speedglas 3m helmet piece of #&^$

[mfurick]

its my second 3m helmet and its the second one that flashes me in DC tig applications im tired of it and i now pronounce them unuseable and unsafe. I do tig welding all day and i would not recommend this helmet ive been using these helmets for 4 years and im now through with them. I dont want to think about the damage done to my eyes from these helmets.
I used my buddies miller helmet the other day it was not the top model either but this helmet was like a blessing from the sky. Its window was clearer the sensors held strong under low amp tight area applications and what was best about it was when it turned back from dark to light it did it slowly not burning my eyes from a cherry weld pool still glowing. I will be making a new purchase soon. It has a sensor in the middle of the helmet ensuring it will not flash you. Whats funny is ive been using my jackson strait lens helmet now and my welds are nicer ive noticed that the 3m helmet when it is in dark mode it has a yellow glow around the weld pool and the jaskson strait lens is blue i see the blue alot easier.

[hotrodder]

which model do you have? they're NOT all rated for TIG / low amp TIG

i've got a 9002X which responds to a 5 amp arc (actually, it'll darken from the HF, even if i've forgotten the work clamp!)

somethings wrong if it flashes you BUT they give FULL UV and IR protection even when switched off. the UV/IR protection is completely seperate from the shade

[mfurick]

i had the 9000x then i sent it back they gave me the 9002x it now flashes the sh&% out of me the batteries are brand new and the screen is clean im really tired of the BS and the way i cring evey tim i weld with it worried if its going to cut off. Then BAM im blind, I see stars and white spots in my vision plus if noticed a big difference in the miller helmet when it has a slow return from the dark shade its awsome and i feel its safer. I notice on the return on the 3m is quicker and it is sometimes blinding when your weld is still cherry. And you know your gonna look right at the glowing weld I feel that the miller is covering more aspects of safety. Look at it this way the 3m helmet has 2 sensors one on each side of the screen. you weld with two hands, one at each side of the screen it doesnt take a rocket engineer to figure out you need a sensor in the middle of the helmet. Ive talked to many people high up in the industry that have talked to 3m about the helmets and recommending the middle sensor but thy dont listen.

[mfurick]

i think it has a 4 or 5 filter when switched off it is still blinding when it suddenly switched off in the middle of a weld. Its also scary to not trust your safety equipment

[hotrodder]

fair enough, each to their own. just because you don't get on with one doesn't make them unsafe though- a lot of people swear by them

i used to use a fixed shade gold lens for restricted view welding prior to getting my 9002x. i don't bother now as the speedglas responds even when the arc is partially hidden

i do keep the sensitivity on max (4) all the time (NEEDS to be 3 or 4 for TIG) and the delay could be longer- goes from not enough to just enough.

never been flashed by it, ever!

[mfurick]

i might have had a lemon at first but two in a row it doesnt look good for 3m.
you might have had a good one I talked to 3m I was surprised to find out that they had nearly 25% return on their helmets due to warranty issues. :realmad:

[Black Wolf]

Well now.....I have two Speedglas helmets. My 9000X is over 6 years old, and I have a brand new 9002X that I used for a week or so (Very Nice) and am keeping as a back-up, or hand to my co-workers (non welders) for demonstrations.

I you are really that disappointed with the Speedglas helmet, haven't beaten the living snot out of it (hey, we're welders....."Stuff Happens") and as long as you have a PayPal account (or similiar) for a reasonable price I will consider taking it off your hands and adding it to my collection.

Every helmet has a weakness, but when I get into that area, I also always have a non-electric backup helmet at my fingertips.

I really don't see the issue here, but I'm offering a solution.

Sorry that you dislike the helmet....I'm one of the guys that swears by them.

[mfurick]

im very truly against this helmet ive had enough of im about to put a couple of 40 cal slugs through it. it is a nice display piece though. What kills me is that I think it is the best looking helmet out there but it also is the most expensive how much would it really be to add a center sensor. What a shame.
i purchased a 9000x in 2002 i used it for a year and a half and it started cutting out on me so they sent me an upgrade figuring that the damage done to my eyes was worth an upgrade. they sent me a 9002x it worked good for the last couple of years occasionally flasing me but i tig weld in super tight areas for a living the helmet has never been in any kind of climate different then 76 degrees in a professional race shop. it was babied, it has never had shock it was never dropped i dont know what happened. I still use it for AC applications its over its warranty period but i just dont trust it. Ive been burnt too many times. i would feel bad selling to you.

[Black Wolf]

I would feel bad selling to you.

Understood. I was trying to have something positive come out of your experience. Better luck with the next helmet.

