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General Forums => The Mess Hall => Topic started by: FourbangerYJ on October 04, 2010, 09:03:02 PM

Title: Auto darkening welding hood
Post by: FourbangerYJ on October 04, 2010, 09:03:02 PM
What hoods are you guy's using? I am looking to upgrade my hood. I have a plain Jane Jackson. It has no settings or adjustments that can be made. It's also a solar cell powered one. I am looking for one that has a battery and solar cell, or battery only.
Title: Re: Auto darkening welding hood
Post by: sharpxmen on October 04, 2010, 10:01:50 PM
i'm using a $30 chinese one off ebay, it has both darkness and sensitivity adjustments on the outside (which is nice). It's a bit finicky on the sensitivity adj, i had sometimes issues with it flickering (and that's no good since you can't see afterwards) and i don't know if it's b/c it's solar powered or b/c it's crappy (or maybe both) - i got it adjusted once and it worked and i didn't touch the sensitivity ever since (been working knock on wood so i don't play with that button anymore). If you weld a lot i'd say go for a name brand, otherwise one of these would do the job ok but not for a pro welder for sure.
Title: Re: Auto darkening welding hood
Post by: dwtaylorpdx on October 06, 2010, 09:19:24 AM
Only spend as much as your eyes are worth........

I don't skimp here....

Dave
Title: Re: Auto darkening welding hood
Post by: FourbangerYJ on October 06, 2010, 10:34:24 AM
Only spend as much as your eyes are worth........

I don't skimp here....

Dave

I think along those same lines.
Title: Re: Auto darkening welding hood
Post by: FourbangerYJ on October 13, 2010, 07:21:22 PM
Looking at various hoods. I am wondering about the darkening speed. They vary from 1-3600 to 1-25000 of a second to darken. Do you think you would notice the difference between the slower one and a faster one? I mean it's a fraction of a second reguardless. Or is this more a marketing ploy?
Title: Re: Auto darkening welding hood
Post by: sharpxmen on October 13, 2010, 08:39:20 PM
Looking at various hoods. I am wondering about the darkening speed. They vary from 1-3600 to 1-25000 of a second to darken. Do you think you would notice the difference between the slower one and a faster one? I mean it's a fraction of a second reguardless. Or is this more a marketing ploy?

you notice but is not that big of a deal, the high end ones are better though, you can tell on mine when it kicks in, on a friend's Miller you can't as it's way faster.
Title: Re: Auto darkening welding hood
Post by: chardrc on October 13, 2010, 08:46:19 PM
i switched back to using the old fashion masks rather than the auto dimmers because they are to slow or not dark enough and my eyes start to "hurt" after extended use.  :wall:... higher end ones would probably be better than the ones i have used.
Title: Re: Auto darkening welding hood
Post by: FourbangerYJ on October 13, 2010, 08:59:04 PM
With the welding I do mostly is very small spot welds and short beads. I am looking at a Jackson hood. I like everything about it but the darkening speed. It was not listed on the specs so I called them. It's pretty slow at 1-2750. I thought I miss heard him, but that's what he said. I was also looking at a Lincoln. Pretty nice hood to but it has 2 sensors VS. the 3 of the Jackson. About the same price.

My currant hood is a Jackson. It's pretty out dated. Fixed 11 shade with no adjustments.

I have a tip and flip hood too. It has a #13 gold filter. I went thru welding school with it. I would use it but I need to see when I do those small spot welds.
Title: Re: Auto darkening welding hood
Post by: dwtaylorpdx on October 13, 2010, 10:37:34 PM
I use a 250 Watt halogen light on the work area then you can see through the lens...

Dave
Title: Re: Auto darkening welding hood
Post by: aka-justin on October 14, 2010, 11:12:47 PM
I have a Harbor Frieght auto dimming unit.  It says it's super fast, but I see a flash before it's dark.  I just squint for a second and it's all good.  : )
Title: Re: Auto darkening welding hood
Post by: FourbangerYJ on October 15, 2010, 08:42:22 PM
I have a Harbor Frieght auto dimming unit.  It says it's super fast, but I see a flash before it's dark.  I just squint for a second and it's all good.  : )
  I think my eyes are worth more than $50.00. I am looking at another Jackson hood.
Title: Re: Auto darkening welding hood
Post by: ZanderJay on October 20, 2010, 07:05:41 AM
I've use an adjustable shade, which is might be good in solar. It was a kind of helmet that can put you into a serious work. This is safe and productivity helmet.



