Which Welding Mask?

[fad]

Sept 8, 2017 23:39:40 GMT g40jon said:

Sept 8, 2017 9:14:32 GMT fad said:

Gauntlets? You mean panzymittens..? LOL

well having recently made my arms look like i had a serious shooting up habit from weld/waxoyl spatter burns whilst grinding and welding the floor rails on a friends mx5, i'd say they are worth having yeah!

I'm joking buddy

[ChrisT]

Sept 8, 2017 15:32:20 GMT rude said:

Here is my first sort of real mask which took a beating and was pretty cheap. The annoying things about it was a delay in coming out of autotint and then it tinted up even if there was sunlight or a halogen light shining on bodywork. It was wide at the back too which made stuffing my head into wheel arches a bit of a mission. It also got launched... many times! It was a bit curse word but looked awesome!

I think a lot of people bought one of these just for the look, I know I did. Terrible mask to use, uncomfortable head band, very narrow field of vision and too slow to darken.

Currently got a £40 one from local tool shop which has lasted a fair while so far - looks similar to the one posted by VIP, adjustable sensitivity and darkness and comfy to wear.

[edessex]

Sept 9, 2017 7:13:27 GMT TurboDieselWeasel said:

The cheapest is still a hand held shield... For such brief use, I'd consider it.

I've got a really cheap one. Tried using it with the arc welder, it's fine for tacking, but my hands aren't steady enough for a decent bead. Need to rest the rod on my other hand.

[dungbug]

SIP auto shade at toolstataion for £36

www.toolstation.com/shop/p32517?table=no

Better bet than a cheapy of eBay and easy to return/replace if you have a problem with it.

[ChrisT]

Sept 8, 2017 9:14:32 GMT fad said:

Sept 8, 2017 6:03:10 GMT g40jon said:

leaves you some money left over for some decent gauntlets!

Gauntlets? You mean panzymittens..? LOL

Got some gauntlets the other day, glad to see they came with instructions for use....

[ChasR]

I'd agree with getting a Speedglas one. As said sight is quite a thing to live without ; I also know people unlucky enough to barely have it now .

That said I bought a Clarke item for around £50ish. The response time looked fine TBH and it has a few shades you can choose. It helped quite a bit.

[fad]

Sept 9, 2017 7:48:43 GMT ChrisT said:

Sept 8, 2017 9:14:32 GMT fad said:

Gauntlets? You mean panzymittens..? LOL

Got some gauntlets the other day, glad to see they came with instructions for use....

They forgot "moisturise after use" lol

[lufbramatt]

I've got a parweld 936 which has been spot on, just over budget but can't fault it. Wouldn't go too cheap, only got one set of eyes.

[sausage]

Parweld XR936H was what I got recently, nice lid for the money. Can be had for about £50.

[Mantasport]

Basic helmets are ok, just be sure to check that the batteries can be replaced (some can't and that scraps the helmet if they go!) I used to use one and as said they do the job but are bulky for limited access etc

I know have had a speedglass for the last 5 years and its night and day compared to the cheaper ones. Visability when the shade is off is way way better and the range of darkening is also much better suited to mig (the cheap ones are too dark normally)

Keep your eye on e-bay for a second hand speedglass lid and stretch your budget a bit would be my advice. Or have a look at new speedglass lids they have offers on every now and then via 3m online. Yes its a lot of money for limited use, but you know a new speedglass one will work when you reach for it, whenever you reach for it. Welding is so much nicer/easier with a good helmet when you are first starting out. The easier you find it to weld the more likely you are to find jobs that need welding and take them on, so the more you use the helmet.

Then again if you buy new and down the line decide you don't want it any more you can always sell it as they hold value well

[PandaSelecta]

Here's a little thing I've noticed - the Clarke GWH5 (£52) is identical to the ebay helmets (£17)

Clarke...

www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-gwh5-woman-design-grindingarc-activate/

Ebay...

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Auto-Darkening-Solar-Powered-Welders-Welding-Helmet-Mask-W-Grinding-Function-GQ/382086769876?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D46150%26meid%3D8fb78f30e60a41fcb6c51c94d35c36fb%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D382073565607&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

[rude]

Yeah, but you get a blokes head with the clarke one. That's a bit shocking really.

[edessex]

They are probably a Chinese copy, but you never know these days, they could all be Chinese...

[nomad]

I use a para-weld one, fine for my hobby mig standard of diy !