Opinions please.

[matt1978]

I left it in a darkened room while I went away to work, and when I came back it only autodarkened if you left it outside in strong sunlight for a few hours. Even then it was a bit hit and miss, so the rechargable batteries had got knackered with no use. When I looked into it, weldy here pointed out that it was at least 7 years old, although I had only owned it for 4 of them. So it had sat round on the suppliers shelf for a few years aging too.
As I had about 30 hrs use in total on it (in fact I found the spare sheild cover that came with it the other day), I thought "its ok, I bought a quality make, ill just get a new shade" only to find that the shade cartridges were almost the same as buying a new helmet in price. Then option b reared its head, replace the batteries. Well, unlike on cheap nasty helmets which seem to have battery covers that you can just slip new cells into, the batteries were actually buried deep inside the shade cartridge and embedded in using silicon, with the leads soldered directly onto them, even though they were industry standard cr2025 cells. At the moment after surgery with a knife and soldering iron, its still working, but it still rubs me that the mask does not allow the batteries to be changed.

So for me, the ESAB was a complete waste of money. If it goes funny again, Ill buy a cheap one. Which ironically I would have been better off doing in the first place.

Which ESAB model was it, ESAB don't make either of the helmets, the older one, with the ridges I think was the Eyetech 1, you could get that same headset from a number of Manufacturers just in different colours.

The Eyetech 2 is made by Optrel, so should be good quality.

 

[ozzman]

aye i dont think batteries should be to much of a prob, being as eyetech 2 are new out,

does seam strange that you cant change the batts tho.

 

[weldequip]

so if Weldquipe reads this would it be possible to get in contact with you to discuss a few different mig welders etc.

Fire away Owen. Intended uses, budget etc. PM me if you wish
weldequip

 

[MrFluffy]

Its a eyetech 1, autodarkening masks were fairly new to the likes of me back then so I was suprised to find out how long they'd actually been around!
There has to be someone who hasnt had a happy experience with something even a good brand, its just annoying reading all the glowing references from good people knowing I got the bum deal out of it!