Harbor freight auto dark hood

[MQYJ]

.......can suck it.


I just finally figured out that that pile of shit has been flashing me on and off for the last several months. All this time I've been thinking it was my welder malfunctioning as it has something burned out on the main board that keeps it from displaying certain info on the digital readout. I just figured it was some sort of arc instability due to that. I was mig welding today and more times than not it just simply wouldn't darken or it would darken a full second after the arc was struck.

I'm just hoping I haven't caused any serious or permanent damage to my eyes. I'm planning on going tomorrow to get the speedglas I've had my eye on for quite a while now and just couldn't bring myself to pull the trigger.

[DriveTime]

Have you thought about taking it back and getting one that works properly? I haven't had any issues with mine.

[maxyedor]

I had one start doing that after a few years, just take it in and bitch. The only thing the HF hoods suck for is tig welding if your pedal push much, the varying arc tricks the hood into thinking you're done welding.

[MQYJ]

I've had it for quite some time. I'm not even sure how long ago I bought it. I bought 2 at once so my wife could learn to weld as well. I know it sat on the shelf for a solid 1-2 years before I started using it. The head gear went to hell on the first one and now the lense on this one. These were great hoods when I was welding after work and on the weekends but I quit my job in Jan. to fabricate for myself full time and they just aren't cutting it for everyday use.

[71PA_Highboy]

There are at least 3 different auto darkening hoods.

The one I have works great, the one a friend has (different number) sucks and I get flashed.

Which model number do you have? Currently it looks like the one I have has been discontinued, and the replacement is only available online.

They also have one with a bigger lens... that one has worked well when I have used it.

[jeep937]

I'd rather oldschool it then trust my eyes to HF

[trkklr77]

no shit, is flipping your head down that hard?

i weld in so many fucked up spots that autos barely trip because of shadowing or arc blockage.

i have the $30 large glass lincoln helmet and love it.

[MQYJ]

Originally Posted by trkklr77

no shit, is flipping your head down that hard?

Not that it is that hard to flip a hood down, but what I'm welding on most of the time is lower amperage tig on a lift arc setup. There is no way I'd be able to flip the hood down, contact the electrode, and lift off without getting arc burns all over the place. Which would then mean I have to clean them up. So I'd rather just not burn up my work piece at all by using an auto darkening lense.

I'll probably pick up a fixed shade though as well for mig and stick so I don't burn up a good helmet with weld spatter.

[RubiWheeler]

Pony up for a good helmet. I have the Miller Elite and love it. All the adjustment you could want and quality that I can trust my eyes to. Buy a cheap helmet and you get a cheap helmet.

[PTSchram]

I wonder if this isn't a situation where paying half as much for a helmet as you did for your welder might not be a good idea.

I'm getting a sore neck from doing "the nod". I might get me a good helmet soon.

[vegask]

I have 5 years on my HF helmet with out any issues. I think I will retire it this summer for one of the millers. Mainly because the spatter shield on the glass is all but ruined.

That and having a 1000 miller welder and a $40 helmet is pretty stupid on my part.

[MudzerK5]

Originally Posted by vegask

I have 5 years on my HF helmet with out any issues. I think I will retire it this summer for one of the millers. Mainly because the spatter shield on the glass is all but ruined.

That and having a 1000 miller welder and a $40 helmet is pretty stupid on my part.

They sell replacements!

I have one too and use it without problems, but I will prolly go with a Miller unit since I have started welding more frequently.

[JohnnyJ]

This came up on a local 4x4 board. Here's an interesting article.

http://ohsonline.com/articles/2005/1...ss-darkly.aspx

According to Jim Harris, product manager at The Lincoln Electric Co., Cleveland, "A lot of people are under the misconception that it's the darkening of the helmet that protects your eyes. Actually, that's purely a comfort issue." Harris explained that damage and discomfort to welders' eyes result primarily from the welding arc's emission of ultraviolet and infrared radiation, both of which are prevented at all times by all helmets that comply with the current ANSI Z87.1 standard--even when the helmet is turned off.

Cliff Frey, St. Paul, Minn.-based 3M's senior technical services representative, elaborated on this protective quality of the helmet, noting that the hoods provide the continuous protection from welding radiation via a permanent, built-in, non-electronic band-pass filter. If, in a worst-case scenario, a helmet's electronics were to fail and not trigger the liquid crystals that normally provide the appropriate split-second shading, the visible light allowed in the hood might be as dazzling as a camera's flashbulb, he said, but would not be capable of causing "arc eye," retinal burns, or other damage because the wearer's eyes would still be completely filtered from the harmful rays. "As long as you have your faceshield down, regardless of whether there are even batteries in the system, you'll get the bright light but you will not get burned," he said.

A friend mentioned that many (if not most) safety glasses meet ANSI Z87.1, so just wearing your safety glasses around the shop can help protect your eyes from arc flashes from someone else welding.

I know the basic Hobart #10 auto darkening helmet sold at TSC meets this spec. I'd be surprised if the HF one doesn't.

[MQYJ]

Originally Posted by JohnnyJ

This came up on a local 4x4 board. Here's an interesting article.

http://ohsonline.com/articles/2005/1...ss-darkly.aspx



A friend mentioned that many (if not most) safety glasses meet ANSI Z87.1, so just wearing your safety glasses around the shop can help protect your eyes from arc flashes from someone else welding.

I know the basic Hobart #10 auto darkening helmet sold at TSC meets this spec. I'd be surprised if the HF one doesn't.

Yes, it is ANSI Z87.1 I think that is a standard for any company that sells anything that is considered protective eyewear. I'm not 100% on that though.

I bought a Speedglass 9100xx today at Indiana Oxygen. No it wasn't cheap at 360 and I could have had the 9100x for a little under 300 but at the last second I just said hell with it and got the xx for the bigger window. I haven't struck an arc with it yet but I have to say the headgear is beyond comfortable compared to my HF helmet and even the miller that I used everyday for about 6 weeks back in Jan. and Feb. It also came with a bunch of extras like a bag, extra inner and outer lens covers, and an extra sweatband.

I have a gate to weld tonight so I'll know pretty soon if it was worth it or not.

[gregers05]

has anybody tried one of the ebay ones? i was looking at this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/AUTO-DARKENING-W...53821368057809


is it just me or does the mask look like it sticks out in front of the face a good ways when its down? just seems to stick out farther than most other but maybe its just me

[Harold Phipps]

Even with the ANSI information I would say,,,
"If you have $5.00 eyeballs, use a $5.00 welding hood"

[PTSchram]

ANSI z87.1 is a broad standard that covers protective eyewear in general. There are varous subsections of the standard that address impact resistance and other subsections that deal with radiation exposure protection. Just because it has Z87.1 stamped on it doesn't mean it covers all of the portions of the standard.

Sadly, reading the standard costs $.

[mudskipper4x4]

I've used my HF hood for almost 2 years now and haven't had any problems with it either and I use it almost everyday. The only complaint is all the burns in it from welding overhead with it, but that is to be expected.

I think it is worth the money. If someone wants to buy me a $300 hood I would surely use it but until then I will stick with the HF one.

[GhostTJ]

Originally Posted by gregers05

has anybody tried one of the ebay ones? i was looking at this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/AUTO-DARKENING-W...53821368057809


is it just me or does the mask look like it sticks out in front of the face a good ways when its down? just seems to stick out farther than most other but maybe its just me

That's the new ArcOne helmet, the Carrera. I saw it in a ad last month in thefabricator.

[bigal1]

I own 3 of the hf welding helmets and a miller elite,the hf ones are better and cheaper.my oldest one is 7 years old and i love 'em.I wont even use the miller anymore.

[gregers05]

Originally Posted by GhostTJ

That's the new ArcOne helmet, the Carrera. I saw it in a ad last month in thefabricator.

good call. from the research ive done it seems to be a good helmet. it has all the features the millers have. found one for 90 bucks. i just dont have the money to drop 200+ on a welding helmet

[MQYJ]

Well I spent the day yesterday welding and I have to say the speedglas is the best helmet I've ever used. I haven't used a ton of different helmets in my life. As far as overall visibility goes, on both light and dark shades, it was great not to have to squint and keep refocusing my eyes to see the puddle. It didn't instantly make me a better weldor but I can at least clearly see what I'm screwing up. I have no doubt that a less expensive helmet would do just as well in terms of visibility so I won't use that to try to justify the cost. I like it and am very happy with my purchase. The headgear is very comfortable but time will tell how durable it is. It seems as though it may not hold up to hard use/abuse so there is maybe a bit of a trade off in that dept. This is only for myself, so taking care of it will not really be an issue for me.

[slodat]

I recently bought a Miller Digital Elite because my HF helmet stopped working. I bought the Miller because no one in town had the 9100xx, which is what I really wanted. Well. I tried a 9100xx recently and am pissed I bought the Miller. There is no comparison. The 9100xx is the one to buy!!

[iniviate]

HF helmets work good for me. they seem to last a couple years before i break the head gear on it..... i think i'm on my 3rd one.

[Ricks72ntx]

borrowed one from a buddy before I got my mig set up just to do a little arc welding and hated te HF helmet.... told my buddy he could have that piece of shit back, of course after my eyes stoped feeling like they had sand in them.

used my uncles lincoln auto darkening hood and it worked ok but recently started getting flashed in it, not sure if if its loosing a charge of what?

Now I bought a hobart auto darking from tractor supply and have been happy with it, even got it on sale for like 60 bucks