Hello All

[ribro]

Hi all, happened to stumble across this site while wandering around the web looking for an automatic helmet. Looks a very helpful group judging by the forums, always nice to find people who are generous to pass on their knowledge to others!

Been welding on and off in spurts (not literally ) since managing to wangle a month in an MOD welding dept over 20yrs ago. Strangely, the on times seem to coincide with the recurring purchases of ageing vehicles requiring a little TLC, sound familiar anyone?

Anyway, the present recipient of some replacement metal is an 89 Rangie Overfinch, bought, as usual, with the heart ruling the head. Unfortunately, being an 89 Rangie, the tin worm is far more extensive than I had originally thought , so thought I might treat myself to a new automatic helmet.

I was thinking of something like the parweld helmet that I believe some people have bought through this site from weldequip?, or possibly going up to one of the esab units? Just wondering if people think it's worth going the extra mile?

Cheers,
Rich

(I did wonder whether to post this here or not, but gotta start somewhere)

 

[malcolm]

I went for one of the eyetech helmets with shades from 5-13. The lower shades are for TIG welding. I've not actually adjusted it off the 10 shade yet for MIG - seems to work OK at that, so probably no need to get a helmet with a large range unless you want to try really thin TIG work, or really powerful MIG.

Tried a cheapo eBay helmet once and there was a noticeable flash before darkening that put me right off the autodarkeners. The eyetech reacts much faster so the flash isn't noticeable. I'd imagine the Parweld will be OK too, but haven't tried one.

The Overfinch sounds like fun. Seem to remember those being very expensive new.

 

[ribro]

Hi Malcolm,

Thanks for the reply. Interesting point about the TIG, do you know how low the shade needs to go for common TIG work? It's been a long long time since I did any, but it would be handy to have the facility. I had thought about dabbling once I had got the garage sorted - another few years yet I should imagine... Doubt I'll ever have the need for really powerful MIG.

The Overfinch is a bit of a hoot, always fancied one. You're right about the cost mind, when this one was converted in '94, the conversion alone cost £15k, and it doesn't have any of the modified trim.
I think I should be glad they do rust, MOT failure lowers the price to a point I can actually afford, although not the running costs! Will be converting to lpg aswell.

 

[malcolm]

Looks like a 9 will do reasonably well for thinner TIG work. There's a darkness guide on the esab box (attached).

 

[ribro]

Cheers Malcolm, that's helpful.
Looking at the chart, it seems a 9 would take me down to around 30 amps in TIG? Would you happen to know what sort of material thickness this would cover?

 

[malcolm]

I've found a TIG calculator http://www.millerwelds.com/education/calculators/tig_amperage_calculator.php

Looks like 30 amps is going to be thin stuff (maybe 0.5 to 0.8mm at a guess).

 

[ribro]

Thanks for that Malcolm, you must spend a fair bit of your time sorting people out!

I decided to go for the eyetech ESAB 9-13, now I had better make it pay for itself.

Thanks again for your help,
Rich