Hey guys. I just started wleding (stick) and im looking at buying my own mask. I go to a school with the union that trains me and they have the worst masks ever there.

What would you recomend for me? How much should I spend?

Also are there any good reading material on how to weld thats worthwhile?

 

For stick, I would probably go with a cheaper standard lens. Less chance of an expensive autodarkening getting messed up from spatter.

 

^^im with this guy... you shouldnt need anything but a $40-50 hood with a gold #9 (my personal preference) or a #10. both work good for stick.. #9 will allow you to see a lot better though..

dont forget to watch your puddle!!!!!

 

larry jeffus made a good book.. i can scan images of the pages that you might wanna look at.. tell me what you wanna see in writing.. and which diagrams and drawings you would like to see.. this book has it all! i can also give you good input on stick welding.. i am certified in stick..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by k24em2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">For stick, I would probably go with a cheaper standard lens. Less chance of an expensive autodarkening getting messed up from spatter.
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<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 9295EJ-t &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">^^im with this guy... you shouldnt need anything but a $40-50 hood with a gold #9 (my personal preference) or a #10. both work good for stick.. #9 will allow you to see a lot better though..

dont forget to watch your puddle!!!!! </TD></TR></TABLE>


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 9295EJ-t &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">larry jeffus made a good book.. i can scan images of the pages that you might wanna look at.. tell me what you wanna see in writing.. and which diagrams and drawings you would like to see.. this book has it all! i can also give you good input on stick welding.. i am certified in stick..</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thanks for all the help guys. Ill get one thats not autodarkening. Any companies or places to get that you reccomend? I looked fast on ebay and saw the regular masks for like $10 and autodarkening for like $50 - $1000. I didnt see any that looked quality on ebay.

As for the book i really appreciate it. Right now i dont have any specific questions i was just looking at some info all over. Maybe ill pick it up. Title, price? Thanks all

 

Just go to your local welding supply and they will usually have something in the 20-30 dollar range that is decent. Tell them what you are doing and most of the time they'll help you out.

 

this is the book.. front

back


(website is on the second image)

tell me what you need to know.. and i will get the info for you!

edit: errr.. to small to read.. http://www.delmarlearning.com and http://www.thomsonlearning.com

 

I have the Jackson auto darkening one. It's a #10. It was around $150 at my local US Air Weld. It's a great mask and I like it a lot. If you get a auto darkening one, get a battery-powered, not solar-powered. As far as the shade goes, get a #10 if you have dark eyes, or a #11 if you have light eyes.

Here's a pic of my mark:


Good luck,

Soroush

 

I currently own this one :

I really wouldn't recommend this for stick welding, spater would kill the lens in a very short time, and those are costy.

you can get a good welding helmet for 200 $ auto darkening unit or check for less than 60 $ for a good flip helmet.

I used the flip helmet for 5 years with great sucess... it's just a mater of habbit.

I woudn't go back though ( except for stick, cause I dont want my lens to be fucked up... )

for reference I paid 380 Canadian $ tax in for this helmet.

hope this help.

Kranked

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kranked91dx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I currently own this one :

I really wouldn't recommend this for stick welding, spater would kill the lens in a very short time, and those are costy.

you can get a good welding helmet for 200 $ auto darkening unit or check for less than 60 $ for a good flip helmet.

I used the flip helmet for 5 years with great sucess... it's just a mater of habbit.

I woudn't go back though ( except for stick, cause I dont want my lens to be fucked up... )

for reference I paid 380 Canadian $ tax in for this helmet.

hope this help.

Kranked

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i just bought the same helmet after my last auto-darkening took a crap.
to the original poster-do you plan on only doing stick?do you plan on moving to TIG or MIG?i agree that a standard helmet is fine for stick,but i couldn't live without my auto-darkening for TIG/MIG.

anyway,my point is that the Elite series(and maybe the lower line Miller/Hobarts,not sure though)have replaceable shields that cover and protect the entire lens assembly.they're inexpensive,and would allow you to use this helmet for stick with no permanent damage.then,when you move to TIG/MIG,you already have a helmet that works really well for them(i have a bad habit of moving the torch when i flip down a standard mask).


again,i wouldn't spend very much money on a helmet unless you plan to do other types of welding.
Chris

 

a welding helmet is a welding helmet, what are you guys talking about what is a good helmet for stick? Most auto tints have lense changes from 9-13, wich is what you want in any aspect of welding, wether you pulse mig welding at 600 ipm, or mig welding mild steel. If your the kind of person that is worried about getting a welding helmet dirty, then i suggest going to holister and buying a pair of pre torn pants instead of a welding hood.

I never understood why peope didn't like auto tints. It's just a better way of welding, and getting better fitment on your piece. Why not take advantage of the technology whiles its there?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jaydmcrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">a welding helmet is a welding helmet, what are you guys talking about what is a good helmet for stick? Most auto tints have lense changes from 9-13, wich is what you want in any aspect of welding, wether you pulse mig welding at 600 ipm, or mig welding mild steel. If your the kind of person that is worried about getting a welding helmet dirty, then i suggest going to holister and buying a pair of pre torn pants instead of a welding hood. </TD></TR></TABLE>
he's talking about damaging the lens by all the splatter from stick welding.a couple of my old helmets have so much damage on the lens that it distracts you when looking through them.
i'm just suggesting that if he spends the money on an auto-darkening helmet that he get one that has replaceable lens shields.
Chris

 

my miller came with about 8 replacement lense shields, and they are available at any welding store for me, i dont know about you guys.

 

I just use a $15 dollar one from the local supply store. It's got a big lense and works fine. It's not autodarkening, but it's not difficut to get used to snapping one down.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jaydmcrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">a welding helmet is a welding helmet</TD></TR></TABLE>

I use to think that to, until recently I bought a miller bwe flame and I no longer think that way.


Modified by 90blackcrx at 5:50 PM 1/29/2006

 

Thats what i have.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 90blackcrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I use to think that to, until recently I bought a miller bwe flame and I no longer think that way.


Modified by 90blackcrx at 5:50 PM 1/29/2006</TD></TR></TABLE>
same here.i was using an HF auto-darkening helmet.today was the first time i've used my new Miller BWE a lot,and it was well worth the money.
Chris