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Re: Any advantages to a conventional flip helmet over an auto darkening helmet??

QUOTE by VPT;7155031 "I love my flipper! I used auto lids, they flashed me, piss on that!"

I am surprised that no one has mentioned eye health. VPT came close, although I do not believe urination is the solution (At least not in this case). I did a quick look up on switching speeds. The 3m Speedglas claims to be switching at 0.1ms. That means that EVERY TIME you strike an ark your eyes get radiated 0.0001 seconds. So for every 10,000 strikes you get 1 second of exposure. I would venture to guess. that in many cases, professionals might make a thousand strikes or more in a shift. The damage to your eyes is collective. I wrestled with this about 13 years ago. Up to that point I had only oxy-fuel welded. The basis for my conclusion was that I am older and I am not doing this every day. Over time I would get minimal exposure. I got the auto-dark hood.

My thought pattern is concern for younger professional welders, particularly where high frequency is prevalent.

Not to worry, I hear they got that cataract surgery down real good!

"Long-term exposure to UV light can produce cataracts in some persons."

https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/safe...ding/eyes.html

Re: Any advantages to a conventional flip helmet over an auto darkening helmet??

What not have the advantages of both. Jackson flip front with a arc-one singles 240 Attachment 1452591

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Re: Any advantages to a conventional flip helmet over an auto darkening helmet??

Put it this way, it would be a cold day in ##@$ before I chose the flip helmet over my auto helmet.

Re: Any advantages to a conventional flip helmet over an auto darkening helmet??

I prefer Auto. I have been flashed far far far more in my life with my passive helmet up from accidental arc strikes then when wearing an auto down and repositioning, tacking, restarting, new rod etc......

I would rather a stiff kick to the nads then knowing I to weld all day with a passive lid. Shopping around for a new auto as I type.

Re: Any advantages to a conventional flip helmet over an auto darkening helmet??

Originally Posted by Ajh

I have noticed at college wearing my autodarkening mask it seems ok but when I'm a couple meters away from the arc watching others it flickers, it's not a cheapo one either it's make is "sif", I wondered if this was the auto darkening function, and also wondered what advantages a conventional flip helmet has over an auto darkening helmet

Well with auto darkening hoods, usually, you can adjust the sensitivity. I have to adjust mine because if someone is welding AC in the near vicinity, my hood darkens
The pro though? Speed It is great for tacking, especially when you have to fit and you're by yourself.

The traditional hood is good for clarity, IMO. And a flip up lens is great though for grinding. You get a good clear view when cleaning your welds with full face and neck protection

Re: Any advantages to a conventional flip helmet over an auto darkening helmet??

Originally Posted by VPT

I could see a welder being used to create "light" at a rave.

You saw me when I was trying to run 6010 last week?!? [emoji26]

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Re: Any advantages to a conventional flip helmet over an auto darkening helmet??

Originally Posted by Max Zubrenic

Oh THAT kind of strobe. I was thinking more of a rave......

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I could see a welder being used to create "light" at a rave.

Re: Any advantages to a conventional flip helmet over an auto darkening helmet??

I've tried all the top-rated auto hoods besides Optrel and still definitely prefer any fixed shade. Auto darks are very handy if you do a lot of tacking, or have to hold something steady and the movement from flipping your hood will cause it to be off enough that you have to break the tack. They're also pretty handy if you do several different size parts regularly- I could go from .030' wall stainless to 1/2" aluminum in the same day and it's no fun having to swap lenses all the time. Favorite part about a fixed shade is if you drop it, it's not likely to break; and if it does, it's only a few dollars to replace it.

Re: Any advantages to a conventional flip helmet over an auto darkening helmet??

Everyone's work environment and needs are unique and different.
This one is nice. Fibre-Metal SUPERGLAS F706 Fiberglass Welding Helmet
I had very mild seizures as a kid just enough to be technical. My medication has been fully controlling them for 40yrs now.
Yet I personally feel the need to play it safe just in case.
I personally chose and love my Kobalt 1/20000 sec 4 arc sensor with removable batteries auto darkening hood for the variable shade feature, plus I'm just learning to arc weld.
At arms length simple sparker for a propane torch will drop its shade instantly.

Re: Any advantages to a conventional flip helmet over an auto darkening helmet??

