Fixed Vs Autodarkening helmet

[Omniata]

Seconded for auto.

I was struggling with a fixed shade until I got an auto from Weldequip on here, things changed almost instantly...
Considering I was doing MIG, TIG and MMA whilst learning all round getting the right position, lining up, etc, was great.

 

[Lordspectre]

This is very similar, if not identical, to the one I got [in plain carbon weave finish, not the lurid 'skull' ] and like it for the larger viewing area

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Auto-Dark...KULL-FLAMES-/390819722831?hash=item5afeabb64f

Nice thanks for the link

 

[Lordspectre]

I would love to hear the his justification for this. In any environment your safety is your responsibility and if you want to use an auto then you should. There many people on here who earning their living welding and whilst I'm sure there could be a sitaution where a fixed is preferable I would guess 95% would say an auto is the way to go.

He said its too unlikely that will get a flash before it darkens as some peoples eyes are more sensitive than others. I don't know either way as I'm just used to using the fixed dark helmet.He's got 24 years experience and says never used an auto darkening....maybe he's just stuck in his ways?

 

[Lordspectre]

I hardly ever saw a fabricator with a hand mask in the 80s unless in a difficult spot when they are still the best tool. Most had fixed shade and nodding tops. I had a spit screen - it was perfect and frankly I should wear one again if they where widely sold. No flicker ever and just as fast with mig and TIG. Stick and you just arced up looking through dark bit.
In the first trials of the auto darkening. A lot did go down with arc eye. They were slow and very expensive. It was about 1990-91 before they started to gain avveptance.

BTW first time ever I got arc eye this week- through my eyelid no less tacking up an awkward job (just couldn't get into position with the visor on)

I'm only on the course a few weeks now so never had the pleasure of getting arc eye yet....but don't quite fancy the thoughts of it

 

[pedrobedro]

I'm only on the course a few weeks now so never had the pleasure of getting arc eye yet....but don't quite fancy the thoughts of it

Wear a pair of safety specs and you never will get arc eye and your instructor is living in the dark ages, literally.

 

[Richard.]

Auto darkening every time for me but there are advantages to both.
In fairness though you won't find optical clarity on an auto to match certain fixed shade lenses but nowadays they are close.
Look at some of the fibreglass pipeliner lids, they are just rock solid things that will last an absalute life time. Couple it up with a top quality fixed lens and you've got a good lid.
We all own the auto types so we know the advantages of those.

 

[T0rnado69]

i just got one of these for £23 its a good mask.... i like the lightening and skull design...

as my old speedglas XL is now playing up... turns on and off but wont auto darken when you light up.

but i think if i was doing it all day for a job. then you would buy a real good quality and brand one.

 

[oilcooled :)]

I would love to hear the his justification for this. In any environment your safety is your responsibility and if you want to use an auto then you should. There many people on here who earning their living welding and whilst I'm sure there could be a sitaution where a fixed is preferable I would guess 95% would say an auto is the way to go.

I am thinking what sort of instructor is he ??

He's obviously was a real welder and is trying to train real welders. Auto masks are fine for diy and fabricators and low amp tig welding. Go into a powerstation or a chemical plant and get up on the pipe racks and you may leave the auto mask at home. You will need your flip shield with the big window your monkey mask and maybe even mirrors. You will have to stick weld left hand right hand two hands. Tig weld both left and right handed maybe with a tungsten stuck out 30 mm coming up between pipes that are an inch apart Welding at completely the wrong angle to get the job done to X-ray standards. The instructor is trying to start you with a challenge so you have the opportunity to become better. That's were the lad that learned with the fixed shade will naturally excel over the lad that uses an automatic helmet in this type of welding

 

[Kent]

How many of us who used fixed shades still find themselves nodding occasionally without thinking about it?

 

[Paul.]

How many of us who used fixed shades still find themselves nodding occasionally without thinking about it?

