What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

wHAT Shade helmet.

k5freak44

k5freak44

1/2 ton status
Joined
Jun 1, 2004
Posts
2,163
Reaction score
0
Location
Texas
alright... i got my lincoln 135 off ebay and now while i wait to get it i need to know what the minimal shade helet i can to use w/ it without frying my eyes. looking thru a 10 shade in my garage was horribe and even hard to find my target in daylight. the welder i will be using is a 135 amp mig welder. at home depot i found some 5 shade goggles that i could see perfectly in.i think they were for arc welding but i don think those would work with mig. i really want to get an autodark helmet but they are kinda exspensive.

any 1 know?
 
5 shade for gas welding, 9 or 10 (10 is best) for MIG, and 10 or 11 for TIG /forums/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif
 
opps, but no, you SHOULD NEVER use gas welding goggles for MIG welding, they don't provide enough protection.
 
A 9 should do ya just fine...maybe even an 8. It kinda depends on a few things. Some people just prefer a little more and it also varies a lot with the heat you're welding at.

I have a 12 in my helmet at work right now, but I'm burning .063 dual shield flux core at 310 amps and 30 volts. With my little home machine I use a 9 and can see just fine.

A 4 is for oxy/fuel welding, a 5 is generally used for oxy/fuel cutting.

Rene
 
You can get an autodarken one from habourfreight.com, but I don't really like those. Some people have had success with them. You don't really need a autodarken, they are just more convinient. I have 2 welding helmuts (1 for me, 1 for a helper) and I paid 40 for one, and 50 for the other.
 
doh! rene corrected me, listen to Rene, he has ALOT more experience in welding than me.

If you find it hard to weld where you are, hook up a few lights over top of your work that is on a different circuit line than the plug in for the welder (or it will blow the breaker, I should know /forums/images/graemlins/doah.gif /forums/images/graemlins/doah.gif)
 
yea i saw those and really wanted to buy one...

but when i mention it, every one all of a sudden hates harbor freight
 
I weld and fabricate for a living...with a $16 helmet. I don't have a need or even a want for anything more. My helemt is light and comfortable and works just fine.

Rene
 
habourfreight is known for selling low quality stuff. It's like buying 6 4.5" harbour freight grinders for 20 bucks each, or buying a good grinder for 120. /forums/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif
Just get a normal helmut /forums/images/graemlins/dunno.gif
 
I've got an autotinting helmet from HDtools ( http://www.homier.com/ ) its like $30 and runs on AAA batteries. Never go back to a normal hood. If I welded more, daily I'd buy the more expensive helmets. For now I just keep the batteries changed in my cheapie mask.


I usually run about a 10-11 on the adjustmentable tint /forums/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif
 
jeremiah (opps sorry if I spelt it wrong *hits a spoon over his head*) is right, if you will only use it a few times a week, a inexpensive one will work good as long as you keep the batteries charged!
 
[ QUOTE ]
jeremiah

[/ QUOTE ]

/forums/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif
 
I'd get this one web page
solor power ones aren't to great... they could not work if theres not enough light. just my 2 cents /forums/images/graemlins/dunno.gif
 
the solar powered ones store the solar energy while your welding... If you dont weld enough it doesn't stay charged. Thus the reason why they all have batteries /forums/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif
 
they are solor powered and have batteries? WOAH! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif thats new to me /forums/images/graemlins/doah.gif
 
yea it hink ill go with the one u pointed out to me 84gmc

thanks
 
LOL, I may get that for the meantime until I feel like I need a "pro" one /forums/images/graemlins/histerical.gif
 
I use an auto darkening. It tints to a 10 level and most of the time I wish it was a little lighter. When not welding its a 3 tint which sometimes seems a little dark for finding the target underneath the truck. It works though. That is the best reason to have an autodark. Sometimes its damn hard to flip when your laying on your back doing exhaust work or something like that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom