Auto Welding Helmets???

[siringo]

I've read a few posts about auto darkening helmets and so on, but I haven't seen this question asked.

I've had 2 helmets, one an old style fixed lense type, the other a cheapish auto darkening (AD) one.

My AD helmet started out great, but over time it got less and less great until last weekend when I just about through the thing across the street. This helmet has a solar panel on it and I always thought great, this should last forever, but after the weekend I opened it all up and lo and behold there were 2 small batteries in it.

These batteries weren't meant to be replaced, so my question is, do these AD type helmets need batteries to run properly? If so, what use is the solar panel?

The quality of vision provided by my AD helmet got worse, just like you'd expect it to, as the batteries went flat.

Now I'm looking for a new AD helmet and don't know whether to spend $300 or $50.00

Any advice greatly appreciated.

[MAC702]

My Jackson EQC Executive was $200 over six years ago. I still weld with it to this day.

My Miller BWE ($250) is over two years old. Both still work like new when I keep a clean coverplate on top.

Pay what you're worth...

[mattw90]

Well the question on how much to spend completely depends on you and what your welding. I personally just went out and bought a Jackson Halo Nexgen which set me back $310. I justified spending that much based on the type of work that I do and what I plan on doing in the future. I am far from a pro but I plan on using that hood on a daily bases for the next 4 year or until it ****s the bed. What ever comes first. I don't know what kind of welding you do but If your just tinkering around with your buddies in the garage a few times a month I can't see the logic behind buying a upper end hood. But if your like me and plan on being around for a while and putting serious hours in under the hood bouncing between Welding, cutting and grinding do your self a favor and buy the best hood you can afford. The nexgen lens that I have has 2 year warranty and a run time of 8000hrs on the factory batteries not to mention the comfort and weight. Also it easy to find batteries for. The whole thing only weighs in at a little over 17 onces which is great when your laying on your back welding above your head. If your doing nothing but stick welding and typically have someone around to help you tack I wouldn't even bother with an AD hood. But If you do a a lot of mig welding and plan on doing tig it helps a lot. In my experience with AD hoods you get what you pay for! If you do decided to go with AD I would stay away from ARC ONE. Nothing but bad memories with them. If you have no intention of making welding your profession then Hobart make a decent hood you can pick up for around $60. But if you want to go out and buy something that will carry you through for years Speedglass and Jackson make a good lens. Thats just how I look at it but like I said I am far from a pro and there are far more qualified people to ask.

[Oldiron2]

Unless you are always working in a brightly lit shop, or outside on a clear day, there will be times when the solar 'panels' won't furnish enough power to operate the lens. Electricity must be stored for those times, and the two devices which can do that are capacitors and rechargeable batteries. Are you sure your 'flat' batteries aren't rechargeable, but just uncharged from being exposed to too little light? Or, maybe the batteries were poor quality and won't recharge but the lens is still good? Or perhaps the solar cell is bad or its wires came loose?
If you have good batteries available, of the same size and voltage, it should be worth testing the lens with them to see if it works before throwing it away. Maybe try recharging the old batteries, if you can determine that they actually are rechargeable. (Recharging standard batteries isn't safe; they "can either leak, or explode").

[siringo]

Originally Posted by Oldiron2

Unless you are always working in a brightly lit shop, or outside on a clear day, there will be times when the solar 'panels' won't furnish enough power to operate the lens. Electricity must be stored for those times, and the two devices which can do that are capacitors and rechargeable batteries. Are you sure your 'flat' batteries aren't rechargeable, but just uncharged from being exposed to too little light? Or, maybe the batteries were poor quality and won't recharge but the lens is still good? Or perhaps the solar cell is bad or its wires came loose?
If you have good batteries available, of the same size and voltage, it should be worth testing the lens with them to see if it works before throwing it away. Maybe try recharging the old batteries, if you can determine that they actually are rechargeable. (Recharging standard batteries isn't safe; they "can either leak, or explode").

Hey lots of useful advice and information there, thanks Oldiron2. Do, or are the the solar panels meant to recharge the batteries? I had to break into my helmet to get to the batteries, so in other words, in my case they're not meant to be replaceable.

[DesertRider33]

The solar panels re-charge the batteries via light from the arc and from the sun. The re-chargeable batteries only last so long. On lenses with special built-in re-chargeable batteries that can't be removed, you're pretty much SOL when the batteries give up the ghost. On lenses that use standard size rechargeables that can be replaced, replace them with new and weld on.

I prefer to not have the solar panel at all and use hoods with strictly replaceable batteries. On my Jackson EQC's with 2 AAA batteries and no solar panel, even in constant production welding, arc after arc, all day, every day, regular old Energizer or Duracell AAA's would last a good 3 or 4 months before needing to be replaced. Now that I don't do high volume production anymore, the batteries last up to 6 months of by-the-job welding.

I have switched to re-chargeable AAA's now and keep 2 in the fridge and 2 in each hood and swap them out when they're done. The re-chargeables last 2 to 3 months before needing to be swapped.

My first Jackson EQC is at least 5 years old and works as good as the day I bought it. My newest one is one year old and also working perfect. I use the old one out on the truck and in shop as well. The new one I save mainly for tig and some mig.

[MAC702]

Doesn't even a cheap AD hood come with an owner's manual, or some instructions on the box? Has it even been mentioned WHICH cheap AD hood we're talking about?

