I totally agree. The problem I can see with it is that it doesn't protect you from the reflected uv rays, only the actual arc. I can't see any benefit it would have over an auto-darkening mask. Would be dead easy to make a clip-on one out of a dark glass and a bit of welding rod though.
As hitachi says tacking up might be ok, as wozz say you got no protection from reflected light. Truth be know if had arc-eye about ten times nine of those times was because of reflected light. Most of the time i get arc-eye is when i get in some extra labour, they weld and i labour. It because of the reflected light around the workshop and not looking at the arc (easy to cure the reflective light just use a shaded pair of safety glasses, but would defeat the object of the shield as it would seem far darker than a shade 11).
I have heard of people making there own versions of these, but that was around 20 yrs ago before reactive helmets
I think they are designed just for tacking, but it would be bad practice to get into any welding without your face shield. You can imagine the welds ending up all over the place using one of those! You might as well just close your eyes when you weld!
I saw them being suggested somewhere else for very fine Tig work - not on the torch I imagine, but to avoud having to use a head shield. The things are sold on ebay and advertised as being for confined areas.
I've done work myself in confined spaces where there's only been room for a glass and nothing else, but i'm not certain i'd want the thing attached to the torch, and in normal circumstances i'd rather keep the glass close to my face and avoid glare...
But still, I really wondered if anyone had used one, rather than the thoughts of you cynical old pros, who havn't
Monkey masks for confined spaces, or there is a few close fitting hard shell masks about, the old orange twinscreen AGA masks were cracking for that purpose.
Anyway, if there no room to wear a headshield, you must struggle to get that gert thing in there!!
Hellooooo!
Ive seen them being used on american chopper,but seeing as they also tack with there eyes shut also! id suspect the screen would fall off if a mouse farted!