Normal welding mask ?

[Gmwelder]

Hey,

Just wondering whats the best non auto darkening mig welding mask to go for ? What lens ?

I just cant bring my self to trust my eyes with a auto darkening mask, was looking at the parweld and siflite ones but are they reliable ?

Is the normal clarke wrap around helmet from machine mart good ?

any help appreciated !

thanks

 

[fingers99]

Weldequip will sell you an auto helmet you can trust, but if you want an "ordinary" one (ordinary for what?) you best bet is probably to walk into a welding supply house and see what they recommend for your application. They'll probably even let you try it on!

Problem with Machine Mart is that there's so much stuff there the staff can't be expected to have anything but a very general knowledge.

 

[English Steve]

I currently use a shade 11 lens in a non-auto helmet for mig welding. I've been using the same helmet for almost 30 years and have found it to be OK. You will probably need to experiment with the shade as everybody has different preferences and working environments, and it will depend on what you are doing ie mig / mma / tig.
I have tried an auto, and liked it. Just haven't got around to buying one yet.

Steve

 

[Gmwelder]

I want to use it for mig welding, i have thought about getting the machine mart auto darkening mask ? Anyone tried it ? or shall i get a parweld unit ?

 

[elebub]

Have an auto-darkening helmet, but drove me mad under the car with the welding/grinding ritual. So I bought a Kemppi Beta 90 helmet, flip-up lens with grinding lens underneath. Rolls-Royce helmet for 30 odd quid. That and a cheapo 30W halogen lamp has made life a lot easier.

 

[English Steve]

If you are going for an auto, send a PM to Weldequip for a good price.

 

[peterd51]

Hi,

can you use an auto helmet under a car?

My Siflite (from Weldequip) says it not to be used for overhead work.

I was going to use the old hand-held next time I'm welding under a car...

in fact sometime in the next 3 - 4 weeks as I have a bit of bent chassis to chop out of the Mondeo that I've just bought.

To get back on topic...my hand-held is about 20 years old but I don't know the make. It's something I picked up from the local welding shop what I first started as the basic Clarke screen is pretty crap. I also bought a nod-down helmet but couldn't get on with it...it either didn't drop far enough and I couldn't see through the lens or it chopped my head off, so I gave that away!

Regards
Peter

 

[Gmwelder]

so its best to stick to a autodarkening mask ? I dont think i should be using it for overhead work, but iif i do i can use a halogen lamp to light up the work area ?

 

[snowcat]

Hi,

can you use an auto helmet under a car?

My Siflite (from Weldequip) says it not to be used for overhead work.

I
Regards
Peter

I have a feeling thats just general overheads peter, DIY lids tend to be rated for lower amp welding, which has nothing to do with lens shade or filter, but down to the material the lids made of, so they can actualy melt through from direct material drop........

theres no restriction as far as I know up to 500 amps on something like an optrel....

 

[Gmwelder]

so should i go for a siflite instead of a normal welding helmet ?

is the siflite battery operated or solar ?

whats it like in low light ? in my garage i only have tube lights, will i be okay ?

should i buy a small halogen flood light to light up the work ? or do i point it at the mask ?

it will be used outside as well ?

thanks for the help !

 

[weldequip]

They are solar powered & react to the welding arc. Fully adjustable Sensitivity control compensates for bright light conditions (eg.sunlight outside) or dark conditions (eg.stuck under a car)
weldequip

 

[elebub]

should i buy a small halogen flood light to light up the work ? or do i point it at the mask

I use a small 12v 30W desktop halogen that I modified. Use magnets so that it will stick to any part of the car and light up the welding area. Being new to welding, even with an auto darkening mask, I had trouble making any progress when the arc was struck. At least now I can see just how crap the welds are without flipping the lid!

 

[Gmwelder]

i think the siflite it probaly is then

 

[snowcat]

Had yet another optrel start to dick about this afternoon, not changeing over.....that will be the end of another, 18 months seem avarage now, had speedglass lids do just the same.....

 

[Gmwelder]

thats what makes me want to stick with a normal mask, people saying that they work then dont work ?

 

[weldequip]

You'll av to stop throwin em across the workshop when you feck a weld up Snowy!
weldequip

 

[Gmwelder]

what about one of these ? it was mentioned earlier ?

http://www.ukwelder.com/shop/helmets/beta90.php

 

[weldequip]

Very nice quality standard lid yes, trust me though, an Autoshield will make it 100% easier for you... especially when learning
weldequip

 

[elebub]

One of the advantages of the Beta 90 is that you can retro fit a 90 x 110mm auto lens if you feel the need and can get a mortgage for a Kemppi or Jackson cartridge.

 

[snowcat]

You'll av to stop throwin em across the workshop when you feck a weld up Snowy!
weldequip

It was toys out the pram time when it happened, but me good old back up lid did sterling service.......

Feck up a weld, It never happens

BTW GM, yes they do go wrong, however everything has a life, mine gets used and abused sometimes very, daily.... so a couple of years is a lifetime of someone DIY who takes care of them, Never ever would I think about going back to an old fixed glass, or one worse a lolly pop