welding helmet
#2782354
06/07/20 11:32 AM
06/07/20 11:32 AM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,923 new berlin wisconsin
Mr T2U
OP
master
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OP
master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,923
new berlin wisconsin
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i bought, and just delivered, a panoramic view auto dark welding helmet from eastwood. just opened the box and i haven't welded with it yet but it looks like it will be the best welding helmet i have ever used. it's a little pricey at $150 ( SALE PRICE) $170. but i think it will be worth every $$. it's sold out and ON BACK ORDER ALREADY, back in stock 8/17/2020 https://www.eastwood.com/panoramic-view-welding-helmet.html
Last edited by Mr T2U; 06/07/20 12:07 PM.
perception is 90% of reality
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Re: welding helmet
[Re: Mr T2U]
#2782363
06/07/20 11:58 AM
06/07/20 11:58 AM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 10,228 Colleyville
3hundred
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 10,228
Colleyville
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Wow! I wish they'd had these when I was attempting to learn to weld 50 years ago. welding helmets
'68 Fury Convertible '69 300 Convertible '15 Durango 5.7 Hemi '16 300 S Hemi
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Re: welding helmet
[Re: 3hundred]
#2782369
06/07/20 12:15 PM
06/07/20 12:15 PM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 669 Los Osos, Ca
CKessel
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 669
Los Osos, Ca
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If you have older eyes like me and need more light transmission, when welding, try the Optrel Vega View 2.5 or the E684 unit. These are way better than the Miller Elite I was using. On lower amp settings, it was harder for me to see what I was doing and therefore could put too much heat in the weld. These Optrel units still protect your eyes but less of the weld view is blocked out. I'm using the E684 now as my original Vega unit is now too dark. Weldingsuppliesfromioc.com is a good place to check out for prices.
Carl Kessel
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Re: welding helmet
[Re: Mr T2U]
#2782400
06/07/20 01:48 PM
06/07/20 01:48 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,722 Bitopia
jcc
If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
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If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,722
Bitopia
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I have had a number of auto helmets over the years. I also tried one of the big glass designs, however, when I'm welding, I still almost always just focused dead ahead on one spot. I think the big glass/lens helmets are overrated.
Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
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Re: welding helmet
[Re: jcc]
#2782403
06/07/20 02:04 PM
06/07/20 02:04 PM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,923 new berlin wisconsin
Mr T2U
OP
master
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OP
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,923
new berlin wisconsin
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the large viewing area helps in some situations in others it doesn't make much of a difference. it makes a difference when you are welding in confined areas. like when you have to weld a section of a floor in a modern car next to the pinch weld clamp support while it's on the frame bench. the biggest thing that interested me in this helmet was the "true color" part of the viewing area. i have never used a welding helmet with option. i was originally planning on buying the XL9300 helmet, https://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-xl-view-auto-darkening-welding-helmet-xl9300.html , then a saw this panoramic one i figure why not. after trying it on. the viewing area is a little closer to your face than i am used to, so wearing a welding respirator might be a little difficult. i really like the larger viewing area especially with the side windows. it doesn't give you the tunnel vision claustrophobic feeling you get when using one with a smaller viewing area.***i also like putting something over the top of the helmet to keep the behind your head reflections to a minimum. only time will tell.
Last edited by Mr T2U; 06/07/20 02:10 PM.
perception is 90% of reality
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Re: welding helmet
[Re: Mr T2U]
#2782411
06/07/20 02:45 PM
06/07/20 02:45 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,122 Auburn WA
Dave_J
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,122
Auburn WA
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Getting the view to be bright enough without blinding yourself is hard. But I found that with my large view auto helmet that I can wear my 3.2 reading glasses under it. But without any back lighting I still can not see the line to follow even at the 5/9 setting. So I have epoxied 4 small 5 volt DC LED 'Key Board' lights , 2 on each side aimed just a bit different, to the sides and run them off of 4 AA batteries with an on/off switch. The little back lights shine up the line so I do not drift too much. The whole package is only about 1/4 pound.
