Bud,
When I worked as a sheet metal fabricator and welder for a year after high
school... before heading off to college, I did mostly stick welding, mostly
in stainless. I did some mig and tig welding occasionally. I worked at a
place that made chemical dryers etc. The welds had to be flawless. Of
course, back then...(1974-1975) there were no auto-darkening helmets. I was
18-19 at the time.
About 1990 I bought a Lincoln 100 mig to do body work. I was 33.
Recently, I got a used (big) Miller tig welder. I'm now 51.
About 5 years ago, my close up vision went to hell. I asked my eye doctor
what was wrong? He said... "you're old."
In addition to dealing with the usual trials and tribulations of seeing when
you weld, I was now dealing with needing reading glasses for close up work.
So, I got a auto-darkening helmet... bought a cheap one at HF. It scared me.
I found it to be unreliable. I worried about doing eye damage. I ended up
buying a more expensive, name brand helmet. It just makes the whole process
easier... when having to wear reading glasses under the helmet.
WST
-----Original Message-----
From: Bud Osbourne [mailto:abcoz@hky.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2007 9:36 PM
To: 'Jim Juhas'; 'Bill Gilroy'
Cc: 'Linda Grunthaner'; 'derf'; 'Spridget List'
Subject: RE: Horrible Freight Arc Welder question.
Gee. How have I managed to weld for the last 30+ years without an
auto-darkening "helmet"? True, it was difficult, at first
(understatement). But, with practice, I find that I can do just fine
with my old fashioned welding shield/hood/helmet, using a #8 or #9
filter, for the light sheet metal and going up to a #12 for welding P&S.
I guess I'll get around to getting one o' them new-fangled (actually,
they've been around for at least 20 years), auto-darkening, city boy
"helmets" one of these days. It's just that other stuff, like buying
parts for my cars, keeps eating up my "mad money".
Not saying I couldn't use one, especially after I haven't welded
anything for a couple of months (it happens), and get out of practice at
striking an arc in just the place I want to start. Yeah, one would sure
come in handy at times like those. But, after a short while, it all
comes back to me, and I'm perfectly content with my old style hood.
BTW, I read something, recently, about guys who weld with auto-darkening
hoods having eye problems, resulting from that fraction of a second of
welding flash, before the auto-darkening takes place. Didn't pay much
attention to it, at the time, because I don't use one. Still, it might
be something to check out.
Bud Osbourne
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-spridgets@Autox.Team.Net
[mailto:owner-spridgets@Autox.Team.Net] On Behalf Of Jim Juhas
Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2007 8:51 PM
To: Bill Gilroy
Cc: Linda Grunthaner; derf; Spridget List
Subject: Re: Horrible Freight Arc Welder question.
Bill, what was the difference you observed between the Speedglass and
the Miller helmets?
Bill Gilroy wrote:
> 1. A good auto darkening helmet is a must. I have a speedglas and
> it is good. I used a Miller helmet the other day and it was way
> better. Never thought there would be that much of a difference
> in helmets (of course the miller helmet was about $350)
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