Title: Re: Auto darkening welding hood
Post by: FourbangerYJ on October 20, 2010, 02:03:25 PM
http://www.lincolnelectric.com/products/viking-welding-helmets.asp
I went with model K2815-1. So far I love it!! Much improvement over my older Jackson!
Title: Re: Auto darkening welding hood
Post by: oldjeep on October 25, 2010, 03:35:55 PM
I've had a Hobart Hood for about 5 years, and have been happy with how it works.  Paid about $100 for it on sale.  I've used fancier helmets and never noticed a difference, Also use a really cheap HF hood that a friend had and got some pretty good headaches from it.

This is the same one I've got
http://store.cyberweld.com/hohowehehoth.html?utm_medium=shoppingengine&utm_source=googlebase
Title: Re: Auto darkening welding hood
Post by: neale_rs on October 25, 2010, 03:37:15 PM
http://www.lincolnelectric.com/products/viking-welding-helmets.asp
I went with model K2815-1. So far I love it!! Much improvement over my older Jackson!

Glad to hear you got a good one.
Title: Re: Auto darkening welding hood
Post by: FourbangerYJ on October 25, 2010, 05:15:59 PM
I've had a Hobart Hood for about 5 years, and have been happy with how it works.  Paid about $100 for it on sale.  I've used fancier helmets and never noticed a difference, Also use a really cheap HF hood that a friend had and got some pretty good headaches from it.

This is the same one I've got
http://store.cyberweld.com/hohowehehoth.html?utm_medium=shoppingengine&utm_source=googlebase

I thought about buying from Cyberweld. They have good prices. I saw the same Lincoln I bought on ebay for about $135 shipped. I bought mine from the local airgas store. They gave me a 10% discount. I wanted it ASAP and not wait on shipping. Plus I like to try on the various hoods to see how the compare with each other.
I debated weather or not to get a hood that used batteries. The Lincoln solar panel is more than double the size of my Jackson. Plus it's just over a pound. It's real light weight. I don't hardly notice it on when I have it up. I like the headgear. It seems to have a notch to keep it in the up position. My Jackson would creep down no matter how tight I put it. Plus I can see way better with this hood. The only downside is the knob on the outside to adjust the shade level. It somehow got put on the grind mode and I didn't know  until I stared welding. Got flashed pretty good.  :lol: So I put some tape on the knob to keep it on the 11 shade. Seems to work fine there. They do have a model where the adjustment knob is on the inside with the rest of the adjustment knobs. That would be a better setup.
Title: Re: Auto darkening welding hood
Post by: USARLen on October 29, 2010, 06:55:43 AM
I'd suggest getting one with more than one 'sensor'.  Mine only has a sensor above the glass, and once in a while, if I'm under a car or something, that little sensor doesn't pick up the welding, and doesn't darken the mask.  I know some higher end models have 4 sensors picking up the welding, and darkening the unit.  And, if you own a welder, and own a jeep, chances are very strong you will be welding underneath the jeep someday.
Title: Re: Auto darkening welding hood
Post by: FourbangerYJ on November 01, 2010, 10:14:33 PM
I'd suggest getting one with more than one 'sensor'.  Mine only has a sensor above the glass, and once in a while, if I'm under a car or something, that little sensor doesn't pick up the welding, and doesn't darken the mask.  I know some higher end models have 4 sensors picking up the welding, and darkening the unit.  And, if you own a welder, and own a jeep, chances are very strong you will be welding underneath the jeep someday.
When I was looking around I didn't see any with just 1 sensor. They all had 2-4.
My old hood had 2 sensors and I used it in all positions from laying under the Jeep to welding the cage. I don't recall getting flashed. But having more sensors is good if your worried about it.
Title: Re: Auto darkening welding hood
Post by: FourbangerYJ on November 05, 2010, 09:34:34 PM
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