[mfurick]

thanks jay i appreciate that. im just in a bad mood over it.

[spuddown]

So how much damage do you figure has been done to your eyes?

[mfurick]

i cant say how much damage but i know that it cant be good for your eyes. i know i will probably hear that my eyes are fine but like anything else over exposure to harsh elements on components of anykind can shorten the lifespan of a part!!!!!

[blackdoggy]

Have you tried to replace the lens in the helmet??

[mfurick]

the front lens yes i have a bunch of brand new ones it just seems that the lens just cuts off welding on dc and unpredictable. also the lens sometimes turns on and off on and off on and off, on meaning one of the filters to the off setting even when im not welding.

[spuddown]

i purchased a 9000x in 2002 i used it for a year and a half and it started cutting out on me so they sent me an upgrade figuring that the damage done to my eyes was worth an upgrade.

Did 3M tell you how much damage was done to your eyes when they sent you the upgrade because of all the damage?

[blackdoggy]

Your situation is rather unique I personally have never come across any one having a problem with a auto darkening helmet like that, I hope your eyes aren't permanently toasted from the tig.

[boominrick]

i have the 9002x and i have never had a problem with mine not darkening, and i got mine used, well used.

and mine will darken when i sharpen my tungstun, also with high freq.

[boominrick]

and even if the lens dose not switch it still is blocking UV and radiation.

[spuddown]

I've been hanging from I beams wedged up under docks and in tight spots where the sensors were blocked and have been flashed. I just never knew 3M admitted it damaged eyes or was giving upgrades because of it. When I contacted them they denied it so I told them I had proof and sent them a link to this thread. I have yet to hear back from them. If I don't hear something soon I'll see if I can get higher up the chain.

[Black Wolf]

I think that you are barking up the wrong tree.

Even when in the light mode, the Speedglas helmets offer protection for your eyes. I'm thinking that 3M shipped out a replacement unit to aid in customer satisfaction, not because there was any damage done.

Think about it for a second: What hurts more or has a longer lasting effect on your eyes:

1) Getting flashed while welding - Especially low amp GTAW.

2) Staring into a 300W or 500W with your bare eyes.

For myself, #2 is exponentially more painful, and I really don't concern myself with #1, as I have non eletric backup helmets if I feel the need to use one.

Just how I look at it. I still swear by the Speedglas line of helmets, and will continue to use them, and recommend them.

[ironken]

I have many hours on the first generation of Speedglas and quite a few on my 9002X, no problems at all. Are you setting the sensitivity properly? I hear Harbor Freight has some great Chinese auto darks in stock. I may get one of these units and save my eyes from Speedglas damage........

[tmarks11]

I have a 3M 9002X and a Jackson NexGen.

The 9002X has flashed me half a dozen times at least. I like the way the helmet is designed, but I don't like the autodark lens. I think it has to do with the sensor arrangement, since most of the time it has occurred when reaching around the outside to get an outside corner or something. It is sensitive... grinding tungsten will set mine off as well (somewhat annoying).

The jackson has NEVER flashed me. 100% reliable.

[enlpck]

I've been hanging from I beams wedged up under docks and in tight spots where the sensors were blocked and have been flashed. I just never knew 3M admitted it damaged eyes or was giving upgrades because of it. When I contacted them they denied it so I told them I had proof and sent them a link to this thread. I have yet to hear back from them. If I don't hear something soon I'll see if I can get higher up the chain.

The lens protects your eyes from UV and IR even when clear to visible. The lens not darkening may be uncomfortable, but will NOT cause damage, unless you can manage to stare at the arc more than long enough for extreme discomfort from the intensity of hte visible light.

[spuddown]

The lens protects your eyes from UV and IR even when clear to visible.

Well thats what I thought too! Right up until I read the post about Speedglas giving upgrades for the damages caused by flashing. Someone wouldn't come on this site and jack his mouth about something he doesn't have a clue about would he?

[hotrodder]

Someone wouldn't come on this site and jack his mouth about something he doesn't have a clue about would he?

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/laughing025.gif

[joethemechanic]

I have many hours on the first generation of Speedglas and quite a few on my 9002X, no problems at all. Are you setting the sensitivity properly? I hear Harbor Freight has some great Chinese auto darks in stock. I may get one of these units and save my eyes from Speedglas damage........

Yeah I want this one.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/94500-94599/94566.gif


Pretty cool huh???? :laugh:

[Mark...]

Sorry about your misfortune, I love the speedglass and swear by them. 75% of the welders at "our" company use them and most of the rest want one.