Auto Darkening Welding masks

[rustydiver]

Going to have a go at doing my own welding over the winter. Want to get one of those Auto masks, my coordination of the holding welding torch, flipping mask down and starting to weld aint that great .

What do people use, what do you recommend and where have you got them from and what should i look out for?

 

[robins]

good luck simon

 

[rustydiver]

good luck simon

What with the welding or finding a mask :lol: :lol:

 

[dubdubz]

spend about 60-80 on one and then u'll get something that should last you well.....

another tip I can offer is a floodlight [u know small yellow ones on a stand] lighting up the area - it is a balance between the mask dimming though but experiment and you'll see what I mean.

Try and get the biggest window you can - it does help....

also don't weld where the sensor window is obscured as the glass won't dim and you get sore eyes......

 

[Hilly_70]

I bought a cheapy one off ebay ( about £25 if i remember ..) about 2 years ago with the intension of trying it and then upgrading to a better one ..

... still got the cheapy and its brilliant .. the only thing i would knock it for is the cover that holds the lens keeps unclipping .. but other than that .. happy days!

Good luck with the welding dude .. you will feel so much better that you did it yourself!

Hilly

 

[robins]

good luck simon

What with the welding or finding a mask :lol: :lol:

both mate :lol: 8)

 

[NickJ]

Yep I agree with Hilly, I bought a cheap one off ebay again around £25 with postage and had no problems with it.

 

[dubdubz]

also practice on spare bits....cleanliness is key..there's a mig forum which you might pick up some tips

 

[ProfessorWheeto]

The cheap ones should be alright really, the better quality ones are handy because they aren't as bulky so its better for working in a confined space and they react quicker.

As has been mentioned you'll need to have a play around with how you set up your lightings, for example if you have a lead lamp set up every time you look at it the mask will go dim!

 

[Fortunate Son]

I bought this one ( http://www.thewelderswarehouse.com/Welding/Welding_Helmet.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false after a fair bit of shopping around, it does the job nicely and has a fair few recommendations from various car resto mags. I also bought some spare front lenses for it too which has been useful as they do seem to get scratched easily.

Not the cheapest at £68 but I reckon eye protection is not the place to economise!

 

[Pike]

As has been mentioned you'll need to have a play around with how you set up your lightings, for example if you have a lead lamp set up every time you look at it the mask will go dim!

I found a solution to this completely by chance, I started using a low energy bulb in my lead light and
it does not trigger the mask.

 

[ProfessorWheeto]

Ah thats interesting. We had a bit of a shield arrangement and careful placement.

The best thing we used was this though...
http://www.alertelectrical.com/Tools-For-Electricians/General-Tools/Thorsman-Goliath-G250-Plus-Worklight-55W-240V--1775421.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sockets in the back are very handy as well.

 

[andewilson]

i bought a speedglass at work when they first came out (14 years ago), it was awsome till it got knocked on the floor and broke after two months. it was £220 :shock: i was gutted and never got to use one again until i bought one for about 60 quid two years ago. this one is even better than my first, solar powered as opposed to batteries in my last one and very adjustable. i wouldnt go back to the old style mask again

 

[youngbay]

pay as much as you can stretch to. we got a new welding mask at work today (about £200) it is **** hot. it it clear as day before the filter reacts, i always say and always will say you get what you pay for!

 

[67 BAY]

Speedglass everytime had 1 about 10 years no problems