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Oct 25, 2021 22:04:02 GMT
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I think it's time I treated myself to a new helmet. I've had a SifLite for the past 10 years which has done me well for the relatively few times I've used it but I've recently noticed it's not dimming as much as I feel comfortable with and as a result I'm getting 'light' arc eye during welding, or at the very least finding it difficult to actually see the piece I'm working on after the first couple of welds.
Not keeping up to date with welding helmet technology, is there now a better product that can be had for less, or will a bit more money (up to £100ish ideally) get something significantly better? Needs to be auto darkening and primarily if not solely for MIG (have an ARC but never used it, would love a TIG but unlikely any time soon). The only particular complaint I've got with the SifLite is it's quite big and cumbersome which make it awkward in tight, typical car respo, spaces.
Any recommendations?
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Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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Oct 26, 2021 12:18:59 GMT
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Oct 26, 2021 14:35:11 GMT
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I've got a Bolle' Fusion link£25 over budget but tiz a belting welding screen, very clear, very comfortable and not mahoosive, and importanly for me, very good build quality. Previous lid was a parweld XR938H link- big viewing screen but gradually dismantled itself, and half the screen stopped working eventually. with auto darken lids I find it always worth having a old non-auto glass screened lid available in case of failure. |
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Take the Next slot right coming up on the left.
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,886
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Oct 26, 2021 21:38:30 GMT
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I bought one too - annoyingly it seems it's very hard to find more protective screen pieces - OK it comes with a bunch of them but I like to buy consumable items to last the helmet lifetime and on this one it seems impossible (pretty sure I will end up DIY'ing som) |
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,712
Club RR Member Number: 34
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Oct 26, 2021 21:54:57 GMT
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Don’t expect much at that price point tbh. A ‘decent’ one is over double that.
I bought the parweld, it’s an utter piece of poop and I really regret buying it and resent the fact i wasted the 70 quid or so on it. It’s arguable worse than my mates 30 quid Amazon special, as least his works most of the time. I complained to parweld not very long after buying it and they couldn’t care less, totally put me off them as a company.
In all honesty I’d just buy 3 or 4 bargain basement ones as they inevitably need replacing. At least you’ll have a new, functioning product for a greater proportion of the time.
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Oct 26, 2021 22:15:14 GMT
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I bought one too - annoyingly it seems it's very hard to find more protective screen pieces - OK it comes with a bunch of them but I like to buy consumable items to last the helmet lifetime and on this one it seems impossible (pretty sure I will end up DIY'ing som) I'll probably do the same, but for £30 if it lasts 2 years and I have to buy another it's still not bad value. |
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mud
Part of things
Posts: 143
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Oct 27, 2021 15:15:01 GMT
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They are £20? In Also this week I think. Seemed ok when I last looked at them.
Cheers
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braaap
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,595
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Oct 27, 2021 15:54:30 GMT
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Not keeping up to date with welding helmet technology, is there now a better product that can be had for less, or will a bit more money (up to £100ish ideally) get something significantly better? Needs to be auto darkening and primarily if not solely for MIG (have an ARC but never used it, would love a TIG but unlikely any time soon). The only particular complaint I've got with the SifLite is it's quite big and cumbersome which make it awkward in tight, typical car respo, spaces. Any recommendations? At work we have a nice 3M Speedglas, maybe You can find a used one for Your budget. There I also can play around with an expensive austrian Fronius TIG welder. Since I'm not rich I just bought myself a LIDL multiwelder, You sure can find some video like the one under my post about it on the tube of U. It is really a multiwelding machine for ARC, TIG, MIG/MAG, flux core thread or CuSi soldering and for steel, stainless or alloy. In addition I bought myself a helmet. Could have chosen the no name ones starting at 19€ on Ebay, but I went for a 36€ GÜDE, a german brand that sells welding machines, too, the cheaper range, comparable to B&Q own brands and the likes. That helmet is surely made in china, too, but with the brand name, the chances for garanty or spare parts are hopefully better. |
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I was getting fed up not being able to see what I was welding so after a good months overtime a couple of years ago I bought a Lincoln Viking 3350 helmet. I also bought a set of slip in optics at 1.5 and 2 so I don't need to wear my glasses if I don't want to
The difference between this and the cheaper helmets I was using has been night and day.
I was amazed I was able to weld with the cheaper helmets.
Yes it is well out of your price range but it is worth it.
Adrian
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Vitesse 6 Saloon
Vitesse Mk2 Convertible
BMW R1150GS
VW Amarok
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Thanks for the feedback everyone. Really not sure whether to spend more or just buy a few cheaper helmets within the same time period now. I was getting fed up not being able to see what I was welding so after a good months overtime a couple of years ago I bought a Lincoln Viking 3350 helmet. I also bought a set of slip in optics at 1.5 and 2 so I don't need to wear my glasses if I don't want to The difference between this and the cheaper helmets I was using has been night and day. I was amazed I was able to weld with the cheaper helmets. Yes it is well out of your price range but it is worth it. Adrian Out of interest, not having experienced a higher quality helmet myself, what is the material difference? Is it a big difference in clarity through the screen and speed and effectiveness of the auto darkening function? |
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Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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It really is night and day difference accentuated by the larger screen plus clarity and 'real colour'
As they say the Lincoln has the best optical clarity and largest screen, I have no idea if that is a true statement as I did not compare but it is bloody good and expensive.
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Vitesse 6 Saloon
Vitesse Mk2 Convertible
BMW R1150GS
VW Amarok
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VIP
South East
Posts: 8,293
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logicaluk
Posted a lot
Every days a school day round here
Posts: 1,312
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