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Has anyone used the harbor freight auto darkening welding helmets? They aren't very expensive and it sure would be nice McMaster Carr sells the TIG suitable auto darkeners for over $300 (up to #13 shade) Is the harbor freight worth risking it? From what I've heard the expensive ones just have more sensors so you don't accidentaly block one and flash yourself. The Harbor freight one I'm looking at does go up to #13 and they advertise 1/20,000sec response time. OK so that's faster than I can comprehend, but is it faster than my eyes can, is that fast enough? I don't weld for a living or anything, but I'm already color blind and I really don't want to ruin my already goofy vision.

scroll down about 25 post on this forum, there is some info you might need

hmmm not very difininative. Hobbiest/beginer would be about right but if it's still goingto to some damage over time I think I'll stick with the tried and true. Too many pretty girls to look at. Thanks.

I would just get an old flip down if you don't have money, or invest is a really high quality one. 300 dollars is very cheap if you consider it might save your eyes.

I tried one and they're cool, but I found myself flipping the hood anyway! Just go for the old fashioned stuff, makes life a hell of a lot easier if you end up getting serious

I have the helmet you are referring to and it works great. I would never go back to the flip-up.

I can't believe how much nicer welding is with an auto darkening helmet. Nice in close quarters. Especialy with TIG. I just bought one off Ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... gory=34098

This is a great helmet. Very well built. (it is Swiss) Can do any shade from 5-13 and has a grinding mode. I have seen this helmet for as much as $380. The place I bought it from was $234 and free shipping. Look at thier other stuff because they have good quality hemets that are cheaper. I ordered it one Monday and had it on Friday. Another good place is....

www.cyberweld.com

Bought my TIG from these guys and had it in 2 days!! Oh, and free shipping on a 225 lb welder!

I have the one your looking at and weld with it about 4 days a week. You couldn't get me to go back to the old stlye for nothing. Just make sure to get the one that is adjustable from 9-13. I went to pay the $100 for mine and the clerk said "I'll give you the sale price, it's on sale all the time", got it for $54 out the door.

The auto-darkening to me are a must! It can really help your welding as you don't need to flip down the lens or helmet and lose track of where you are as you strike a arc.

Do you guys ever notice sore eyes using the unit?

Tried one once... stung a bit after using it.... not sure if it was a bad unit or that I didn't have the owners manual.

T>

welding helmets are for the weak!

i mig by feel and hearing, with my eyes closed!
(welding by brail)

porsche_914_freak wrote:welding helmets are for the weak!

Nope, there for the smart, and those whowant the most from there weld.

MNAirHead wrote:Do you guys ever notice sore eyes using the unit?

Tried one once... stung a bit after using it.... not sure if it was a bad unit or that I didn't have the owners manual.

T>

I felt this - though I think it was one of those things that I thought it was doing something but in fact it wasn't.

I then took to blinking as i pressed the trigger and haven't felt this since.

Paul

auto darkening one's from harbor freight are 60 bucks

Ive been using one from harbor freight for the past year, its worth twice the price.