My old blower & filtered respirator mask will not fit under. But just hobby welding and using caution to grind off any Cadnuim or Zinc it is not too bad just wearing a PM2.5 mask under.
Retired, US ARMY 1973-1994 ASE mechanic, Electrical 1994-1997 Retired GTE/VERIZON/FRONTIER 1997-2015
Posting cheap tech help (CRAP) here since Nov 97, 1000's of posts, some may be good.
03 Suzuki Burgman 650(Burger King) Scooter 65 Formula S Cuda 78 Little Red Express Truck 98 Buick Regal (wifes car)
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Re: welding helmet
[Re: justinp61]
#2782475
06/07/20 05:49 PM
06/07/20 05:49 PM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,908 Ontario, Canada
Stanton
Don't question me!
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Don't question me!
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,908
Ontario, Canada
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And you need true color why ??
Last edited by Stanton; 06/07/20 05:52 PM.
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Re: welding helmet
[Re: Mr T2U]
#2782502
06/07/20 07:24 PM
06/07/20 07:24 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,017 Salem
Grizzly
Moparts Proctologist
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Moparts Proctologist
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,017
Salem
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The true color lens is useful for a number of reasons. I bought one of the first lenses in number 11 many years ago that had the reflective gold tint and really liked it. It's easier to see soapstone marks, you can see a shadow better at the end of the joint you are working on and prep to end your weld, you can see contamination better, you can avoid mistakes and leaving birdschitt all over, and it's just plain better than the boring cobalt blue or green lenses. At first I thought that panoramic view was kinda hokey, but I watched the video, and yup: I've been there mashing my helmet into a frame rail or something else in an out-of-postion weld. Usually, you can just put an 11 in a cutting goggle, but I like this idea better. Thanks for the "heads up" MrT2U. What would be really nice, is if the side panels had individual adjustment and you could use them as lighter shade when needed so you can watch your work piece or whatever else is going on around you. Fab shop Folks will know what I mean.
Mo' Farts
Moderated by "tbagger".
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Re: welding helmet UPDATE
[Re: Mr T2U]
#2800728
07/24/20 07:03 PM
07/24/20 07:03 PM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,923 new berlin wisconsin
Mr T2U
OP
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OP
master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,923
new berlin wisconsin
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i finally had a chance to do a significant amount of welding with this helmet today. i have used it several time while doing easy to do welds on easily accessible areas. but today was the first time i have used it for LONG periods of time in some really tight areas.
i got the lovely job of installing a USED 1/4 panel / rocker panel / rear body panel section on a 2018 jetta today. most people here aren't familiar with these cars so i will try to describe the problem area. what makes the job so bad is the 1/4 panel lip is folded over and glued the outer wheelhouse instead the usual 1/4 panel that has a flat flange where it's spot welded to the wheel house that most are used to seeing. instead of destroying the 1/4 panel by trying to separate the 1/4 panel from the wheel house i cut the wheel house and left it attached to the 1/4 panel. after repairing the original wheel house outer wheelhouse i cut that so i could over lap both wheel houses and weld it there while the car was still on the frame bench. i was suposed to replace the complete wheel house due to damage but i sectioned it instead. it gets rather difficult doing this while the suspension is still on the car and the body is clamped to the frame rack.
i have to say the large panoramic makes welding in tight areas a walk in the park. the tru color part of the glass was really nice also, i have never used a welding helmet with this feature before. i have to say it's the best welding helmet i have ever used. my only complaint is the dimming glass sits much closer to your face than a regular auto dim helmet. the welding respirator will rest against the glass with the helmet in the down position. because of this it fogs up sometimes, never happened on my old helmet. maybe part of it was i really didn't ever have to lift the helmet to help see where i was at while staggering my welds to prevent overheating the weld area, the tru color part really helps when doing this over a regular dim helmet.. i really couldn't do this with my old helmet.
i have to give this helmet a 10 thumbs up satisfaction rating.
Last edited by Mr T2U; 07/24/20 07:10 PM.
perception is 90% of reality
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