Get the strobe lights on the equipment changed over to LED strobes. They won't trigger the auto dark lenses.

Re: Any advantages to a conventional flip helmet over an auto darkening helmet??

Originally Posted by Max Zubrenic

Or get one with a solar panel and it'll last even longer!

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That's the way my Tradesman is set up, and I keep a shade ten passive filter in my hood bag as a backup in case it ever dies.

Re: Any advantages to a conventional flip helmet over an auto darkening helmet??

Originally Posted by gxbxc

A battery on an Auto dark will never fail if you change them once and a while.A slurrpy for the ride home cost more than a battey ,don't be such a tight a$$.

Or get one with a solar panel and it'll last even longer!

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Re: Any advantages to a conventional flip helmet over an auto darkening helmet??

A battery on an Auto dark will never fail if you change them once and a while.A slurrpy for the ride home cost more than a battey ,don't be such a tight a$$.

Re: Any advantages to a conventional flip helmet over an auto darkening helmet??

I have both. Strobes are a pain in the *** and the battery will never fail on a flipper.

Re: Any advantages to a conventional flip helmet over an auto darkening helmet??

Originally Posted by Sharon Needles

Heavy equipment sometimes have strobe lights on them for visibility, I actually just encountered this a couple weeks ago.

Oh THAT kind of strobe. I was thinking more of a rave......

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Re: Any advantages to a conventional flip helmet over an auto darkening helmet??

Originally Posted by Max Zubrenic

I gotta ask, why are you welding around a strobe light?

Another note, ad rock, but a cheapo flip down makes the perfect backup.

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Heavy equipment sometimes have strobe lights on them for visibility, I actually just encountered this a couple weeks ago.

Re: Any advantages to a conventional flip helmet over an auto darkening helmet??

Originally Posted by mikecwik

Pros and cons to both. It depends on what you are doing. I don't think I will buy another auto dark. It is a lot of fun trying to weld around a strobe light wearing an AD!

I gotta ask, why are you welding around a strobe light?

Another note, ad rock, but a cheapo flip down makes the perfect backup.

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Re: Any advantages to a conventional flip helmet over an auto darkening helmet??

I love my flipper! I used auto lids, they flashed me, piss on that!

The flipper never has dead batteries, never flashes you because you block a sensor, and can take a beating.





1989 and hasn't needed a battery change yet!

Re: Any advantages to a conventional flip helmet over an auto darkening helmet??

No such thing as a dead battery with a flip

Re: Any advantages to a conventional flip helmet over an auto darkening helmet??

I use both, I have a Jackson balder I use for TIG welding thin stuff and when doing abunch of quick tack welds and a chopped fiber metal pipeliner with a shade 10 gold lens I use for stick, mig, and long welds. I prefer the fixed pipeliner and I use it for almost everything, just gets annoying for stuff that just needs abunch of tack welds and no beads.

Re: Any advantages to a conventional flip helmet over an auto darkening helmet??

currently i use an old speed glass 100 and a huntsmen 951 passive.

i use the ad for all fit up and tacking, being able to tack four corners of tube/pipe without flipping a hood four times is more productive and less fatigue. when its time to weld out i often switch hoods but only when convenient. the ad is more versatile, and gets the most use, but i cant stand heavy weld hoods get the lightest ad you can (i really like the cheapest speedglass model)

Re: Any advantages to a conventional flip helmet over an auto darkening helmet??

I prefer a auto when tacking or working sheet metal, if I'm burning lots of wire or rods all day long I use a passive with gold lense.

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Re: Any advantages to a conventional flip helmet over an auto darkening helmet??

Great guys thanks very much, looks like I need both sides of the equation, maybe a flip mask for college

Re: Any advantages to a conventional flip helmet over an auto darkening helmet??

I know a guy in his early 50s who has "weldor's neck," which is kinda like tennis elbow, but it's caused by the repetitive motion of snapping fixed lens helmets down. Breaking an AD helmet that falls at a worksite is cheap compared to replacement necks. Have you priced one of those lately?

Re: Any advantages to a conventional flip helmet over an auto darkening helmet??

I love my old shade 10 flip up, but then again im technology impaired. In my experience it's not worth the hassle of auto darking. I have just used a cheep auto darking helmet.

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