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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 272 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 272 | Do tell.
I may be getting one for Xmas. Is that better than a plain auto darkening?
My wife asked me about them today.
Discuss. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 3,458 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 3,458 | The variable shade lets you tweak the darkness a bit with a knob on the side. It works pretty well. Most hoods have a battery backup. It is a good idea to leave it in the sun for a while before the first time you use it and get it charged up so you don't burn your eyes.
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A lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 | I am under the impression that the battery thing is a thing of the past. Mine has no battery and you can dial it from 9 to 13. I use it on the lowest setting.
When trying them out, I took along the flash to my camera. This helmet allowed me to see all the details of the flash lense without any after affects. When I go to use mine, I shine the trouble light right at it. After a few seconds it darkens and I know that it is ready. Turn the light on again and it reacts instantly.
I used to worry that if it didn't fire, my eyes would get burned. Well that has happened with no ill affects. Sometimes if there is an object in the path it can block the light to the sensor. All that happens is you see a big blob with no detail. You just cut it and start again. | | | | | Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 18 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 18 | well, yeah of course the adjustability is better, but if you're only doing one kind of welding, then it's not necessary. If you're doing alot of tig work, you'll want the lower setting, alot of heavy stick welding, and you'll want the higher(darker) setting. (unless you're of age and you need the extra light!)
I have 2 auto darkening , one with batts and one with out. I too was kinda skeptical of the battery free one at first, but I've had absolutly no problems, where as the battery one , I've forgotten to change/check the batteries and have gotten a few good flashes.
I work for a stainless steel sculptor, and due to the varied types of welding that I might encounter in any given day, the variable seetings are a must! But if you're just learning to weld, then you could just go with a cheaper single setting hood.
yeah I think the battery is a thing of the past(kinda like solar calculators-hard to find an only bettery powered model!)
Don't let the rain get you down.....
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 141 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 141 | I don't use either; I look like a dork nodding an auto-darkening shield down....old habits die hard.
Needless to say, I've had many eye burns, but I still think I would trust to my own instincts rather than a battery, or no battery, auto-darkening, whatever the case may be; but, that's because I choose to.
The auto-darkening stuff's cool, but give me my 3x5 #10 gold anyday. | | |
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