[ed mac]

ive had my jackson eqc for over 12 years
i bought a miller elite last year i love it
will see if it last as long as the jackson
you get what you pay for

[weldbead]

the only thing i like about my radnor ad hood is the ability to put the electrode downa nd pick up a grinder. i cansee much better from my $40 huntsman, in which i keep clean plates and gold #9 lens. , i can see my puddle much much much better with it and i will eventually modify my ad hood with a kick across the shop or a tap with a lump hammer.: laugh:

[siringo]

In my case my helmet was a gift, it did come with a users manual that told me I could weld with it, it had a strap that held it onto my head and a knob on the side that pointed to numbers near the knob, in other words the manual was a complete waste of space. I found out it's a China special, so I don't need to provide anymore explanation there.

I've narrowed things down to this. Either spend alot or a little. Here in Australia AD helmets range from (approx.) $65.00 to $500.00. In both cases I believe I will get what I pay for. There are helmets in the $150.00 - $250.00 range but trying to work out if you get anything more from those than the helmets in the $65.00 range is really hard to work out.

One thing I've settled on is that I'm getting a helmet with replaceable batteries and from what I can tell, that puts me into the expensive end of the range.

I'm going to look at the Miller digital elite helmets as they seem like a pretty good helmet with a good range of settings and you can grind with them as well. They're supposed to work with Tig down to 5amps. I'm not real keen on spending that much money, but I can't stand working with crappy equipment either.

[IamVince]

I just ordered a speed glass ad hood 229.00 with shipping.Buddy of mine who does highend tig and mig swears by his.I've been using a ACE hardware AD one(100.00)that I can't see out of.Been welding by Braille,

[siringo]

Originally Posted by IamVince

.I've been using a ACE hardware AD one(100.00)that I can't see out of.Been welding by Braille,

Yep that's what I've been doing, braille and hope ... it doesn't work to well.

[Jason's Welding]

You can replace the lens in your old hood with an AD for about $100 dollars. Comes with a 2 year warranty, can't rember the brand but I can look later on if you want.

[Crickertj]

I Love my Miller Elite. It works great and the viewing area is awesome.

[Gremlin]

I have a Harbor Freight $49.00 automatic helmet for more than three years and still working have since bought 2 more, old one still working. Now they are on sale for $39.00 . they work for me .

Good luck Jim

[jamz]

whats a new set of eyes worth nowadays?

I have a $17 helmet with a $150 ADF..

[Gremlin]

I'm 71 started welding when I was 15 tyears old my father was charging customers $15.00 per hr for my labor welding trucks trailer repairs ect , had my own shop since 18 yrs old making mostly railings roomdividers this was in Avon Mass , worked all over So. Shore , Cape Cod ,Boston . R.I .

Anyway , making railing in the old days you held the picket with one hand electrode in the other flip the helmet down and weld ,about two or three hundred times a day, two dumb to do anything else ,but made a living fed the family Only need glasses for reading, still weld most every day. Jim

[Crickertj]

I Paid 266 for my miller

[Donald Branscom]

If you buy a Miller Elite you will not buy another helmet unless you run over it.

It has 4 sensors so when you are welding in close proximity to parts or pieces in your forground at least one of the sensors will figure it out it also shuts off automatically.
Turns on automatically.

[KChoate]

Speedglass. best AD on the market. But im with gremlin, got a fibermetal pipeliner for welding, speedglass for fitting. Get outa the truck witha AD hood and these oldtimers will throw rocks at ya.

[Jason's Welding]

Originally Posted by KChoate

Speedglass. best AD on the market. But im with gremlin, got a fibermetal pipeliner for welding, speedglass for fitting. Get outa the truck witha AD hood and these oldtimers will throw rocks at ya.

F'em. I just throw em back.

[KChoate]

they are usually the ones that sign the checks though. Makes it hard to start a rock fight!

[Oldtimer]

"These oldtimers will throw rocks at you". Not this Oldtimer. I won't give anyone any trouble about the hood they use or the way they rig their truck or what brand of grinder they use. It's all personal and what works for them is their business. I might throw some rocks at them if their welds weren't up to snuff but that's all. I might kind of look sideways at you if you show up with any brand of portable machine but a Lincoln but I won't say anything about it. It's your money, use it how you want.

I've used four AD hoods over the years. One I sold. A cheap Lincoln (cheap compared to the Boss and Nexgen) went too dark after three years. I have a Boss and a Miller Elite now that I just mess around with welding. The big lens in the Boss is wonderful for me cause I wear progressive bifocals but it is kind of heavy. The Elite is more trouble with the small window because it has to be just right to see with glasses but it is very light weight. They are both great for fitting or when welding many small pieces. Also great when you are crawling around under something as you just pull it down once and do the job (usually). As far as just laying down beads I would just as soon have my old Jackson with the big fixed lens. It's very light and no settings to mess with and I can see everything. All three of these hoods have very clear lenses so you can see what's going on.

[4sfed]

Originally Posted by siringo

My AD helmet started out great, but over time it got less and less great until last weekend when I just about through the thing across the street. This helmet has a solar panel on it and I always thought great, this should last forever, but after the weekend I opened it all up and lo and behold there were 2 small batteries in it.

These batteries weren't meant to be replaced, so my question is, do these AD type helmets need batteries to run properly? If so, what use is the solar panel?

Maybe the batteries are shot . . . and maybe they've just run down because you haven't used your helmet often enough. Have you tried sitting it out in the sun to give the batteries a full charge.

Jim

[Atticabob]

Speedglas up till I picked up a Jackson Boss... Now I run a Boss lens in a Miller shell... Nicey nice. I still like the 'glas due to its lack of weight but when I'm doing out of position odd ball stuff the big lens of the Boss kicks... Well that and I dig the amber tint.. kinda like using a gold lens with adjustment.