they are kept out the way of damage and accidental adjustment but I'd prefer the Viking to have ones that can be set with a glove like the millers. Oh well none of them are perfect.
Yes I agree with you Tom those balder adfs are unbeatable for the optics. Certainly the best one I've used too. The Vikings ain't far off but not quite. My new tech XL was my no1 tig lid for years for that very reason.

 

[Brad93]

Thought I would update as people are asking.

In the end I had a very helpful 3m rep out to my workshop who swapped my filter over for the second time, this one hasnt had any of the issues of the other two.
But, it is a silly amount of money for a filter that is probably only slightly better than much much cheaper lids.
The headgear while comfy is starting to **** me off, it keeps trapping my hair in the sides when I flip up and down, God forbid if you used one and had long hair I have a 2 on the sides! It also is squeaky/noisy as hell when you flip it down really begins to irritate if you do lots of tacking or start/stops.
I have been flashed, especially when you first use the lid and it has reset itself, and you forget to turn the sensitivity up to 3 and arc up at 20 amps. If you have it on setting 3 all the time, fluorescent tubes like in most workshops can set them off going dark or flickering.

It is a clear lid, but on arc, Richards ESAB new Tech was clearer I would say, and a list I have that uses the Viking filter (before the 4c technology) isnt far off. They're £170 so £130 cheaper than the Speedglas.