Just Jim Posted June 28, 2006 Share Posted June 28, 2006 My Uvex solar powered auto darkening helmet is acting up.Instead of getting dark within 1/25000 of the arch striking it is taking .5 seconds or more. Not good for the eyes. The helmet wasn't cheap when bought a few years back.I might expect this from a cheap Harbor Freight model. Maybe this is why Jesse James doesn't use one? The exhaust getting welded consists of some 2.5 inch connector pipes from the block hugger headers to a pair of DynoMax Bullet mufflers. It sounds loud even with the motor not running.Looks like it needs a Y pipe going back to a single 3 inch muffler mounted in the stock location. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlderThanMe Posted June 28, 2006 Share Posted June 28, 2006 can't go wrong with a HF helmet...and their warranty... I used a HF helmet for about 40 hours of actual weld time in the overhead position with stick welding and it is pretty scorched but the electronics work good still. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted June 28, 2006 Share Posted June 28, 2006 Agreed. My HF helmet has worked better than my Hobart helmet did so far, and it has quite a few hours on it by now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Jim Posted June 28, 2006 Author Share Posted June 28, 2006 Thanks for the input guys.I guess it's time to go to Harbor Freight for a new helmet then.Better wait until my vision comes back completely first though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dherde26 Posted June 28, 2006 Share Posted June 28, 2006 Thanks for the input guys.I guess it's time to go to Harbor Freight for a new helmet then.Better wait until my vision comes back completely first though. well i hate to say it but i am kinda "old fashoned" i have a HF and i also have a jackson flipper and the jackson is my choice 8 days a week but diff strokes for diff folks lol...but i must say when i have used the HF never failed me yet drew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody 82 ZXT Posted June 28, 2006 Share Posted June 28, 2006 I've used my H.F. model for about 3 years of occasional use and it still works great. When it quits I'll throw it in the trash and get a new one and still be smiling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pop N Wood Posted June 28, 2006 Share Posted June 28, 2006 That old helmet must have been a rush to use. How in the hell could you hold the arc for a full 5 seconds with no darkening? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darrel Posted June 28, 2006 Share Posted June 28, 2006 That is 1/2 second Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlderThanMe Posted June 28, 2006 Share Posted June 28, 2006 just be sure to get the warranty with the HF helmet. I have seen a few HF helmets go bad. The owners had a warranty so they got to swap for a new one. My first one I completely burned up and finally got holes burned it from doing about 120 hours of flat, horizontal, vertical stick welding. 60 hours of all positions mig, and like 40-50 hours of tig. That is all actual weld time over one and a half years. The last six months of welding school I had my new HF helmet that is highly modified. I'll get a pic of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnc Posted June 28, 2006 Share Posted June 28, 2006 My Uvex solar powered auto darkening helmet is acting up. You might want to check and see if it has a repalceable battery. Some of the solar powered helmets I've seen have a battery as a backup to the solar power unit. When the backup battery is drained it takes time for the solar power unit to work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jnjdragracing Posted June 28, 2006 Share Posted June 28, 2006 I had an issue with mine helmet doing the same thing. Found out the batteries were low. Replaced the batteries and all is fine now. I bought my help it about 4 years ago when they first came out. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody 82 ZXT Posted June 28, 2006 Share Posted June 28, 2006 What kind of battery to they take? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jnjdragracing Posted June 28, 2006 Share Posted June 28, 2006 My helment took two aa batteries. Like you use in remote control devices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Jim Posted June 28, 2006 Author Share Posted June 28, 2006 My helmet is solar powered with no back up batteries so there's nothing to change. Today I left it out in the sun for 2 hours or so and it worked good after that. Usually it sits in a box in the garage and I leave it out in the daylight for awhile to charge it up before using. Maybe it just needs to be left in the sun longer prior to use? It came with a 2 year warranty but that was almost 5 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpyvette Posted July 6, 2006 Share Posted July 6, 2006 Ive got several auto darkening helmets, ranging from $400-$49 and I can,t believe that the HARBOR FREIGHT helmet works as well as it does, I use it a great deal,ESPECIALLY when welding , over head, simply because if it ever craps out , or gets to scared ,Im out $49, how can you ,NOT buy one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Jim Posted July 7, 2006 Author Share Posted July 7, 2006 The latest Harbor Freight flyer has a $79 auto-darkening helmet on sale for $49 and a coupon for another 15% off. Guess I better get one at that price. Seems like if you buy some small thing from them they send you flyers/catalogs for years after , just like JC Whitney used to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustinOlson Posted July 7, 2006 Share Posted July 7, 2006 Link for the lazy: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91212 Where do you get the 15% coupon? Justin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted July 7, 2006 Share Posted July 7, 2006 Well this one is about 15% off from the one you linked to: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91214 EDIT--Hey, here's the cheapest one: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91212 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustinOlson Posted July 7, 2006 Share Posted July 7, 2006 20% off coupon: http://www.superx3.com/coupon_hf20percent_exp071206.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pop N Wood Posted July 7, 2006 Share Posted July 7, 2006 Do I hear 30%? Anyone got a 30% off coupon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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