Light Shade 4 OK?

[JT.]

Hello,

I am looking for a new welding helmet, I do most sorts of welding including TIG all of which I am quite bad at....
Anyway I have an old auto darkening helmet, it is about 15 years old and cost a few quid in the day. I am looking for something newer the light shade on my old helmet is supposed to be DIN4 and I think it is a bit dark for DIN 4, I am looking for a DIN3 light shade but can't find may about.
Do you find DIN4 light shade OK for normal use, my garage is a bit dark and though a lighter one would help me out.

I have been looking at the 3M Speedglas 100V but some people say they are a bit poor, I have also seen a cheap EASB Origo.

Any help / recommendations are appreciated.

 

[madkayaker]

Din 4 seams very light to me my adjustable goes from 9-13 and even low power TIG is fine.


One tip though is give it a good clean then try again mine was getting to dark due to build up of rubbish on lense

 

[BrokenBiker]

my auto is 9-13. I also have an old helmet with a shade 5 lense in it but i cant use it, it is far too light even for low power tig. Just use my normal auto on 9 or 10 for most things and its fine

 

[mfletch]

On mine shade 5 is for grinding

 

[BrokenBiker]

mine has a grinding mode but not sure what shade it is, if any. Never noticed it darken while grinding unless i forget to set it to grinding, then im instantly blind

 

[wheresmejumper]

I prefer using something with light shade 3 alright.
4 can be very dark unless the workpiece has a specific light directed at it

 

[hotrodder]

IME one manufacturers idea of shade 4 (or whatever) can be very different to anothers. I use completely different shade settings on my 9002x compared to the bucket it replaced (can't remember who made the actual lens due to badge engineering) as shade for shade it's a chunk lighter than the old one but spec wise both are 9 - 13, the 9002x should only be lighter on standby. Could even be an age thing, getting darker over time?

I wouldn't buy a 100V if you plan on using it with TIG personally. Speedglas filter guide here... http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/...ields/Resources/WhatIsAutoDarkening/#leftArea, even if you'll never to weld below 20A it'll almost certainly be more prone to confusion from a 50A TIG arc if you block it's view with a hand or something than a bucket rated for low amp TIG.

I've no experience of it but IIRC this SWP branded bucket is pretty well thought of by guys like TIGPaul? http://www.weldequip.com/swp-welding-helmet.htm and rated down to 5A. A nats heavier than my 9002x even with it's larger (and heavier) lens and the optical ratings* aren't quite as good but then it's a fraction of the price
With most of the premium brands you need to buy near the top of their range to get something rated for low amp TIG

* The numbers 1/3/1/379 top right of the pic

379 is the EN standard, different optical qualities are rated 1 - 3 (1 is best). There's actually 4 ratings and they go optical class / diffusion of light / transmittance and the 4th (optional) is angle dependency.

 

[JT.]

I prefer using something with light shade 3 alright.
4 can be very dark unless the workpiece has a specific light directed at it

What helmet do you know / use that as a light shade of 3? I can't find many.
I do like the look of this
http://www.weldequip.com/phantom-xl-helmet.htm


This things says it has a light shade of 3 but I am not too keen on Sip stuff after the support they gave me over a parts washer...
http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Pow...P+Meteor+Welding+Headshield/d40/sd2666/p55662


I like the look of the Esab Arito Tech (but not the price)
http://www.weldequip.com/esab-aristotech.htm

JT

 

[wheresmejumper]

I use an ArcOne automatic lense in a pipeliner type shield.
I think the better speedglass ones are shade 3, ill have to check

 

[JT.]

After having a good look around and talking to R-Tech I have bought a R-Tech Speedmaster XL apparently it is virtually the same as the Phantom XL Light Reactive Welding Helmet
http://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/Weld..._masks/welding_helmet_xl_light_reactive_rtech

I think I over analysed what I actually needed...I nearly talked myself into a Miller Digital Elite but for what I use it for it would have been a waste of money.

I am sure the R-Tech helmet will be good enough for me.

 

[MarkG]

All solar powered / battery headshields are either dual 5-9/9-13 or 9-13 shades.

The shade 4, is the standard shade before they react to the welding arc. This prevents the chance of arc-eye if the headshield fails.

Anything between 3 and 5 is purely for gas welding or plasma cutting.. Using a shade 4 for any length of time with electric welding will cause you severe eye damage.