Me, especially when stick or mig welding, I still like my old solid glassfibre bucket for positional stick work, I reckon its a bit more hot slag resistant than the thin moulded auto lids,
Still use a handshield sometimes as well,

 

[Richard.]

Still use a handshield sometimes as well,

Me too. Can't be beaten for whizzing round putting in tacks with the sticks before dropping the lid to stitch it up

 

[Mee]

do pro welders who are in the game 30 plus years get neck trouble from the constant nodding??

Yes, they stick them in the back windows of vans and lorries now.

 

[T0rnado69]

Check the battery if you can get at it, my True fusion wasn't darkening, changed the battery and it works fine again.

i did check the battery and its giving 12v.
il take it apart again when i got some free time and clean everything and give it another try.
no rush now really as i now have another auto mask.

 

[arther dailey]

He's obviously was a real welder and is trying to train real welders. Auto masks are fine for diy and fabricators and low amp tig welding. Go into a powerstation or a chemical plant and get up on the pipe racks and you may leave the auto mask at home. You will need your flip shield with the big window your monkey mask and maybe even mirrors. You will have to stick weld left hand right hand two hands. Tig weld both left and right handed maybe with a tungsten stuck out 30 mm coming up between pipes that are an inch apart Welding at completely the wrong angle to get the job done to X-ray standards. The instructor is trying to start you with a challenge so you have the opportunity to become better. That's were the lad that learned with the fixed shade will naturally excel over the lad that uses an automatic helmet in this type of welding

I have been told ! joking aside in that case as you have explained it then it does make sence, obviously I dont weld for a living,fortuantly probably, its a bit like mechanics really then, a lot have immaculate snap on tool boxes with mint tools but a lot of them are only capable of changing parts...dont read that wrong the point you have made I suspect applies to many trades, for the same reason, they havent been trained to work under adverse conditions/limited tooling etc.
Can you get auto darkening screen only hand held? for those places where you cant get in with a lid on?

 

[Kent]

I have been told ! joking aside in that case as you have explained it then it does make sence, obviously I dont weld for a living,fortuantly probably, its a bit like mechanics really then, a lot have immaculate snap on tool boxes with mint tools but a lot of them are only capable of changing parts...dont read that wrong the point you have made I suspect applies to many trades, for the same reason, they havent been trained to work under adverse conditions/limited tooling etc.
Can you get auto darkening screen only hand held? for those places where you cant get in with a lid on?

Yes you use your regular lid but hold it. This is same as borrowing someone's lid in the shop you don't wear it

 

[arther dailey]

Appreciate that kent, but what I meant is there on the market just the auto shade on a stick?without the lid

 

[HughF]

I stopped using auto-dark about 3 years ago and went back to fixed shade... I prefer the optical clarity

 

[WorkshopChris]

I hardly ever saw a fabricator with a hand mask in the 80s unless in a difficult spot when they are still the best tool. Most had fixed shade and nodding tops.

How many of us who used fixed shades still find themselves nodding occasionally without thinking about it?

Its instinct i find i do it all the time, still have a fixed shad jackson nice big lens, still my favourite mask when burning rods.

Would get another if i found one, am down to my last few spares covers.

Auto every time for tig, i need all the help i can to see me dip the tungsten.

For mig i still use fixed shad for tacking then swap to auto one welding a job at the bench.

 

[Paul.]

I prefer the optical clarity

Me too, although I do use an auto for most stuff I have never found one (at any price) which has the optical clarity of a glass fixed shade, I also think that the shade numbers are different between fixed and auto, with a fixed I would happily weld using an 11 or 12 and see perfectly, If using an auto set at that level its much too dark.

 

[123hotchef]

Its instinct i find i do it all the time, still have a fixed shad jackson nice big lens, still my favourite mask when burning rods.
View attachment 95388
Would get another if i found one, am down to my last few spares covers.

Auto every time for tig, i need all the help i can to see me dip the tungsten.

For mig i still use fixed shad for tacking then swap to auto one welding a job at the bench.

that is a nice big screen