383 240z Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 I have the HF helmet as well. It works real well and when placed side by each with the one I bought from my MAC dealer you can't tell the difference. The only draw back I have found is it does not always switch when I'm woring on a tube car, as there is almost always a tube in the way of the sensor, I have the older style with the replacable batts. It even has a lowbattery warning in it. Keith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pop N Wood Posted October 18, 2006 Share Posted October 18, 2006 Interesting. Turns out the lens doesn't need to darken to protects your eyes. all helmets that comply with the current ANSI Z87.1 standard (when in the proper down position) always protect operators from the harmful UV and IR emissions from the arc. This protection occurs whether the lens is darkened or not. from http://www.asashop.org/autoinc/jan2002/collision.cfm So much for the going blind garbage. Looks like that much more of my money for Jim Beam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_hunt Posted October 18, 2006 Author Share Posted October 18, 2006 So much for the going blind garbage. Looks like that much more of my money for Jim Beam. Try switching to your left hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peej410 Posted October 23, 2006 Share Posted October 23, 2006 http://cgi.ebay.com/HORNELL-SPEEDGLAS-FLEXVIEW-W-9002X-WELDING-HELMET_W0QQitemZ130039926421QQihZ003QQcategoryZ92090QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem my gf and i split the cost of this earlier this year, its an EXCELLENT buy. my eyes used to get tired after a few hours of welding with my non darkening helmet but now with the adjustable shade i can dial it right in based on what im welding. also the flip up (flexview) option is totally worth it. any time your in a tight space or you need to weld grind weld it comes in handy. just dont forget to turn it on. talk about owwies i got it from my local welding shop for 355 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlderThanMe Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 I'll put up a pic of my highly modified HF helmet today. I am looking at getting a Miller 200dx TIG machine and since my HF helmet does not do so well at low amperage TIG I'll get a nicer speedglas 9002x or similar helmet. Back when I was in welding school I have seen several Miller elmets go bad and one or two Lincoln helmets go bad. The HF helmets are about a 50/50 chance of getting a good one. I have been lucky and have 2 good ones. The only problem with the newer HF helmet is the ledge below the fiewing window tends to catch big sparks and molten bits and starts to melt through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_hunt Posted October 25, 2006 Author Share Posted October 25, 2006 That speedglas is nice, I think I need one of those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlderThanMe Posted October 25, 2006 Share Posted October 25, 2006 plus you can see different colors in the weld with the Speedglas. With the HF one you see green light. It really helps to be able to keep a same length arc by the colors coming from the weld and gasses etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HadesOmega Posted October 28, 2006 Share Posted October 28, 2006 I just bought a HF helmet the solar powered one and I love it, but that's coming from the standard helmet and the cheap o face shield that came with my HF welder. I've only had it a coule weeks though but its pure luxury compared to b4 I'd get blinded a lot. My welder is kinda weak though so I don't know how it'd do with a really nice powerful welder. From what I can see it acts like a pair of those torch glasses then when it senses a bright spark it gets dark like a welders mask. It gets dark just fast enough so you won't get disoriented by the flash, kinda wierd explanation its not perfect but its good enough. I don't weld often also... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlderThanMe Posted October 28, 2006 Share Posted October 28, 2006 they usually darken in 1/25,000th of a second... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dosquattro Posted October 28, 2006 Share Posted October 28, 2006 solar powered HF unit FTW! I never had any of the flickering problems or anything. Best 60 bucks my mom has ever spent....yeah I said mom. It was part of my birthday present. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gearheadstik Posted October 28, 2006 Share Posted October 28, 2006 I just bought two....my friend has been using his for a few years with no problems, he is in the body shop biz...I guess if I welded for a living I would spend more....But all said I just had my lincoln helmet bite the dust and I dont like paying that kind of money for some thing that is almost a disposable product...it only lasted a year or so...That was a nice helmet garbaged... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_hunt Posted October 28, 2006 Author Share Posted October 28, 2006 You guys talking about using it with TIG or MIG or Stick? You have to be talking apples to apples here and talking using it for TIG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlderThanMe Posted October 28, 2006 Share Posted October 28, 2006 The HF helmet is good for light MIG and Stick as well as higher amperage TIG (above ~40amps) on steel or stainless. It is fine for TIG on Aluminium as well since the HF makes enough light with the constant high frequency that the helmet doesn't freak out and blind you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A. G. Olphart Posted October 29, 2006 Share Posted October 29, 2006 This is the one I went for after being zapped by some brand X helmet inserts at a welding show: http://www.jacksonproducts.com/prodGroup.aspx?brandCode=JP&catId=1&subCatId=29&pgId=114 With 4 sensors, it is hard for a tube or other obstruction ot hide them all (hasn't happened yet). Not cheap, but it has a larger viewing area than most, and it is quick. <> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Okimoto Posted November 7, 2006 Share Posted November 7, 2006 I have a HF Helmet. It sucks, really badly. It darkens when I turn a shiny piece the wrong way, it flashes me when I'm balling tungsten, and it has dark and light spots. for observation, its fine though. I've heard that once you use the speedglas, Miller BWE, or optrel, you will chuck the HF out the window. I'm probably going to get a 9002v off IOC on the popular auction site. Everyone seems to like speedglas over optrel, don't know why. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peej410 Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 the ONLY annoying thing about my speedglas is that the helmet in the raised position doesnt "cam over" meaning theres no click to keep the helmet in the raised position like there was on my 20 dollar crapo helmet. this is easily fixed by the adjusters on the side of the helmet though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted November 8, 2006 Share Posted November 8, 2006 Don't these Miller, Lincoln, etc helmets have replaceable parts? What exactly fails on them that you have to trash the whole helmet? And how much are those Jackson ones? I couldn't find a price list on that site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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